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NASB | Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. [Ps 19:1-4; Eph 2:10] |
Subject: Is God somehow responsible? |
Bible Note: Hello Meridith! "Just because 'God has ordained all things that occur', does that also mean that whatever occurs is in line with His will? His good, acceptable and perfect will?" Yes! Acts 4:26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27 "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, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. We can also see this principle from the sin that Joseph's brothers commited by selling him into bondage to the Egyptians: Gen 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. "Am I correct in my belief that it was His will, His perfect will that they not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?" Yes! God decreed that they must not eat of the fruit. This was His command to them. By eating they broke His command. God certainly could have prevented them, but He chose to permit them to sin. Therefore, we must conclude that God has two ways of willing. He declared His will to them that they must not (His Decretive will) but He pemmited them to break the command (His permissive will). John Piper in his article "Are their two wills in God?" states": "To avoid all misconceptions it should be made clear at the outset that the fact that God wishes or wills that all people should be saved does not necessarily imply that all will respond to the gospel and be saved. We must certainly distinguish between what God would like to see happen and what he actually does will to happen, and both of these things can be spoken of as God's will." For the entire article (which I highly recommend)go to: desiringgod.org/library/topics/doctrines_grace/2wills.html I don't pretend to know why or how God has done that which He has done. He has only revealed what He has deemed good and fitting for us to understand. The rest is as far above us as the heavens are above the earth. Merry Christmas Meridith!!! Your Brother, John |