Of Free Will

Chapter 9 distinguishes between the natural will of the creature (which is free in the sense that it is not coerced) and the moral capacity of the will after the fall (which is in bondage to sin). In the state of innocency, Adam had freedom and power to will and to do good. In the state of sin, fallen man has lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation.

When God converts a sinner, he frees him from the natural bondage to sin and enables him by grace to will and to do that which is spiritually good. Yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruption, the believer does not perfectly nor only will that which is good.

The Reformed Baptist tradition holds the will in balance: real bondage before grace, real freedom under grace, real perfection only in glory.

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For the full text of this chapter with scripture proofs, see the1689confession.com or Founders Ministries.