The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Man’s Responsibility vs. Man’s Will

I’m having a debate with someone off-line. We are discussing God’s sovereignty over salvation and man’s responsibility for his sin, to repent, etc. We believe that both statements are true. Where we differ is he believes these statements are coequal and irreconcilable.

I believe that both are true and difficult to reconcile, but God’s sovereignty is primary because although man is responsible he can do nothing. God must intervene and incline depraved man’s heart.

He thinks man’s will and man’s responsibility are synonymous. When I ask the question directly, he’ll only answer with: “God’s sovereignty over salvation and man’s responsibility are both true, but irreconcilable”.

I maintain man’s will and man’s responsibility are not synonymous.

Anyway, we have both read and listened to sermons on God’s sovereignty over salvation and man’s responsibility. However, I’m looking for something on man’s responsibility versus man’s will.

What do you think? Are these truths are coequal and irreconcilable? Does anyone believe man’s responsibility and man’s will synonymous? Does anyone know any scripture, writings, sermons, etc. on this specific subject? Anyone else have experience debating this?

Thanks!

David:

Here is a paper that helped me tremendously. This will print out in 10 or 11 pages and needs to be studied. One cannot quickly read through this. Happy reading!
The Consistency of Divine Sovereignty and Human Accountability by Matt Perman

Dave

I can't count the number of times I have read and recommended The Sovereignty of God in Salvation by Jonathan Edwards. You can find it Here.

Boy everybody is giving you article about God's Soveriegnty as far as I can see. So who am I to go against the crowd? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bigglasses.gif" alt="" /> Here is an article by Brian Godawa that I find enlightening. I'll see if I can find something about Man's responsibility. What So Ever Comes To Pass

1. Both are equally true, for their source is God.
2. There is no need for reconciliation because they are not antithetical.
3. Responsibility and will are two entirely different things. Responsibility = accountability but will = determination and/or ability. Responsibility is what man is required to do. Will is that which man does according to his reason and affections.
4. Here's a few articles that deal with these things, which you may find helpful:
   - Free-Will by A.A. Hodge
   - Human Freedom by G.C. Berkouwer
   - Objections Answered by Loraine Boettner

In His Grace,

Thanks to everyone for the info. I was thinking about this and going over the discussion/debate I had this person. If anyone is interested, this is my background with this person. He is an immediate relative. We have debated this on and off over the years. He is a staunch freewill believer. However, in this recent discussion he was careful not to use the word "freewill". In fact he now says that word is not in the Bible. I was encouraged as I thought he was finally learning some truth. However, after discussing this for a while it turned into another debate. I now realize he still clings to freewill doctrine. He just removed "freewill" from his vocabulary and replaced it with "responsibility". That's why he will not directly answer my question - are man's will and man's responsibility synonymous? I tend to get a little frustrated when I debate him because he can be very bullheaded.

I want him to know the truth. Please pray for him.