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Rom 2:
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will repay each person according to his deeds:
So that is "according to deeds" not "according to ability out argue God"
Who said anyone will be saved by out-arguing God? No one successfully argues with God. He is just.
But that is the point. He is seen to be just because He asks an account, and all bow the knee, confess, etc. Some object, but then He sets the record straight. In other words, at His coming He brings to light the things hidden. They have no answer. He reveals the purposes of the heart. These are all things you say happen at the IJ, but they are clearly stated to happen when the Lord comes, and not before.
1Co 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Again it is based on what the person"does" not on their ability to "out argue God".
The fact that Scripture shows some objecting does not mean anyone out argues God, or that the basis is arguing.
But it does show they are present in order to give an account and argue. Hence the parable of the talents shows them giving account. And this texts shows them objecting, but then being called out on their record of lawlessness.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
These are clearly professed followers. And they are present and object, but He points out they are workers of lawlessness and they have no answer.
Moreover, the following text clearly shows that they are present.
They stand before...that is not just a record, but them standing.
They bow
They confess
They give account.
Rom 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
Rom 14:11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Rom 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God
We are not to judge because God will, and He does this in person, as we must give account, and we ultimately bow and confess that He is Lord, and that His judgment is just.
That cannot be the IJ where you don't even know your name is up.
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
== hence the reference to Romans 2 in my post above.
The timing of the secrets of mankind being judged is spelled out to be at His coming.
1Co 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
None of the texts you quote show someone arguing with God and presenting a point in their own favor and then winning any good result.
They are called to account as we see in the parable of the talents where they state what they have done.
And the other gives an account of what he didn't do and that account is shown to condemn him.
In fact in your Matt 25 the saints do not present one single "argument in their own favor".
Yet Jesus presents their record when they don't even realize it. No one is judged favorably because they argue with God. Yet we do appear before God to give account.
Rom 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God
2 Cor 5
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
Not at all about arguing God into or out of something. It is a matter of what is recorded.
You are the one saying arguing God into or out of something. I am saying we must give account because Scripture does. But even here the timing of your text is indicated because we appear before, and there we RECEIVE. No one receives in EGW's IJ.
But we do receive when we appear before the throne of Christ who reveals the hidden things, we give an account, and we receive our reward.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Dan 7:
9 “I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The court convened,
And the books were opened.
Indeed, and notice how you, just like Ellen White, had to go to a different chapter to find judgment of individuals because it is not in Daniel 7.
Daniel 7 shows judgment in favor of the saints as a group against their adversaries, which are powers.
And God has been judging powers on their deeds all along. He promised judgment on Egypt and the Ammorites in Genesis, but said the Amorites had not yet filled up their full measure of wrath. He called out the nations in the prophets, listing their wicked deeds.
Pointing to books shows judgment on deeds. But the deeds described throughout Daniel 7 are those of the powers who are persecuting the saints.
Moreover, again, Ellen White says that the IJ is ONLY on the professed people of God. Certainly not all of the Babylonians were professed people of God.
21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
Yes, the little horn--a discreet entity--was waging war against the saints--a discreet entity. It describes the actions of the little horn and shows how the saints are delivered and judgment is found in their favor, and against their adversary.
It does not discuss the deeds of the saints. And it does not show judgment of individual cases. And since the authority of the beasts is stripped by the court it is not only on the professed people of god.
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