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 | Why two tablets ??? | Is 33:22 | swerv | 152510 | ||
Doc: I do agree that Abraham did break God's commandments - but that is why we are all sinners - we have all broken at least one commandment. Abraham did not have the power of the HS as we have today to overcome all temptations to sin. That being said - Abraham and Noah were "righteous" in the eyes of God - that is why God gave them grace. As I have stated before in many responses - we must get a good grasp of what is "God's grace". It is not God's will of salvation imposed on individuals (OT or NT). Grace is God's willingness to forgive a repentant sinner and as well to give the opportunity to the sinner to gain forgiveness by repentance and change. David is a great example of one who should have died for his sins but he was so repentive - God did not require his death like many other times in His theocracy but gave him life and forgiveness. Our world would not be where it is today if God did not give grace to Adam/Eve after they sinned. The only reason God did not destroy even Noah in the flood was because Noah found "grace" in the eyes of the Lord. You say faith is given and God's gift is justification - BUT this I disagree with. Faith is shown by our heart and our actions. Justification is given by God because of our own personal choice (will) to repent and change our sinful life - to a life following the commands of God. God chosing Abraham is a reflection of Abraham having a heart for God. If we did not have to reveal our love and obedience for God then - Why would not God save everyone ????? I agree that all men have an understanding of God's law which is within us - BUT it is the obedience of that heart that reflect our love for God or our love for ourselves and the world. I disagree that the "Lord Jesus alone saves" - We cannot be saved unless we are willing to be saved. God gave us free will to either obey or not. That was the whole purpose of the forbidden fruit in the garden. Would man obey God or Satan. But I will agree that the death of the Perfect Lamb (Jesus) is what atones for our sins and only this sacrifice on His part can save us from our sins. The result of our sins is death. Therefore to accept Jesus death and realize there is nothing we can do to atone for our sins is a reflection of our faith in that atonement. But once we accept this God expects our loyalty to Him now and this is shown by not committing sin. We are to live like Christ. We have the power and knowledge now to overcome temptation and flee from sin and Satan. The 4th commandment is the longest commandment. I would seem logical to me that the first 4 commandment relating to God - be on the first tablet and the last 6 commandments - be on the second tablet. In fact, looking at the first 4 there are all pretty long - while the last 6 are each fairly short. It seems quite plausible to me that this is why Jesus summarized all 10 into two summary commandments. This is the same logic I see in saying that we must follow God's guidelines in diet if He already stated it clearly in the OT. In love and look forward to your response, Merv |
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2 | Why two tablets ??? | Is 33:22 | DocTrinsograce | 152520 | ||
Here's another good quote by a great Bible scholar: "Why am I what I am as a Christian? There is only one answer, I have been 'highly favorured' by the grace of God. I give Him all the glory -- 'He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord' (1 Corinthians 1:31). Is this your view of salvation? Are you giving the entire glory to God, or are you reserving a little for yourself? Are you saying that it is your belief that saves you? If so you are detracting from the glory of God. The glory is entirely His -'to the praise of the glory of His grace in which he has highly favored us in the beloved.'" --Martyn Lloyd Jones |
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3 | Why two tablets ??? | Is 33:22 | swerv | 152784 | ||
Hi Doc: This all just does not make sense. If God can control our will to repent and save us - or - "God's saving us by changing our will" - then why would God not just change the devil's will after he rebelled. And even before that - if God controls will then why not just not let the devil ever rebel. You see how the arguement does not make sense. I fully agree God can act on our will to make us do things to fulfill His plan. But never can God change a person who willfully does not want to repent. He can reveal His love to us and that can assist us in seeing God as our Saviour. But if we do not want to recognize God as our creator and only opportunity to have life after death then that is our "willfull choice". Our will can be softened by God but ultimately we are created individually to make the choice to follow Him by repentance. Now I am not saying God is not all powerful but He wants our worship which comes from our love and thankfulness towards God. There is absolutely now way anyone can look at the Bible as a whole and conclude that we do not have a free choice to accept or deny God's love and grace. God has power to do anything but His plan is to have people love Him because He revealed His love to them. In order to rid the world and universe (including the angels) of sin -He chose to reveal His awesome love through His Son's death and by revealing this love and grace He "wishes" all man to come to know Him and love Him but He knows that is not possible since man and the devil have a free will to work evil rather than to show love. Once His plan is fullfilled as prophesied in Daniel the whole creation (universe, angels, man ..) will know His loving kindness and result of sin will be so obvious that never again will there ever be sin - THAT IS AN AWESOME THOUGHT !!! Sin will never ever be again because God has not controlled the "will" of sin but instead has overcome it by His reavealed love which is greater and more powerful than evil. His "creation" will never resort to sin again because God has let sin takes it course and the outcome is love overcomes sin. Seeing the ugly result of sin in comparsion to the beauty of God's love - will justify God's judgement of sinners and exault His mercy to the redeemed. In love, Merv |
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4 | Why two tablets ??? | Is 33:22 | DocTrinsograce | 152837 | ||
Dear Merv, You write, "This all just does not make sense. If God can control our will to repent and save us - or - 'God's saving us by changing our will' - then why would God not just change the devil's will after he rebelled." If you are going to participate in a meaningful exchange, you must be very careful to properly characterize the other person's argument. No where in Scripture do we find Jesus or the Apostles putting words into the mouths of those with whom they debated. Consequently, when you do so, you completely dismantle any kind of credibility you may have obtained, since your honesty becomes suspect. If it is not dishonesty, then the alternative is that you are simply not listening. In your case, I suspect it is a bit of both. It is also noted that you are failing to use Scripture. This is a Study Bible Forum not a Study What-Makes-Sense-to-Merv Forum. Okay... one thing at a time... try reading this time instead of rushing to spout Ellen-Whitism. First, I never said God controls our will or changes our will in matters of salvation. Are refer you, once again, to my post 151653 on the theological term "conversion." Conversion is defined there as "our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation ... True saving faith includes knowledge, approval, and personal trust." Second, God can control wills if and when He chooses. What is this thing you have about the almighty will of man that is more powerful than God? This is clearly counter to Scripture. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. (Job 12:24) The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 21:1) And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14) Now as to your question regarding the devil's will is silly. Do you honestly think that God is was incapable of changing the devil's will? God does what He pleases, as He pleases, when He pleases, and how He pleases. Do I really have to point out the verses that speak to God's omnipotence? As I read the rest of your post I see your unflinching devotion to your "free will." I've written all of this to you over and over. You don't use Scripture, which means you have a greater authority than Scripture. If someone would like to deliberate this from a Scriptural standpoint, I'll be happy to discuss it with them. In Him, Doc PS Some quotes suggesting your true source of authority: "Consistency calls for acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy [Ellen White's] writings as a whole. We cannot justify accepting part and rejecting part." --Prophetic Guidance, page 70 "The Messages [Ellen White's writings] themselves are worthy of a different kind of consideration from that given to other modern writings. They are messages from God and must always be treated as such." --Treasure Chest, page 142 |
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