Subject: God is in control of every single atom? |
Bible Note: John Reformed, You quoted, “1. INABILITY DOES NOT RULE OUT RESPONSIBILITY ……"No man can come unto me except the Father who sent me draw him," says the Lord Christ (John 6:44).” But Jesus also said, John 12: 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." It is not God’s plan or will that any should perish. 2 Peter 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. You also quoted, “2. CERTAINTY DOES NOT RULE OUT NECESSITY …THE PLAN OF GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE, because God is faithful and true (Job 23:13-14). IT IS UNCONDITIONAL, that is, its execution does not depend on any action of man but even renders such action certain (Acts 2:23; Ephesians 2:8). Moreover, it is all-inclusive, embracing the good and the wicked actions of men (Ephesians 2:10; Acts 2:23), …. It ensures the certain salvation of a vast number of favoured sinners.” Look at the main scripture: Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have TAKEN[3] BY LAWLESS HANDS, have crucified, and put to death; The “taken[3] by lawless hands” was indeed certain, WHO’S hands that Satan would use was UNCERTAIN, in that no one person had been singled out in prophecy to carry it out. Of course God foreknew WHO because He knows the future, as well as, the heart of everyone from afar. Look at the other main scripture: Eph 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God’s foreknowledge means that some are indeed predestinated, in that God already KNOWS their destination. God knows our hearts before we are born with freewill. Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Deuteronomy 26:16 "This day the LORD your God commands you to observe these statutes and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. It was God’s plan for them to obey “…with all your heart and with all your soul.”, but they always sinned again. Jer 17:9"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s angels are witnesses from the beginning until the end, but they are not going to ask “Is God responsible for evil?”. God has already recorded what they will say: Rev 16:5And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord,[2] The One who is and who was and who is to be,[3] Because You have judged these things. 6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For[4] it is their just due." 7And I heard another from[5] the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." However, There will be men who will blame God for their condition in blasphemy: Rev 16:9And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. Rev 16:11They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Rev 16:21And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. The main point is that God Gives repeated opportunity for all men to be saved. He also warns us to watch our heart, to obey Him, and to walk in the spirit as opposed to the flesh. He never told us to teach predestination, even though I believe in it to the extent of God’s foreknowledge. However, He did tell us to preach “REPENTANCE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS”: Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. God bless, Pastor Glenn |