Lutheranism Free will in theology

lutherans believe although humans have free concerning civil righteousness, cannot work spiritual righteousness without holy spirit, since righteousness in heart cannot wrought in absence of holy spirit. in other words, humanity free choose , act in every regard except choice of salvation.

lutherans teach sinners, while capable of doing works outwardly good, not capable of doing works satisfy god s justice. every human thought , deed infected sin , sinful motives. luther himself, in bondage of will, people nature endowed free-will/free choice in regard “goods , possessions” person “has right of using, acting, , omitting according free-will.” however, in “god-ward” things pertaining “salvation or damnation” people in bondage “either of god, or of satan.”

as found in paul althaus’ study of luther’s theology, sin’s infection of every human thought , deed began adam’s fall sin, original sin. adam’s fall “terrible example” of “free will” unless god motivates virtuous behavior. humanity inherits adam’s sin. thus, in our “natural condition,” have inborn desire sin because person birth. luther noted, “adam sinned willingly , freely , him sin has been born cannot sin innocently voluntarily.”

the controversial term liberum arbitrium translated “free-will” henry cole , “free will” remains in general use. however, rupp/watson study of luther , erasmus chose “free choice” translation , provided rationale. luther used “free choice” (or “free-will”) denote fact humans act “spontaneously” , “a desirous willingness.” allowed “free-will” “power” humans “can caught spirit” of god. however, deplored use of term “free-will” because “grand, copious, , full.” therefore, luther held inborn faculty of “willingness” should “called other term.”

although our wills function of , in bondage our inherited sinful desires, luther insisted sin “voluntarily.” voluntarily means sin of our own free will. desire. long desire sin, our wills free sin. luther’s “bondage of will” sin. sinner’s “will bound, , remains will. repeatedly , voluntarily acts according it.” is, set free sin , righteousness requires “rebirth through faith.” rebirth of faith gives “true freedom sin,” is, wrote luther, liberty [freedom] good.”

to use biblical word important luther, set free sin , righteousness requires metanoia. luther used jesus’ image of , bad trees depict necessity of changing person change person wills , does. in jesus’ image, “a tree cannot bear bad fruit, , bad tree cannot bear fruit” (matthew 7:18). bad tree can produce bad fruit, before rebirth through faith, people in bondage sinful desires of hearts. can sin, albeit “spontaneously , desirous willingness.” given view of human condition, luther concluded that, without rebirth, “free choice” humans possess “not free @ all” because cannot of free inherent bondage sin.

thus, luther distinguished between different kinds of freedom: (a) nature, freedom act , (b) rebirth through faith, freedom act righteously.