geomic1,

This "dead horse" you are beating is your desire to prioritize two truths rather than accepting them as co-equals. It is BOTH that God's sovereign decree could not be thwarted AND the Lord Christ in His humanity had the ability to sin. Again, the Lord Christ being the second Adam was given the "choice" to live perfectly before God; obeying all the law of God, doing that which the first Adam failed to do. Though the Fall was decreed, Adam nonetheless had the "ability" to not sin, yet chose to transgress God's commandment. Likewise, God decreed that the Son would take upon Himself human flesh and atone for the elect through His perfect active obedience and vicarious substitutionary death (passive obedience), yet it was His deliberate decision to obey and not transgress the law of God. Had he had no ability to transgress, it cannot be established that there was any real test of obedience, which mankind was required to do. So, again, it is NOT and either/or nor a proportional equation, e.g., 60%/40% but rather it is Both/And; aka: God's absolute sovereignty AND man's total responsibility.

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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