Its because from the very beginning mankind has been given the capacity to make reasoned moral choices, as opposed to the instinct driven choices that animals make.
This is true as described in Romans. Humans have a "human righteousness" that can never attain unto Godly Righteousness, nor does Romans teach that any "reasoned moral choices" are acceptable to God. In fact the Scriptures teach just the opposite.
I would like to suggest a bit of change in your thinking about human versus animals.
When I was young, I too thought that animals functioned upon a instinctive driven living only. However, the latest research has found that great moral and immoral behaviors are just a prevalent in the animal kingdom. Animals rape, murder, steal, deceive and all the other attributes that unregenerate man may display - even perversions. They have rational thinking capacities that are being explored and new discoveries are made almost daily concerning what used to be thought/taught and what actually occurs.
It is fast becoming apparent that the only true difference in humankind and the rest of the animal kingdom is the "image" of God which is
not any human characteristic, for
all are also imaged in the other animals of the kingdom. The
ONLY characteristic that is NOT found in the others is that of a living soul. The breathe of God delivered that into man unlike any other being created. That is the image of God.
Adam and eve were given a choice to NOT eat of the tree, or to chose to eat of it. ...
The Eden experience is the only time the Scriptures record a "free will" choice made by humankind. From the moment Adam took of the fruit, humankind choices were failure after failure. When confronted by God, the first was avoidance, then blame. That is the pattern of every human that has ever lived. All choices ultimately fail. All building and creative works start decay from the moment they are formed by mankind. Can the unregenerate make "good" decisions. Certainly, but ultimately all decisions are corrupt. Not one character in the Scriptures lived without sin, and although some made great human decisions, and attempted to attain unto some level of righteousness, the Scriptures clearly teach that none made the righteousness of God, that all failed, that all man's righteousness is nothing to God, just stinky and dirty - filled with excrement.
And God grants the gift of regeneration and eternal life to us when we sincerely chose to place our faith in Christ. At that point we are given, as a gift, the unimaginable gift of Christs righteousness.
Here it is very easy to talk past one another.
First it is not "our faith." Each regenerate is given the "measure of faith" it is appointed by God and the person does not choose Christ but is placed "in Christ."
Second, "without that faith it is impossible to please him, for those who come to him must first believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those diligently who seek Him."
The obvious question is who seeks Him?
Only the believers. The Scriptures teach it like this, "For what man knows the things of a man, save
the spirit of man (human spirit/faith) which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but
the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:11) Here is both the limit of man's ability and the ultimate responsibility of God.
For one to consider that a human generated faith must be expressed to attain to Godly righteousness, violates the Scriptures of Hebrews when the writer is expressing the priestly appointment. Remember all believers are heirs of God and priests.
Here is what Hebrews states:
Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Here is Paul's offering from Galatians:
Ga 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
So, the Scriptures point to two areas:
one - faith is not of human generated ability
two - heir ship is appointed by the call of God.
Becuse that is all we have to offer, brother. We are sinners. But the good news is that we have been given the gift of Christs rightiousness.
Perhaps an observer reading this thread might need a bit more clarification here, so I would give two responses.
The first is to the unbeliever, the unregenerate, one who is not yet "born from above."
The Scriptures teach that no man is righteous, that no man can seek God, that the gift of God is eternal life.
What then is this "offer" that an unregenerate can bring?
There is nothing worthy to offer, not even ourselves. The natural man can receive nothing of God, not even of the Spirit of God outside the common graciousness extended to all (rains on just and unjust). The unregenerate are but dust with a living soul. Can they offer the soul? Christ ask, "What will a man give for his soul." That would imply ownership responsibility. However, the soul was not ours to begin with, but the gift breathed in to humankind to make us different from the rest of the creatures God created. It is important for the unregenerate to understand that they can gain all the world has to offer both in unrighteous and righteous and still not attain to God's standard of acceptance.
The second response is to the believer, for of all points this is very important!!!
The believer certainly has been given the gift of eternal life, and that is never to be diminished or off handily passed by.
However, do not neglect what the Scriptures say, "He that has
begun a good work in you..." How is it that it is then begun by humankind attempts of offering? The believer does not offer to God to receive salvation, it is the Gift of God based on unmerited favor.
The Lord Jesus stated, that He wants total submission - "Give heart, mind, soul, strength..." Paul states, "I am crucified ..."
The submission to God, is paramount for the victorious believer. "God resists the proud..."
HeirofSalvation is very correct when he says, "... all we have to offer..." for that is exactly what Christ demands of every believer - our utmost for Him.
Losing salvation is an impossiblity. We are granted the gift of eternal life at the moment we place our faith in Christ and are regenerated.
Here is a real neat part of the discussion.
Just when are we "granted the gift of eternal life." Most would state that it is at the point of "accepting" or some other term the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, that is a human event that God already knew would take place.
Reader, there is a lambs book of life. According to The Revelation, there are two items to keep in mind. First, the Lamb (Christ) was slain from the foundation of the world, and second, the names of that book were written before the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
I realize that I could have selected other passages to establish the principle, but these came to mind for they speak directly of redemption and in context the means of redemption for the believer and the eternal judgement for the unregenerate.
Just when is the believer saved? The answer is when God chooses.
Form humankind perspective, a person is drawn by the work of the Word and Holy Spirit, their darkened minds become aware of the need of salvation and then, as Romans states, while the word of belief is already in their hearts and mouth, the believer confesses Christ as their Savior. To some, they would say that at salvation God grants the new nature.
From God's perspective, it is obviously a dimensional difference. God is not subject to time and space. He is not subject to human conditions and events. As Sovereign, He has appointed who is to be a believer, written the name in the Lamb's book, and sealed it with the promise of the crucifixion. That person will come to Christ, and will be a believer, for the Father has given that person to Christ - all that the Father give will come to Him.