Divine Choice or Human Will: The Agency in Choosing To Be In God’s Family

Introduction

What does the Bible reveal about our ability to choose Christ? Are we granted the autonomy of free will, or does Scripture suggest that God’s Will prevails over our own? The teachings might be more complex than just two opposing ideas. Join us as we dive into the Scriptures to uncover the interplay between divine predestination and human agency and what it means for our spiritual journey.

1. The Genesis of Choice: Understanding Free Will in the Garden of Eden

Adam and Eve’s narrative in the Garden of Eden presents a seminal example of free will. When God bestowed a commandment upon Adam and Eve, it implied the presence of choice—to heed the divine directive or to diverge from it. This defining moment emphasized that the power to choose, our free will, is a fundamental aspect of our humanity. However, we must also contemplate whether this essential aspect of our humanity remains intact after Adam and Eve’s fall.

2. Genesis 3

In the Genesis narrative, the Creator endowed Adam and Eve with a profound liberty: the choice to partake of the bounty within Eden—with one exception. The divine injunction, as chronicled in Genesis 2:16-17, was clear:

¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat: ¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die. KJV

This commandment set the stage for a pivotal exercise of free will. Adam and Eve, faced with this solitary prohibition, ultimately chose to transgress the divine boundary. Their decision to consume the forbidden fruit was an act of disobedience that led to profound repercussions—spiritual mortality and the forfeiture of Eden’s perfection. Cast out from the garden, they entered a world marred by toil and sorrow, and their once unblemished fellowship with the Divine was fractured.

3. The Legacy of the Fall: Human Nature and Divine Grace

The transgression of Adam and Eve marked a pivotal turn in the human narrative, introducing a state of moral decay into the essence of humanity. This original act of defiance against divine commandment catalyzes the inherent propensity towards sin that characterizes every individual from birth. The Christian doctrine of total depravity posits that this fallen condition permeates every facet of human nature, rendering individuals incapable of self-redemption in the eyes of God.

Scriptural references that illuminate this condition include:

• Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This verse underscores the pervasive reach of sin, severing the innate connection between humanity and the divine.
• Psalm 51:5: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Here, the psalmist acknowledges the inborn nature of sinfulness.
• Ephesians 2:1-3 3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” This verse describes humanity’s pre-salvation state as being spiritually lifeless, ensnared by worldly influences and innate desires, akin to the rest of humankind.
• Genesis 6:5: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” This verse portrays the extent of human iniquity that precipitated the great deluge as a divine response to continual evil.
• Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” This passage reflects on the enigmatic and corruptible human heart.

The interplay between human free will and the nature of sin post-fall is a subject of enduring theological discourse. While some traditions maintain that the Fall has indeed tainted human nature, affecting the capacity for righteous choice, it does not confine humanity to sin exclusively. For example, Reformed theology, articulated by theologian R.C. Sproul, contends that while fallen humanity can make decisions, it lacks the inherent moral inclination to choose Christ or righteousness absent divine intervention. This perspective is rooted in total depravity, which asserts that sin’s influence extends to all aspects of a person, including the will. Therefore, while individuals can make choices, those choices are invariably colored by a sinful disposition.

4. Rules and Results: The Story of Adam and Eve

In the Genesis narrative, God clearly delineated the repercussions of disobedience to Adam and Eve. The stipulated consequence for defiance was death. While Adam and Eve did not succumb to immediate physical demise upon eating the forbidden fruit, they experienced a profound spiritual death. This spiritual mortality severed their intimate communion with the Creator. It introduced a chasm between the divine and the human, a theme that resonates throughout the tapestry of Scripture and theological discourse.

5. Restoration Through Rebirth: The Path from Fall to Redemption

What does the Bible reveal about our ability to choose Christ? Without the wisdom to see through the Serpent’s guile, Adam and Eve found themselves ensnared by its sly words and beguiling promises, leading to their fateful decision. Their inability to discern good from evil caused them to fall and suffer the consequence of spiritual death. When someone is spiritually dead, they can’t make decisions, including choosing Christ. This means that after Adam and Eve’s disobedience, they suffered the consequences and experienced spiritual death, ending their relationship with God. In this state, their sole redemption lay in God’s divine intervention.

6. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…

After the fall, the effects on humanity resulted in our inability to have a relationship with God. Adam and Eve’s disobedience was not just a breach of divine command but a spiritual demise that fragmented their bond with God, diminishing their spiritual vitality. The trajectory towards ultimate ruin, marked by physical and spiritual death, could only be altered through a transformative process of being ‘born again’—a profound renewal of the spirit that reestablishes the connection with the Divine and offers a new direction towards eternal life. Despite their sin, God’s love for them remained steadfast. As a just deity, He enforces consequences for rebellion, akin to a caring parent disciplining their children. Ultimately, God’s love is so profound that He desires salvation for his children, not wanting them to face eternal separation from Him.

John 3:16 ¹¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. KJV

Romans 6:23 ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

Romans 6:16 ¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

7. Summary

“In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were granted the freedom to make choices. Their decision to “yield” to Satan, resulted in them becoming his servant. It’s important for readers to consider that they had never encountered deception before. Despite their innocence and inexperience, they cannot be fully excused, as they were given clear and precise instructions by God. They were not expected to question or rationalize their decision; their sole duty was to follow God’s will, regardless of their understanding of His commandments. Nevertheless, they chose to heed the serpent’s words over God’s. Their lack of discernment and disobedience led to our fall, resulting in death and separation from God. As a consequence, we became slaves to sin. Our inability to undo our actions highlights our dependence on God’s initiative to restore the relationship with His children.”

Romans 6:20 “For when you were slaves to sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” KJV