In case, in all the tangle of the discussion prompted by by question "Did God give me the desire to want chocolate at least twice a day?" my beliefs have come into question, as though I agreed with those who shun Reformed theology, I will make my view clear.
I know that there are varying views of determinism in Reformed and Calvinism. I do not know what they all are and I have not done an in depth study of all the philosophical points of investigation. So what I give here is what I believe as far as it goes in that direction. Which, to be honest, relegates determinism to where I think it should theologically be. And that is within the doctrines of grace regarding election unto salvation. To me, to go so deep into back tracking it philosophically, aside from who God declares himself to be and shows himself to be, as to finally arrive at the answer to my question being "Yes, he did give me a desire for chocolate and also gives men (even Adam) the desire to sin." is to push the envelope much farther than it ought to go, given that it attempts to penetrate the mind of God and his actions and purposes beyond what we are clearly told. Maybe it isn't, but that is how I see it.
I believe that God knows all things and is learning nothing, and governs everything. That his purpose is never thwarted and cannot be.
I believe that the Bible is the story of redemption from beginning to end and everything in it is related to that purpose and is the focus. And that the end goal is the utter end to evil in the world and in his redeemed people. A new creation and a new man. A rescue from the consequences of Adam's sin.
I believe God both knew and intended that Adam would sin, and that he made him capable of sinning by creating him with a will, but he did not make him sin or give him a desire to sin. I believe that the only way to destroy evil, was with two federall heads---Adam who caused the fall and Christ who would, as one of us, conquer sin and death through his substitutionary death and taking the just punishment for our sin.
I believe that everything that comes to pass is because God has ordained it to come to pass.
I believe we have evil desires and they are our own evil desires, not given to us by God.
I believe that no one can come to faith in Christ without God changing them from being an enemy of God and God their enemy to one who loves God and follows him. From vertical view, we can not approach him because of our sin. From a horizontal view, we don't want to. We love our sin.
I believe that therefore, God must determine who he wills to save through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. We can do nothing to instigate this action. I believe he knows them before the foundation of the world, and even created them for that purpose. By default, that leaves those he does not choose to save left in their sins and if they were not, justice and mercy could never kiss, so they too are for his glory. He did not choose the reprobate, they are the reprobate. He chose those to give to Christ.
You always state this backwards. In part it depends solely on what the person using " believing in" or simply "believe" intend. But you make it clear. Believing God implies trust and confidence and acting accordingly. To reject God is to not believe in his existence if one is an atheist. Or to pay him no mind but believe he exists.
