Chapter 9
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Study
Work through what the church teaches, with the Scripture behind it close at hand. Tap a reference to read it right where you are. The creeds, confessions and catechisms here are historic and faithful, and good to read, but they are not all part of what this church professes.
To learn what we profess, see Our Beliefs.
1.
God has endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
Matthew 17:12 KJV Read in context
12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
James 1:14 KJV Read in context
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV Read in context
19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
2.
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was mutable so that he might fall from it.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV Read in context
29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Genesis 3:6 KJV Read in context
6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
3.
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
Romans 5:6 KJV Read in context
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 8:7 KJV Read in context
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Ephesians 2:1, 5 KJV Read in context
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Titus 3:3-5 KJV Read in context
3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
John 6:44 KJV Read in context
44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
4.
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin, and by His grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he does not perfectly, nor only will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.
Colossians 1:13 KJV Read in context
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
John 8:36 KJV Read in context
36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Philippians 2:13 KJV Read in context
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23 KJV Read in context
15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
5.
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
Ephesians 4:13 KJV Read in context
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
King James Version (1769 text), public domain. Text from eBible.org and the CrossWire Bible Society.