Day 175

Of Free Will.

Chapter 9, Paragraph 3.

” …so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in Sin,…”

Scripture Lookup

Eph. 2:1,5

Reflection

People, in their corrupted, fallen nature, do not want to be saved.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. It is foolishness for them because, in their view, they don’t need saving. Surrounded by comfort, family, and friends, they have all they desire. Why change your life if there’s nothing wrong with it?

Or there are some who are perishing that are not pleased with their life. They want a solution and are eager to follow any promise of deliverance – except the true one. Backing away from the gospel, they readily turn to a false one.

While mankind has a free will and the ability to act upon that will, that will is averse to any good concerning salvation. This is a result of the corrupted nature inherited from Adam and Eve. With sin seeping through every pore of ourselves, it is impossible that we could be stirred to any interest in redemption on our own.  We need intervention before any thought of the gospel sparks interest in us.

Questions to Consider

• If fallen people are averse to any spiritual good, how does that affect your evangelism?