God's Word teaches that we have no free will before conversion, yet we are still held accountable. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that predestination is true, and is not based on foreseen faith, but purely on the will of God. Yet it also teaches that God desires the salvation of all. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that although God has elected some, yet He loves all and sent His Son to forgive the sins of the entire world. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that although God desires the salvation of all, yet has elected some, that God's grace can be resisted. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that, if one leaves the faith and falls away, it was entirely their own fault. Yet God's Word teaches that if someone stays in the faith, it was purely because of God's monergistic grace. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that many will fall away, yet it also teaches that we are 100% secure in Christ. We leave this in tension.
God's Word teaches that we will always find Christ as for us in His Word and in His Sacraments. We are to go there first, and we are not to speculate about God's hidden will or hidden decrees. We must look to Christ, and not to the hidden G-d.
You see, God's Word is practical and pastoral. It is not systematic. It is not supposed to academic or reconciled or figured out.
In the real world, things are not consistent. Things are messy.
You cannot make an ideal case for the real world.
You cannot make an ideal case for paradox.
You cannot make an ideal case for distinguishing the law and the Gospel.
Christ assumed our human nature.
This Man is God. This God is Man.
The Gospel is outside of you. It cannot be figured out.
Your sins are forgiven.
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