Let me give a definition and then an explanation. 

A person’s free will means that he will act according to the state of his character and choose according to his strongest desire. 

When we look at the Story of Redemption as it is told in Scripture, we can identify four distinct states which characterize man’s condition in the world. Let me briefly describe those four states of Human Nature as they occur in history because they have direct bearing on man’s free will.

The first estate (condition) of human nature was a State of Innocence. That is, immediately after his creation man had both the desire and ability to do those things which would please God. Yet, God had created man with the freedom that this State of Innocence could be lost. The man, Adam, had the power to refuse sin, but he also was free to disobey his Creator. Genesis, Chapter 3, describes the historic events in which Adam exercised his freedom to sin. Because Adam made that tragic decision the second state of human nature became a reality. 

All mankind, after Adam’s Fall, experiences this second estate, the State of Sin. This condition is described by the Apostle Paul in the 3rd chapter of Romans when he writes:

The Bible teaches that not only did mankind forfeit its State of Innocence, but that people in a State of Sin have also lost the ability and desire to do anything of spiritual good that would lead to their salvation. Although there is free will in the State of Sin, there is no ability to stop sinning. Jesus taught “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 7:34) This condition is described in Ephesians 2:1 as being “dead in trespasses and sins”. A person who is dead, of course, can do nothing to resurrect himself. Only Almighty God can give new life to the one who is spiritually dead. (See John 5:21) 

Now we have set the stage to introduce the third estate of mankind in history – the State of Grace. Ephesians 2:4,5 goes on to say, “Even when we were dead in our transgressions, God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved”. The Bible teaches that some leave the State of Sin and enter a State of Grace. These are the ones who by repentance and faith are relying upon the death of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. 

In the Story of Redemption, a faith-union with Christ allows God to forgive the sinner and declare him to be righteous. In this State of Grace, a person recovers significant ability and freedom which had been lost due to the Fall. A person living in the State of Grace doesn’t rejoice in the freedom to do whatever he wants; he rejoices in the power to do what he ought. A person in the State of Grace has the ability not to sin. 

Now it is true that he will still sin and will still need to be forgiven, but a process called Sanctification has begun, whereby that person progressively dies to sin and lives to righteousness. That process will eventually result in a fourth state yet to be revealed. It is called the State of Glorification. In this estate which will be ushered in by Christ’s second coming, believers will not only be free from the penalty and power of sin, but also freed from its very presence. In this State of Glorification a person will be quite unable to sin at all. Thus this estate of the future will be more blessed than a simple return to the first State of Innocence. Christians in Heaven will never again experience even the possibility of falling. 

Can you see how a person is free in each of these four estates? The freedom is resident in every soul to choose according to that person’s strongest desire. But a person’s ability to freely choose good or evil is vastly different according to the character of these four states. Freedom must always be matched with ability. Consider that God Himself is the most free of all beings, yet His perfect freedom does not allow Him the ability to sin. He is not so free as to contradict His own nature. 

As you read this, which state characterizes your life today? 

Jesus Christ freely chose to come to earth from Heaven, so that you could enter Heaven from earth.