Unregenerated man has only one choice and that is some form of sin. Even though he thinks he is doing good, his motivation or in his actions; it does not constitute a good work.
Only in Christ can we follow His word and walk in the good works which he has created from the foundation of the world for us to walk in. Thus of folks like us, Christ says "When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto me", but to the folks not in Christ He says "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me"
Thus there are no good works that follow them and all is burned up or thrown on the ash heap of sin.
The unregenerate chose between choices of lesser or greater sin, there is nothing outside of this.
You and I are talking the same thing, only at differing levels. I am not disagreeing with you at all.
Unregenerate man can choose to sin or not sin, as in, even though that person deserves a punch in the nose, I will restrain myself. He has chosen to not sin.
No unregenrated man can choose to follow God, ie, he cannot choose to please God. An unregerated man cannot wake up one morning and say, “I think I will now believe in God.”