what do you think the bible is?
The Bible is God's Word to mankind. It's Meant for everyone to read.
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SignUp Now!what do you think the bible is?
God created us and knows everything..... and true free will exists. You don't see the conflict?@King J. -- I don't see any conflict.
I don't like this statement from you. It is not true. God has gone to the ends of the earth to empower / enable us to grasp His character. His character throughout His ''master plan''.And, yes, God's Word Can be confusing. To Us -- because we're Human. God knows exactly what is going on - everywhere - with everyone of us. His master plan is in 'process'.
Well I know it is not my diary.what do you think the bible is?
Ok, so if you understand it differently to me, please explain it.Talking to you is just like what Jesus said about many in the crowds he spoke to., "These people have eyes, but that do not see, they have ears but they don't hear, lest at any time they might see with their eyes, hear with there ears, and understand with their heart....."
God created us and knows everything..... and true free will exists. You don't see the conflict?
I want to be crystal clear. I do agree that their is true free will. Curtis has stated this. You have not yet that I have read, but you like his posts so you must agree with him on it. We are all on the same page there. It is as you said, a different view on how we arrive at that conclusion. That is all I am asking you two to explain. I am still waiting for a coherent explanation. You mock mine, but provide none. Your view is currently at ''God works in mysterious ways....sometimes good ....sometimes evil...all so mysterious....we have no clue''.
I don't like this statement from you. It is not true. God has gone to the ends of the earth to empower / enable us to grasp His character. His character throughout His ''master plan''.
You literally undo all this effort when you miss-represent Him as you do to the unsaved. You have made very Calvinistic statements. These statements paint a picture of a partial God to every working brain on the planet.
I must have missed your explanation. Which post is it in?@King J. --- the only 'problem' is that you don't like most of our responses back to you. You aren't satisfied with our 'coherent explanations'.
I have responded to this three times. As Gen 3:22 says, regarding the knowledge of what is good and evil, we are on His level. We can know what is good and what is not good, as He does. Perhaps not always as clear as He does, as we have the flesh. Verses like Jer 17:9-12 speak to Him knowing it all. As in every part of an equation is available to Him. Or as in a He sees all the pieces of a puzzle. If we had to see all the pieces of the puzzle, we (who also hate what is evil) would agree with His decision thereon, as He also hates what is evil. So, saying / making any insinuation as to us being unable to grasp what is good or evil is utter nonsense.We learn about God's character through His Word.
And, I repeat -- we are human beings -- God is God Almighty. His ways are not our ways and our ways are not His ways. We are Not on equal basis with God.
Let's get to a couple of basics that you have not responded back to. One 'basic' is that we are not equal to God and God is not equal to mankind. Do you agree with that?
How is this relevant?Now -- another basic -- that of salvation. Please define 'salvation'.
No, ''we'' does not sound like partiality at all!!!!!. So glad to hear you say that. Now, please can you deal with that fact. How can true free will exist if God foreknows a babies destination will be hell? You do believe God knows who will be in hell and who won't, right....?Your latest 'thing' is about God's impartiality. Acts 10:34 -- very true. The passage continues on to say that "you know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ....... vs 43 "All the prophets testify about Him, that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name."
John 3:16 "For God So Loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that Who So Ever believes in Him will Not perish but have everlasting life." Does That sound like partiality on God's part? I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Does "we" sound like partiality ?
How is this relevant?I would like to know what your religious back ground is.
Lucifer in the garden of Eden was the "serpent" not the light bearer. He was already a fallen angel when Adam was tempted.
I agree with your first sentence but what does the following verse mean?Evil exists, but only because God created free will. So it is not correct to say God created evil, even though it exists...
God spoke His Word for mankind once so it was in place when mankind was created. When a man acts or reacts favorably according to the Word God already spoken he receives a blessing according to the Word. When a man acts or reacts unfavorably according to the Word God already spoken he receives a curse according to the Word.I agree with this. But still not sure how you reconcile the above with a belief in God being the creator and knowing all. Don't you see the conflict?
God knows all. God made all. Judas and Pharaoh rebelled of their own. Confusing!
man was given something no other creature was given, the ability to go against or disobey God.
There is certainly a problem there. Is an angel always a heavenly being rather than a man? The angel/messenger, who is a man, such as John the Baptist, certainly had the ability to disobey God. With a heavenly angel, who is not or never has been a man [possibly Gabriel], it would be more difficult and maybe impossible to show by scripture that he had the ability to go against or disobey God. In any case to simplify that problem, I will restrict my statement to except angelic or heavenly creatures that were not human..It would seem the angels also had this ability.
it would be more difficult and maybe impossible to show by scripture that he had the ability to go against or disobey God.
Sue, I have said, regarding the knowledge of what is good and evil we are like God. We '''know'''. Hence there is no such thing as ''God's idea of good is our idea of bad''. That is the beginning and end of the point I have wanted to make.Being LIKE God is Not the same as BEING God. Because God is omniscent -- He / God knows both good and evil.
...and what is obeying God? God does not want a bride who obeys Him like a slave, just because He happens to be the One in charge. God wants a bride that is after His heart. That, like Him, desires to hate what is evil and cling to what is good Rom 12:9. So, David stating in Psalm 136:1 that ''we give thanks because God is good'' carries a lot of weight to Christian understanding of contentious scriptures.Do We as human beings give in to the serpent's/ satans' deceptions OR do we obey God.
I agree. But why do you believe this is necessary with your belief? You believe God knows whether a child will go to heaven or not, so why teach them anything?Christian parents are Supposed to be teaching our kids God' Word -- His authority in their lives.
I disagree. God is not a mental case. Why was there a waiting place called Abraham's bosom?Salvation -- being saved -- but from What? without the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection -- everyone would be doomed to ending up in hell and in the very end -- the lake of fire and brimstone that's being prepared for satan,
This is not scriptural. As per John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. People choose to do what is wicked, when they know what is right / see the light. They reject the light. They don't reject a religion. They don't make '''mistakes'' of sin. There is no ''oh lucky you, you were in the right religion'.A person Does need to realize that They, personally are sinners.Maybe a lie, taking money from their mom's or Dad's purse or wallet -- Without asking First. Or maybe as a teenage guy -- the shades on the neighbor girls/ woman's window isn't closed and so you watch him/ her in their personal , intimate times. That is sin. And if you're doing it from outside - and get caught -- it's Also not legal. But most of all -- its' SIN. Your deserved punishment is spending eternity in hell. UNLESS -- Untill
I agree. But why do you believe this is necessary with your belief? You believe God knows whether a child will go to heaven or not, so why teach them anything?
Then, I don't think you can present a convincing argument to someone who may want to kill their child at birth to ensure they are among the chosen for heaven. I can think of you having two explanations with your belief
In Luke 1:26 the same Greek word translated to angel in English is translated to messenger in English in Matt 11:10.Messenger sometimes simply means "messenger" whether angelic or other wise. I don't believe John the Baptist is ever called an angel.
If it is your belief then must it necessarily be correct? I have seen some as men sent by God and some as special non-human messengers sent by God. What was the translator's preference? What was the translator's personal understanding of the original language he was reading? What is God's message to anyone?In the case of Satan... I don't believe he was ever a man. I don't believe men are angels, and I don't believe angels are men.
Luke 10:18; And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
No, I am not. Please re-read.@ King J. -- way back in post # 150 "....God has put us on His level when He gave us our working brains." That was "regarding what is good and evil"
So -- you are in effect saying that you and I and everyone else in this world are on equal level to God. That mankind is on equal level with the Trinity -- God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit. .