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To: daniel1212
Yearning doesn't imply a need, it only indicate love and affection. It is similar to Christ's lament over Jerusalem:

It isn't that God couldn't do it, wanted something He couldn't have, limited Himself because it trend on man's sovereignty, etc. It only means that God loves to give us the very best despite our desire to spur Him-much like the prodigal son.

I like your poem but I would have issue with a few of the points, #3 in particular goes against a number of verses (John 15:16, James 2:5, Matthew 24:14, Acts 10:41, John 1:12-13, John 6:35-37, etc.)

119 posted on 06/17/2021 12:39:18 PM PDT by HarleyD (Dr E-"There are very few shades of grey.")
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To: HarleyD
"Yearning doesn't imply a need, it only indicate love and affection. It is similar to Christ's lament over Jerusalem:"

True, but I tend to provide answers in anticipation of what atheists would say, and thus cut them off at the pass!

"I like your poem but I would have issue with a few of the points, #3 in particular goes against a number of verses (John 15:16, James 2:5, Matthew 24:14, Acts 10:41, John 1:12-13, John 6:35-37, etc.)"

you mean, "But he that can love must be able to choose, GOD's word to keep, or His fellowship to lose?" That is contextually referring to Adam being able to make moral choices, to obey God or not, vs. being as a cloud, while the degree of freedom man has extends even as to how immoral a man will be for while having a sinful nature, yet even lost souls have been given enough grace to make moral choices (Gn. 4:7) for which God hold him accountable for, vs simply being a slave living out a script.

Which freedom of choice does not contradict the Truth that God chooses us, (John 15:16) and thus enable and motivates us to choose Him, as God commands, and which we never could or would do otherwise. And then further works in us both to will and to do His will. (Jn. 6:44; 10:32; Acts 11:18; 16:14; Eph. 2:89, Phil. 2:12,13) And yet rewards us for our obedience of faith, (Heb. 10:35) for which only God deserves any credit, while the only thing we actually can and must take credit for is our disobedience, relative to our ability.

But while man cannot take any credit for believing and calling upon the Lord in faith for salvation, (Rm. 10:9013) yet man is not saved while he is unconscious, but makes a choice, which sets him apart from inanimate objects of those merely driven by instinct. Certainly man's freedom is not absolute, nor is ours in this (increasingly less) free country but man is indeed given the ability to choose and options to choose btwn, ultimately to love light over darkness, God over sin. Thus it remains that,

But he that can love must be able to choose

GOD's word to keep, or His fellowship to lose. Gn.2:16,17; Dt.30:15,19; Rm.6:23; Eph.2:1,5 4 The Serpent, so subtle, came up to Adam's Eve,

The Serpent, so subtle, came up to Adam's Eve, casting doubt, speaking lies, he worked to deceive.

She believed him, yielded to sin, and gave Adam to eat: Their eyes were then opened, and they fell in defeat.

GOD called for Adam, as he hid in the Garden; sin finds you out, and we all must seek pardon.

129 posted on 06/17/2021 5:44:12 PM PDT by daniel1212 (uir)
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