Double predestination. Chapter Three. While parts of the Confession say man has free will, others show what this means. Chapter Three denies free will. God predetermines and foreordains - heaven or hell "without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto."
Not based or foreknowledge, but "These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed." Unchangeably designed to believe or not believe. Man does not have this choice.
It critical to free will and salvation that the Confession says it is predetermined whether they will believe or not. The portions you posted have to do with the process, but it is an unchangeable process, predetermined for man. Man cannot but do and choose how he was predetermined and foreordained to.
To me, this is not free will, it programming. The human executes the program, in the same way as a computer does.
Thanks for your post and courteous discussion.
It critical to free will and salvation that the Confession says it is predetermined whether they will believe or not. The portions you posted have to do with the process, but it is an unchangeable process, predetermined for man. Man cannot but do and choose how he was predetermined and foreordained to. To me, this is not free will, it programming. The human executes the program, in the same way as a computer does.
Council of Orange;
CANON 7. If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, as is expedient for us, or that we can be saved, that is, assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who makes all men gladly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray by a heretical spirit, and does not understand the voice of God who says in the Gospel, "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), and the word of the Apostle, "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5).
We have free will in our fallen state. In Our fallen nature we will never choose God.
Cats and Dogs are free to fly, however their nature does not allow them to.
The end of the story is already written. Is that preprogrammed? Can you change the prophecy of scripture?