In man’s unregenerate state, what some call it as “ free will “ is not free will after all because in the first place in the book of Ephesians, the bible tells us that we ran according to the course of this world, according to the power of the prince of the air ( the devil and his influences ) and the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience.
Yeah, I say they have “ Free will “ sarcasm ,..........
Sound more like they were serving another master other than the God of Israel.
Influenced by the course of this world, by the power of the prince of the air, by the spirit that works in the hearts of the children of disobedience.
How can anyone see free will in that ?
But God ! Who is rich in mercy has quickened us, made us alive in Christ.
A dead man can not make himself alive by his own will or power.
Of course we have free will. Just because we may be deluded, or influenced towards sin by other forces doesn’t mean that we still do not retain that essential element of ourselves. We may simply be unable to exercise it under certain conditions.
If we didn’t have free will, then God punishing us for sinning would be mere cruelty, like a child burning ants with a magnifying glass.