I am curious to see what the Calvinist crowd will say.
It doesn’t say God CAUSED the opposition, but that it happened in accordance with His plan.
Oh, so God did not cause the opposition? He merely "planned" and "hoped" [?] that it happens? Was the people's opposition perchance caused by their "hardened hearts?" And if so, WHO caused their hearts to harden?
Now, perhaps you can for a moment put on a Calvinist hat and ask yourself if that opposition was in any way God's will?
Then you can ask yourself if God's will is the cause of everything and all, visible and invisible?
Then you can rant at yourself. :)
Not to change the subject, but I couldn't help but notice yet another Pauline pearl your posted in Rom 8:27 "because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Another fine example that the Church did not from the beginning teach the Holy Trinity as defined by the Councils centuries later. Paul makes clear distinction between God and the Spirit (i.e. the Spirit is not the same as God); clearly for Pauline Spirit is a loyal, subordinated servant of God.
Are you ranting?... :)
“Oh, so God did not cause the opposition? He merely “planned” and “hoped” [?] that it happens?”
To expect something and plan for it is not to cause it.
“Was the people’s opposition perchance caused by their “hardened hearts?”
Quite possibly. Romans 1: “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
That doesn’t make their hearts bad, but makes manifest the evil that is already there and in control.
” Not to change the subject, but I couldn’t help but notice yet another Pauline pearl your posted in Rom 8:27 “because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”/Another fine example that the Church did not from the beginning teach the Holy Trinity as defined by the Councils centuries later...for Pauline Spirit is a loyal, subordinated servant of God.”
Why? When I anticipate my wife’s needs and take care of them, or she mine, that makes us married, not subservient servants. I look out for her because I love her and want her happiness, as she does with me. Think of it as 2 persons, but “one flesh”...
“I am curious to see what the Calvinist crowd will say.”
So am I! ;>)
It makes sense. God the Father ordains. God the Son justifies. And God the Holy Spirit sanctifies.
A perfect plan.
Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil ,Saint Pio,Saint Augustine are equally important to being a Christian than Saint Paul.
Some seem to hold their interpretation of Saint Paul as being more important because of a book religion when there are other clear examples from Church Fathers who are Saints in unity with the Church's interpretation of Scripture
To think that Saint Paul was "ultra Spirit lead" above other Saints makes no sense to me. The Church is one mind one Body