As a simple illustration here is one verse (among thousands) that brings out the principle of preceding grace:
35 Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. (Joh 12:35-36 NKJ)
A deterministic rendition of the above would be written as follows:
35 Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. You have been predestined to have the darkness over take you, so you will continue to walk in darkness.
36 "While you have the light, only the predestined can believe in the light and become sons of the Light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. (Joh 12:35-36 No Bible Ever)
But instead Jesus says that the limited presence of the light is a temporary enablement to believe in it. If that were not true, and Christ was only speaking descriptively and not prescriptively, the presence of the light would be irrelevant to the opportunity to respond to it.
Once this light is gone, the "window of time" has expired to respond to it.
That whole idea is completely contrary to, and incompatible with, determinism.
First, did you notice Jesus never answers their question? Just curious.
But instead Jesus goes right into reproving their stupidity and threatening them that within a little time, his bodily presence will be taken away, and with Him will go all the light of instruction and spiritual direction which He had given them. Therefore He exhorts them to make use of the short time He gave them to be converted and believe in Him.
Then Jesus says:
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”
These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
How do we become sons of light?
By belief of course. He’s telling them while you have the light, believe that you may become sons of light, - enlightened by the gift of regeneration.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18.
God will give His church the clear glass of the gospel instead of the vail in the OT, all believers freely by faith contemplate the glorious light of His mercy, truth and power, by which we are made like unto Him, in holiness and the newness of life by the Spirit of regeneration during this life until the time of perfection in everlasting life.