Why is the concept of free will important for Christians?

The idea of free will is often discussed in the context of human responsibility and choice in salvation. However, from a sovereign grace perspective, free will, as commonly understood, is a misnomer. The Bible teaches that natural man is unwilling to come to God because of his sinful nature (John 5:39-40). True freedom, then, is not the ability to choose otherwise but the liberation found in Christ. When one is born again, they receive a new nature and are enabled to desire God and His ways joyfully. This willingness is a response to God’s power and grace, illustrating that our will is indeed involved, but it is shaped by God’s transformative work in our lives.