Posted on 03/21/2010 3:03:29 PM PDT by NYer
Shall we discuss inspiration versus robot slave?
Shall we discuss that God knew the outcome ahead of time? Is it slavery then if the ones chosen for the task would complete it to God's satisfaction?
I'm always intrigued when this description is used. What exactly do you mean by this?
Who has the ultimate power and dominion over events? God's Will shall happen. As God's Word likewise will triumph. Since man can't forsee all things, man's limited reason drives him to sometimes try and explain the hidden counsel of God. You brought up a conflict earlier, although I would have phrased it as a conflict between the Election of Grace and the Universal Will of Grace. Reasonably they are in conflict but Scripture doesn't see it that way. The why of it is beyond human reason and intellect.
And I would say that if God calls you, and you reject him, you are more powerful than God. You are now HIS god.
How can you, oh man, deny God his will?
God does allow men the will to sin, but no man decides, on his own, to turn to God.
One must look at who He was addressing. Not the people at large, but the small group of disciples. Does that mean that the Holy Spirit does not lead individuals? Of course not. The Holy Spirit comes to us at various times such as baptism. He is the Comforter and will help us. But these verses are not directed at the laity.
You do admit that Paul was lead by the Holy Spirit in his epistles to the churches, right?
One must understand the difference between inspiration and robot slave. A painter, for instance, is inspired looking at a scene. John the Apostle was directed to write down his vision in his Revelation. Inspiration, not dictation. Why are the four Gospels different in many ways? Because they were written by four humans, with different perspectives at different times. Quiz: how many Gospel writers actually saw Jesus?
Look at the criteria again. Now read what the Word has to say about itself. It endures. It accomplishes it purpose. It is power. God is the author and it certifies itself.
Sorry, but the Roman Catholic Church does not own the designation of “His Church
]sure it does...there is no doubt about it...for 1500 years all christians were Catholic....then along came the “reformers” who thought that they, not Christ, were better able to establish a religion....Martin Luther is responsible for the loss of more souls than any other person in history!!!
***Quiz: how many Gospel writers actually saw Jesus?***
Misdirection... WHOOSH, right past him.
The better question is: How many gospel writers had the Holy Spirit within them.
Only if God forces you to love Him, which He does not. You cannot force love.
God IS love, and unless you know God, you don’t love.
As you know that is circular reasoning.
ML is responsible alright, for being chosen to help return Christ and His Gospel back to His children.
Let’s look at it this way.
Imagine that you live in a world that is dark, so dark that you can barely see anything at all. Then someone turns on a light, one that allows you to see clearly for the first time. Wouldn’t you thank him profusely? Wouldn’t you love him, even, for showing you what you never saw before?
That is the way of love. When God removes the sin from your life, and you can finally see God’s glory for the first time, when your eye are finally open and you see God’s love for you, you cannot help but love him back. There is no forcing about it, it is a proper response to God’s love.
To a Catholic especially, no glory to share. God's Word's survival is dependent on human hands. If you don't like the attributes describing the Bible, take it up with the Word Himself, they are His.
Which does not change the fact that man can and does accept or reject love and God.
Amen.
I must trot out some Scripture that indicates some difference to this theological point, then.
Jesus is the Son of God (also Son of Man) - no verses required, I trust.
Genesis 6:1-4 The giants are called sons of God and sons of Heaven.
Job 1:6 Angels are called sons of God.
Psalms 82:6 Anyone to whom the word of God is addressed.
2 Samuel 7:14 King David
Exodus 4:22 All of Israel
Hosea 11:10 All of Israel
Matthew 5:9 The peacemakers
But it all comes down to this: whoseover believes in God will have eternal life with Him in Heaven. These are His Children - those that answer that call and believe.
And God loves all his children.
However, free will does not exclude making stupid, harmful, prideful, rebellious, angry, destructive, wrong choices.
***However, free will does not exclude making stupid, harmful, prideful, rebellious, angry, destructive, wrong choices.***
That IS free will. WHat is not free will is being able to chose to believe God. That is HIS domain only. He chooses us.
Look again CAREFULLY at my example. I said the very thing above. With free will you can choose to sin or not sin at any point.
***But it all comes down to this: whoseover believes in God will have eternal life with Him in Heaven. These are His Children - those that answer that call and believe.***
In this you and I are in agreement. Peace, brother.
Sin is the choice of separating ourselves from God. In your view we cannot sin, unless this is God's will - which we cannot thwart.
This view inevitably makes God the author of sin. I'm sure you're familiar with this.
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