The Will in Sanctification and Glory (Chapter 9, Paragraph 5)

“This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.”

Here the Confession speaks of our future in heaven. In glory, the believer will never sin again. The will shall be so fully sanctified and confirmed in righteousness that it cannot choose evil—just as God cannot sin.

But we are not there yet.

Until glory, the Christian lives in a divided condition—redeemed, yes, but still fighting sin (Rom. 7:14–25). The will is no longer enslaved, but neither is it yet perfected. This is the realm of sanctification.

Earlier paragraphs explained that fallen man cannot choose good apart from grace. This paragraph reminds us that even redeemed man cannot choose perfectly apart from the daily help of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

And yet, in contrast to the unbeliever’s will, which is bound to sin, the Christian’s will is now freely enabled to walk in obedience. It is no longer under the reign of sin (Rom. 6:14). There is real victory, even if it is not yet complete victory.

The glorious promise here is that in the state of glory—that is, in heaven—the believer will be immutably free to do only good. That means we will never again battle sin, doubt, or temptation. Our will, fully conformed to Christ, will perfectly love, serve, and glorify God forever.

Application for the Believer:

Take heart in the struggle. If your will feels weak and your obedience imperfect, you're not alone—this is the normal Christian life. But don’t grow weary. The same grace that saved you is sanctifying you, and it will one day glorify you. Press on in faith, fight sin with hope, and rest in the promise that one day your heart will love only what is good, holy, and pleasing to God. Your will, once enslaved to sin, is now being conformed to Christ—and one day, it will be fully like His. Persevere, knowing the battle will give way to eternal peace.