All things

A_Thinker

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Can God restrain evil?
Of course, ... and, in His sovereignty, He chooses when to restrain evil, ... and when not to.

And I think that we should acknowledge that God is actively engaged in restraining evil in a continuing significant way ...

1 Thessalonians 2

5 Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.
 
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A_Thinker

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Can God restrain evil?
OTOH, there can be benefit to not restraining evil at times ...

Genesis 50

18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
 
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A_Thinker

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Yes, but in a corrective way. Why pray to lead us not into temptation if he doesn't use sin for our good?
James 1

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
 
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Swag365

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Yes, but in a corrective way. Why pray to lead us not into temptation if he doesn't use sin for our good?
What? God causes people to go out and rape, but in a corrective way?

I've had enough. Peace out homie.
 
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Anthony2019

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always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
— Ephesians 5:20

If God has decreed all things that come to pass, it’s easy to understand how we should give thanks in all things. We may not always understand these things, especially the tragic, but we can still be thankful even through tears and mourning. We know that God’s plan will bring Him glory.

My question is for those who don’t think that God decrees all that comes to pass. How do you give thanks to God in all things if He’s not in charge of all things?
Thankfulness is the prerequisite for living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful. It cultivates gratitude, encourages humility, and inspires confidence and hope.
Being thankful is a helpful remedy for a large number of ailments. It eases our depression, relieves our anxiety, and helps us to deal with disappointment and discouragement in a way that is both pragmatic and constructive. It cements our friendships and relationships, heals our conflicts, and helps us to enjoy the company of our fellow human beings just that little bit more.
Cultivating a grateful attitude enhances and broadens our lives in many ways.
The smallest details of our lives become somewhat more precious and valuable: we begin to enjoy the things we often overlook when we are too busy and took our lives for granted.
The people around us start to annoy us less and we begin to love them more.
When we give thanks for the food we have on our tables, what we eat somehow becomes far more nourishing and enjoyable to us.
The scriptures command us to "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise". How can we truly know the grace and riches of God unless we are humble, contrite and thankful.
If you are a Christian who is feeling "dry" and that life has no meaning or purpose, then my encouragement is to pray to the Lord and give him thanks. When we say to the Lord "I love you" and truly mean it, somehow His heart is quickened and He responds to us, wrapping us in His arms. He absolutely loves the willing, the contrite, and the obedient.
 
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All Glory To God

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I'm sure that you believe this. Me, ... not so much ...

P.S. Do you think Peter would approve of your apparent lack of charity ???

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ...

Well actually you are the one who is refusing to talk about your God so who is the one lacking charity?
 
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Hammster

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Of course, ... and, in His sovereignty, He chooses when to restrain evil, ... and when not to.

And I think that we should acknowledge that God is actively engaged in restraining evil in a continuing significant way ...

1 Thessalonians 2

5 Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.
Okay, so if God wants to use evil to accomplish His will, He doesn’t need to “make” someone do the evil act. He only needs to not restrain the evil that’s within them.
 
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A_Thinker

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Okay, so if God wants to use evil to accomplish His will, He doesn’t need to “make” someone do the evil act. He only needs to not restrain the evil that’s within them.
I think I would agree.

God has chosen not to restrain some degree of evil which is in all of us.
 
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Hammster

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I think I would agree.

God has chosen not to restrain some degree of evil which is in all of us.
Good deal. And when the Reformed say “decreed”, that’s what we are getting at. So in that sense, we can give God thanks in all things since He controls all things.
 
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A_Thinker

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Good deal. And when the Reformed say “decreed”, that’s what we are getting at. So in that sense, we can give God thanks in all things since He controls all things.
I think this has been said, but the scripture says to be "thankful IN all things", rather than to be "thankful FOR all things" ...
 
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John Mullally

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Read this.
“But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.” Isaiah 53:10 (NLT)
Amen and this atonement according to the Word of God was for the whole world.

1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (NKJV)
And yet, one can reject it per John 3:18-21.
 
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Hammster

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I think this has been said, but the scripture says to be "thankful IN all things", rather than to be "thankful FOR all things" ...
Where do you find thar and what do you think the difference is?
 
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A_Thinker

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Where do you find that and what do you think the difference is?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I can give thanks in even negative situations (for instance ... my family's experience of COVID), ... as God blesses and supports even through these times.

I don't have to be grateful for COVID, though ...
 
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Hammster

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1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I can give thanks in even negative situations (for instance ... my family's experience of COVID), ... as God blesses and supports even through these times.

I don't have to be grateful for COVID, though ...
So what do you do with this?


always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
— Ephesians 5:20
 
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Cormack

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So what do you do with this?

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
— Ephesians 5:20

The “for all things” in Ephesians 5:20 is clearly related to verses 16 and 17 (e.g. “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”) The all things are related in no way to a deterministic philosophy about God controlling everything.

If the context were to do with motorcycles, and I commanded you to “admire all things,” or even “give thanks for all things,” I’m clearly not saying to admire or give thanks for your neighbours hot wife. “all things” in context would mean motorcycles and the parts thereof.

Giving thanks for “all things” in Ephesians verse 20 is easily tied to the “every occasion” in verse 16. The entire context has everything to do with proper Christian conduct and nothing to do determinism.
 
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Swag365

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So what do you do with this?


always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
— Ephesians 5:20
The same thing that you do with "all men" apparently.
 
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Cormack

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What? God causes people to go out and rape, but in a corrective way?

The same thing that you do with "all men" apparently.

The god of “corrective rape” would have “all kinds of men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” :tearsofjoy: (1 Timothy 2:4???????)
 
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chad kincham

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Well tell me what they are then. This is one of the main complaints from people criticizing reformed doctrines, that they are dismissed for not understanding correctly and apparently this is what you just did.

Free will is blatantly evident in the Bible.

Jesus came only for Israel. Matthew 15:24.


They were God’s elect. Isaiah 45:4


Yet His own, that He came for, REJECTED Him. John 1:11:


Joh 1:11 He came unto HIS OWN, and his own received him NOT.


Jesus, who is God, yearned for His own elect people whom He came for, to come to Him - but they refused:


Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and YE WOULD NOT!


This is impossible in Calvinism - for the elect, who Jesus came for, to resist and reject salvation - yet they did just that:


Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.


Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should FIRST have been spoken to YOU: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.


This happened because God gave us free will, and the Holy Spirit is resistible - there is no such thing as irresistible grace.


Stephen preached to the same elect Israelites (Isaiah 45:4) who Jesus came for (John 1:11) who He yearned would come to Him (Matthew 23:37) and told them WHY they killed the prophets God sent, and rejected and killed their own Messiah when He came for them: because they RESIST the Holy Spirit.


Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always RESIST THE HOLY GHOST : as your fathers did, so do ye.


Act 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered (Jesus).


The Holy Spirit, without which no man can say Jesus is Lord, who draws us to Christ, is resistible, because of free will.


Faith comes by hearing Gods word Romans 10:17, (not by first being regenerated, per Calvinism) and grace is resistible because the Holy Spirit is resistible.


Salvation is not guaranteed from having faith, man has freewill to receive Jesus John. 1:12, or resist the drawing by the HS and reject Jesus, as the elect Israelis did, when Jesus came for His OWN John 1:11.


There is NO irresistible grace or unconditional Election.


Israel, Gods elect, resisted the Holy Spirit and rejected Jesus, their savior.


As Jesus said to them:


Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life.
 
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