No man's will is completely "free" in any aspect of life. Let's leave aside the sotierlogical application for a minute. Our choices are influenced by a whole multitude of factors -- emotions, society, and so on.
The free will position gives man the say in whether or not he's saved. The position is attractive, to be sure, while Calvinism seems cold and heartless to the non-Calvinist. But the shortcoming of the Calvinistic position is that it assumes that man could make the choice for salvation.
But I Cor. 1: 18 explains that those which are perishing consider the gospel to be foolishness. The passage later explains that this is such "that no flesh might glory in his presence" (1:29), that is because in the flesh there is nothing good, nothing worthy of glory.
When we get to I Cor. 2:10, the Apostle Paul explains how, while the blessings God has awaiting his believers are so great that no human mind could conceive of them, but that "God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit." And continuing:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.What we have here is that the natural man, that is, man not regenerated by the Holy Spirit cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God -- because they are spiritual, and are foolishness to him.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Sure, man is free to make any choice he wants. It's just that the natural man will never want to choose Christ.
For one thing, Calvinism does not define 'freedom' in that way but that man is free to do what he wants. Prejudices and fears are factors but not the determintive issue in choice. Before faith fear will always appear. Faith is overcoming that fear and trusting the words of Christ.
No man's will is completely "free" in any aspect of life. Let's leave aside the sotierlogical application for a minute. Our choices are influenced by a whole multitude of factors -- emotions, society, and so on.
Influence does not negate the fact that the free is still free. A choice can still be made despite all those factors. That some do and some don't shows that it is not the crucial issue. The 'will' is.
The free will position gives man the say in whether or not he's saved. The position is attractive, to be sure, while Calvinism seems cold and heartless to the non-Calvinist. But the shortcoming of the Calvinistic position is that it assumes that man could make the choice for salvation.
I assume you meant 'nonCalvinistic' position. Yes, we believe God will provide the light to make the individual see what the options are.
But I Cor. 1: 18 explains that those which are perishing consider the gospel to be foolishness. The passage later explains that this is such "that no flesh might glory in his presence" (1:29), that is because in the flesh there is nothing good, nothing worthy of glory. When we get to I Cor. 2:10, the Apostle Paul explains how, while the blessings God has awaiting his believers are so great that no human mind could conceive of them, but that "God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit." And continuing: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. What we have here is that the natural man, that is, man not regenerated by the Holy Spirit cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God -- because they are spiritual, and are foolishness to him.
That passage is dealing with the natural man understanding doctrinal issues. He cannot just pick up a Bible and understand it. In regards to the Gospel, God Himself explains the truth to the unbeliever by shedding light into his soul (2Cor.4:6)
Sure, man is free to make any choice he wants. It's just that the natural man will never want to choose Christ.
Then it is not a choice. God is capable of making the unbeliever see the issues before him. Calvinists limit God in their narrow view on Total Depravity.
On free will, see the article I just posted, 'The Myth of Free Will, A Rebuttal'