So, Christ's death on the cross was just mechanics? You do realize if this continues I will be bold? :)
No, I just mean in COMPARISON to what was ordained. Christ's death on the cross was NEVER an issue of "will it happen/won't it happen". It was sealed in stone from the foundations. Jesus KNEW that because he prophesied about it!!! :)
Are you now saying that the Reformed God didn't create evil and used it for His "plan?" I am confused.
I have always said that God did not "create" evil. It is your side that insists that is what we think. So, that part is all on you guys. However, God DOES use the evil of others for His own purposes. That much is Reformed.
FK: "I have asked before, and I have not gotten an answer, and I will ask again: What did Jesus mean when He said: Matt 16:17 : Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."
Sure you did (I did answer it). He told +Peter the truth: +Peter said Jesus was the Son of the Living God but not is the Christian sense. No one worshiped or prayed to Jesus afterwords as God-Incarnate. But +Peter did say the truth without realizing it fully.
How in the universe could God bless Peter, knowing that Peter had no idea what he was talking about? If Peter was all wrong, how could God bless that? That's impossible. You have God BLESSING error in understanding!!! :) Does that really work for you?
FK, no one said anything about "will/will not." Your statement says "Whatever God has ordained is as good as already done. The rest is mechanics." That makes Crucifixion simply "mechanics."
I have always said that God did not "create" evil
If God did not create evil in your theology who did? Was it not the Reformed God's will that evil exist? I remind you of your own words "Whatever God has ordained is as good as already done. The rest is mechanics."
How in the universe could God bless Peter, knowing that Peter had no idea what he was talking about?
None of the apostles knew who Jesus was at that time. Calling Him the "Son of the living God" (true) did not have the same connotation in the Jewish mindset. That was simply a title of the (Jewish) Messiah (but also of Israel's kings, angels and Adam). But that was progress! Again, I remind you that even as Christ was ready to ascend into heaven, only some of the eleven worshiped him, and even then some doubted him! (cf Mat 28:17)