And how does choosing what you will have for supper disprove that the lost man's will is in bondage to the law of sin and death? Or how does the choosing what you will have for supper disprove that the saved man's will is bound to the law of new life in Christ.
The very error of mistaking free will for the ability to make choices seems to prove the conflation.
"We are all sinners by nature ,therefore we are held under the yoke of sin . But if the whole man is subject to the dominion of sin , surely the will , which is it's principal seat , must be bound with the closest of chains. And indeed if divine grace were preceded by any will of ours, Paul could not have said that ," it is God that worketh in us to will and to do " (Phil. 2:13) - John Calvin
This speaks of and to believers. Whatever we do in our freedom apart from punctiliar sin is ultimately the will of God.
The reproving Spirit of truth constantly abides with the lost to convince them of sin ready and waiting to give the power to turn.
Conflation - Chapter and verse? I can't seem to find that word - conflation - in the bible.
OBTW it was broiled rib steak tonight.
Free will exists at every level.
I may want to visit Italy but unless I am provided the means to get there I cannot exercise my will.
So I do have the will but not the means.
John Bunyan wanted to be forgiven of his sons but it was several years before the Spirit of God translated him.
"My sins rolled down to the cross and were gone" he had the will but not the means.
Not on his own merits but on the merit of the death burial and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.So, a lost man's will is not in bondage to the law of sin and death and is therefore able to choose heaven on his own merits?
Yes those who are continuously given over to sin (present participle sinners) are slaves to sin but will be freed by turning to Christ. I believe all have that ability to turn at their disposal.
Not in their own power or ability but the power of the enlightenment of the almighty of their sinful status.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
So you assume Lazarus was dead when he responded to Christ's command to come forth? Why not believe Christ gave him life and the ability to hear and he came forth in the power of that restored life?
OK but it seems that hearing comes first
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Yes it is selective - "they that hear" but they are indeed dead when He speaks.
Mark 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Ironic.
HankD