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Posted on 03/10/2004 9:37:27 PM PST by malakhi
| Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
Except for your perfect self-awareness, of course.
I understand your questions. "What good comes from believing this?" The good is simple. Unlike so many, who say that unless the bushman or the imbecile or the week-old baby "is blessed by the Church," or "makes a public statement of faith," or "hears the word and believes," I know that salvation depends on God's mercy alone, and not on ANYTHING anyone might do to achieve it.
Well, if God is directing everything and calling all the shots, why couldn't he make the baptism of the bushman necessary and control events such that it actually happens?
That God is in control of everything, perfectly and without exception, does not mean that the actions that God forces we humans to make are without effect or meaning. Of course we are all saved because of God's decision to save us. But why must you think this means our actions have no effect in making this a reality? Why is God making us run through these motions that ultimately effect nothing? Why not simply entertain the thought in His mind, and be satisfied with it?
SD
God uses evil, like He uses everything else, for His own good and just purpose, to glorify His name.
Just because we can't always understand how a virus can bring glory to God's name, we must still acknowledge that He did indeed create the virus, and like everything else in existence, it conforms to His will.
Or else the virus's will is stronger than God's will.
I'm always listening. Which is why I've changed direction. We'll both listen to each other. How's that?
Sometimes I want my little girl to just stay the perfect little huggable innocent size she is right now and to never change. And, as much as she can understand, or could understand, a static existence would be comforting. She woudl never have to grow up, make hard decisions, get disappointed, make mistakes. She could just cuddle up with mom and dad, reading books, eating fruit snacks and watching Timon and Pumbaa for eternity.
But she will grow and I will be there to help her, but not to do everythign for her and micromanage her existence.
It's comforting to be a helpless baby and to have daddy take care of your everything. But I simply don't accept any philosophy of life which states that we never grow, since we never have any responsiblity for anything and that whatever we do is smiled upon by our Father.
SD
Why the sarcasm? You're the one who says a person must EARN his salvation, so that person MUST be smarter, holier, wiser, more aware, than someone who isn't saved.
I say salvation is the Lord's call; always and forever. We are all dead in sin and none of us is deserving of heaven.
You say you earn it by your good efforts; the more perfect your devotion, the more your reward is warranted.
I say human attempts at "perfection" have nothing to do with salvation because we are ALL sinful and rebellious creatures, unless and until God regenerates us through His grace by the umerited gift of faith.
Circles within circles. Outside the circle, encompassing all, is God's will, endless.
From there, it's just a short hop to God, the Buddy; God, the penpal; and God, the Smurf.
"I AM WHAT AM."
Any earthly father who says that has a child who's in big trouble.
Are you telling me you are not aware of your own election? It's not sarcasm if it's a true description.
You're the one who says a person must EARN his salvation, so that person MUST be smarter, holier, wiser, more aware, than someone who isn't saved.
Salvation is by grace alone. No one can earn it. Try again.
You say you earn it by your good efforts; the more perfect your devotion, the more your reward is warranted.
When we obey God, through cooperating with His Grace, we are made worthy of salvation. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we walk in the light, we have fellowship and are cleansed of sin. Note the conditional.
I say human attempts at "perfection" have nothing to do with salvation because we are ALL sinful and rebellious creatures, unless and until God regenerates us through His grace by the umerited gift of faith.
"Human" attempts at perfection will fail. And yet with God's grace we can indeed "walk in the light." But we must be filled with grace first, and this is a free gift.
Circles within circles. Outside the circle, encompassing all, is God's will, endless.
Outside the circle, encompassing all, is God.
SD
What is The Matrix? ;o)
Wow! Completely not the direction I thought you would come from. Wow.
The Lord's Prayer is our model. Kinship with the Lord is our only hope. Wow.
SD
Because he's been taught this since birth?
Of course, I believe that Jesus is alive, too.
God retracts in order to give us a dominion in which to exercise. Like China's enterprise zones.
SD
Yes. In Jewish mystical thought, the term for this is Tzimtzum.
Remember Steve Martin's old albums? "It's like those French have a different word for everything." :-)
SD
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