Biblical and Arninan views on free will
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-Biblical and Arminian views on Free-Will-
The biblical definition of "free will" is the power to freely choose what we most prefer or desire (according to our nature and tendencies). The unregenerate or natural man, who is by nature hostile to God, loves sin, and thus, apart from the grace of rebirth, will not seek God on God's terms. He will invariably use his "free will" to flee from, and suppress the truth of God. The regenerate (those the Spirit has quickened), on the other hand, is granted a renewed outlook, which has new desires and holy affections for God. As such, our natural hostility to God is disarmed and so we freely exercise our will to trust in Jesus, who now holds our supreme affection over all other idols. This gives clear witness to these verses:
"Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit". (A person produces fruit in accord with his nature) (Matt 7:16-18)
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?..