MB-"Do you even understand how provincial and unlearned that statement is? God's will is. "
Dr. E is absolutely correct and is precisely what I'm trying to point out. There is God's will and there is man's will. They are completely opposite.
On the surface, we Catholics agree with that statement, with the caveat that we believe that men are not dead. They are mortally wounded.
Actually, the nature of man cannot be mortally wounded. If one were to go back and review the events of Adam, we see that Adam sinned before judgment took place. Reading through the curse of Adam we see that he goes back to dust, the ground is cursed, his life is going to be difficult, etc. It did nothing to change his nature. All God's command not to eat the fruit served to show that man will NOT keep God's command-no matter how simple. We are, by nature, disobedient and rebellious.
We could complain to God that this isn't fair because of the way He made us; but then that is one of the reasons Christ came in His humanity-to show us that this isn't a flaw in mankind. Rather we could obey God's commands if we really wanted to as Christ did. We, children of Adam, just don't want to. That is why as Christians God has to replace our hearts of stones and "cause" us to walk in His statutes and obey His ordinances.
Think how great life would be if all men understood your brilliant synopsis.
One day, God willing.
Dr. E is absolutely correct and is precisely what I'm trying to point out. There is God's will and there is man's will. They are completely opposite.
I'd suggest that the both of you relook at these statements and at what 180 degrees opposite means. One way of looking at it is to say that you are attempting to compare the finite (man) to the Infinite (God) by attempting to put them both on a one dimensional line pointing in opposite directions.
God's will is. The entire universe is part of God's will. His will is All and it is constant. Man's will varies according to whim, for the most part. One cannot compare them, because they are incomparable, not opposite.
Actually, the nature of man cannot be mortally wounded. If one were to go back and review the events of Adam, we see that Adam sinned before judgment took place. Reading through the curse of Adam we see that he goes back to dust, the ground is cursed, his life is going to be difficult, etc. It did nothing to change his nature. All God's command not to eat the fruit served to show that man will NOT keep God's command-no matter how simple. We are, by nature, disobedient and rebellious.
The consequence of Adam and Eve disobeying God was that their children would inherit original sin. Remember in Genesis 2? Adam and Eve were made without sin, without the capacity to sin. They didn't know what it was. The devil got them transformed with the fruit of the tree. That is the point where mankind's nature changed.
What does Paul say?
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15: 21For by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection of the dead. 22And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
So, there was a change.
We could complain to God that this isn't fair because of the way He made us; but then that is one of the reasons Christ came in His humanity-to show us that this isn't a flaw in mankind. Rather we could obey God's commands if we really wanted to as Christ did. We, children of Adam, just don't want to. That is why as Christians God has to replace our hearts of stones and "cause" us to walk in His statutes and obey His ordinances.
Influence (with His Grace)? Or compel (computer programming)? Did Jesus really come to redeem the entire world? Does He wish all men to be saved? Or is He simply a housewife grocery shopping and picking over the produce?