Does Man Have a Choice?

Calvinists teach that God predestined some individuals to be lost before the foundation of the world, and there is nothing they can do to change their fate. However, the Bible says that Christ “died for all” (2 Cor. 5:14), “tasted death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9), and is “the propitiation… for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2). Hence, all can be saved. In fact, if Calvinism were true, God would be a respecter of persons, which he is not (Acts 10:34), and he would be responsible for man being lost, which he is not (2 Cor. 5:10).

The Bible is filled with passages indicating that man has a choice in his salvation: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15). “Enter by the narrow gate” (Matt. 7:13). “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “Save yourselves from this crooked generation” (Acts 2:40). “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Why would all these passages, and a host of others, be in the Bible if man were already predestined with no free will and could not change his fate? Moreover, why would Jesus say of the unbelieving Jews, “You refuse to come to me” (Jn. 5:40) and why would Paul seek to “persuade others” (2 Cor. 5:11)? Obviously, Calvinism is a false doctrine. God predestined the plan, not the man.

Though not our authority, it is worth noting that many of the so-called “church fathers” took the position that man has a choice in his salvation: “We maintain that each man acts rightly or sins by his free choice” (Justin Martyr). “Man… having been made free in his will, and with power over himself, is himself his own cause that sometimes he becomes wheat, and sometimes chaff” (Irenaeus). “It is by one’s own fault that he does not choose what is best. God is free of blame” (Clement of Alexandria). “Man is free, with a will either for obedience or resistance” (Tertullian). “Every rational soul has free will and volition… we are not forced by any necessity to act either rightly or wrongly” (Origen). [All quotes taken from A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, pp. 285-289].

In his commentary on 1 Timothy, noted Calvinist John MacArthur said that “every sinner is incapable yet responsible to believe and will be damned if he does not” (p. 70). This exposes the dark nature of Calvinism, for it terribly impugns God’s character. To say God condemns people for failing to do what they cannot do. Awful! The very idea blames God for man being lost and portrays him as cruel and unjust, condemning people for impossibilities.

Man was created as a free moral agent and therefore has a choice in his salvation. He can either accept the gospel or reject the gospel. If he is lost, the blame is on him!