MAN AS MUCH A FREE AGENT AS GOD

MAN AS MUCH A FREE AGENT AS GOD

from; http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF Books II/Simmons
- A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine.pdf

We have noted that A. H. Strong says:
"Free agency is the power of selfdetermination."

Others define it as the power one has to act according to his choice,
to do as he pleases.

We have seen that free agency does not imply ability to transcend oneself
and to act contrary to one's character.

It does not exclude determination to either good or bad.

It does exclude compulsion and restraint from outside of ones nature,
and it also just as surely excludes mere caprice and arbitrariness.

What more than this can be affirmed of God?

What less can be affirmed of man?

God is self-determined.

So is man, and at all times.

God always acts according to His choice;
He does as He pleases.*

So also does man.

God cannot transcend Himself and act contrary to His character.**

Neither can THE FREE AGENCY OF MAN man.

God is ever determined to Good.

Natural man is ever determined
to that which is spiritually evil.

A regenerated man is determined, in the main, to that which is good.

When he commits evil, he is, for the moment determined to evil.

The will of God is never compelled or restrained by anything outside His own nature.

The same is true of man.

God never acts capriciously or arbitrarily, that is, without sufficient cause.

Neither does man.

God always acts according to His preference, considering things as a whole;
but not always according to His preference in things,
considering them separately and apart from His perfect plan.***

For instance, God immanently prefers holiness at all times,
but, in consideration of His plan as a whole, He purposed to permit sin;

because it, in some way, is necessary to the working out of His plan.

This is analogous to the fact that man has conflicting preferences,
but he always follows his strongest preference; and in doing so,
his will is wholly and absolutely free. __________

*Psa. 135:6;

6 "The LORD does all that pleases Him

in the heavens and on the earth,

in the seas and in all their depths."


Isa. 46:10;

"Declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,

saying,
My Counsel Shall Stand, and I Will Do all My Pleasure:

**We know this because of God's immutability,
for a discussion of which see chapter on "The Nature and Attributes of God."

***See chapter on "The Will of God." __________ The position of God's will,
and the nature and laws of its action, are the same as in the case of man's will.

Each is subject to the nature of its possessor.

Both express the nature of their possessors in view of motives.

Both man and God are free at all times
to act out their most dominant desires and inclinations.

God is not more truly a free agent than man is.