[Athena1]

“If fallen man, the non-elect, non-regenerated, etc., can only freely wills to sin, to do evil always, these are his only “wants” - as was said earlier, then this person is also properly described as devoid of conscience and incapable of compassion.

By definition this is a sociopath.

So that’s where the choice came from.”

The sin of the unregenerate man is in NOT loving the one true God. We ALL sin. In Christ we find forgiveness for our sin. The unregenerate man can do good works, but he will not love God on his own accord. This is what we refer to as ‘common grace’. In reformed theology we understand that man is depraved, but not utterly so.

[D-fendr]

I keep getting different definitions, lists and descriptions.

If you’ll read back through the discussion about free will and wants, hopefully, my point will make sense.

[D-fendr]

In reformed theology we understand that man is depraved, but not utterly so.

Totally depraved, but not untterly depraved. Ok, now I'm gonna have to ask you to 'splain the difference.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The problem with using the term "common grace" for God's "general benevolence" toward all His creation is that it is so often confused with the Arminian concept of "enabling" grace.

I think it's better to save the term "grace" for what it really means -- God's unmerited, undeserved, free, unconditional, eternal, predestining, transformative, all-glorious, ordained-from-before-the-foundation-of-the-world love for His children. 8~)

Whadayathink?