Sorry, mankind was dead in trespasses and sin, spiritually dead bodies do not make choices. Not only this but the flesh that has not returned to the ground, by default will operate under the desires of Sin (Romans).
In this context the words of Christ, repeated in the Gospel of John are explicit - "No one comes unto me unless the Father draws Him". Thus the Lord's calling the Apostle Paul makes sense. Thus the Lord had to spiritually take out the "heart of stone" and give him a "heart of flesh" and He had to regenerate his mind to hold faith, even to the point that Paul could give the evidence of faith through his confession.
Salvation is of the Lord - it is not of man least anyone should boast.
Man thinks his confession is a big deal, but when the believer is in heaven he will see all that God has done for him and bow down and worship saying "The Lord has done it ALL!"
I have no problem with the Scriptural teaching that God calls mankind to salvation. This in no way contradicts the responsibility of man to respond to the call and accept the gift of salvation on God’s terms. If Paul was already cleansed of his sins, then why did he need them to be washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16)?