No one said they were “mechanical”. If a person doesn’t understand the transformation that occurs when one is born again they can’t possibly understand where the change comes from. Trying to “take credit” for actions through some sort of “free will” rather than give credit to God for transforming us into “a new creation” is totally carnal thinking.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The attitude that seems to be prevalent of “I have to do my part” is against all things that are taught in scripture. It’s tantamount to taking credit for what God did.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
>> If you choose to do these works,<<
There’s that sanctimonious “you choose” again. As if we in our fallen state can “choose” to obey God. Notice the use of the word “of” in the following verses.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
It’s now “our” faith that we rely on. It is the faith of Christ which is in us. To think otherwise is folly.
>> and 5:29 (which you seem unaware of)<<
Oh I am quite aware. Those who have done evil would include those who have taken credit away from God for what He has done in us by claiming it was they who could “choose” to do good contrary to what scripture teaches.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Take credit for yourself if you choose but I will give credit and glory to God who works through me. “It is not I who lives but Christ lives in me”.
If you don't understand this you don't understand the scripture.
Yes, all the credit is to Christ’s grace by which alone we are saved. Not by faith alone but by grace alone.
Yes, absolutely we choose to believe or not, and after we so chosen we further choose to do the good works or not. If we didn’t all the admonitions to do good work would make no sense, and they are plentiful in the Gospels, just google “good works”. If we did, we gradually become a new creation.
Works of the law, or works done to boast, or for pay obviously do nothing toward our salvation. This is well established in Galatians, and in Romans. We are saved by faith, but not by faith alone, and not by the works of the law (Romans 3:28).
I am tired of explaining the same things to you several times already.