GOD IS FREE
The Bible clearly declares that GOD
IS FREE. Most theologians refer to this as the quality of
self-determination.
1. Some explanation needs to be given to this point, even before the
Biblical testimony is cited. Obviously, self-determination or freedom has to do
specifically with the will of God. At this point we are thinking of the process,
procedure, the operation of the will. Or perhaps, stated in different words,
the operation of the self. With respect to God, on the negative side there is
no limitation upon Him from the outside, there is no pressure moving upon Him
from that source, there is no element, however slight, outside of Himself that
activates the movement of His will. On the positive side it can be said with
absolute certitude that God is a free Spirit in the fullest sense of that
expression. All pressures, activations, and motivations come from within and
are completely consistent with His nature.
This does not mean that God is free to do anything. But it does mean
that God is free in the sense that His actions are determined by His own will
and pleasure, and not by anything outside Himself. God is not free to deny
Himself, for this would be in contradiction to His own nature (2 Tim. 2:13). He is not free to lie,
for God is truth (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18).
He is not free to be tempted with evil (James
1:13), or to look with approval upon sin (Hab. 1:13), for God is holy. And God may also impose limitations
upon Himself. He restrains Himself in the outpouring of His wrath upon the
world because He wants to harvest a full crop of souls (2 Pet. 3:9, 15). In the case of Christ, He limited his knowledge
concerning His own return (Mark 13:32),
and the exercise of His own power (Matt.
26:53-54), because He had performed an act of self-will to be completely
subject to the Father (Phil. 2:5-7; John
8:28-29).
2. The Biblical testimony in support of this personal attribute of God
is variously set forth in the word of God. A clear affirmation is made in the
penitential Psalm of David, that God has a "free
spirit" (Psa. 51:12). In
several of the versions the word "free"
has been rendered by the word "willing"
(NSRB, ASV, NASB, RSV). A parallel reference in the margin of the NASB carries
the word "freewill" (Psa. 110:3).
But there are many ways in which this fact is expressed in the Bible.
Job declares of God that "what his
soul desireth, even that he doeth" (Job 23:13). When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses, Daniel
reports him saying of God, "And all
the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to
his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan. 4:35). To the Corinthian Church it
is declared by Paul that in the distribution of gifts God does this "severally as He will" (1 Cor. 12:11), and "to every one as it hath pleased Him" (1 Cor. 12:18). In a sweeping statement
Paul remarks to the Ephesian believers that God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).
3. There are distinctions in the area of self-determination,
especially when this theme is discussed in relation to men and animals. The
question can be seriously asked: Are animals free? The answer to this is an
incontrovertible no! Then, why not? The explanation is to be found in the fact
that all their activity is determined by their environment. The animal has
determination, but this determination is entirely activated from stimuli from without.
In no sense does the animal conceive an idea, reflect upon it, and initiate an
impulse of the will to carry it into action. In no sense does the animal have
self-determination.
But man rises infinitely above the animal in this respect. It is true that
he is not wholly free. He is partially controlled by his environment, by
others, and by God. However, as he grows in grace and draws nearer to God, his
freedom increases (2 Cor. 3:17-18).
But God alone is the perfect personality. He rises completely above His
immediate environment. He is entirely self-determined. Possessing infinity
within Himself, God is in no sense dependent upon anything from without, so
that He can be completely self-determined.
4. The application of this great
truth covers a wide area. God was perfectly free when He determined on creation
(Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16), redemption (Rom. 9:11; 3:24), Israel (Deut. 7:7-8; Isa. 43:21; Hos. 14:4),
the Cross (Isa. 53:10; Acts 2:23; 4:28),
and the Church (Eph. 1:4).
This great truth cuts the foundation from beneath fatalism, for all of
God's actions are determined by Himself (Eph.
1:11), and pantheism is proven false, for God is not locked into a system
of nature. He rises above nature (Psa.
135:5-7), and is capable of introducing new elements such as miracles (Psa. 135:8-9).
Moreover, this great truth gives consolation and hope to the believer.
Since God is outside and above nature, the believer can address Him in prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven."
This means that God can answer his prayer. "Wherefore
should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens:
he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Psa. 115:2-3). Because God is above creation and can work in behalf
of His own at His own will, God's people are urged to trust in Him (Psa. 115:9-13).
There is still another practical value in this great truth. Because
God is a free spirit, there is encouragement for the believer to give himself
up to the filling of the Spirit. The believer can respond to the commands of
the Lord, knowing that it is God which works in us both to will and do of His
good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13). And
where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17) . No one is freer than that one who is vitally
integrated with a free God.
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