Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Ward Smythe; Jerry_M; xzins; RnMomof7; Jean Chauvin
Did God create them [those who would never repent] knowing that they would not come and yet, still created them anyway? - CCWoody
Yes, but He gave them the choice not to come. In His sovereignty, He gave them that choice. - Ward Smythe

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Let's leave the verse for a moment, which you are taking out of context...

God gave them the choice not to come, OK. Laying aside those who never ever get a chance to hear the gospel and even have that choice, let us press on with the subset who hear the gospel at least one time.

You agree that God created them with certain abilities and desires, for God has created all of us. You agree that God has created us with the foreknowledge that He already knows who will not come to Him. You agree that God created them anyway. He saw our substance while it was still unformed and in His book he has already written the days that were fashioned for us, when there were none of them.

One more question: if God has desired and been pleased to do so, could He have created a man differently, with a different set of abilities and desires so that the man would eventually submit to Him?

161 posted on 02/27/2002 7:48:59 AM PST by CCWoody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies ]


To: CCWoody
It's only out of your context Woody.

To answer your question, God can do anything he wants to. If He wanted to he could format the hard drive and wipe us all out and start over from scratch.

He chooses not to.

Calvinists seem to imply that God giving man a choice somehow weakens God. To the contrary. God created us to love Him. Love requires a choice.

A choice He gives us.

167 posted on 02/27/2002 8:18:34 AM PST by Ward Smythe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies ]

To: CCWoody
One more question: if God has desired and been pleased to do so, could He have created a man differently, with a different set of abilities and desires so that the man would eventually submit to Him?

Would eventually submit to Him? That's irresistible grace; the doctrine you preach, isn't it? Aren't you the ones who say that God forces them to believe?

You teach that no one is ABLE to believe. You teach that God forces some to believe and he saves those. You teach that God doesn't permit the rest to believe. Then, you teach that he punishes in eternal hell those who don't do what he prevented them from being able to do. Doesn't seem fair to me.

God does not show partiality/favoritism.

You are correct. We believe differently. We believe he created everyone with the ability to make a true, real free choice. Those who choose Him, he saves. Those who reject, he damns.

Our understandings are entirely different.

173 posted on 02/27/2002 9:03:41 AM PST by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson