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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 | 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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2 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | PaPaH | 199373 | ||
Well, I guess you're not such a shallow guy afterall. Sorry if I offended you, it was not intended as such, but I should have known better. I was just surprised by such a short answer and a question at that. I guess I was looking for an indepth answer and you were interested in a dialogue. I enjoyed your second response and you sure gave some interesting insight. It did however prompt some more questions. If nothing ever does anything contrary to its nature, and I've been given a new nature through Jesus Christ, how comes I so often do things that are displeasing to Him? I really appreciated your reminder that we have to leave it to God's Spirit to draw men to faith and yes, it is all to God's glory. A very good reminder to spend more time in prayer for our unsaved friends. But, can't what I say or do be either a positive or negative influence on that persons life? You said the unbeliever is already turned away from God. That's true in the sense that they do not know God or have faith in Him, but I do believe that the conversion experience is not always a fast U-turn. That turn may be very gradual with many people having influence. In that sense people may be turning towards God even though they have not yet made a committment. And it would be possible to turn people even farther from faith in Him by what we say or do. I'm probably way over my head here, but either way it's been nice conversing. | ||||||
3 | Is God's love really unconditional? | Matt 10:33 | DocTrinsograce | 199392 | ||
Dear PaPah, I'm not offended. No one can hurt your feelings when you realize that if they knew you like God knows you, they could say much more hurtful things with grounding in the complete truth! You asked, "If nothing ever does anything contrary to its nature, and I've been given a new nature through Jesus Christ, how comes I so often do things that are displeasing to Him?" Because God has decreed that believers will progressively grow in sanctification. (See post #189339) Progressive sanctification is what John Bunyan called "The Holy War." The writer of Hebrews called it the pursuit of holiness -- it is the process (versus the position) of sanctification. Sanctification involves conflict with yourself, with your flesh, with the world, and with Satan. The Puritans used to say that if a person was not battling sin, then that person should question whether they are a Christian at all. Consequently, your struggle is an expression of you being what you are! The great thing about it, though, is that the conclusion of this process will be perfect holiness in glory. You asked, "...But, can't what I say or do be either a positive or negative influence on that persons life?" Certainly. What's more, we'll be judged for every idle word! What I was trying to communicate is that redemption is entirely a work of God. His eternal purpose cannot be thwarted. This attribute is what we call sovereignty. Nothing can impede God's redemption of His elect. Nevertheless, we are privileged to speak His Word to others. You commented, "...I do believe that the conversion experience is not always a fast U-turn." (sic) This would, of course, depend on what you mean by "conversion experience." Certain aspects of the ordo salutis (order of salvation, see post #151193) do happen objectively (experience would be something happening subjectively) and do happen in an instant. If we are to be good stewards of God's Word, we must take care to use language that accurately reflects what He has revealed. Conversion has a very specific theological meaning (see post #151653). I assume that by "conversion experience" you really are speaking of the entire process of redemption. In that case, redemption "started" in eternity past (Ephesians 1:4) and will continue for an uninterrupted and unending number of days in the future (Revelation 21:3). The life of the believer will be characterized by a general bent toward righteousness (see post #152574). You wrote, "...it would be possible to turn people even farther from faith in Him by what we say or do." The lost cannot be more lost or less lost (see post #143317). They are simply lost. In Him, Doc |
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