"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)
If 'free' is an adjective that modifies the noun 'will' when describing participation in a person-to-Divine transaction, it describes human relational interaction that has taken place independently of any power acting upon it. Grammatically then, 'free will' is the determinate factor in salvation for those who, unaided, have chosen Christ.
The will of persons is a noun, but spiritually it is appropriately modified by the adjective 'dead'. The adjective 'Divine' and the noun 'intervention' must precede person-to-Divine transactions to accomplish rebirth (John 3:3-8) and relational interaction. The spiritually dead will of fallen humanity needs Divine action (a verb), enabling it to respond.
Redemption in Christ is freedom from the bondage of sin; immediately from its condemnation, gradually from its power, and day by day from its pollution. Rebirth precedes all of that, allowing persons to come when Jesus says "come" (Matthew 11:28-30).
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born”! Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:4-8)
