My problem remains with the myriad voices, denominations, sects, and individuals who are always ready to pronounce me a 'sinner' because I do this or don't do that. It wouldn't be so unbearable IF they agreed with each other!!
So how do I make my choice? Grow in wisdom. Mature. Learn. Gain the "sound mind" and put on the Mind of Christ. Set aside what doesn't work. Follow what does. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repent and believe. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Judgement isn't "punishment for bad choices" for the sake of punishment, but correction. It changes us and teaches us.
We seem to get to a certain point, then it all comes crashing down. I don't doubt that Peter fully intended to "not deny" the Lord. Yet he did--(and all the others with him). And the Lord knew He would, even if Peter didn't and so much as called Him a liar. Peter "chose" in advance, yet his choice meant nothing when the time came. Peter "chose" when he was confronted by accusers, and even though he "chose poorly", it STILL was CLEARLY in the plan of God. And the LORD used his failure to teach not only him, but US--and especially those of us who believe Peter absolutely could not have chosen differently than he did.
What was the lesson? "Deny the Lord."? Of course not. The Lesson is BELIEVE what He says. Lean not on your own understanding (like Peter telling the Lord just how it would be), but in all your ways acknowledge Him. It's everywhere in Scripture, not just there.
What I learn from that whole passage is: Don't despair. Our failure is not the end, even if our failure is our present circumstance. Desire to "do good", but be humble about your own abilities and control of situations. Keep the FAITH, no matter what. If you don't have it, how can you keep it?
And for all those pesky other people out there WANTING to sin and HAVING NO DESIRE to do good? Besides the fact that I don't think that number is very great, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that "they" are here in the first place and require no "preaching" from the likes of me.