[Petronski]

If that were true, there would be two saved thieves at Calvary instead of only one.

They both had free will to choose to believe in Christ. One did not.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Free will does not cause a man to believe. Man's natural free will causes men to deny God.

Only by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit can men believe and be saved.

We are not saved by our good works, but by God's free, unmerited, predestined grace through faith alone. Ephesians 2.