Do we have free will?

An answer to this question should not be attempted until we have defined the term.

J.I. Packer maintains that discussion of free will requires that certain distinctions be made:

1. If the phrase ‘free will’ be taken morally and psychologically, as meaning the power of unconstrained, spontaneous, voluntary, and therefore responsible, choice, the Bible everywhere assumes that all men, as such, possess it, unregenerate and regenerate alike.
2. If the phrase be taken metaphysically, as implying that men’s future actions are indeterminate and therefore in principle unpredictable, the Bible seems neither to assert nor to deny an indeterminacy of future action relative to the agent’s own moral or physical constitution, but it does seem to imply that no future event is indeterminate relative to God, for he foreknows and in some sense foreordains all things.
3. If the phrase be taken theologically, as denoting a natural ability on the part of unregenerate man to perform acts that are good without qualification in God’s sight, or to respond to the gospel invitation, such passages as Rom. 8:5–8; Eph. 2:1–10; Jn. 6:44 seem to indicate that no man is free for obedience and faith till he is freed from sin’s dominion by prevenient grace. All his voluntary choices are in one way or another acts of serving *SIN till grace breaks sin’s power and moves him to obey the gospel. (Cf. Rom. 6:17–22;

New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed., art. ‘Liberty’

The concept of ‘free will’ writes Berkhof, needs to be handled carefully.  For the question whether humankind has free will can be answered both negatively and positively:

‘Man did not lose any of the constitutional faculties necessary to constitute him a responsible moral agent. He still has reason, conscience, and the freedom of choice. He has ability to acquire knowledge, and to feel and recognize moral distinctions and obligations; and his affections, tendencies, and actions are spontaneous, so that he chooses and refuses as he sees fit. Moreover, he has the ability to appreciate and do many things that are good and amiable, benevolent and just, in the relations he sustains to his fellow-beings.

‘But man did lose his material freedom, that is, the rational power to determine his course in the direction of the highest good, in harmony with the original moral constitution of his nature. Man has by nature an irresistible bias for evil. He is not able to apprehend and love spiritual excellence, to seek and do spiritual things, the things of God that pertain to salvation.’

(Systematic Theology, paragraphing added)

J.I. Packer writes similarly:

‘Free agency is a mark of human beings as such. All humans are free agents in the sense that they make their own decisions as to what they will do, choosing as they please in the light of their sense of right and wrong and the inclinations they feel. Thus they are moral agents, answerable to God and each other for their voluntary choices.’

This moral agency applied to the human race before and after the Fall.  It will apply to the glorified saints in heaven: they will continue to be free agents even though they will always choose what is good and right.

But, in the present unredeemed state,

‘We have no natural ability to discern and choose God’s way because we have no natural inclination Godward; our hearts are in bondage to sin, and only the grace of regeneration can free us from that slavery.’

Packer adds that the ‘will’ is an abstraction.  It is not a ‘thing’ with independent properties or actions.  My ‘will’ is me, as I choose and then act upon that choice.  So:

‘The truth about free agency, and about Christ freeing sin’s slave from sin’s dominion, can be expressed more clearly if the word ‘will’ is dropped and each person says: I am the morally responsible free agency; I am the slave of sin whom Christ must liberate; I am the fallen being who only have it in me to choose against God till God renews my heart.’

Michael Lawrence:

‘Some people are fond of debating whether or not we have free will. The Bible’s answer is that it depends on what you mean by “free.” If by “free” you mean that we do what we want to do, that nothing forces us to believe or to act against our will, then the Bible’s answer is “yes.” Our will is always free to act in accord with its nature. But if by “free” you mean that somehow our will is morally neutral and above the fray, able to choose between good and evil on its own merits, independent of predisposition or motive, then the answer is a clear and unequivocal “no.” Our nature is corrupted and, as Paul says, we are sold as slaves to sin. We can no more choose not to be sinners than a fish can choose not to be a swimmer. It’s our nature.’ (Source)