Free Will, The Fall and The Holy Spirit

“Why do some desire God while others do not?”  

Such questions inevitably bring up terms like, “Free Will,” which should only, if at all, be used in carefully explained situations.  Free Will here is defined as making choices according to one’s own desire.1  The nature of mankind, however, is marred by The Fall2, making us unable to desire God.3  Our inclination towards evil and self-destruction does not free us from such a responsibility, however.  In this state, we freely choose to flee from God.  In this state, Free Will is a curse, which continues until the Holy Spirit performs a work of regeneration in us, renewing our desire such that we can freely run to, rather than away from God.4 As such, the glory of a sinner repenting and trusting in Christ alone for their salvation belongs to God alone.5

Despite this, we who now have renewed wills capable of desiring God are still capable of sinning, as corruption from The Fall remains within us.  This remaining corruption can make us unnecessarily miserable and depressed.6 We overcome this corruption over time as we rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit.7 This same Spirit also ensures that we persevere in our desire for God to the end.8 

1. R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1992), 179.

2. Gen. 3:6-8; Rom. 3:23; Gen. 2:27; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:12; Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Titus 1:15; Rom. 3:10-19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 49; Ps. 51:5; John 3:6; Rom. 7:18; Rom. 8:7;

3. Rom. 8:7-8; John 6:44, 65; John 15:5; Rom. 5:5.   

4. Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12; Eph. 1:17-18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Ezek. 36:26; John 6:44-45; Acts 16:14; Ps. 110:3; John 6:37; Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 6:16-18; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29.

5. Titus 1:1; Heb. 10:39.

6. Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:14-15; 1 John 1:8-10.

7. 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18.

8. Phil. 1:6; 2 Pet. 1:10; Rom. 8:28-30; John 10:28-29; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18; 1 Pet. 1:5, 9.