Even within our own beings, our choices are determined according to our given natures. Runners choose to run because they have a strange bent towards it. I choose to not run, because my inclination is away from it. We all choose to do according to our own individual wiring, according to what we perceive to be the highest good or pleasure. If we could see into our thought patterns and our motivations and desires, we would easily be able to determine ahead of time our own choices that we make. This is how the devil gets the upper hand. He has much experience, after 6,000+ years of studying humans, of all of the varieties of wiring that we humans have. This is why his baits are successful. He can predict, with near pinpoint precision, how each of us will determine our choices when various forms of temptation are presented to us. And so, he suits the temptation most appropriate to us. He would probably be the first to agree that we are very deterministic within our own beings. As our choices are determined according to our own characteristic nature, I don't have a problem with saying that God determines what characteristic nature we will have. His sovereignty fashions and molds our nature according to his desire, and we choose according to it, without an ability to choose otherwise. Regeneration begins the process of reforming that nature, and our choices follow and are determined accordingly.

Blessings!

__________________
Charles Plauger
Member/Grace Reformed Church
Oakland, MD