What about Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty

Christensenexplains two views that acknowledge God’s sovereignty and its relation to human responsibility: compatibilism and libertarianism. Providing cogent, biblical answers, Christensen argues for compatibilism and shows how it makes sense of evil, suffering, prayer, evangelism, and sanctification. You will gain a deeper understanding of both arguments, as well as a greater appreciation for the significant role that choices play in God’s work.

Endorsements

“A clear, intelligent, immensely helpful overview of one of the most confusing conundrums in all of theology. . . . Scott Christensen doesn’t sidestep the hard questions. The answers he gives are thoughtful, biblical, satisfying, and refresh- ingly coherent. Lay readers and seasoned theologians alike will treasure this work.”
—John F. MacArthur

“Careful in description and argument . . . eminently readable. . . . Most important of all, this book breathes a spirit of wonder and gratitude before the face of a God who is not only all-powerful but good.”
—Michael Horton, Westminster Seminary California

“Many think that free will is the silver-bullet answer to some of theology’s most difficult questions. But do we have a free will? Short answer: it depends on what you mean by ‘free.’ Long answer: read this book.”
—Andrew Naselli, Bethlehem College and Seminary

Contents

Foreword by D.A. Carson
Introduction: The Free-Will Problem

1. A Road Map for Libertarianism
2. Assessing the Whys of Libertarianism
3. How Big Is Your God?
4. A Road Map for Compatibilism
5. A Dual Explanation for Why Good Stuff Happens
6. A Dual Explanation for Why Bad Stuff Happens
7. To Be Free or Not to Be Free
8. Why We Do the Things We Do
9. A Tale of Two Natures
10. Exploring Corridors
11. Navigating the New Nature
12. Absolute Freedom

Appendix 1: Comparing Libertarian and Compatibilist Beliefs on Free Agency

Appendix 2: A Review of Randy Alcorn’s Hand in Hand: The Beauty of God’s Sovereignty and Meaningful Human Choice