Only after one comes to faith in Christ do they truly possess a free will, that is, only then do their "works" become pleasing to God.

JOH 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

ROM 5:12-17 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many (defined above as "all") died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many (defined below as "those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift...")! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

So in summary this means that in order for us to CHOOSE Jesus our wills, which are as Luther said in "bondage," must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit so that we might have the ability to respond to the Gospel. If that miracle of regeneration does not happen, NO ONE would EVER be saved. This is why we say that salvation is ALL of grace.

You can see these posts as an article by clicking here. Other Reformed Faith resources also available.

In His Grip,
PB