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NASB | Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 13:8 All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice]. |
Bible Question:
Egads! "However, John seems to deny that man can make any free choices whatsoever, including Adam and Eve." (Tim Moran; ID# 88154) NOT SO! If I gave you that impression, it was a failure in my communication skills or your mis-understanding of what I believe. If I said once, I've said it a dozen times...man sins out of the evil desires of his own heart. The fact that the working out of these sinful deeds is in acordance with God's eternal plan, neither absolves man's guilt in sinning nor does it make God the author of sin. (Acts 4) I do not appreciate having my beliefs mis-represented. But perhaps, you had asked me first, if this is what I believed, but I missed it (unlikely, but possible). If on the other hand you merly assumed this was my position, I think an apology may be in order. John |
Bible Answer: Greetings John! I knew you would read the post and correct me if I was wrong my friend! ;-) I did note that this is what you 'seemed' to believe, so if I was in error I apologize. However, while I understand your position concerning the 'free' choices of fallen man, I have never have gotten a straight answer about Adam and Eve. They had no fallen nature, so on what basis did they choose to sin? My bet is that you will not say that they freely choose to do so, because then God would not have been sovereign in their choice! :-) However, I would disagree that man 'freely' choosing to sin based upon an inherited sin nature makes him guilty. I used the programmer's illustration before. If I write a program and script it so that it has to fail, how can I blame the program for failing? If we, as human beings have no choice but to sin because of Adam and Eve's sin, then how could we possibly be held responsible? Under my theological system, no one is held responsible for an inherited sin nature. God atoned for all sin at the cross. We are only held responsible for our sin, and by the grace of God are all drawn by Him, so that no one is without recourse. I believe in a God who so loved the world that He died for all men and calls all men to repentance, a God who has made it possible for all men to be saved, if we accept the free gift offered to us. To me, that is 'good news' indeed. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |