The Influence of Reading: Willing to Believe

Well, I have finally found the time to discuss the first book in this series of posts. In case you missed the introduction to this series, it is available here.

When discussing the controversy regarding free will, most modern-day Christians have failed to listen to the words of George Santayana who once wrote, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Instead of learning from those who have gone before us, many Christians have ignored the discussions, debates and controveries that have taken place throughout Church History.

In the Preface to his book, Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will, R.C. Sproul writes the following:

This present volume focuses on the issue of sola gratia, the underlying foundation of the issues that provoked the Reformation. It is an overview of the historical developments that grew out of the original controversy between Pelagius and Augustine. The stress is on the graciousness of grace and the monergistic work of God in effecting the believer's liberation from the moral
bondage of sin. It explores the relationship between original sin and human free will.

For me, this book helped to put the controversy into perspective. I realized that the debates about free will, election, etc. were nothing new; rather, the debates have been taking place throughout church history. This book is a wonderful demonstration of how men like Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and others have stood firm for the truths of God's Word. Read this book and see if you are truly willing to believe what God has taught us in His Word about the condition of humanity, regeneration and faith, and free will and election.

"But to all who did recieve him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" -John 1:12, 13 (ESV).

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" -Ephesians 2:4,5 (ESV).