GOD's enormity

[robh59]

Just some thoughts I wanted to share. Logical conclusions I've come to. I'd like to see if they stand up to scrutiny.
1. Since GOD is infinite omnipotent and omnipresent I conclude that he is present right now at the foundations of the earth, here in our present, and in the future all at the same time. Past present and future exist for us - not GOD.
2. GOD creates each one of us. Every cell, molecule and atom. He chooses which womb we will be placed in and the environment we will be born into. If it were true that a person makes the intelligent decision to accept CHRIST or reject Him, what physical, biological, and environmental(life experiences) led to that decision. Isn't the way he thinks heavily influenced by his parents(chosen by GOD). Doesn't the environment or geographic location he was raised in heavily influence his thinking(chosen by GOD when he chose that particular womb). What about the chemical and electrical aspects to his brain function? Aren't they determined by heredity(controlled by GOD) and engineered by GOD. Since GOD is omniscient, he couldn't have compiled the atoms of his brain, chosen the womb, and the environment the womb was in, without knowing the outcome of the person's "choice". Knowing the outcome in advance, lets say this hypothetical person eventually rejects CHRIST, wouldn't GOD arrange the molecules differently or choose a different womb? His failure to make the necessary changes predetermines the outcome. If he makes the changes it predetermines the outcome. Since GOD is all knowing AND our creator, I don't see how the outcome could be anything other than predestined.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

Since GOD is all knowing AND our creator, I don't see how the outcome could be anything other than predestined.

That's the long and the short of it. If you believe that God is omnipotent, then you believe that nothing is out of his control. If you believe that he is omniscient, then he never wields his omnipotence blindly. Hence, predestination is the logical conclusion.

Some people argue that God takes his hands off of the steering wheel. I would say that's not actually possible. Matthew 4:4 says that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God," (ESV) and I would point out that the creation of all things at the beginning happened by the words that came from the mouth of God. Therefore, the continued existence of creation absolutely requires the continued intervention of God. Deists see the world as a clock, made at the beginning of time and left on the shelf to run on its own. Calvinists see the world as a story book: if the author stops writing in it, then the story stops abruptly. The Calvinistic view fits Matthew 4:4 better. To get more to the analogy of someone taking his hands off of the steering wheel, we would still blame the driver, and not his blind, ignorant car (advancing technology could make this statement seem foolish, I know), because he is the driver, and if he drives the car off a cliff, then he does so knowingly and willingly. The hands-off argument has no value so long as God is both omniscient and omnipotent. The Arminian view can only work if those godly properties are something less than infinite.

The only thing you did leave out was the spiritual component. It still follows the same principle, though. Your soul will not turn to Christ apart from the knowledge and power of God.

Thanks for joining us, by the way.

 

[robh59]

While I believe in the Doctrines of Grace, I wasn't setting out to prove all of them in the post. The scriptures prove them to my satisfaction, but its also the logical conclusion in my opinion. Thanks for the welcome! Most of the fellowship I have is with those that don't believe in predestination. Its refreshing to have fellowship with fellow believers.

What are the blessings, reps, and the power? I'm kinda slow - lol.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I'm still trying to figure it out, myself. Blessings accumulate slowly over time, or you can buy them with real money, but I'm not sure what they're good for. Reps are gained when someone likes your post and clicks on the light bulb icon at the top right of your post. The number of reps you get each time is the same as the power level of the person who clicked the light bulb. A person's power is equal to about 1/1000 the value of their reps, and I think you might need something like a minimum of ten posts to have any at all. Hence, if you get a single donation from someone with a lot of power you can get a reputation beyond repute very quickly. Basically, the whole thing is meaningless, so don't worry about it too much.

 

[robh59]

Grateful for the explanation