Messages to the Church...
AT CREATION “God . . . made man a free moral
agent.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 358. All created beings,
whether in heaven or on earth, are free moral agents, as
was Christ in His incarnation. This free moral agency
provides two fundamental freedoms: freedom of will and
freedom of action.
These two basic freedoms were given by God to
humanity as a heavenly heritage. “For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Thus the human agent is provided
with the capacity and capability for self-determination.
No room is left for coercion of man’s conscience or
compulsion of his conduct by external force, be it divine,
demonic, or human.
The free agent is rational by nature, with a mind
for reasoning, a conscience for controlling, and a heart
for loving. These intellectual and moral powers qualify
man to exercise his God-given prerogatives in developing
his character, in deciding his destiny, in following out
his convictions, being responsible for his conduct, and
in working out his “own salvation.”
Only unrestricted responses on the part of man are
welcomed by God. From all His creatures God desires
spontaneous service and willing obedience. Homage not
freely yielded is unacceptable to Him. Allegiance to the
Almighty must be on a voluntary basis.
But divine dominion does not denote domination by
the Deity. “The exercise of force is contrary to the
principles of God’s government.”—The Desire of Ages,
p. 22. Obedience to Omnipotence is based neither on
slavish submission nor on blind bondage. Love and
loyalty cannot be coerced. The Lord is not arbitrary in
His administration. Therefore, there is no despotism on
the part of God, and no automation on the part of man.
In God's providence, free moral agencies: provides for
the development of character, and for personal responsi-
bility. Thus, Adam was placed on probation to prove
his integrity and stability. This protective measure was
necessary before man could be “rendered eternally
secure” (The Story of Redemption, p. 19). The Edenic
“estate could be retained only on condition of fidelity
to the Creator's law” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 33).
The tree of test furnished a voluntary verification of
man’s loyalty. “If he should bear the test of God, and
remain loyal and true through the first trial, he was not
to be beset with continual temptations, but was to be
exalted equal with the angels, and made, thenceforth,
immortal."—The Story of Redemption, p. 6.
2
The
POWER
of
CHOIC
What role does the will play in our salvation?
Can Satan force us to do evil?
R. F. CORREIA
TWO ALTERNATIVES
The latitude of a free moral agent provides both
positive and negative alternatives. Man can either do
good or be bad. It is essential for moral responsibility
that bad actions should be just as free as good actions.
God has given man the right to say “I will” or “I won't,”
“I do” or “I don’t.” It is within the function of humans
to choose to ascend to the height of heaven or descend
to the depths of degradation.
The human agent has “full liberty to yield or to
withhold obedience” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 48).
He has the freedom to choose good -or evil, right or
wrong. He can decide between truth and error, life or
death. He can choose whom he will serve, and what
he will become.
On the positive side, the free agent has the
opportunity to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, to
appreciate His character, to admire His attributes, and
to understand His requirements.
Likewise, the free moral agent possesses negative
possibilities. Man is not exempt from exposure to
temptation. He has not been shielded from sin. He is
not immune to iniquity, “Our first parents were not
placed beyond the possibility of wrongdoing,”—Education,
p. 23. Mans eyes have not been restrained from the
sights of sin. His hand has not been withheld from the
MESSENGER