Point taken. Indeed, predestination is teleological. However, I believe that God is first concerned with the desires of the heart, rather than the abilities of the will. <br><br>Paul points out that that man only desires to sin.<br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Rom. 7:8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>James agrees with Paul when assigning desire as being one of the chief culprit of evil:<br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]James 1:13 ¶ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; <br>James 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. <br>James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. </font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>However, the reason why we have any love for God at all is primarily teleological:<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]1John 4:19 ¶ We love [God] because he first loved us.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>I certainly believe that, in accordance with our free but limited wills, the miracle isn't so much that we have the ability to love God (for this was given to us at creation), but that we desire to love God.<br><br>Obviously, I'm probably only stating something you already know, but it should be emphasized that the natural man, although having a free will, cannot desire God.<br>
