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NASB | Acts 4:24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "O Sovereign Lord [having complete power and authority], it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM, [Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6] |
Subject: Is God in absolut contrl over all things |
Bible Note: Dear Sir P, You wrote: "Tom and Jerry’s lack of legs may have been a direct result of the sin of Adam. But the sin of Adam was a direct result of God creating the universe in a way that He knew would lead to Adam’s sin." We must be carefull here lest we accuse God of being the author of sin. We both agree that He is most certainly not! He knew what the result would be of bestowing free will upon His creature, and was also aware of it's consequences on His entire creation, before He uttered "let there be light". But God did not design the universe in such a way that Adam must sin. God simply knew Adam would sin. I believe we must consider WHY God created the universe in the first place. It certainly was not because of any lack in Himself. What was the ULTIMATE end that God willed to achieve? "A subordinate end is what an agent aims at, not at all upon its own account, but wholly on the a account of a further end, of which it is considered as a means. Thus when a man goes a journey to obtain a medicine to restore his health, the obtaining of that medicine is his subordinate end; because it is not an end that he values at all upon its own account, but wholly as a means of a further end, viz. his health. Separate the medicine from that further end, and it is not at all desired." (Jonathan Edwards) What do you percieve as God's ultimate end? (It is not my intention to sidetrack our main discourse, But sometimes the quickst route is the longest way about. John |