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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | DocTrinsograce | 199256 | ||
Hi, PaPaH... Why would you think that any action of God would be contrary to any of His attributes? In Him, Doc |
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2 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | PaPaH | 199261 | ||
What a shallow answer to a difficult question. I asked this question because it was asked of me by an unbeliever. If I was to give him that answer it would be enough to really turn him away from God. | ||||||
3 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | DocTrinsograce | 199268 | ||
Dear PaPaH, You remarked, "What a shallow answer to a difficult question." (sic) Actually, what I offered, wasn't an answer but a question. Therefore, if characterization as shallow is warranted, it would be a "shallow question." As a pretty shallow guy, I tend to necessarily render shallow responses. Perhaps you might help to increase my depth as opportunity affords. However, for both our sake, let's take care to not get in over our heads! I've been asked your question by unbelievers, and I always respond with that same question I asked you. However, they've never so quickly evaluated my acumen, but maybe they were simply too kind to point it out. Anyway, it isn't an uncommon question, and they always seem proud of themselves for asking it. When the question is asked it reveals some pretty poor, unreasoned presuppositions. (If you want to research it on a broader basis that what I have written, look into the field of philosophy called ontology.) You see, God never does anything contrary to His nature. Indeed, nothing ever does anything contrary to its nature. Let me try an example: Have you ever seen the novelty item called a phoney rock? To all outward appearances it looks for all the world like an ordinary, gray rock. You only detect the difference after picking it up. It is very light and pliable, like a sponge. What rock is light, pliable, and sponge-like? The answer, of course, is no rock is like that. When you gather all the data, you realize that you are not dealing with a rock at all. The problem is not with the object, but with your perceptions of the object. Hmmm... maybe that's not the best example. Let me try being explicit: Since God, in His self-revelation (the Word), gives us His attributes, we can be certain of those attributes. What, therefore, must it mean if we detect a contradiction between one of God's acts and one of His attributes? Our belief in the plenary verbal inspiration of the Word only allows for two possibilities: (1) Our understanding of the attribute is inadequate, or (2) our judgment of the act is inadequate. Most of the time, though, it stems from inadequacies in both categories. Sometimes people don't believe the Word, are ignorant of its contents, or too highly esteem their own cognitive abilities. Therefore, in order to analyze the fundamental problems in understanding of the questioner, one must ask further questions. Usually this takes a significant amount of time, in many individual conversations. Dr. James I. Packer wrote, "Evangelism must be conceived as a long-term enterprise of patient teaching and instruction, in which God's servants seek simply to be faithful in delivering the gospel message and applying it to human lives, and leave it to God's Spirit to draw men to faith through this message in his own way and at his own speed." You further commented, "If I was to give him that answer it would be enough to really turn him away from God." (sic) Well, even with all my shallowness, I've never had people turn away. However, your assertion reflects another erroneous presupposition: The unbeliever is already turned away from God -- that's what unbeliever means. Testifying about the Gospel is not a matter of persuasion. The Scripture says, that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The Lord holds us responsible for what we say (Matthew 12:36), but the redemption of a lost soul is not dependent on what we say. Instead, God gets all the glory. Indeed, He even gets the glory by the fruit we bear as believers (John 15:8). I probably failed to plumb the real depths you're after, but I'm limited to what little I know. Perhaps the Lord will grant that my teaching may, nevertheless, minister grace to those who read it, insofar as it soundly reflects His truth. In Him, Doc |
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4 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | jlhetrick | 199276 | ||
Doc- a really excellent post. Something I might add that may be helpful to PaPaH is that we Christians must be wise enough to know when our knowledge of the subject is too limited to offer guidance to others (unbelievers or believers). 2Timothy 2:15-16 God bless, Jeff |
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5 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | DocTrinsograce | 199287 | ||
...which is why, as believers, we must keep learning, learning, learning! We must be preaching the gospel to ourselves day in and day out. Thank you for the encouragement, Jeff. |
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