Which of us reformed Christians weren't at first put off and dismissive of the Biblical understanding that God has elected some from before the foundation of the world?
Yes indeed, certainly not me. But then the idea of God's sovereignty started to keep repeating itself in my studies. My mentor, without EVER mentioning "Reformed theology" or Calvin or Luther, etc. kept saying to me "It's all about Jesus, not you". He said it so many times that I must have given him several looks along the lines of "yeah, I get it, thanks" :). But I DIDN'T REALLY get it until later, so he was right all along to keep pushing it. Then one day I heard of this "Reformed theology" thing and I said "EUREKA!, that fills in all the holes". And the rest .... :)
The logic of who God says He is is overwhelming. If God created everything, and God knows everything, and nothing is unknown to God, and if God is complete and whole and in need of nothing, then it follows that what occurs in life is exactly what God intends to occur, one way or the other.
Yes, and it's amazing how escapable inescapable logic can be sometimes. :)
Allow me to fix this for you,Dear Sister
The logic LOVE of who God says He is is overwhelming "not forced on us". If God created everything, and God knows everything, and nothing is unknown to God, and if God is complete and whole and in need of nothing then it follows that what occurs in life is exactly what God intendsallows to occur, one way or the other.
The fact that God may use something that comes from someone who chooses Evil and turns it into something good DOES NOT MEAN GOD PLANNED THE EVIL.
God's logic is NOT man's logic. Why must you keep trying to reduce God's logic to fit the logic of man?
GOD ALWAYS WINS OVER EVIL! THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE CREATED EVIL!
Denying free will is evil, but God will still allow the brainwashed people who believe this to exist and use it for the purpose of good .
Good Night!
I wish you a Blessed Evening!