Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | GeneZ | 98328 | ||
John... You asked... "Who determines your destiny, God or yourself?" It is not so cut and dry... It is more like a double edged sword. We determine in which direction our destiny will take. God determines the results of our choices.God has destined for us to choose. God determines the consequences for our choices. "Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." That is only positional truth if the believer is carnal. God did not destine for them to be carnal. He destined for them the opportunity to choose for being spiritual. If you are not walking in the power of the Spirit, the truth read in Galatians 2:20 can not be experiential. Only those walking and being filled by the Spirit can say along with Paul that is their experience. Those living in rebellion against the cross will not be able to say that's their experience. Just the same, God sees the carnal believer from a judicial perspective, and it (Gal 2:20)is a matter of being a legal decree achieved by God's justice on the cross for all believers. "Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith." All believers have been DESTINED to decide to follow what that says. But many reject that call. God did not destine believers to rebel and reject truth. We determine our destinies. On the other side, God destines the testings and choices that come our way which we must decide upon that will determine the consequences that God puts into motion. There is a two fold destiny going on. Part we determine. Part, God determines. Grace and peace, Gene |
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2 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98341 | ||
Dear Gene, "We determine in which direction our destiny will take. God determines the results of our choices.God has destined for us to choose. God determines the consequences for our choices." Ok Gene, if I understand your statement, God simply reacts to man's free-will choices by either blessing or punishing him based upon whether those choices be for good or evil. Presuming that you are correct, how do we explain what Peter said : Acts 4:25-28 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. This passage seems to clearly state that God had predestined the actions of those who were gathered together against Jesus. I know that God is not the author of evil and neither does He tempt anyone to sin. But, if we look at the case of Joseph and his brothers, what they did to Joseph they meant it for evil but God meant it for good! The same could be true for those evil doers that Peter cites in Acts 4; Herod, Pontius Pilate, the gentiles, the Jews etc. Nevertheless God pre-destined that just as Joseph's brothers were pre-destined to sell him into slavery, these people were pre-destined to crucify the Holy Servant Jesus. Will they be punished? Absolutely! Do they deserve punishment? Of course they do! Did God ordain from all eternity that these people would do what they did? The Bible says Yes!....Do we understand that God is Soveriegn over all things that occur, but, man is still resposible for his own actions? No. I just don't think that things are that simple or easy to explain. I believe that God is bigger than any of us are capable of understanding. Eternity itself will not be long enough for us to ever comprehend how marvelous and wonderful His ways really are. Time to earn my bread by the sweat of my brow. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject. John |
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3 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | GeneZ | 98379 | ||
Acts 4:25-28 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur." We must realize something. God is THE teacher. He has his lessons already planned out in sequence. He is teaching both man and angels. Man is predestined in part because man is a great teaching tool for God's teaching angels. God knows what we will choose, yet he does not make us choose as we do. He knew before we were born how we would choose. Because his omniscience can do this, God can choose and predestine each one of us to exist at a certain time in history so that a lesson (in attitude) can be shown to the angels (and to ourselves). God could have chosen an atheist to be born during a time of great apostasy, or he could choose for an atheist to be born during a time of great spiritual revival. What ever God chooses is the atheist's destiny. Yet, God did not destine for the person be an atheist. God chooses when and where each one of is to be born. That way he can plan his lessons in the classroom for angels and men to be taught about God's ways. That is why the passage you quoted from is worded as it is. We have all been predestined as far as what time in history we will live out our earthly lives. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."(Acts 17:26 niv®) Our lives (time to be born) has been predestined by God to suite his purpose in his plan. But, our choices are not predestined. We must make those. God's omniscience utilizes what he knows we will choose to suite his plan. We often times forget that God is just as concerned with angels as he is with man. " It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. *Even angels long to look into these things.*" (1 Pet 1:12niv®) Grace and peace, Gene |
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4 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98395 | ||
Dear Gene, The reason I can't accept your interpretation is because it does not address the fact that Acts 4 teaches that God predetermined that certain people would do certain things. We also know that all the works of God are holy and just. The way I see it is that these people are among those whom to God has with-held His grace. Instead of mercy they will recieve justice. They did evil out of the desire of their own evil hearts. Nevertheless, it was God who directed their steps. Question: Can a person choose to act contrary to the strongest desire of his heart? If you say yes, please give an example. John |
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5 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | GeneZ | 98396 | ||
You said... "The reason I can't accept your interpretation is because it does not address the fact that Acts 4 teaches that God predetermined that certain people would do certain things." God predetermined that Judas would be alive and would betray Jesus. But, God did not make Judas do what he chose to do. God simply made sure, having known what Judas was, that he was to be born when and where he was. It was Jesus who chose Judas out to follow him. Jesus made sure his betrayer was to be alive in his vicinity so that Scripture would be fulfulled. Judas was predestined. Only God has this ability in his omniscience to perform this. What I quoted from, says that God has determined where and when we are to be born. I suggest you keep reading it over until what it tells us makes sense to you. Once it does, you will be able to see how God, knowing our hearts, can predetermine the outcome of situations. Not by making men choose a certain way, but by knowing how a man will choose, having them placed in a situation to reveal what certain attitudes produce in life. Here it is once more. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." (Acts 17:26 niv®) God determined where and when you were to be born. He did not choose for you to be born during the great Exodus of the Jews. He chose you for the Church age... to be in Christ. You asked ... "Question: Can a person choose to act contrary to the strongest desire of his heart? If you say yes, please give an example." A Spirit filled believer can become transformed and no longer desire these strong desires he once had. He can become transformed by grace. " Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Romans 8:5 niv®) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual[Or reasonable] act of worship." (Romans 12:1 niv®) Grace and peace, Gene |
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6 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98411 | ||
In a way Gene, we are almost saying the same thing. I as well do not believe that God forced Herod or any of the others to do what they did. Each one made his own choice to particpate in the crucifixtion of Christ. They were free to follow that which their unregenerate hearts desired. The fact that they were slaves to sin and being sons of the devil, does not excuse their wicked deed. Where we still may disagree is on whether fallen man is capable (absent the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration) of having a desire that would be pleasing to God. I say he (fallen man) cannot. Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, This leads to the controversial issue regarding the real state of the unregenerate. Knowing that they are spiritually dead makes it impossible for them to have faith in God. This topic is not popular on this forum among many who have debated it time and again over several years. But in order for you to know where I'm coming from, it seems best if you realize that I believe the doctrines of grace (TULIP). I belive them for one reason and one reason only: They agree with Scripture. John |
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7 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | Hank | 98416 | ||
John Reformed - John, you say, "I believe them (TULIP) for one reason and one reason only: They agree with Scripture." ..... Merely to add balance and with no intent to re-re-re-debate the issue, it may be said with equal conviction by others of us: "We reject TULIP theory for one reason and one reason only: It does not agree with Scripture." --Hank | ||||||