How do we understand the role of free will in salvation?

The doctrine of total depravity teaches us that our will is in bondage to sin and cannot choose God on its own. However, God's grace intervenes, as He chooses and enables us to respond to Him. This process ensures that while we exercise our will, it is aligned with God's purpose for our lives. Thus, our willing and acting in faith is a direct result of God's grace at work within us. As Philippians 2:13 articulates, it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose, showing that our decisions to follow Him are responses to His initiating grace rather than independent choices.