In reply to:
[color:"blue"]It sounds confusing! We can't know whether or not God has foreordained our sin, so we should always act in the preceptive will of God, right?

Right! [Linked Image] Because God's decretive will is secret, unknown to us and only to God, that is not our concern when it comes to how we live out our lives. His preceptive will, i.e., that which is known to us through His inspired Word says:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ASV) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it."
Therefore, we should not and cannot focus ourselves upon what God may have ordained in a particular situation, but rather what He requires of us. If we sin, it is our own doing and not the fault of God's foreordination. Again, we sin on our own and never because we were forced to do so. God's decree does not include the forcing of anything that is against, contrary to a man's will. When it is time for an elect sinner to come to faith, God must first recreate the will so that it can be drawn (infallibly) to Christ. No sinner ever comes to Christ against his will, kicking, screaming that he would much rather be without Christ and be sentenced to eternal hell. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/wink.gif" alt="wink" title="wink[/img]

Yes, throughout a believer's life, sin will continually take place. But this is part of the sanctification process. Among other things, it makes one truly humble, grateful and dependent upon the Lord's mercy and strength to continue on. The motivation for this perseverance, in spite of our continually committing sin is the truth of the atonement; that Christ has secured our redemption and that is fixed in heaven.


In His Grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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