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Because the sin of unbelief already existed. God doesn't cause their sin of unbelief by using them to His purpose while they're unbelievers.
A virtuous deed, even if willed by God, doesn't wipe out the sin of exchanging the truth for a lie.
Yes, the sin of unbelief is entirely their own. That's
not what you said though. You said anything done without faith is a sin. Unbelief is one choice with one consequence; the other choice is another.
If God calls them to do something for His purpose, in their unbelief, their unbelief continues as sin even as their obedience to God's will happens. But their action in following His plan - remember, man is free, so they could increase their sin in disobedience - is a second matter. You're suggesting that their action either way increases their sin. I'm saying, if unbelief is minus a thousand points, obedience is +0 points, disobedience is minus another 100. Or something.
My only point is that it can't be heads you sin tails you sin. That is simply not free will. What justice is there for saying: 'you must live a life and are free to make decisions. A wrong decision results in your eternal damnation. There are no right decisions.' ? That's not free will, that's a mockery of it.
I never said any deed wipes out sin, that would be heretical and that's not what we're talking about.
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Under your model, rejecting God's invitation, suppressing the truth that He has revealed, is not a sin?
Let's be clear, not my model. This is the model of the Church that has been confessed always. I am defending exactly and only two rules when it comes to this stuff: God is the source, beginning, and end of all good things (including man's free will, for what it's worth); and, man has free will. You can't break these rules.
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It's possible to never believe, yet not sin?
The hypothetical scenario is just that. "EVEN IF". To say otherwise is the error of Pelagius.
And yes, obviously rejecting God's invitation and any disobedience is a sin. And not once, but every single time, because God is patient and longsuffering and loves mankind.
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And we're all bound for eternal death--and by that I assume you mean the second death, the lake of fire--even if we never sin? We're convicted because of Adam's sin and not our own?
You keep adding to my words and it seems like you're asking disingenuous questions.
As for death, no to both of your questions.Mortality is what I mean. The Orthodox church teaches Adam was created immortal, and would not have died. This is the first canon of the council of Carthage, since you're so very intent on avoiding the heresy of Pelagius.
PS do you baptize your infants as canon 2 says? Do you believe baptism is for the remission of sins? The canons say infants "therefore are truly baptized for the remission of sins, in order that what in them is the result of generation may be cleansed by regeneration." They said this is how the "Catholic Church everywhere diffused has always understood it." So if you're going to align that Pelagius is a heresy, note well
why. And note regeneration's purpose, and timing.
We do not inherit Adam's sin, but we do inherit the consequence of his sin, which is death and mortality. Christ trampled down death, He defeated death once for all. In doing so He restored all men to immortality. "Death is swallowed up in victory" "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
The judgment is when Christ renders to each according to what he has done. So we need to be clear about death versus quality of eternal life.
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Well, it's a final judgment, from a judgment seat, by a just God. So yes, I tend toward a juridical view of those aspects. I can see why you avoid such an understanding if your belief involves eternal condemnation because of someone else's sin.
I agree with you that we're judged by what we are--new creations in Christ. We just disagree about whether God makes us that on His own initiative, or as a reaction to ours.
Now you're just being salty.
Anyway St Isaac says "Do not call God just, for His justice is not manifest in the things concerning you. And if David calls Him just and upright, His Son revealed to us that He is good and kind..." and "His recompense of sinners is, that instead of a just recompense, He rewards them with resurrection, and instead of those bodies with which they trampled upon His law, He enrobes them with perfect glory and incorruption. That grace whereby we are resurrected after we have sinned is greater than the grace which brought us into being when we were not."
And no, no, no. You are not representing my point honestly. Over and over again, I've said, God starts, continues, finishes and allows all good in the world and the entirety of the salvation process. It is always Him who starts. How many times have I said this? How many times did St John emphasize it? But the choice is always free, and it always is ours. He is not reacting to us -- we are reacting to Him! "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in."
It doesn't say I knock and regenerate you and then you hear my voice and open the door.