C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER
CAPÍTULO IX
Del libre albedríoI. Dios ha dotado la voluntad del hombre con esa libertad natural, que no es forzada ni, por ninguna necesidad absoluta de la naturaleza, determinada al bien o al mal.[1]
[1] Mateo 17:12. Pero yo os digo que Elías ya vino, y ellos no le conocieron, pero le hicieron todo lo que quisieron. Así también el Hijo del hombre sufrirá por ellos. Santiago 1:14. Pero cada uno es tentado, cuando de su propia concupiscencia es atraído y seducido. Deuteronomio 30:19. A los cielos ya la tierra llamo por testigos hoy contra vosotros, que os he puesto delante la vida y la muerte, la bendición y la maldición; escoge, pues, la vida, para que vivas tú y tu descendencia.
II. El hombre, en su estado de inocencia, tenía libertad y poder para querer y hacer lo que era bueno y agradable a Dios;[2] pero, sin embargo, mutablemente, para que pueda caer de él.[3]
[2] Eclesiastés 7:29. He aquí, sólo esto he hallado, que Dios ha hecho al hombre recto; pero han buscado muchos inventos. Génesis 1:26. Y dijo Dios: Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza; y señoree en los peces del mar, en las aves de los cielos, en las bestias, en toda la tierra y en todas las cosa que se arrastra sobre la tierra.
[3] Génesis 2:16-17. Y mandó Jehová Dios al hombre, diciendo: De todo árbol del huerto podrás comer; mas del árbol de la ciencia del bien y del mal, no comerás; porque el día que de él comieres, seguramente morirás. Génesis 3:6. Y viendo la mujer que el árbol era bueno para comer, y que era agradable a los ojos, y árbol codiciado para alcanzar la sabiduría, tomó de su fruto, y comió, y dio también a su marido con ella; y él comió.
tercero El hombre, por su caída en un estado de pecado, ha perdido por completo toda capacidad de voluntad para cualquier bien espiritual que acompañe a la salvación:[4] de modo que, siendo un hombre natural, siendo completamente contrario a ese bien,[5] y muerto en pecado,[6] no puede, por su propia fuerza, convertirse a sí mismo, o prepararse para ello.[7]
[4] Romanos 5:6. Porque Cristo, cuando aún éramos débiles, a su tiempo murió por los impíos. Romanos 8:7. Porque la mente carnal es enemistad contra Dios: porque no se sujeta a la ley de Dios, ni tampoco puede. Juan 15:5. Yo soy la vid, vosotros los sarmientos: El que permanece en mí, y yo en él, ése lleva mucho fruto; porque separados de mí nada podéis hacer.
[5] Romanos 3:10, 12. Como está escrito: No hay justo, ni aun uno... Todos se desviaron, a una se hicieron inútiles; no hay quien haga el bien, ni aun uno.
[6] Ephesians 2:1, 5. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.... Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Colossians 2:13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
[7] John 6:44, 65. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.... And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Ephesians 2:2-5. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). 1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Titus 3:3-5. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin;[8] and, by his grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good;[9] yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.[10]
[8] Colossians 1:13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. John 8:34, 36. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
[9] Philippians 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Romans 6:18, 22. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.... But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
[10] Galatians 5:17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.... For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.... I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.... But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only.[11]
[11] Ephesians 4:13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Hebrews 12:23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
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