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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | catholic and protestant salvation view | Eph 4:3 | Reformer Joe | 49491 | ||
Let me try one more time, just for fun. Fate is something that cannot be avoided, no matter how much one tries to avoid it. In other words, human beings are free to try, but outside forces will always prevent them from succeeding. Predestination is something that is also fixed, but no one will ultimately try to avoid one's destiny. Human beings who are not predestinated unto eternal life will by their very nature NOT try to avoid it. Constrained by their natures, their will is conformed to the lifelong rejection of the true gospel of Christ. They will not fight their destiny. Every action they do will be in rejection of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. The destiny of all men is determined by God, but there is no thwarting of free rebellion on the part of a human being against one's predestination (since such free rebellion will not occur). So while there is some similarity between fate and biblical predestination in that our destinies are determined in eternity without our consent (which Augustine rightly pointed out would be in favor of rejection of Christ), in biblical terms we will all willingly embrace the path that leads to our destiny. --Joe! |
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2 | catholic and protestant salvation view | Eph 4:3 | Mandy33319 | 49525 | ||
Concerning "Fate and Predestination": One last observance. After reading, then rereading the posts on this subject, it is fair to say that nothing is very clear. Was it just me, I kept wondering? Why couldn't I "get it", why couldn't I see the "sense" of it. Then I came across this quotation from Thomas Jefferson: "The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ levelled to every understanding and too plain to need explanation, saw, in the mysticisms of Plato, materials with which they might build up an artificial system which might, from its indistinctness, admit everlasting controversy, give employment for their order, and introduce it to profit, power, and preeminence. The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them: and for this obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained." Finally! Something that made sense.... |
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3 | catholic and protestant salvation view | Eph 4:3 | Reformer Joe | 49527 | ||
Well, I hope that you will not follow the theological teachings of Thomas Jefferson too closely, since he was a Deist, someone who believes that God created the universe and left it to run on its own. In Deism God is an "absent landlord" and there is no room for miracles (hence they deny the passages in the Bible that speak of miracles, including the resurrection of Christ). Thomas Jefferson isn't just denying biblical predestination. He is saying that Plato is the foundation of all biblical theology today. Does that really make sense to you? --Joe! |
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4 | catholic and protestant salvation view | Eph 4:3 | Mandy33319 | 49528 | ||
"Fate, Predestination, and Deism": It was said: "...since he (Jefferson) believed that God created the universe and left it to run on its own..." Actually, Jefferson would not have been so specific as to say "God", but more like "Something" did the creating. And probably would not have gone too much further. Certainly not a "revealed religionist". But along with Jefferson, the other Founding Fathers such as Thomas Paine, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, Ethan Allen were not exactly Christians but more in line with deism or the unitarian view. I wonder why? Some sterling minds, there, wouldn't you say? And I have no problems with the statement: "...that nonsense can never be explained." After reading the posts here, the myriad questions and ideas, I am convinced he was on to something. At a minimum, a "revealed religion" should provide an ANSWER instead of questions, each of which seem to have unlimited answers, and most often, those answers simply spawning more and more questions, with more and more answers, and on it goes, and goes, and goes.... Oh well, time to surf! One thing for certain: "gobbledegook" is always a waste....(no mas for me) Mandy :) |
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5 | catholic and protestant salvation view | Eph 4:3 | Reformer Joe | 49554 | ||
"But along with Jefferson, the other Founding Fathers such as Thomas Paine, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, Ethan Allen were not exactly Christians but more in line with deism or the unitarian view. I wonder why? Some sterling minds, there, wouldn't you say?" Some pretty intelligent people, yes. If faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord were a matter of mere intellectual capability, then Christianity as a world view would certainly be in trouble. Since there are a myriad of "pulsating brains" on either side of this theological fence, however, we can't chalk it up to mere intelligence or stupidity. It is a matter of the WILL to believe, not the brainpower to do so. You wrote: 'At a minimum, a "revealed religion" should provide an ANSWER instead of questions, each of which seem to have unlimited answers, and most often, those answers simply spawning more and more questions, with more and more answers, and on it goes, and goes, and goes....' Well, Christianity does provide an ANSWER. On the surface the answer is a very basic one that even a child can grasp. However, the Bible shows, for all who are willing to study it, the myriad of facets and intricate detail that one answer has, so that the keenest of theologians can spend a lifetime exploring the riches of what God has chosen to reveal to us about who He is, His character, and the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption that can be found within the pages of Scripture. --Joe! |
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