Results 1 - 6 of 6
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | EdB | 69863 | ||
cwade This may be off the subject but let me inject a thought here. You pointed out a big problem with our prayers. Too often we pray the solution rather than praying the problem, thus we attempt to tell a sovereign God how to handle things.. In your example: “David, my dear brother, do you pray for the lost? If you do, do you expect that your prayers will be answered? If so, are you not (in effect) asking God to override that lost person's "freedom to choose"?” Your right if you pray that someone be saved, your asking God to violate their freedom. We should be praying that God will bring His Holy Spirit into their lives to convict them of their sins and someone to tell them of Jesus, opening their eyes to the truth. Whether they accept salvation is then their problem. If on the other hand you believe God chooses who to save and they have to accept that call, then it really doesn’t matter how you pray. That is unless you think you change things established from the foundations of the earth, or appear pious by praying for someone. Personally I think salvation is offered but man has to accept … “believe” Be blessed this Christmas Season! EdB |
||||||
2 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | cwade | 69869 | ||
Greetings brother Ed! I suppose I could respond to your question by saying... "Yeah! what Joe just said:-)!!" But you probably wouldn't let me get away with that. So, I'll do my best.. I pray for the lost, my brother, because Scripture commands it. Do I understand why a Sovereign God wants me to pray for those He already knows will or will not be saved? Nope. I just do as I'm told. Now... you said: "We should be praying that God will bring His Holy Spirit into their lives to convict them of their sins and someone to tell them of Jesus, opening their eyes to the truth". My dear brother, if God can override someone's "free will" and change their heart, and open their eyes "a little bit" why can't He change their heart a whole bunch? Merry Christmas to you and yours brother. In Christ's Love, cwade |
||||||
3 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | EdB | 69872 | ||
Cwade "My dear brother, if God can override someone's "free will" and change their heart, and open their eyes "a little bit" why can't He change their heart a whole bunch?" There is a difference between showing someone a need and forcing them to change. I believe the Holy Spirit must reveal the need, I think someone must preach the solution but applying it God leaves up to the individual. If not then we are merely controlled. Christmas Wishes to you! EdB |
||||||
4 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | John Reformed | 70010 | ||
Hello Hank, Ezek 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, I realize that it is wearisome to cover old ground time and time again. But when one has explained their position a number of times and yet the other party still misunderstands, then the subject requires further explanation. You wrote: "There is a difference between showing someone a need and forcing them to change. I believe the Holy Spirit must reveal the need, I think someone must preach the solution but applying it God leaves up to the individual. If not then we are merely controlled." I do not believe that opening blind eyes to the truth by resurrecting the spiritual dead to spiritual life in any way constitutes the use force. Before regeneration I had no desire to be saved. It seemed to me to be a lot of foolishness and I could not understand why anyone would be so gullible as to believe it. I was a slave to sin and and a servant of my father the devil. My heart was made of stone, I was not seeking the God of the Bible, and was content in accumulating as much personal power as possible. My will was controlled by my desires and the intentions of my heart were always sinful. In other words I was just like every other son of Adam. What had to change before I would see my desperate need for Christ? My heart! I needed a new heart with new desires. A heart inclined to love God and a desire to be loved by Him. For reasons unknown to me, He took away my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh. I saw my need, I was granted repentance, I believed the gospel and now I long to serve my King and joyfully anticipate meeting Him face to face. Do I sound like a victim of force? Of couse not. The only thing He forced was the prison door that held me bound in sin. He forced open "death row" and set me free to serve Him as a son serves His beloved Father. With all my heart, I hope you understand why it hurts me to hear said that my theology MUST mean that God "forced" me to believe. (john 6 and Romans 9) Your Brother, John |
||||||
5 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | Hank | 70011 | ||
Dear John: Oh my, I fear that you have insulted EdB by addressing him as "Hank." :-) But EdB has a kind spirit and a forgiving heart, so perhaps you are not in grave danger! It is he, not I, to whom the honors should be accorded for the quotation you ascribe to me. Merry Christmas, John. --Hank | ||||||
6 | How do I make sense of the context? | Acts 8:13 | John Reformed | 70014 | ||
OOPs! Well.. it was good "almost" talking to you. Merry Christmas!!! John |
||||||