Yes, that is exactly what we experience. Therefore, my side does not believe it is OK to go out and do whatever we want. That isn't what Christianity teaches, so we don't believe it.
You can't have God doing everything and all and that saying we have to grow closer. If that's how God set it up, than it's not our effort but our destiny and will happen whether we want it or not. It's not our "perseverance."
God doing everything includes bringing us closer. And yes, it is not our efforts that are worthy of merit, but rather God's. It is our perseverance because God makes it happen for us, not because we make it for ourselves. Reformers believe that the word "predestination" means what the word means. We do not believe, as the Apostolics do, that in effect, man "predestines" himself. That makes a mockery of the word.
God is no respecter of angels? God is no respecter of men, because he gives to the righteous and the unrighteous. As far as I know, God doe snot give to fallen angels, but he does give to fallen men (because there is always hope for the fallen men to be saved, but none for the fallen angels).
I figured out that we were using the word "respecter" differently. You were using it in the strict Biblical sense of giving sunlight, etc. to everyone. That's perfectly good. I was using it in the context of whether God "respects" the decisions of men, and shapes His plan around those decisions (apparently the Apostolic view since God predestines based on men's decision). I don't think THAT happens with either men or angels.
Man's rebellion is a corruption, not complete reversal of his nature. The rebellious angels are dead. We are sick. Big difference.
Rebellious angels are dead and have no hope. Lost men are also dead, but God has predestined some of them to be saved. There's the difference.
God did not create suffering. Therefore suffering cannot be good. Suffering is the outcome of the fall world and is therefore an manifestation of evil, not learning.
The Bible disagrees:
Heb 12:5-11 : 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, we learn by going through the suffering of God's discipline.
We need to stop blaming our weakness on the devil and live up to our own evil and reject it. Passing the buck never solved anything.
Yes, I completely agree. Plus, we have Biblical proof that the devil can't "make" us do anything:
1 Cor 10:13 : 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God protects us against "forced" sin.
There will not be an Armageddon, FK. The devil is not "counter-God." At no point is the outcome in question. God doesn't need the final battle -- His is the Final Judgment!
What does one have to do with the other? I.e., why does satan have to be a "counter-God" for there to be a final battle? You are right that the outcome is not in question, but that is irrelevant to whether a battle will take place. EVERY battle in Biblical history was a forgone conclusion. It is not a matter of God "needing" a final battle, but only that He wanted one. In it, satan will be defeated and forever sealed in hell. That's how God wants it to go, and that's great with me.
I think that those desires to "go out and do whatever" don't exist after you accept Christ. You may still slip up and do something not very Christian (bad word, unkind thought, etc.) but the desire to do things just isn't there (maybe it's just my age talking).
FK: The Bible disagrees: Heb 12:5-11 : 5 ...
The fact that there is suffering is only the sign of our ongoing sin in the world. God suffered for all of us, past present and future, so that those who suffer may be comforted. That is why He says "I will send you the Comforter (Paraclete)" thre Spirit who proceeds from the Father.
The Spirit is the one who comforts us and heals our spiritual wounds. Suffering does not come from God. Comofrt does.