Book Review: Willing To Believe by R.C. Sproul

God is sovereign in the salvation of people. Many have a hard time with believing that. Many think God will never force Himself on anyone. Those who do not believe in sovereign election think that the individual has the ability to choose salvation, not God. Is there the ability to choose salvation or is it by God's sovereign will that people are saved?

R.C. Sproul dove in this question as he looked at the human role of salvation, in his book, Willing To Believe. Sproul believes as the Bible says that we are to choose Christ because we are commanded to put our faith in we are given by God the spirit of regeneration which allows us to choose Christ. This spirit of regeneration is given to those whom He chooses. I wish we can say that is the end of the discussion, but it is just beginning.

Sproul looks at men throughout history who have argued that salvation is only based on the individuals choice of coming to Christ, and men who say that is by God's grace and sovereign will we come to faith in Christ. He first looks at what Pelagius believes which is that people can be saved without the assistance of God's grace because we are commanded to. Humans have all the free will to believe without God's help. This in contrast with what Augustine wrote about grace and free will, that we need both. Because of original sin, our will is bonded which is why we need grace.

Sproul takes a look at what Martin Luther believed about free will, which Luther said that free will without grace is not free will and it not good. Then Sproul goes to Calvin who also believe that we need God's assistance when it comes to putting our faith in Christ. Next, we come to Joseph Arminius, who believes that it is the believers choice to be saved and remain saved, which we see in Scripture that grace is a gift from God not by works and nothing can separate us from the love of God especially the times we fall short as believers.

Sproul looks at the views of Jonathan Edwards who believed that our nature is marred by sin which is why we need God's grace to believe. Of course, many have come to disagree with Edwards' conclusions when it comes to sin and man's free will. One of them being Charles Finney who denied that our nature is not deprived by sin and even denies substitutionary atonement.

Sproul concludes that Reformed Theology does not believe God's sovereign will does not violate human free will. In fact, they go together. When a believer chooses Christ, it is because of God's grace and our ability to choose Him.

If you want a more in depth understanding of the debate between man's free will and God's sovereign grace in salvation, this book is one that I highly recommend.

Thanks Baker Publishing Group for letting me review this book.