the freedom of the will

this term's philosophy module, problems in the philosophy of mind, has really got me thinking about, well, problems in the philosophy of mind. in particular, the idea that we have free will. it's true, it's true.

looking back, i think that a lot of my confusion and resistance to the idea that we have free will came from conflating corporate election and individual election. i now recognise that free will does exist, insofar as it pertains to individual election and not corporate election.

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1. first creation

a) man is good, but can do bad
b) freedom in Adam
c) free will exists

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." - Genesis 3:6-7 (NIV)

2. fall

a) man is bad and cannot do good
b) slaves to sin
c) free will does not exist

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." - Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

3. redemption

a) man is bad, but can do good in Christ
b) freedom in Christ
c) free will exists

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

4. new creation

a) man is good in Christ and cannot do bad
b) slaves to God
c) free will does not exist

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:22-23 (NIV)