Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What was Eve's sin? | Gen 3:6 | Lionstrong | 5410 | ||
Hank, Thank you for your questions. Lionstrong, are you saying that we no longer have free will to choose,...? Yes, in the way our first parents were. We are so corrupted by the fallen nature we inherited from them that, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE. THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING, THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS; THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN. THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." (Rom 3:10-18) This is the human condition, and with our fallen nature these are the choices we make. "or that because of our fallen nature, we do not have it (free will) to the extent that Adam and Eve did before the fall?" Yes, but as you see above, that's putting it mildly. "Is it any harder, or easier, to resist temptation today than it was for Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden?" I don't think this one needs an answer, but... Before our first parents fell everything they did was perfectly righteous. But now even "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isa 64:6) "How does the Bible speak on this issue?" We were spiritually dead. All our choices were the choices of the spiritually dead. God raised us up spiritually. We had to be born again. (Ehp 2, Jn 3). As in physical birth, and Jesus raising someone from death, the one borne and the one raised had no choice in the matters. Jesus begins and finishes our faith (Heb 12:2). Love is a choice and we love Him BECAUSE He first loved us. (1 Jn 4:19) We chose to come only when God drew us (Jn 6:44). We chose to repent only when God graciously granted it (Act 11:18, 2 Tim 2:25) Again, we don't have the freedom our first parents had because our wills were bound and burdened by sin and we were its slaves. The Father drew us to the Savior, otherwise we would not have come, and Jesue sets us free (Mat 11:28, Jn 8:34-36). Lionstrong |
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2 | What was Eve's sin? | Gen 3:6 | Hank | 5423 | ||
You know, Lionstrong, this Forum has been a revelation to me. During the several weeks since I logged in for the first time, I've learned a great deal -- but that learning has been, I fear, more about human beings than about the Bible. How can one volume, the sacred writings we confess to be the inerrant word of God, be saying so many different and opposing things to so many people? It gives one pause...My father was a cracker-barrel philosopher from Alabama, a devout Christian and my hero still, although he long since went on to his reward. I recall having heard him say more than once, "You can prove, or disprove, just about anything by the Bible, if you know just what verses to string together to do it." Well, haven't we seen a lot of verses strung together on this Forum in some effort to prove this or that view? Is it doing us any good? Are we gaining ground or losing it for the cause of Christ? Or are we being viewed by onlookers as a bunch of argumentative babblers who really don't have any goals more noble than scoring a point for their cherished view. This is advertiised as a Study Bible Forum. Yet how many times have we seen responses to good and fair biblically-based questions that were clearly dashed off in haste, were not remotely connected to any Scriptural reference, were wildly speculative, were founded on nothing more than an opinion or a guess -- and an uneducated one at that? And how many times have we seen Scripture lifted out of its proper context and offered as proof in support of a pre-conceived bias of some sort? I am not pointing a finger at you or anyone else on this forum any more than I am pointing it at myself My point is that it seems to me to be time to reflect on what we are doing and in what direction we are headed. Do we wish the forum to be a place we come to learn or the place we come to quibble and debate and engage in petty nit-picking and verbal fights over trifles? Do we wish it to be a friendly place at which one can be encouraged and uplifted? Do we wish it to be a place where Christian love and nurture shine clearly through?....I'm not a young man anymore, and as I grow older I think more and more about the complex world we inhabit in these early days of a new millenium. Jesus lived in a simpler time. The men He chose to be His intimate companions were simple men. He taught them a simple gospel. Accordingly, I agonize at what is going on in Christendom in our time. The simple saving message of our Lord is being twisted and gnarled into arcane theological and philosophical gobbledy-gook. Churches have opened their doors to the pervasive inroads of secular humanism. Unity has yielded to division, and love to contention....We on this forum have a voice, we have an opportunity to do something good, we have a responsibility to do what we can to restore unity and peace among God's people....I believe we. all of us, would do well to re-examine our responsibilities and opportunites as active users of this forum. Has the forum not seen enough of vague, philosophical debates that seem to go on interminably. Aren't we happy unless we're engaged in a heated debate of a controversial subject about which most of us know little but say much? Can't we dedicate our time and efforts to more effective ways of examining and sharing the truths of Gods word with one another? --Hank | ||||||
3 | What was Eve's sin? | Gen 3:6 | Joy | 5442 | ||
Dear Hank, I fully agree with what you have written. This forum has been an eye opener in many ways. I have been more of an observer rather than a participant and I've noticed that many good questions have been posted and many biblical and sound answers have been given. However, sometimes this is not the case and as an encouragement to all I would like to quote a few verses here: "If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth ..." (1 Tim. 6:3-5) "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,..." (2 Tim. 2:23-25) "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) Written with good intentions from 'Joy'. |
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4 | What was Eve's sin? | Gen 3:6 | Hank | 5444 | ||
Thank you, Joy, for your kind remarks regarding my note. But thank you most of all for sharing your views and keen insights. Your selections of Scriptural truths could not have been more germane to the issues involved. Please continue to favor us with your comments and concerns. --Hank | ||||||