Do we have free will? Yes, as far as natural ability is concerned. Reason and experience makes that obvious. But, do we have free will as far spiritual things are concerned? Absolutely not, we are unable to understand until we are born of the Spirit.
Jonathan Edwards taught that free will from a biblical standpoint must be distinguished between natural ability and spiritual ability. All people have free will as far as natural ability is concerned. That is to say, God has given all of us the ability of choice in the natural world. Yet, the natural man without Jesus Christ is in bondage to sin and unbelief as far as spiritual ability is concerned.
Edwards view of free will is consistent with Scripture, and the teaching of the apostle Paul. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:12-14). He is spiritually dead in sin and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). His mind is unable to discern and believe what the Holy Spirit teaches (John 3:10-12).
Only when we are born of the Spirit, through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, are we able to understand and truly believe what Scripture teaches. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. After new birth, the Holy Spirit becomes our teacher through Scripture, guiding us into all truth. And, that truth is found in the one who is the truth, Jesus our Lord (John 14:6).
