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)
FK: 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".
Kosta: 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."
OK, by "mechanics" I mean that what God ordains will happen for certain. How do you see it? Something very different? You're zooming in on the word "mechanics" but there's no argument or point behind it that I can see. When Jesus spoke the prophecy of His own death did He really mean "if it happens"?
If God did not create evil in your theology who did?
I don't think I look at evil as a "thing" to be created. It is the absence of God. However, I suppose that the first example of evil that we can point to is whatever satan did to get himself and his posse kicked out of Heaven. As God created satan, He obviously allowed this to happen, although He could have prevented it. Reformers do not pin blame on God for this, although others do so and then accuse us of agreeing with them.
Was it not the Reformed God's will that evil exist?
YES! That's right. It was God's will that evil "exist". For such things, the Reformed God is infinitely more powerful than the Apostolic God, since the Reformed God is sovereign, in control, and is not subject to chance. The Apostolic God was just unlucky that evil came into being. But, that's the way it goes..... The Reformed God is not subject to luck.