Then Judas really didn't betray Jesus, he only acted according to God's will?
In my translation I don't see any conflict in word or intent: Deut. 30:14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
The Hebrew version says "so that you may do it." And what is the "it " in this case? Paul, however, misquotes Deuteronomy 30:14, and introjects faith in it to support his novel theology.
The problem is your Bible version (NIV), FK, which is notorious for ad libing and "doctoring" the Bible to fit Protestant doctrine. In this case, the KJV, English Standard Version, Young's Literal Version, etc. agree with the Hebrew. The Catholic NAB version, strangely says "observe it" thereby translating the Qal as a Niphal! But the NIV choice (obey it) is not in the lexicon for Hebrew asah.
Paul's correct starting point is that it is God Who gives us our faith and that by faith we are saved.
But there is no faith mentioned in the Deuteronomy 30:14. Paul added it. We can's say he was using the Septuagint, because the Septuagint also says "do it" (poiein).
Paul is very clear in his teachings that this Christian heart is not something that we earn through works or because we are "good" enough.
But that's not what Deuteronomy 30 is all about, FK. Paul alters the holiest of Jewish scriptures (the Torah) for his own doctrinal purpose. That's fraud.
satan's will is certainly subjugated to God's, as we see at the beginning of Job. But I think whether we should characterize satan as "doing God's will" is a matter of semantics. In one sense "yes" because nothing can overrule God's will and everything that God wills, happens. In another sense, "no" because of course God hates all sin and is the author of none of it.
I hope you realize that this is untenable. If it is merely semantics, then it is insignificant (something like Clinton's "is"), a way to wiggle out of a logical corner. You can't serve two masters, not even the devil. If God is in charge than what's with the final "battle" between the good and evil? A show?
Naturally if we took the time to give individual thanks for all that is due God, then that is all we would be doing every waking minute.
And what is not due to God?
So, Christians understandably focus on giving thanks for those things that are easily understood. But of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't give thanks for what is painful. Paul gives us a perfect example...2 Cor 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Do I take it then that your Church gives thanks to God for the tsunamis, the Holocaust, and the like? Do you thank him when someone falls ill or dies? It's funny that I find the Protestant attitude as a direct opposite of showing any delight in being weak, or giving thanks to God for persecutions, insults, and so on.
As far as other Protestants, I don't know how many would agree with the way I am expressing these ideas, but I know that every Reformer would agree with my sentiments that nothing trumps the will of God, and that whatever God wills is done.
So, when do Reformers celebrate the Andrea Yates Day?
Absolutely, couldn't have said it better myself! Isn't it glorious? :)
No wonder, FK, that Calivnsits make up only 10% of Baptists...
I still disagree that everything is God's "doing" just because He wills it.
LOL! Does that include the Bible?
Now, if evil was a part of the plan and God "injected" evil into a person thus forcing the desired result then you would be right.
Evidently you must have missed the passages where God intentionally sends evil and confusing spirits into someone to get what he wants.
But I say it doesn't work like that.
Oh yes, that makes all the difference...
The Hebrew version says "so that you may do it." And what is the "it " in this case?
It could be said that the "it" is the word of God given through Moses. The verses that follow the instant one give context:
Or, we could say that "doing it" is loving the Lord your God. Paul notes that we love the Lord by faith. Just because that fact isn't emphasized in that particular passage in Deuteronomy doesn't mean that Paul isn't allowed to note it. Paul isn't inventing a new truth that wasn't already there. All those who have EVER loved the Lord have done so by faith.
FK: satan's will is certainly subjugated to God's, as we see at the beginning of Job. But I think whether we should characterize satan as "doing God's will" is a matter of semantics. In one sense "yes" because nothing can overrule God's will and everything that God wills, happens. In another sense, "no" because of course God hates all sin and is the author of none of it.
I hope you realize that this is untenable. If it is merely semantics, then it is insignificant (something like Clinton's "is"), a way to wiggle out of a logical corner. You can't serve two masters, not even the devil. If God is in charge than what's with the final "battle" between the good and evil? A show?
It's tenable because the base statements are insufficiently specific. When you use the phrase "doing God's will" you could legitimately mean very different things since the concept of what constitutes "God's will" is not simple. What you might call my "wiggling" :) is simply my attempt to cover the most likely possibilities all at once. As issues are raised with more specificity, so will my responses be.
And what is not due to God?
"Due to God" could mean different things, so it depends. :)
Do I take it then that your Church gives thanks to God for the tsunamis, the Holocaust, and the like? Do you thank him when someone falls ill or dies? It's funny that I find the Protestant attitude as a direct opposite of showing any delight in being weak, or giving thanks to God for persecutions, insults, and so on.
I agree that very few of us appear to take the literal attitude of Paul in 2 Cor. on this. But one example would be that we often give thanks when an elderly person who is in pain is brought home by God. (We consider physical death to occur at an independently predestined time by God. Our days are numbered by God quite literally.)
Another thing to consider is that while we may not give individual thanks for natural disasters and such, we DO give thanks for God executing His perfect plan, of which natural disasters are a part. So, in a general sense I think we do give thanks for everything including what we commonly perceive as "bad", but maybe not so much on a specific level.
So, when do Reformers celebrate the Andrea Yates Day?
I suppose every time we give thanks to God for being the Alpha and Omega.
FK: I still disagree that everything is God's "doing" just because He wills it.
LOL! Does that include the Bible?
Some things God wills He does, like the Bible, or the Flood. Other things He wills He does not "do", like the betrayal of Jesus and the murders by Andrea Yates. And before anyone jumps on me for saying that God willed Yates' murders :) just consider the following: Did God will the crucifixion, or did the crucifixion thwart God's will, or did He have no opinion about it and accepted it as man gave it to Him?