The Will of Man Vs. The Will of God
Solving the Problem of Calvinism
Dr. Allen Barber
First Posted January 2008
June 8, 2010
 
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God,
13 Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12-13 ESV

How do we reconcile the will of man with the will of God in the above passage from John's gospel?  While we certainly cannot answer all the questions surrounding 5-Point Calvinism (John Calvin was a crypto-Jew) in this brief "Insight," we can glean some helpful hints as to the contextual meaning. The controversy is over the Armenian vs. Calvinism doctrine - man either has or has no free will. Those who say man has no free will believe God sovereignly chooses some to salvation while the rest unfortunate souls go to hell. The other position is that man has the freedom either to accept salvation or reject it. Churches have split over this volatile doctrine and Christians have become bitter enemies.  That should warn us that something is wrong with a doctrine that splits Churches and separates Christians. I have personally witnessed Calvinism ruin a beautiful Christian fellowship and I make no apology when I say that I strongly oppose Calvinism as a heretical doctrine both from a Scriptural position and from common sense.
 
First we need to understand that truth often has two-sides such as heaven and hell, both are correct with one not preferred nevertheless true. In the case of Calvinism, it is easy to become unbalanced and get into extremes. Does salvation involve the will of God or the will of man? Both are involved in genuine salvation. Obviously, if it was not the will of God to offer salvation, no one could be saved - that is a given. However, God's will is ineffectual if man himself is not willing to be saved, otherwise man is no better than an animal who has no choice in eternal matters. Jesus cried out the day before His crucifixion concerning Jerusalem and said, "How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood, but you were not willing." In this we see the two sides of God's truth - He is always willing to save mankind, but mankind is not as willing!  The subject of salvation must be studied in all of its parts, not just one side for that is where all the confusion begins - majoring on one side of revealed truth while ignoring the supplemental parts.
 
For example, some teach "once saved always saved," without emphasizing the equal truth that if a professing believer continues to live in sin after professing salvation, they will be punished. The Apostle John writes in his letters that a believer can commit "the sin unto death" (that is another subject and another article). This is also truth, which 99% of the Church neither teaches nor believes.  Much of the confusion lies in our ability or inability to correctly interpret the biblical texts. For example, one Scripture says, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely, while another text speaks of predestination and election. Both are truth and are not in conflict if we understand the Scriptures taken in their full context - both Old and New Testaments.
 
Someone said that when we get to heaven (where exactly is heaven - will it be on earth or in outer space?), as we enter the front gate a sign is posted that says, "Whosoever will may come," and as we go through the door and look back, we see another sign that says, "Chosen from the foundation of the world;" both convey the meaning of John 1:12-13. God's Word is clear - Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Son of God (has faith in Him) shall, not might, be saved. This is the word God speaks to unbelievers and a wonderful Word that is. However, to the believer who has been saved, God speaks about choosing and election. When Jesus told His disciples that He chose them, not that they chose Him, that is not a word to be spoken to unbelievers.
 
Here is the axiom in a simple phrase for solving the Calvinist problem that some are chosen to salvation and others have no choice who are not chosen - a ludicrous assumption, making God an unfair tyrant who only cares for some of the human race while the others can go to hell without any mercy. The axiom is this and the revelation God showed me when I was once confronted by the Calvinist doctrine involving a Church split. God has chosen us (believers) in Christ Jesus to salvation and the way we enter into to this "chosenness is by "free will" - obeying the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to the foot of the cross to see how we are chosen in the sacrifice of the Lord upon the cross. In Christ, God has said that He has chosen all to salvation who will freely accept the sacrifice of the Lord for forgiveness of sin. The locus of Election then is in the cross of Jesus and not in a so-called biblical doctrine about unilateral election. Therefore, all who obey the gospel are chosen in Christ Jesus to salvation and eternal life. Likewise, all who reject the offer of salvation, have by their own choice, chosen the abode of the dead and damned. It is as simple as that.
 
We are all born-again of the will of God and not our will alone for it is God who has done all the work of salvation - He came, He died, He rose again. Everything that could possibly be done to obtain man's salvation God has done. Therefore, now man can cease from his works and freely accept the free gift of salvation. The will of man must enter into the will of God for there to be spiritual union with God.
 
If you go back and study the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12-17, you will discover that when God cut the covenant with Abraham and explained it to Him, He told Abraham that as far as He (God) was concerned, He would keep the covenant, but the choice was left up to Abraham to accept it. Abraham chose to accept it and when he did, he entered into covenant. This is free will in action:
 
Genesis 17:3-5 NASB



3 And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 
4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
And you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 
5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, 
But your name shall be Abraham; 
For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
 
Here is something to think about, does God have free will?  Did God make man in His image? Then man would of necessity have to have free will or He was not created in the image of God; even the angels were created with free will or Satan could not have rebelled against God.
 
Settle it in your mind that election involves the "location" of where God places it, that is, in the Lord Jesus Christ - God has chosen all to salvation who are willing to accept what He has done in Christ to set aside man's sin. Election then is not an abstract dogma such as Calvinism, but rather how God obtained man's election.
 
God bless you.