Gideon, what we are saying is probably similar, but I don't know if it is the same. I agree that nothing can be done without the Most High. I will try to explain I thinking so you can see exactly what I am dealing with, I will try to go in enough detail so that what I am saying is clear, but if you want more detail or explanation about a particular part, then ask.
The way I sight is the combination of the two ways of thought that you put forward. I feel that I make the choice to do something, for example, if I don't like something that I do or think, I resist the thought (sometimes succesfully, sometimes not), but I can't resist the thought alone, it is the Most High RasTafarI Haile Selassie I that gives I strength to resist the thought and gives I direction to resist the thought, I can do nothing unless the Creator shows I the direction and gives I the strength.
As Selassie I say,
Whatever the task may be, man may begin it but he cannot complete it, unless God sustains and supports him. If he fails to accomplish the task on which he has set out, having worked to the best of his ability, he is not to be maligned by being called lazy.
To explain farther what I am saying, I feel that the problem people were having before Christ (and still have after Christ) was that they became very physical and walked with a carnal mind. They left behind the most important teaching that was there from the beginning, to communicate with RasTafarI and listen to RasTafarI's direction that Jah is Itinually giving I and I. So instead of listening to Jah, they tried to do things themselves, but their direction can't be compared to the Creator's direction. So they weren't able to live without sin because they didn't have God as their rudder. Instead they just judged each other and performed the same sins themselves or performed other sins in its place. They were sinners who were under the law.
So what Christ taught was for people to remember to communicate with Haile Selassie I and listen to the direction of the Most High. Only when God is their rudder will they be able to overcome and Live by the example of the Creator.
Where our personal effort and choice comes in is our choice to communicate with Selassie I and our choice to listen to the direction of the Most High. Without the strength provided by Jah, we would not be able to accomplish this. Also, without our choice and effort, we would not accomplish this.
(side note: what I mean by choice and effort, if I decide to move I leg one step, I have made a choice, and when I take the step I have put the effort, and the step was possible only because of the strength and direction provided by Jah, strength to move the leg, and direction of how to move the leg)
Concerning the works, what I am saying is not to concentrate on the works as the solution, but look at communicating and listening to the direction of the Most High. Concerning the works again, if a person has accomplished the most important thing, communicating and listening to the direction of the Most High, then all there works will be by the example of the Most High, because if a person is truly listening to the direction of the Most High, they can only walk in righteousness and cannot deal with sin, because Jah will only guide those that choose to heed his words into righteousness and will never guide them into sin.
So any day I sin in thought or action it is because I don't listen to RasTafarI, but instead I listen to my own foolishness. And it is not because of the Creator that I am not able to listen, it is only because I am not doing my part. If I am doing my part, then it will happen in an instant, because the Creator is always doing Jah part without end or delay.
So when I see that I do or think something that feels like wickedness, I consider the sight that showed I that it is wickedness, as the direction of the Most High. So it is my choice to listen to Selassie I direction and walk in righteousness or ignore it and continue in the wicked action or thought. And when I make the choice to resist it, Jah will direct I and give I strength to do it.
Here is a reasoning I made before.
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Jah created Humans, and made them male and female. And Jah created I and I with many different abilities. So when we exercise our abilities, it is not new Creation from Jah, but it is the usage of our abilities that were Created within us when Jah Created Humans. And One of the abilities Jah gave I and I is the ability to see and choose good or evil works. Jah created I and I in Jah image, so just as Jah has will and choice to do what Jah decides to do, I and I have been Created with will and choice to do what we decide to do.
Jah has shown us Jah example many times in history, as seen in the bible and other scriptures. And Jah Itinues to show us Jah example so that I and I can learn and Live the same. So this is the quest Jah has sent I and I on, to be One with Jah in completeness, by Living by the example of Jah.
When we Live by the example of Jah as shown by Christ and Haile Selassie I, then I and I will be One with Jah with no separation. I and I were created to be One, but given the choice to be separate. It is our mind that completes our Inity or causes separation from Jah.
Jah is not looking for a puppet that doesn't know what they are doing, but only moves according to the strings. Jah is developing and raising One as HIMself, that knows and chooses, but always chooses the right.
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Ark I
RasTafarI
Haile Selassie I
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