Can our free moral agency be lost?

Man’s free moral agency suggests that a person is free to make their own choices. Specifically, they are free to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong. Free moral agency implies or assumes that:

A “free moral agent” understands the difference between right and wrong and is has the mental capacity to make a choice.
A person operating under free moral agency is accountable for their choices.
There is no other “agent” or higher power that is forcing the free moral agent to make certain choices. To say that one is has “free moral agency” is the same as saying that one has free will – something the Bible clearly teaches.

However, are there conditions that could lead to man’s free moral agency being lost? After all, God is sovereign and desires that all be saved.

How Scripture answers "Can our free moral agency be lost?"

Our free moral agency is progressively compromised through a “searing” of the conscience⁹ or a “hardness of heart”^4,14 that can occur in one’s life. This is true even for a Christian’s^{1,3,5,6,9,12,14}, or from the Old Covenant, one of God’s chosen^1,8,13,15! Often, the Bible talks of this regression as being enslaved to sin^{2,3,5,9,10,11}. There is a depravity^1,10,11 and a craving for the carnal^2,4 that can overcome someone to a point that God will essentially “call it”¹⁰, ending one’s chance to repent^1,6.

Like alcohol or drug addiction, the web of sin can become a habit we can’t break⁶. However, from God’s perspective, it’s never too late to repent^11,12,15, as we see in even extreme cases like Manasseh⁸. Through His word He encourages that we instead be enslaved to righteousness^5,7, or doing good. This is true freedom^2,7, when one “knows God” and is “known by God”^3,13 – the remedy for being enslaved to sin.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

1

Hebrews 12:15-17

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

What does it say?

Make sure that no one fails to obtain the grace of God. Take care not to let bitterness grows to make you defiled, or that you become sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who was shortsighted in selling his birthright for a meal, since later, when he was sorrowful when realized his mistake, he was rejected and found no more opportunity to repent.

What is the context?

The writer’s summation (chapters 12-13) of a letter dedicated to encouraging Christians to “hold fast” to their faith and “run with endurance the race” that is before them (vs 1). He implores them to strive for holiness since “without which no one will see the Lord” (vs 14) and concludes with two examples from the Old Testament.

The first reference is the “root of bitterness” which comes from Deut 29:18-19 where the children of Israel are being warned about hearing God’s word but pridefully saying to themselves, “I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.” The second example is Esau and him selling his birthright to his brother Jacob for a pot of stew (Gen 25) and later regretting it when his blessing from Issac was irredeemable (Gen 27).

How does it apply here?

Esau found himself with “no chance to repent,” even though there was a point at which he wished he could have changed things.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

The point of the Hebrew writer is clear given the context of the entire book. It is an urgent plea to Hebrew Christians not to fall away^6,14.

2

2 Peter 2:17-19

These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

What does it say?

These [those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority – vs 10] are worthless springs and like mist in a storm. For them the despair of utter darkness is waiting. With foolish boasting they use fleshly sensuality to lure back those that have just barely escaped those living in sin. They promise them freedom but are themselves enslaved to corruption, for people are slaves to whatever masters them.

What is the context?

Peter is concluding a lengthy instruction/warning about false teachers (2:1) rising up among them. He embarks on a treatise about the danger of coming to a “swift destruction” (vs 1) and how “the way of truth will be blasphemed” (vs 2). He provides examples including some illuminating information re: angels (vs 4) and several more from the Old Testament including Noah (vs 5), Sodom and Gomorrah (vs 6), and Balaam (vs 15).

This section closely parallels Jude 1 and Peter relates this process of one’s descent to spiritual destruction with Proverbs 26:11, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

How does it apply here?

To whatever a person succumbs or willfully chooses to practice is what will enslave them. Specifically, Peter speaks about a carnal, fleshly depravity that presents as “freedom” but is only a “slave of corruption.”

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

Peter, like Jude¹³, is addressing false teachers among them, but the warning stands for anyone.

3

Galatians 4:8-9

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

What does it say?

Before when you did not know God, you were beholden to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know Him – or be known by Him – how can you turn back to those natural gods that are weak and worthless worldly principles?

What is the context?

Paul’s letter to the Christians throughout Galatia, converted during his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). He is confronting a persistent effort by Jewish Christians to continue in and bind on Gentile Christians customs and practices from the Old Law.

How does it apply here?

Christians, if they are not careful, can become enslaved to sin (e.g. “turn back again) as they were before becoming Christians.

4

Ephesians 4:17-19

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

What does it say?

Therefore, I say with God’s authority, that you are to no longer behave as the Gentiles do in their foolishness. Their understanding is distorted. They are strangers to a life of God due to ignorance, which is due to their stubbornness. As a result, they are numb and have turned themselves over to carnal passions and a lust to practice every kind of sin.

What is the context?

Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, has just used a body metaphorically to describe the church. He transitions to encourage them as to how they are to behave by putting off their “old self” (vs 22).

How does it apply here?

Paul, just as he warned the Galatian Christians³, is encouraging Christians in Asia Minor to fall back to being enslaved to sin like Gentiles who “have given themselves up to” a “practice of every kind of impurity.”

5

Romans 6:15-16

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

What does it say?

So then are we to sin because we are not under law [of Moses] but under grace [New Covenant]? Not at all! Rather, you should know that whoever you willfully obey, it is to them that you enslaved. So either you are a slave to sin leading to death, or a slave of obedience leading to righteousness.

What is the context?

Paul is making the broader point of the richness and fullness of God’s grace toward sinful man (chap 5) before turning to man’s response (and responsibility) for salvation. He states the absurdity of continuing “in sin” (vs 1) because they killed off their old self through baptism (vs 3), and uses the very real master/slave (“human terms” as Paul puts it in vs 19) relationship to illustrate.

How does it apply here?

Man is a slave to whoever/whatever he allows to be his master. There are two choices: being a slave to sin leading to [spiritual] death or being a slave to obedience [the Gospel] leading to righteousness [eternal life].

6

Hebrews 6:4-6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

What does it say?

It’s impossible to restore to repentance those that have fallen away after coming to understand and experience salvation – having shared in the Holy Spirit and the goodness of God’s word and the power to come – since they crucify all over the Son of God, putting him to public shame to their own harm.

What is the context?

The Hebrews writer is arguing the “better” things in Christ, contrasting with things from the Old Law these Hebrew Christians had turned from, but apparently were at risk to turn back. He is chastising them for having become “dull of hearing” (5:11) and requiring someone to still need to teach them these “basic principles” (5:12).

How does it apply here?

The Hebrews writer describes a state in which a Christian finds it “impossible” to repent.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

This is essentially the same point the writer makes when using Esau as an example¹, and indeed, the theme of the entire letter¹⁴.

8

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

What does it say?

When he was in distress, Manasseh petitioned God’s and His grace and became humble before Him. He prayed to God, who was moved by his entreaty and caused him to be brought back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. It was then that Manasseh finally acknowledged that God as his Lord and Master.

What is the context?

The accounts of the Kings of Judah, the southern kingdom. Israel, the northern kingdom, has already been swept away by the Assyrians. Now about 150 years later, God has exhausted His patience with Judah’s unrighteousness and they will be swept away by the Babylonians. Manasseh’s wickedness and unrighteousness (vss 2-9) during 55 years of political leadership are the final straw.

How does it apply here?

They don’t get much worse than Manasseh in the Bible, yet he was able to overcome a lifetime of depravity and still turn to God before it was too late.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

While Manasseh was able to repent before it was too late, the consequence of his evil leadership over the people of Judah still resulted in the exhaustion of God’s patience and His justice (e.g. being taken captive by Babylon). The people, as free moral agents themselves, were still responsible for their own sin.

9

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

What does it say?

The Holy Spirit instructs that in the latter times some will leave the faith by loving false spirits and demon teaching offered up by liars with seared consciences, who forbid marriage and require food be avoided that God never required for those that believe and know the truth.

What is the context?

Paul’s letter to a young preacher, Timothy. Throughout the letter, Paul’s instructions have to do with Timothy’s activities and relationship with the brethren there with Timothy (the church).

How does it apply here?

It is possible for one’s conscience to become “seared”, which implies a state of conscience that is dead or at least less aware than it once was.

11

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

What does it say?

For we were at one time foolish, disobedient, let astray and enslaved to our passions and pleasures, passing our days in hatred and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

What is the context?

Paul’s letter of encouragement to a young preacher Titus. Much like his letters to Timothy, Paul instructs Titus regarding the different churches “in every town” (1:5) to which he was ministering. Also, like Timothy, he encourages Titus to “let no one [in the church] disregard” him (2:15).

How does it apply here?

A Christian is one that repents (turns) from their sinful ways and behavior that is described here in the most base and carnal ways.

12

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

What does it say?

If sinners draw near to God, He will near to them, and requires cleansing themselves (spiritually) and being single-minded in their focus to serve and obey God.

What is the context?

James practical words to Christians on how to live faithfully. In chapter four, he focuses on humility and single-mindedness.

How does it apply here?

James describes the single-minded focus that is required for a sinner to turn to God and remain obedient.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

He has just chastised them for being “adulterous people” and reminds them that they can’t be “friends” with both the world and God (vs 4). It’s one or the other!

13

Jude 1:11-13

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

What does it say?

They [false teachers] are cursed since they act like Cain did (Genesis 4) and lose control of themselves for greed like Balaam (Numbers 16) and perish in their pride like Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 22-24, 31). They are hidden dangers as they worship and commune with you, fearlessly serving themselves. They are nothing but wisps of smoke carried here and there, unproductive trees in decline and twice dead without foundation. They are boisterous but expose their own shame, wandering about while their place of destruction and condemnation awaits.

What is the context?

Jude is writing a brief, but stern letter of warning “to those who are called” (vs 1) to “contend for the faith” (vs 3) and remaining obedient. He also warns about false teachers that apparently appear like great Christians since they have “crept in unnoticed” (vs 4). Jude proceeds to give several examples from the Old Testament of those that did not remain faithful (for various reasons) and were condemned as a result.

It is these false teachers and generally those “following their own sinful desires” (vs 16) that Jude says Enoch was prophesying about in his statement of judgment for their “deeds of ungodliness” (vs 15).

How does it apply here?

Jude excoriates a type of “Christian” that is completely driven by pride (Cain/Korah example) and greed (Balaam example). There is only “utter darkness…forever” (e.g. Hell) awaiting them.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

We know these are individuals wearing the name, Christian, as they have “crept in unnoticed” (vs 4) among the brethren to whom Jude is writing.

14

Hebrews 3:12-13

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

What does it say?

Brethern, take great care in case any of you might have an evil, unbelieving heart/mind that leads you to fall away from the living God. Avoid being hardened by sins deceit by encouraging each other every day, as long as you draw breath.

What is the context?

Letter to Jewish Christians that is calling on them to “hold fast” in spite of persecution. The main argument is the “better” things that exist for them through Christ Jesus. Chapter three deals specifically with Jesus’ superiority to Moses himself (vss 1-6) and goes on to compare the followers of Moses to those of Jesus.

The writer quotes from Psalms 95:7-11 (vss 7-11) where the writer there uses an even more ancient example from Numbers 14:22 and the wilderness wanderings. He goes on to explain (interpret) those who rebelled (vss 16-19) as those that followed Moses from Egypt but “provoked” God and “sinned”, thereby dying in the wilderness (vss 16-17). As a result, they did not “enter his rest” since they were “disobedient” (vs 18), which is the same as “unbelief” (vs 19).

How does it apply here?

Christian’s can become “hardened” by sin’s allures and should encourage each other against this threat every day.

15

Joel 2:12-13

Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

What does it say?

But even now, God says it’s not too late to return to Him begin single-minded and demonstrating your devotion with fasting and sorrow. Your repentance must be sincere and not for show. Return to God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to be angry and overflowing with love for you, often turning from exercising condemnation.

What is the context?

Not much is known about the prophet Joel. He was probably one of the earlier prophets (maybe around 8-900 BC). Some believe he was a priest because of his many statements to/about priests. Many believe he lived in Jerusalem and his primary audience was the southern nation of Judah (if he lived during the divided kingdom years).

The book of Joel is poignant given his vision of devastating locusts that completely devour the land. Throughout, he calls the people to repent before this “great and awesome day of the Lord” (vs 31).

How does it apply here?

God is always ready to receive those that truly turn from their wicked ways and humbly repent⁸.

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Can our free moral agency be lost?

How Scripture answers "Can our free moral agency be lost?"

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