[metmom]

In a nutshell, as I understand it, it would be the ability of the individual to to choose to follow or reject God; to obey or disobey at the discretion of the individual, without being forced or compelled to.

I’m sure that some will find that lacking in some area, and there are probably things I could add, given more thought, but that’s basically it.

[Christian_Capitalist]

What Is Free Will? In a nutshell, as I understand it, it would be the ability of the individual to to choose to follow or reject God; to obey or disobey at the discretion of the individual, without being forced or compelled to.

Oh. Well, if that's your definition of Free Will, Calvinists don't deny that.

Rather, Calvinists state that since the Fall, Unregenerate Men (which is all of us, prior to God's regeneration of our dead spirits) freely choose to Reject God, because that is what Unregenerate, Spiritually-dead Men want to do.

What would be heretical would be the suggestion that any Unregenerate Man would ever freely choose to Follow God while yet in their Spiritually-Dead condition; because the Bible clearly states that while a man is yet Spiritually-Dead his desires are Totally Depraved:

• "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" (Jer. 17:9).
• "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21).
• "The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl. 8:11)."The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live" (Ecc. 9:3).
• "Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these things come from within, and defile the man" (Mk. 7:21-23).

And so, while yet in his Spiritually-Dead state, the Unregenerate Man will always freely choose to Reject God. This is the express teaching of the Bible:

• "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil" (Jer. 13:23).
• "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:7-8)

To suggest, therefore, that Men will freely choose to Follow God while yet in their Unregenerate State, is to preach the lie of Satan: that Fallen Men are not really Spiritually Dead, and will still sometimes freely choose to perform God-Pleasing actions. "Ye shall not surely die".

Thus, we as Calvinists understand that Men only freely choose to Follow God, after they have been Quickened unto Spiritual Life by the Efficacious Grace of God.

• "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:21)"
• "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Eph. 2:5)"
• "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Col. 2:13)"

Calvinists do not deny Free Will.

Rather, we simply affirm that Fallen Man REALLY IS Spiritually Dead. And that while a Fallen Man remains Unregenerate, he will always freely choose to Reject God, because that is what he Naturally wants to do.

Thus, only those whom God chooses to Regenerate unto Spiritual Life, do thence freely choose to Follow Him.