VII.
Free Agency
We believe that the human race’s creation in Godlikeness
included ability to choose between right and wrong, and that
thus human beings were made morally responsible; that through
the fall of Adam they became depraved so that they cannot now
turn and prepare themselves by their own natural strength and
works to faith and calling upon God. But we also believe that
the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon
all people, enabling all who will to turn from sin to
righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and
cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and
acceptable in His sight. We believe that all persons, though
in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire
sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless
they repent of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost.
(Godlikeness and moral responsibility: Genesis 1:26-27;
2:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3-5;
Isaiah 1:8-10; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:1-4; Micah 6:8;
Romans 1:19-20; 2:1-16; 14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8)
(Natural inability: Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms 14:1-4;
51:5; John 3:6a; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12-14, 20a; 7:14-25)
(Free
grace and works of faith: Ezekiel 18:25-26; John 1:12-13;
3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans 5:6-8, 18; 6:15-16, 23; 10:6-8; 11:22;
1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 10:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19;
Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13;
Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:10a; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews
2:1-3; 3:12-15; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; James 2:18-22; 2 Peter
1:10-11; 2:20-22) |
