A Fresh Call to Faithfulness in Our Free Will Baptist Heritage

[Armchair Apologist]

Did God honor Noah's free-will not to go to Nineveh or Saul's free-will to go to Damascus to punish Christians?

I believe you meant Jonah but good point nonetheless! If you are Christ's he will not honor your "free will" to be disobedient or to bring dishonor to him!

However, when we look at Saul's conversion, do we see anything remotely pertaining to "free will" aside from God literally changing his "will?" I am certain that Paul wasn't complaining that God had violated his "free will" here!

 

[Ascetic X]

I believe you meant Jonah but good point nonetheless! If you are Christ's he will not honor your "free will" to be disobedient or to bring dishonor to him!

However, when we look at Saul's conversion, do we see anything remotely pertaining to "free will" aside from God literally changing his "will?" I am certain that Paul wasn't complaining that God had violated his "free will" here!

God does honor our free will, but is not pleased with the sin we may commit when we exercise our free will.

Demons do not honor free will, they possess and force individuals to do bad things.

When God does something to get our attention, He is not violating our free will.

God lets us suffer the consequences of sin, so we will be repulsed and return to Him.

God is honored when we obey Him by our free will.

Satan cannot accuse God of forcing people to obey Him.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

So, it is not a lack of free will that is involved, it is God doing things to thwart or divert a free will action.

Can you share any scripture saying God gave man free will?

 

[Ascetic X]

Can you share any scripture saying God gave man free will?

Every verse that commands people to do something.

Every verse that commands people to not do something.

Every verse that talks about choice or choosing.

God would receive no glory or honor if people were robots who are forced to obey God.


Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[Ben1445]

Did God honor Noah's free-will not to go to Nineveh…?

That is correct. Noah was given a pass on that one and they had to look for a floater to do the job.

Sorry I couldn’t resist.


Jonah is a bit of a different scenario. We see Jonah’s free will in that he determined that he would not go and God made him willing though inwardly resentful. But as a prophet of God, the option is not Jonah’s. What would your superiors have done to you if you ever went the opposite direction of where you were told to go with the intention of not doing the given job?
If you were told to leave Texas and go represent your company in California, and you decided to go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on company time, what would you expect to happen?

 

[Ben1445]

I believe you meant Jonah but good point nonetheless! If you are Christ's he will not honor your "free will" to be disobedient or to bring dishonor to him!

However, when we look at Saul's conversion, do we see anything remotely pertaining to "free will" aside from God literally changing his "will?" I am certain that Paul wasn't complaining that God had violated his "free will" here!

But with Paul, he wanted to serve the Lord and didn’t know who He was. This is not, as you say against his will. It is a correction of Saul’s mistaken belief.

 

[Ben1445]

Can you share any scripture saying God gave man free will?

Romans 9:16
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Salvation is not a product of the person who wills to be saved. We could not will the Saviour into the world to be our sacrifice. But that does not change the fact that we have a will that is exercised to come to salvation.

Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

With no will, what that actually means is, God almost used Paul to bring someone to Christ, but then God rejected the call on behalf of Agrippa so that he would not be saved.


2 Corinthians 5:11
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

[Ben1445]

Can you share any scripture saying God gave man free will?

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

“Will” conjugated

Indicative​

presentⓘ
I	will
you	will
he, she, it	will
we	will
you	will
they	will

simple pastⓘ
I	would
you	would
he, she, it	would
we	would
you	would
they	would

 

[Armchair Apologist]

God does honor our free will, but is not pleased with the sin we may commit when we exercise our free will.

Demons do not honor free will, they possess and force individuals to do bad things.

When God does something to get our attention, He is not violating our free will.

God lets us suffer the consequences of sin, so we will be repulsed and return to Him.

God is honored when we obey Him by our free will.

Satan cannot accuse God of forcing people to obey Him.

If you wanted to exercise your "Free Will," jump off a cliff and end your life and three or four big guys came around and wrestled you to the ground, would you be upset with them for violating your "Free Will?" Perhaps at the moment but what about after you had time to gather your thoughts and in a moment of clarity you realized how stupid it would've been to end your life and despite how bad things may happen to be at the moment, you still want to live? Perhaps you would then be thankful that these men were around to prevent you from making such a dumb decision? Perhaps it is divine providence intervening on your behalf and I believe we are all grateful that God has done so regarding the manner in which each of us may have come to a saving faith in him!

Sometimes we give the Devil and his demons way too much credit than they actually deserve! We are capable of doing all sorts of dumb things without their assistance!

God would be quite merciful in having these men at the right place at the right time to stop you from doing something that was really, really dumb, right? Then again, he could've just let you exercise your "free will" and allow you to make that "leap into eternity!" We often hear in the news of similar circumstances ending either heroically or tragically. God is sovereign over both is he not?

God is glorified when people see you singing that "New Song" that he has placed in your mouth making you a new creature and having you clothed and in your right mind!

Now, I know you disagree with me regarding certain aspects of "Calvinism" but I'm sure you can say "AMEN!" to everything I have stated here right?

 

[Ascetic X]

If you wanted to exercise your "Free Will," jump off a cliff and end your life and three or four big guys came around and wrestled you to the ground, would you be upset with them for violating your "Free Will?"

You must understand that nobody can violate your free will.

All someone can do is try to prevent a free will decision from being fulfilled.

A person in prison still has free will, but their options for exercising it are limited. By their free will they choose to comply with the warden’s rules or defy them. Then the consequences occur.

To violate free will would be to hypnotize you and make you choose something you would not choose in your normal state of mind.

God does not violate our free will, for He gave that to us so we could make choices.

Our entire legal system is based on free will. A criminal cannot say someone forced him to commit a crime. He chose to commit a crime and then he faces punishment.

 

[Ben1445]

If you wanted to exercise your "Free Will," jump off a cliff and end your life and three or four big guys came around and wrestled you to the ground, would you be upset with them for violating your "Free Will?" Perhaps at the moment but what about after you had time to gather your thoughts and in a moment of clarity you realized how stupid it would've been to end your life and despite how bad things may happen to be at the moment, you still want to live? Perhaps you would then be thankful that these men were around to prevent you from making such a dumb decision? Perhaps it is divine providence intervening on your behalf and I believe we are all grateful that God has done so regarding the manner in which each of us may have come to a saving faith in him!

Sometimes we give the Devil and his demons way too much credit than they actually deserve! We are capable of doing all sorts of dumb things without their assistance!

God would be quite merciful in having these men at the right place at the right time to stop you from doing something that was really, really dumb, right? Then again, he could've just let you exercise your "free will" and allow you to make that "leap into eternity!" We often hear in the news of similar circumstances ending either heroically or tragically. God is sovereign over both is he not?

God is glorified when people see you singing that "New Song" that he has placed in your mouth making you a new creature and having you clothed and in your right mind!

Now, I know you disagree with me regarding certain aspects of "Calvinism" but I'm sure you can say "AMEN!" to everything I have stated here right?

There is a difference between will and ability. You don’t have to have the ability to have the will to do something.

 

[Ben1445]

We often hear in the news of similar circumstances ending either heroically or tragically. God is sovereign over both is he not?

Do you mean by sovereign that God determines it or allows it?

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Do you mean by sovereign that God determines it or allows it?

Allows it. He may allow you to just jump off the cliff or he may just providentially intervene on your behalf.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

There is a difference between will and ability. You don’t have to have the ability to have the will to do something.

Your will was thwarted was it not?

 

[Ben1445]

Your will was thwarted was it not?

That doesn’t mean you don’t have a free will. If in order to have a free will you must be as powerful as God, and unable to be stopped, we have different definitions of free will.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

That doesn’t mean you don’t have a free will. If in order to have a free will you must be as powerful as God, and unable to be stopped, we have different definitions of free will.

Sir, what exactly are we arguing over here? Where have I said that we do not have a free will? Our free will is disposed to sin, we freely run from God, freely disobey his laws, and freely pursue our inherent sinful lusts! Two words change absolutely everything - But God! If you are in Christ and have received the same grace and mercy as I have, such words should not spark an argument but should lead to our rejoicing and shouting "AMEN!"

Am I right or wrong here?

 

[Ben1445]

Sir, what exactly are we arguing over here? Where have I said that we do not have a free will? Our free will is disposed to sin, we freely run from God, freely disobey his laws, and freely pursue our inherent sinful lusts! Two words change absolutely everything - But God! If you are in Christ and have received the same grace and mercy as I have, such words should not spark an argument but should lead to our rejoicing and shouting "AMEN!"

Am I right or wrong here?

You didn’t say that before.

 

[Ascetic X]

Sir, what exactly are we arguing over here? Where have I said that we do not have a free will? Our free will is disposed to sin, we freely run from God, freely disobey his laws, and freely pursue our inherent sinful lusts! Two words change absolutely everything - But God! If you are in Christ and have received the same grace and mercy as I have, such words should not spark an argument but should lead to our rejoicing and shouting "AMEN!"

Am I right or wrong here?

To be fair, free will is not necessarily always running away from God, disobeying His laws, or pursuing inherent sinful lusts.

Many unsaved individuals begin to seek God, obey His laws written in their conscience, and exercise rigorous restraint toward sinful lusts.

In some cases, people like Buddhists and stoics can sometimes be more ethical and ascetic than many Christians.

To say all unbelievers are worthless trash is not an effective orientation for evangelism. Compared to our holy God, all human works amount to nothing but filthy rags, but in the context of humanity, there are good morals that benefit society.

Romans 2:14,15

For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, they, not having the law, are a law unto themselves,

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

 

[RevVonHanshaw]

You all have some great questions. Below is my response to each of the 9 questions.

1. Does “free will” apply only to salvation?​

Free Will Baptists affirm real moral agency in all areas of life. “Free will” does not mean freedom from influence, but the God‑given ability—enabled by prevenient grace—to respond to God.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Josh. 24:15) “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Prevenient grace (grace that “goes before”) restores the sinner’s ability to respond without forcing the response. Thus, free will applies broadly, but is most emphasized in salvation because that is where Calvinism denies it.

2. Do Free Will Baptists hold the Governmental Theory of the Atonement?​

Historically, Free Will Baptists affirm general atonement—Christ died for all (1 Jn. 2:2)—and reject limited atonement. Some governmental elements appear in our tradition, but we do not bind ourselves to one philosophical model.

We affirm:

• Christ’s death is sufficient for all, efficient for believers.
• Atonement is universal in provision, conditional in application (Acts 17:30).

3. Why would someone “alive in Christ” ever return to spiritual death and commit apostasy?​

Because regeneration does not destroy free will. Believers are truly made alive, yet still capable of choosing unbelief.

Hebrews warns real believers:

“Take heed, brethren… in departing (ἀφίστημι aphistēmi) from the living God.” (Heb. 3:12)

Hebrews 6:4–6 describes people who were:

• “enlightened,”
• “partakers of the Holy Ghost,”
• “tasted the good word of God.”

The verb “fall away” is παραπεσόντας (parapesontas)**—to apostatize. Free Will Baptists affirm that believers can truly fall from grace by willful unbelief, not by accident or weakness.

4. Did God honor Jonah’s free will or Saul’s free will?​

God overruled their choices providentially, but did not annihilate their agency.

Jonah chose to flee; God disciplined him, yet Jonah still had to choose obedience (Jon. 3:3). Saul chose to persecute; Christ confronted him, yet Saul still had to respond (Acts 9:6).

Free Will Baptists affirm that God governs human choices without predetermining them.

5. What is the Free Will Baptist view of World Missions and the Great Commission?​

We are strongly missions‑minded. Christ’s command is universal:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” (Matt. 28:19)

We reject the idea that people are “better off” never hearing the gospel. Romans 1:20 teaches that general revelation leaves all men without excuse, but Romans 10:14 teaches that the gospel is God’s appointed means of salvation.

Thus:

• All are accountable for the light they have.
• The gospel must be preached to all.
• No one is “excused” in a way that makes missions unnecessary.

6. Regarding “saved by faith, kept by faith”—what role does regeneration play?​

Regeneration is a supernatural change, not mental assent.

Greek παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia)** = “new birth, new genesis.”

“Except a man be born again…” (Jn. 3:3)

We are:

• Saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8).
• Kept by the power of God through faith (1 Pet. 1:5).

Faith (πίστις pistis) means trusting, obedient reliance, not mere intellectual agreement. Regeneration produces new desires, yet believers must continue trusting Christ. This ongoing faith is Spirit-enabled, not self‑generated.

7. Hebrews 6 and 10—are these warnings to professing Jews or true believers?​

Free Will Baptists hold that these warnings are addressed to true believers, not merely professing Jews.

Hebrews 10:29 says the person was:

• “sanctified” (ἁγιάζω hagiazō)
• by “the blood of the covenant.”

This verb is used of genuine believers (Heb. 2:11; 10:10).

Hebrews 6 describes people who were “partakers of the Holy Ghost.” This is not language for unconverted churchgoers.

Thus:

• Hebrews warns real believers against apostasy.
• Apostasy is a willful, persistent rejection of Christ and His blood.

8. Difference between divine discipline and apostasy? And is conditional perseverance “dependent on us”?​

Divine discipline = God correcting His children who still possess faith, though disobedient.

“Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” (Heb. 12:6)

Apostasy = deliberate abandonment of faith.

“If we sin wilfully… there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” (Heb. 10:26)

Conditional perseverance means:

• Believers must continue in faith (Col. 1:23).
• God enables this perseverance (Phil. 2:13).
• God keeps us through faith (1 Pet. 1:5).

Thus perseverance is synergistic: God keeps us, and we continue trusting Him. If someone is comfortable in sin with no discipline, it is evidence of no regeneration, and church discipline is appropriate.

9. Why do we continue trusting Christ after salvation?​

Because salvation is a living relationship, not a one‑time transaction.

We continue trusting because:

• Christ is our life (Col. 3:4).
• We are commanded to abide (μένω menō) in Him (Jn. 15:4).
• We are warned not to be “moved away” from the gospel (Col. 1:23).

Faith is not a past event; it is a present posture. We were saved by faith; we live by faith (Gal. 2:20). If we cease trusting Christ, we cut ourselves off from the saving benefits of His atonement.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

You didn’t say that before.

I'm sorry, where was I inconsistent here? My apologies if I was not clear.

Based upon what I have stated, are we at least in agreement regarding these points?