The Harmony of God’s Grace With Human Freedom

God’s grace, in regenerating a person and acting in him, through this does not destroy or restrict his freedom, but only prompts, strengthens, and guides it toward good, moreover with its consent and with some measure of its cooperation. This is evident: 1) from the fact that the merciful God, although He “wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” (1 Tim. 2:4) nevertheless requires them to themselves repent and “with fear and trembling work out your own salvation,” (Phil. 2:12). Wherefore the Apostle Peter, having said that “His Divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness,” adds: “and for this very reason, applying all diligence, supply… in virtue” your “knowledge” and the rest (2 Pet. 1:3, 5), thereby obliging us to diligence in virtue; 2) from the fact that people, by the testimony of Scripture, can resist the saving grace of God: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears!”, says Stephen to the Jews, “you always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so also do you.” (Acts. 7:51) Finally: 3) from the fact that those regenerated can increase in themselves the workings of grace through good deeds, and deprive themselves of it through willful sins, as is evident from the following words of the Apostle: “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God that is in you,” (2 Tim. 1:6); “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thes. 5:19); “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18); “For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit… to renew them again to repentance” (Heb. 6:4, 6).

From this, the conditions on man’s part for God’s grace to be efficacious must be the following: 1) prayer for it: “Ask and it will be given to you.” (Matt. 7:7); “if you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11:13); and 2) ready willingness to obey its inspirations, so as not to grieve or quench God’s Spirit, according to the Apostle (1 Thes. 5:19). Thus the Lord says in the Psalm of grace: “I will instruct you and teach you…” and commands people: “Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding; their mouths must be held firm with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” (Ps. 31:8–9).