Do Humans Truly Have Free Will?

DO HUMANS TRULY HAVE FREE WILL? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

This question sounds philosophical at a glance. Some deterministic philosophers have argued that a creature cannot exercise libertarian free will that is independent of the parameters set by its creator. They view the creature in a robotic sense. This question is however raised in the context of God's relationship with the sinner as outlined in Scripture. Do human beings have a free will choice for the decisions they make in life? If the context of this question concerns the sinner's responsibility for choosing to accept or reject God's grace, my answer is in the affirmative. I believe this context is contemplated in the question. I will therefore proceed to present my response with that assumption in mind. 

In Genesis 2:16-17, God reveals that Adam was capable of making a free will decision. The consequences for disobedience are outlined. God warned Adam that the day he eats from the forbidden tree, he will surely die. Genesis 3:1-6 confirms that the woman exercised her free will choice in eating the forbidden fruit. Of course Satan tempted her using the serpent but she was apparently aware of the implications of her disobedience. God did not manipulate the outcome of the fall! It arose from the exercise of free will.

My view is that nothing in Scripture forbids or restrains a sinner from responding to God's grace when they hear the gospel proclaimed and are convicted of sin. No sinner is beyond rescue if Christ shall tarry. If anything, Scripture reveals in a number of passages that the gospel is predicated on the sinner's free will response. The sinner must choose obedience so that God's saving grace is applied to him.

We learn from Romans 10:5-8-11 that the sinner has a moral responsibility in choosing to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. The text proclaims thus:

" 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (NKJV).

The exercise of libertarian free will by the sinner is further upheld in John 3:16-17 that says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (NKJV).

The sinner has an open choice for coming to Christ or rejecting the gospel.

To teach that the sinner is incapable of making a conscious choice for obedience because of the extent of his sinful depravity is to contradict  the revelation and authority of Scripture, in my view. Besides, the justification for God's judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 would be open to doubt. 

Contrary to the doctrine advanced by deterministic soteriology groups, God does not selectively regenerate some sinners or deny some His saving grace. His grace is available to all sinners in all ages since Calvary. Secondly, no sinner was justified or chosen in Christ outside the works of the cross, either in eternity past or in the world to come. No person can blame God for the consequences of their free will decisions. This is gospel truth. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2025

[This article was originally posted as an answer article on e-bible.com in response to the question: Do Humans Truly Have Free Will? Dr. Kimosop is a regular contributor on e-bible.com. He holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Africa International University, Nairobi].