Do I Have Free Will In Salvation?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss free will as it pertains to salvation in Christ, decision making, and choosing in general. Do we as fallen men and women choose God, do we contribute to our salvation? How does free will work with what the New Testament teaches about God pre-ordaining all things, predestination, and election? Do we have free will to decide and choose for ourselves?

Dr. Caldwell first explains that we do not contribute anything to our salvation. The faith that takes hold of God's promise in Christ is not something that we were born with; no one is born a believer. Salvation comes about as a result of the new birth, or regeneration that Jesus speaks of with Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus explains that apart from the new birth, no one can see or enter the Kingdom of God. Ephesians chapter 2 teaches that everything about our salvation, even the faith brings salvation, is a gift from God.