Subject: How did sin originate |
Bible Note: Thanks for the reply. You stated, "Obviously, if God is sovereign, then it follows there's nothing in the universe that happens outside of God's will" I agree with you that God is Sovereign, and He does whatever He wills to do, and nothing happens thats outside of His will, and nothing catches Him by surprise. He knows the beginning of a matter, and also the end of the matter. But look at the following verse. 2 Pet. 3:9 THE LORD IS NOT slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance. Notice, that verse says, "the Lord ... is not willing that any should perish" That verse talks about the Lord's will, and how the Lord's will is that none perish. But yet we know that the Bible speaks about those who will perish. Not everyone will be saved. So does the fact that the Lord wills all to be saved, combined with the fact, that not all will be saved, diminish His sovereignity? Personally I don't think it does. I believe God gave mankind a will also, and man often exercises His God given freedom of choice to disobey God. But yet God permits or allows man to choose obedience or disobedience. Only a Sovereign God could grant individual choice, which I call free will, and along with free will comes individual responsibility. |