Willing to Believe: The Controversy Over Free Will
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
What is the role of the will in believing the good news of the gospel? Why has there been so much controversy over free will throughout church history? Willing to Believe is a major work on the Protestant doctrines of man’s total depravity and God’s effectual grace. R. C. Sproul traces the free-will controversy from its formal beginning in the fifth century, when Augustine took up the pen against Pelagius, to the present. By the time you finish this historical tour, you will understand the nuances separating the views of Protestants and Catholics, Calvinists and Arminians, the Reformed and Dispensationalists. You will also see how this debate colors our view of humanity and shapes our understanding of God’s character.
Top Highlights
“Any view of the human will that destroys the biblical view of human responsibility is seriously defective. Any view of the human will that destroys the biblical view of God’s character is even worse.” (Page 29)
“Pelagius’s seventh premise concludes that there always remain the possibility and indeed the reality of sinless men.” (Page 37)
“The foundation of Pelagius’s thought is the premise that God’s highest attributes are his goodness and justice.” (Page 35)
“This grace is free because it is neither merited nor earned. It is indispensable because it is the necessary condition for recovery, the sine qua non of salvation. It is prevenient because it must come before the sinner can recover. It is irresistible because it is effectual, accomplishing God’s purpose in giving it. It is indefectible because this liberating grace is perfect, infallible, and unflawed. The gift of grace is linked to God’s eternal purpose and is intimately tied to his predestinating purpose.” (Page 51)
“For Pelagius, nature does not require grace in order to fulfill its obligations. Free will, properly exercised, produces virtue, which is the supreme good and is justly followed by reward. By his own effort man can achieve whatever is required of him in morality and religion.” (Page 35)
