The Uncomfortable Truth: Why Your Free Will Can't Save You

Dismantling the Myth That Made Salvation All About You

Jacob’s Dream - William Blake - 1805

The Central Question

How are we saved?

Through our free will acceptance of the Gospel with God’s subsequent approval, or through God’s sovereign appointment from eternity past without any merit on our part?

This question has long been a source of division within the church. The answer determines whether salvation ultimately depends on human decision or divine election.

In other words, who saved whom?

Essential Foundations

Before examining this doctrine, we must establish two critical baseline principles.

God’s Ways Transcend Human Logic

Isaiah 55:8-9 declares: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s ways do not submit to human analysis. His methods often confound our earthly understanding, and we must accept that not all doctrinal truths can be neatly categorized according to human reasoning.

Scripture Alone Determines Truth

2 Timothy 3:16 states: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Our personal opinion does not carry weight in theological discussion. Every proposition must be anchored in Scripture and examined through careful exegesis, not human preference.

The Original Conflict: The Sin of Adam

Pelagius: The Father of Free Will Salvation

As far back as 360-418 AD, Pelagius, a British Christian monk, argued that humans possess complete free will to choose their salvation. This position made salvation dependent on human capability and decision.

If God commands us to “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), but we cannot respond due to our fallen nature, is this not unjust?

Augustine’s Biblical Response

Augustine (354–430 AD), one of the most influential Christian theologians and philosophers in history, correctly understood that Adam’s sin corrupted human nature and that we are all born with a sinful nature, as Psalm 51:5 states, “In sin did my mother conceive me.”

Before Adam’s fall, humanity could obey God’s commands (Genesis 1:31: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good”).

However, sin fundamentally corrupted human nature. And all descendants of Adam became unable to fulfill God’s commands. Without divine intervention, all humanity faces eternal condemnation.

This position is also confirmed biblically in Ephesians 2:8-9, where it affirms that salvation is entirely a gift of God, not a reward for effort: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ultimately, the Council of Carthage (418 AD) condemned Pelagius as a heretic.

The Arminian Deception: Making God Wait on Human Choice

Arminius: God Looking Down the Corridor of Time

Although Pelagianism is condemned as heresy, Jacob Arminius (1560-1609) teaches that God uses His omniscience to foresee who will freely choose salvation, then ratifies that decision by writing their name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

This appeals to human pride.

Yet, this attitude reveals the boastful nature of this position, directly contradicting Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Calvinism: Divine Election

To counter Armenius, John Calvin (1509-1564) taught that God the Father sovereignly chooses those who will be saved before the creation of the earth. The Holy Spirit then draws the elect to salvation through irresistible grace.

This position challenges human pride. If God chooses some, logic demands that others are excluded. This raises difficult questions about God’s justice that we must answer biblically, not emotionally.

Again, this is documented in Scripture where Revelation 13:8 claims, “And all who dwell on earth will worship it [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

The Problem with “Free Will” Salvation

Although We Possess Will, We Do Not Possess Ability

No one denies humans possess free will. However, if salvation involves spiritual truth, how can unbelievers understand it when they perceive it as foolishness and are spiritually dead in their trespasses?

1 Corinthians 2:14 states: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Would you accept something you considered foolish simply because you possessed free will?

Additionally, your soul is spiritually dead and unable to save itself.

Ephesians 2:1 states, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…” while John 6:44 confirms, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

Furthermore, Our Nature Opposes God

Ephesians 2:3 declares we are “by nature children of wrath.”

John 3:18 reveals that unbelievers “have been condemned already.”

Romans 8:7-8 explains: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Free will cannot overcome spiritual blindness, natural hostility toward God, or the inability to please Him.

The Solution: Divine Illumination

The hymn “Amazing Grace” declares: “…was blind, but now I see.”

How do we become “unblinded” to salvation’s truth?

We’ve established we cannot accomplish this alone. Even free will cannot penetrate spiritual blindness and death.

Satan certainly won’t help, as 1 Peter 5:8 warns: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 reveals Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”

The only available solution is God, as John 16:13 promises: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

Biblical Evidence for Divine Election

God Chooses Salvation, Man Chooses Damnation

Romans 9:16: “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

Scripture explicitly states that salvation does not depend on human free will.

Conversely, the denial of Christ as Lord and Savior is a function of free will.

The asymmetry is clear: God actively saves the elect through irresistible grace, but the reprobate damn themselves through their willing choices while God simply retains His restraining grace.

Romans 1:18-20 clarifies this position, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Addressing Human Objections

Romans 9:19-21 anticipates our objections: “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?’ But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make one vessel out of the same lump for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?”

God possesses absolute sovereignty over His creation, and that includes salvation.

The Gifts of Grace and Faith

Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

Both grace and faith are gifts from God, not human contributions.

The Father’s Drawing

John 6:44: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:65: “And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’”

Salvation requires the Father’s initiative, not human decision.

Divine Purpose in Election

Ephesians 1:4-5: “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

God chooses according to His purpose and pleasure, not human merit or foreseen faith.

Acts 13:48: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”

Practical Implications

What This Means

1. Human Responsibility Remains: We freely choose to deny Christ according to our nature and our own free will.

2. God’s Sovereignty Rules: He chooses whom to save according to His mercy and purpose, not human merit or foreseen faith.

3. Apparent Contradiction Exists: God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), yet humans are responsible for rejecting Christ (Romans 1:20). God’s ways transcend our understanding.

4. Salvation Is Entirely by Grace: We contribute nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9).

5. Evangelism Continues: Since we don’t know who is elect, we must proclaim the Gospel to all (Matthew 28:19).

6. Security Is Absolute: John 6:37 promises: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Conclusion

Matthew 22:14 summarizes this truth: “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Salvation belongs to the Lord. He chooses whom He will save according to His sovereign purpose and good pleasure. This doctrine humbles human pride while exalting God’s grace.

Our response should be thanksgiving and worship, not argument. If you are saved, it is entirely due to God’s unmerited favor. If you are not yet saved, cry out to Him for mercy, knowing that all who come to Christ will never be cast out.

The doctrine of election does not discourage evangelism; it guarantees its success.

When the Gospel is proclaimed with power, God’s sheep will hear His voice.