From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!presby!burdvax!cng
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Free will
Article-I.D.: burdvax.674
Posted: Thu Apr 14 10:06:14 1983
Received: Tue Apr 19 06:52:23 1983


	"The will is that faculty by which we determine to do something
	which we conceive to be in our power."

					Charles Hodge
					Systematic Theology

The problem that many have in discussing the concept of free will and
foreknowledge is that they define their words in a vacuum.  I content that
the notion of free will, as defined by most people, is contrary to both
reason and the Bible.  If by free will we mean the ability to do anything
which we can conceive, then I believe this is false.  If on the other hand
we view humans as having free agency (they can do anything that is within
their power) we are on much safer ground.  Man cannot do anything that
goes against his nature.  Just as a fish cannot live out of water because it
is by nature a creature of the water, man cannot do that which he does not
have the power to do.

Man is a free agent and responsible for his actions, however, that does not
mean that his will is free.  Since the fall of man, his will has been under
bondage to sin.  Man acts according to his nature and because his nature is
sinful he cannot affect his relationship with God.

Christians believe that the acts of a free agent may be rendered inevitably
certain without destroying their liberty or responsibility.  The concept of
free agency and responsibility is not contrary to believing that God can
both foreknow and predetermine whatever comes about.

					Tom Albrecht
					... {psuvax | presby} ! burdvax ! cng