Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: HarleyD; kosta50; Forest Keeper; Kolokotronis; Cronos; annalex
The only way we can understand God's grace is to understand God's wrath. There are vessels of wrath created for their destruction:

God's wrath upon the unrighteous...

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; Romans 1:24-28

What is interesting is that God reproves those whom He loves, and allows those who have turned from Him to continue in their ways of self-destruction. Thus, men DO choose the vomit - and God allows them to destroy themselves. That is His wrath. His love is to punish us as a father does His son.

Regards

2,579 posted on 02/13/2006 4:04:53 AM PST by jo kus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2557 | View Replies ]


To: jo kus; kosta50; Forest Keeper; Kolokotronis; Cronos; annalex
"What is interesting is that God reproves those whom He loves, and allows those who have turned from Him to continue in their ways of self-destruction. Thus, men DO choose the vomit - and God allows them to destroy themselves."

You only understand the first half of Augustine's paradox: 1) God commands what He wills and 2) He gives what He commands. God has to give us what He commands. Men will choose the vomit unless God gives them the grace and faith to overcome their blind obedience to sin. We can't do it on our own because there is not one thing that we have that has not been given to us by God, including whether we want to choose the vomit or not. God must give us what He has commanded. He doesn't give us 50% worth of knowledge to see if we'll chooose the vomit. He gives us enough faith to reject the vomit.

If you ONLY understand the first half of Augustine's paradox then you are living the Pelagius heresy.

2,586 posted on 02/13/2006 4:54:45 AM PST by HarleyD ("Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?" Prov 20:24)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2579 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


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