by Ra McLaughlin
Adam and Eve possessed greater freedom of will than fallen men now do. They did not possess the power of contrary choice, but it was within their nature either to obey God or to disobey God, and God himself had delegated to them the power and freedom of will to make either choice. This delegation, however, did not reduce God's power or sovereignty. God did not have to give away part of his power or sovereignty in order to delegate these to Adam and Eve. Rather, the power to chose which Adam and Eve possessed was subject to and inferior to God's own power, and was merely on loan from God. The fact that God allowed Adam and Eve this power and freedom did not mean that God could not retract them, or that he could not override them.
God desires evil's existence, and the existence of evil brings him glory (such as in his just condemnation of it, Prov. 16:4; Rom. 9:21-24) For reasons known only to God, God has chosen to bring about evil in order that he may be glorified and we may be blessed.
God's omnipotence is his absolute power and strength. When we say that God is omnipotent, we mean that he is so powerful that he can do anything. He has infinite power. When we say that he is sovereign, we mean not only that he has such power, but also that he has the right to exercise that power in any manner he sees fit. Now, when we say that God has infinite power, we do not mean that God has not delegated some responsibilities, rights and powers to other beings. Nor do we mean that no other beings have any power of any sort. Rather, God has chosen to exercise his sovereignty by granting certain freedoms and powers to his creatures.
In his sovereignty, God has created men with body soul,and spirit with minds and emotions, and with powers and freedoms associated with these. For example, human beings have the power to do physical things like eat and walk. They depend upon God's delegation of power to them so that they may do these things, but nevertheless human beings do themselves possess this delegated power, and their possession of this power does not limit God's power. In the same way, human beings have wills (volition) that want, choose and decide (such as wanting and deciding to eat, or choosing what to eat). People are able to do these things because God has delegated them the appropriate abilities and freedoms. By delegating these powers and freedoms to his creatures, God does not himself become less powerful or less sovereign, he is still infinitely powerful and sovereign, even over those things which he has delegated. Instead, he exercises his own power and sovereignty to create, delegate and bestow, and retains ultimate power and sovereignty even in those things which he has delegated to others.
A person has "free will" only in the sense that God allows him to will and to choose without compulsion from an outside source. His will is not free, however, to will or to choose anything. For example, fallen man wants and desires only sin when he considers the things of God. It is against his nature to believe and receive the gospel. His will is enslaved to sin, unable to choose the good. Nevertheless, his will is still free insofar as neither God nor anyone else forces fallen man what to believe or what to will. It is only the freedom or power of "contrary choice" (the power to choose what is against one's nature, as if man were not enslaved by sin) that Reformed theology denies. Ultimately, Reformed theology asserts God's sovereignty in predestination for two basic reasons related to
1) the Bible directly teaches the doctrine
2) fallen man has been so corrupted by sin that he cannot freely choose to receive the gospel. It does not see in free will of either type a necessary challenge to God's sovereignty or omnipotence.
Adam and Eve possessed greater freedom of will than fallen men now do. They did not possess the power of contrary choice, but it was within their nature either to obey God or to disobey God, and God himself had delegated to them the power and freedom of will to make either choice. This delegation, however, did not reduce God's power or sovereignty. God did not have to give away part of his power or sovereignty in order to delegate these to Adam and Eve. Rather, the power to chose which Adam and Eve possessed was subject to and inferior to God's own power, and was merely on loan from God. The fact that God allowed Adam and Eve this power and freedom did not mean that God could not retract them, or that he could not override them.
God desires evil's existence, and the existence of evil brings him glory (such as in his just condemnation of it, Prov. 16:4; Rom. 9:21-24) For reasons known only to God, God has chosen to bring about evil in order that he may be glorified and we may be blessed.
God's omnipotence is his absolute power and strength. When we say that God is omnipotent, we mean that he is so powerful that he can do anything. He has infinite power. When we say that he is sovereign, we mean not only that he has such power, but also that he has the right to exercise that power in any manner he sees fit. Now, when we say that God has infinite power, we do not mean that God has not delegated some responsibilities, rights and powers to other beings. Nor do we mean that no other beings have any power of any sort. Rather, God has chosen to exercise his sovereignty by granting certain freedoms and powers to his creatures.
In his sovereignty, God has created men with body soul,and spirit with minds and emotions, and with powers and freedoms associated with these. For example, human beings have the power to do physical things like eat and walk. They depend upon God's delegation of power to them so that they may do these things, but nevertheless human beings do themselves possess this delegated power, and their possession of this power does not limit God's power. In the same way, human beings have wills (volition) that want, choose and decide (such as wanting and deciding to eat, or choosing what to eat). People are able to do these things because God has delegated them the appropriate abilities and freedoms. By delegating these powers and freedoms to his creatures, God does not himself become less powerful or less sovereign, he is still infinitely powerful and sovereign, even over those things which he has delegated. Instead, he exercises his own power and sovereignty to create, delegate and bestow, and retains ultimate power and sovereignty even in those things which he has delegated to others.
A person has "free will" only in the sense that God allows him to will and to choose without compulsion from an outside source. His will is not free, however, to will or to choose anything. For example, fallen man wants and desires only sin when he considers the things of God. It is against his nature to believe and receive the gospel. His will is enslaved to sin, unable to choose the good. Nevertheless, his will is still free insofar as neither God nor anyone else forces fallen man what to believe or what to will. It is only the freedom or power of "contrary choice" (the power to choose what is against one's nature, as if man were not enslaved by sin) that Reformed theology denies. Ultimately, Reformed theology asserts God's sovereignty in predestination for two basic reasons related to
1) the Bible directly teaches the doctrine
2) fallen man has been so corrupted by sin that he cannot freely choose to receive the gospel. It does not see in free will of either type a necessary challenge to God's sovereignty or omnipotence.
