What is the relationship between total depravity and human free will?
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Total depravity teaches that human free will is bound by sin, rendering people unable to choose God without His grace.
In Reformed theology, the concept of total depravity asserts that human will is not truly free but is instead enslaved to sin. As stated in Romans 8:5-8, those who are in the flesh cannot please God, showing that fallen individuals are inclined toward evil. This means that while humans may exercise will in earthly matters, spiritually, they cannot choose God or accept salvation without God's gracious intervention. The doctrine of total depravity illustrates that real freedom is found in choosing the good, which can only occur when God regenerates the heart through the Holy Spirit.
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