Of course, it is a free will choice. But God's transformation of the will is his preemptive act of Grace as Paul indicates here.
Sure Gods Grace is established peeemptive, (ie) Before ANY change is MADE in a man, by, through, of the Power of God.
In other words, BY and Because of Gods Grace all men naturally BORN IN SIN, have an OPPORTUNITY to Be MADE reconciled unto God, ONCE and FOREVER.
Gods Grace is not in dispute.
What IS disputed IS: “ONCE” (by, through, of the Lord God,) He SAVES a mans soul, He QUICKENS a mans spirit, He PROMISES their body to Be Raised IN Glory…
Either…Or …
#1 God lies and REVOKES His Works.
Which is NOT possible (Heb 6:18)
Or
#2 A man CAN REVOKE Gods Works.
Which is NOT possible (John 10:28)
Or
#3 Gods Works of SALVATION IN a man IS NEVER REVOKED <—->ie OSAS.
Romans 9:14-18
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
Paul defeats the idea that God must depend on MY choice to be saved.
You mentioned Gods Grace.
Paul is speaking of Gods Mercy and Gods compassion.
You express Gods Mercy and Gods compassion VOIDS your freewill option FOR YOU to Choose God…
YET…Scripture itself SAYS it is YOUR CHOICE, for YOU TO CHOOSE, and a Blessing unto those WHO DO CHOOSE. (Ie ELECT God..
Josh 24:15…choose you this day….
1 Thes. 1:4….your election of God…
If I am to be saved, I will, of course, choose to be saved. But prior to my choice is God's work in my heart, transforming my thoughts and intentions.
Okay, Choosing is your option.
God gives his TRUTHFUL KNOWLEDGE, and has established ways and means for all men to Hear, Learn, His words of knowledge…
And God blessing men (with measures of FAITH) FOR THEIR HEARING.
The Continued Hearing is mans option.
The Choice to Believe what he Hears is mans option.
God Does not CHANGE mens MINDS thoughts.
Gods CHANGES the Hearts thoughts “OF” a converted man.
Also, Jesus' parable of the sower illustrates this principle. Three out of the four soils resulted in belief after hearing the word. But only one soil resulted in the perseverance of faith. In this parable, the soil represents the heart of an individual.
Disagree.
A man is CREATED…
Once a Naturally Born man is naturally BORN, he is MADE by RECEIVES a LIVING SOUL…
The soul belongs to God (but is Identified with the mans bodily name).
The LIFE in the soul belongs to God (IS Gods Breath).
A Living soul IN a Living man, MAKES:
A mans ears to hear.
A mans eyes to see.
A mans mouth to sound/speak.
A mans tongue to taste.
A mans flesh to feel touch.
Sometimes referenced as A mans senses.
Sometimes referenced as A mans sub-conscious (which collects, stores, ALL information by, through, of the mans senses, NOT discriminating Truth and Lies.)
The HEART is where a mans NATURAL spirit is, which IS expressly the TRUTH of that man.
And WHY, IF and WHEN a man EVER Chooses to Believe IN God, it VALID if it is in his natural spirit in his Heart.
And WHY, IF and WHEN a man EVER Chooses to Confess His Belief to God, it is VIA a mans Natural spirit (truth), to Gods Spirit (TRUTH).
It is Specifically a mans soul that is SAVED, via RESTORATION (pss 23:3)
It is Specifically a mans heart that is Circumcised…the man given a new heart….given a new BIRTHED spirit, VIA having received Gods Seed…
Examples;
Rom 2:29
Ezek 19:31
Ezek 36:26
Luke 8:11
Some hearts are ready to hear and believe the word; other hearts are willing to believe but not able to persevere in belief. Only the soil (heart)
Body, Soul, Spirit are three different things that make up the whole of a natural man.
A Restored soul, Quickened (born again) Spirit and Promise of a Body raised in Glory (holy/sinless) is called a Reconciled, Healed, WHOLE man.
that has been cultivated (prepared) to receive the seed (word) will bear fruit (persevere). Everyone who believes in the word, makes a free will choice to believe it. But God must first prepare the heart to persevere in faith. God did not prepare the hearts of those who fell away.
Not sure what you mean by God FIRST “prepares” a heart to persevere in faith…
A man CHOOSES to Hear.
A man WHO IS HEARING is gifted with “MEASURES” of Gods gift of FAITH.
Any man can walk away, Hear no more, Receive no more faith…and is called: Having fallen from Faith.
Since a man CAN fall from FAITH….how is that man being FIRST prepared to persevere?
(Ie his belief, will be maintained?)