Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Notes Author: paulta Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What about Pharaoh? | Rom 9:16 | paulta | 70166 | ||
I have always found it useful - on the free will vs predestination issue - to recall Heb 1:3: 'And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power...' If God upholds ALL things by the word of His power, then this must indicate - on a purely logical assessment of Scripture - that He upholds our bodies, souls, and spirits by the word of His power, from moment to moment. That means that a decision to accept or reject Christ - a decision made by our wills, which are usually thought to be a component of our souls - is actually directly caused by the word of God's power, as is everything else. On a purely logical appraisal, based on the acceptance of Heb 1:3 as truth, free will is not free as we would like to think we are free, but has its origin in a sovereign decision made by God. However, Scripture - like God Himself - is not something that can be dissected and logically explained, like the operation of a wristwatch. The numerous scripture references to the choices that men can make - for good, or for evil (eg. Deut 30:19) - certainly point to the existence of human choice. My position is that free will and predestination are simultaneous; that is, mankind has free choice, yet those 'free' choices are also predestined by an omnipotent God. Such a position might be viewed as logically inadequate - which it is - but it has two main advantages. Firstly, it is consistent with Scripture - which makes references both to God's sovereign control of the universe, and to man's capacity to obey or disobey Him. Secondly, it diverts the energies of Christians away from dry theological debate (see 2 Tim 2:23) to prayer, obedience, and kingdom building. |
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2 | God Hardens Whom He Desires? | Rom 9:18 | paulta | 70165 | ||
I have always found it useful - on the free will vs predestination issue - to recall Heb 1:3: 'And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power...' If God upholds ALL things by the word of His power, then this must indicate - on a purely logical assessment of Scripture - that He upholds our bodies, souls, and spirits by the word of His power, from moment to moment. That means that a decision to accept or reject Christ - a decision made by our wills, which are usually thought to be a component of our souls - is actually directly caused by the word of God's power, as is everything else. On a purely logical appraisal, based on the acceptance of Heb 1:3 as truth, free will is not free as we would like to think we are free, but has its origin in a sovereign decision made by God. However, Scripture - like God Himself - is not something that can be dissected and logically explained, like the operation of a wristwatch. The numerous scripture references to the choices that men can make - for good, or for evil (eg. Deut 30:19) - certainly point to the existence of human choice. My position is that free will and predestination are simultaneous; that is, mankind has free choice, yet those 'free' choices are also predestined by an omnipotent God. Such a position might be viewed as logically inadequate - which it is - but it has two main advantages. Firstly, it is consistent with Scripture - which makes references both to God's sovereign control of the universe, and to man's capacity to obey or disobey Him. Secondly, it diverts the energies of Christians away from dry theological debate (see 2 Tim 2:23) to prayer, obedience, and kingdom building. |
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3 | does this mean we aren't born of God. | 1 John 3:9 | paulta | 60202 | ||
I didn't intend my previous comments to imply a salvation by works. Salvation is by grace, through faith. The blood of Christ has saved us (Eph 1:7). What I was trying to say, however, is that a genuine faith is evidenced by works. In fact, works are actually a component of faith (Jam 2:22). This scripture says that faith is actually completed by works. In the next verse (2:23), it says that Genesis 15:6 was fulfilled or completed in Genesis 22:10 through Abraham's act of being willing to slay Isaac. That is, Abraham's faith decision of 15:6 (the 'assent' part of his faith) was only completed faith after he passed the test of obedience in 22:10. If Abraham had failed the test, could we say that the faith exhibited in 15:6 was genuine, or just a good intention or sentiment? James says no, that faith without works is actually dead; that is, it is not faith at all (2:14,17,20,24). Again, I just have to repeat that you aren't saved by the works. The works are evidence of a genuine faith. Many people have come to see faith - particularly because of faith movement teaching - as being some kind of internal state. Well, yes it is - in part. If that mental agreement with the Truth doesn't crystallise in action, however, it is not faith that God recognises. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead (Jam 2:26). Many 'Christians' have the faith of the demons referred to in James 2:19 - they know that God is God, they 'believe' in Him, but the lack of Spirit-empowered transformation in their life is evidence that they don't know Him (and knowledge of Him is the definition of eternal life, see Jn 17:3, 1 Jn 2:3). Jesus said (paraphrased from Jn 14:12) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do the things that I have been doing, and greater things than these will he do..." Again, faith here is linked inextricably with action, not action which saves, but action which flows out of a genuine Holy Spirit-powered faith. On the issue of backsliding out of salvation, maybe I should cite some scriptural authority, as my last message was written in the last 5 minutes of my lunch hour. In 2 Pet 1:8 the possibility is raised that a believer can become useless and unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ, if (s)he doesn't possess an increasing measure of certain qualities listed in 1:5-7. (Bear in mind that fruitfulness is evidence of salvation; see: Mt 25; Heb 6:7,8; Lk 13:6-9; Jn 5:29; etc.) The believer is urged in 1:10 to make his calling sure, implying that your calling can be on an unsure footing if the listed fruits aren't present. See also: Heb 6:4-12; Lk 8:13; Rev 3:2, 15 (I couldn't expand on these due to a 5000-character word-limit imposed by the system.) Of course, no true believers are on the highway to hell, as their conduct flows out of a saving faith. My main reason for writing at length on this issue is to at least put up some credible opposition to the dangerous idea that 'once saved, you're always saved'. A person can definitely get saved and then fall away to hell; the above scriptures clearly explain that. However, you don't fall away on the strength of one sin alone, obviously. If that was the case, King David would have been hell-bound (although he could have been if the repentance of Ps 51 hadn't been shown at some point). James 1:15 says '...when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death'. What is implied here is a process: death (hell) results when either wilful disregard for sins is present, or when relationship with God is consistently and unrepentantly neglected over time, such that the person bears fruit for death (Rom 6:21, 7:5). Fruit takes time to grow, and while that time is elapsing, the mercy of God is ever-present to any backsliding believer who is willing to repent of his actions. Again I would cite 2 Cor 13:5 - 'Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?' It would not be logical of Paul to write this to the Corinthian believers if he believed it to be impossible for them to fall away. This scripture is a stern call to fear God (2 Cor 7:1) and to strive in the Spirit's power (Rom 8:13) for deeper sanctification, lest we shrink back (Heb 10:38) and gradually fall away. |
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4 | 'Greater things than these' faith | 2 Tim 2:21 | paulta | 53196 | ||
This verse describes the 'action' part of the faith referred to in John 14:12; that is, the faith in Him that allows or qualifies us to do what he does. | ||||||