Soteriology- The place of God and Man.
It is believed that man has free-will. There is Biblical support for such an idea, yet there is also confusion on the matter. There is the fall of man, when Adam and Eve chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They made a decision that made them sinful. God created all things good, and so it would seem God would not create them sinful, but man through choice became such. We also look at Joshua's quote in Joshua 24:15, in which he tells Israel to make a choice. He reminded them of their fathers, who worshiped false gods, and were in slavery. He also gave the option to choose serving the gods of the people, in whose land they were dwelling in, and whom sacrificed their own children and committed horrible acts. Israel had also been shown, in and out of battle, that pagan god's had no power over Jehovah God, so Joshua presents the final option, the one that he chose: Jehovah God, the God of Israel. The people had to make a choice to follow God. Man has a free-will, and must then make decisions, but the question is, how much of salvation is actual free-will.
In Romans 10:9, it says that if we say that Jesus is Lord, (or speak of what he has done) and we believe that He was raised from the dead by God, we will be saved from condemnation. This statement is rather simple, and it would seem there would be no question about it, until you read 1 Corinthians 12:3. 1 Corinthians 12:3 talks about no man saying that Jesus is cursed, while speaking in the Spirit of God, but also that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, unless the Holy Ghost moves him to. This would make us think that, possibly, the Holy Spirit is needed in order for a person to be saved, yet wouldn't that mean that the person can't get saved without the Holy Spirit, and would a person want to get saved without the Holy Spirit's influence? Would that then take from man's free-will? We could then go to Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30, which talks of us being sealed by the Holy Spirit when saved. We also have Peter, at the day of Pentecost speaking of the Holy spirit coming and being received after salvation. So, we must choose to get saved, but we need the Holy Spirit to get saved, but he comes as a seal after we are saved... a little confusing I think. I guess it could be debated that just as demons and the devil can torment Christians, but not possess them, the Holy Spirit can affect a person without entering them until salvation, or that the Holy Spirit can affect an unsaved person through the words and actions of a saved person indwelt with the Spirit. Yet, what of John 15:16? Jesus says that we didn't choose Him, but He chose us. Wouldn't that mean we had no free-will? Or could it be as Mr. Wicks so aptly put, "He made an offer we couldn't resist." Is that what He meant by "chose" us? He chose us to make an offer to? Would this not take from our ability to "chose?"
I think, of all the information that we have, we are driven to the understanding that the question of free-will, is almost impossible to give a solid answer on. It would seem that man must chose it, using his free-will, and yet God must choose for the Holy Spirit to affect him. Without the Holy Spirit, the "irresistible offer," could not be understood or accepted by human nature. Could man then chose whether or not the Holy Spirit may move him? Is that were man's free will is exerted? The only example of salvation that could be used is: "Man is always looking for his own gain. Man is selfish, and stands with his arms outstretched for whatever profit he may take hold of. When God walks up, He places salvation in man's hands, and the only choice he has is to reject it. It is already handed to him, he cannot chose to take it... it is in his hands, or he can reject." We have no part in our salvation, no action saves us, it is not of works lest any man should boast. Is that the free-will? The free-will to reject? Is man capable of truly deciding whether salvation is for him? Man is selfish and seeks temporary pleasure. Man also has eternity set in his heart as the Bible says. Is it the free will to decide which road you choose? If you choose a road that leads you to the point of hearing the gospel that you have no choice in, or the road that takes you, so it can't be put upon you, yet with an infinitive God, you can't get away from His will. Free-will is exerted in many ways, yet free-will can't be free-will if there is only one option. Can it? So, the question is, what exactly is free will, and how much free will do we have. In closing, I have one answer... Deuteronomy 29:29.