Subject: Will suicide condem my soul to hell? |
Bible Note: "In Romans 9 the potter and clay is demonstration of God's ability to use created man to accomplish his will."...I agree "for who resists His will (v19). "It is not a lesson in Salvation."...It is a lesson in God's sovereignty in all things pertaining to His creatures " I have always read it more as explanation of why some are born handicapped... talented, rich, poor, smart or slow. Why some people seem to be disposed to accomplish things and others willing to ride the waves."...If your interpretation is correct, and Chapt 9 is about God's providence, who are the vessels of honor and who are the vessels of wrath? "God harden Pharaoh’s heart this we know but do we know Pharaoh’s eternal condition? No."... I think the Bible gives us the answer in Ezek 32:32 "Though I instilled a terror of him in the land of the living, yet he will be made to lie down among the uncircumcised along with those slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his hordes," declares the Lord GOD. " We see Essau and Jacob where God said he hated (hated here means he knew Essau would think so little of his inheritance) Essau, yet none of us knows Essau’s eternal condition." ....Heb 12:15,16 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. "In this passage God is saying he choose the children of Abraham to bless, which He did by allowing them to be in the lineage of Jesus"....Rom 9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." Paul is telling us that the promise has not failed those to whom the promise was intended (i.e.. the children of the promise who are not saved because they were born to a particular father, but rather, so that God's purpose in election might stand.) Rom 9:13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED." "but once again are all Abraham’s children saved? No Are all Abraham’s children lost ? No once again this passage is not talking about Salvation but rather how God uses all of creation to accomplish His purpose."....Frankly, I am at a loss as to how to respond to this particular statement. "Also in the example is the clay pot a inanimate object, however in us God created emotions and responses such as rebellion, rejection, hatred, love, acceptance and repentance. But most of all faith and the ability to pray. Both faith and prayer effects the outcome of many things." ...Paul seemed to find pottery an appropriate example. Afterall, we are formed from the dust of the earth . The fact that God breathed life into us and created us in His image proves to me His greatness as a Potter. I can't understand how you could say that these pots are not representative of mankind! (The elect and the reprobate). Thanks, John |