When we talk about grace and Jesus’ finished work, a reaction sometimes comes up: “So if everything depends on God, does that mean we have no free will and we are all robots?” Actually, what free will can people have who live in slavery to fear, to condemnation or to some addiction? Slaves have no freedom at all, only the illusion of choice! Can a person use his free will to choose not to be afraid, or to choose: “From tomorrow I’ll stop doing such-and-such”? Of course, you can choose as much as you like, but man’s choice does not lead to the result he wants.

When a person thinks he has a choice, first, he is fixated on himself, and second, he has no need of a Saviour, because he thinks his choice and his decisions are what count. When we talk about Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we turn a person’s gaze to Jesus and show that only His choice sets us free and saves us. Jesus made His choice when He obeyed the Father and went to the cross, saying: “Not My will, but Yours!” It is written: “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” [Rom.5:18] As we can see, condemnation came to people not because they chose to sin, but because Adam committed an offence. In the same way, we are righteous not because we chose not to sin, but because He did a righteous act.

“So absolutely NOTHING depends on me?” That question will keep sounding in your head as long as there is any hope in your own strength. Absolutely right: absolutely nothing depends on man’s choice. Everything depends on God! Let’s not make God the Starter and people the finishers. He is the author [captain] and finisher of our salvation. [Heb.2:10] He is the author and finisher of our faith. [Heb.12:2] He is the Sacrifice [the Lamb of God], and the One who offered this sacrifice to God. [Heb.7:27] “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” [Rom.11:36]