Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
(Before I start, I want to make it absolutely clear that salvation, whether Old or New Testament, would never be possible without the shed blood of Jesus.)
So yet again, Jesus's teaching on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit demonstrates that man has freewill.
Matt12v31Because of this I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men; but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32And if anyone speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming one.
The above passage is utterly pointless if God makes the choice for man. It shows that if we reject the son of man, or reject the cross, it is quite forgivable (despite what evangelists preach).
In contrast, if we continue rejecting (blaspheming) the Holy Spirit, we will remain unforgiven and unregenerate.
Nowhere does it say the choice belongs to God for who blasphemes or who gets forgiven.
Paul also states that nobody can understand what the cross is about, till they are already being saved.
1Cor1v18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In the above verse, "those who are perishing" simply refers to men who are spiritually dead.
So if the message of the cross is foolishness to the spiritually dead, to understand the message of the cross, they must first have been born again by other means.
So how does anyone get born again? The answer is quite simple really, by surrendering to God as the Holy Spirit works on our heart to convict us. Again, our choice alone.
Romans1v18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth by unrighteousness,
If mankind actively suppresses the truth of God, it must already have been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
19because that which is known of God is manifest among them, for God has revealed it to them.
So God has already been made manifest to every man, making rejection their own responsibility
20For from the creation of the world His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and divinity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, for them to be without excuse.
The simple fact of life is that anyone who denies the creator God is a liar, and at the judgement will have no excuse.
The evidence of God is in the whole of creation. The Holy Spirit constantly draws our attention to God, and once we open our hearts to him, that newness of life comes to birth.
Understanding the power of God through the cross is reserved till after we become spiritually alive.