How does He do it: A 'Face the Board' For Your Beliefs

[SithDoughnut]

Yes --- that is taught as basic doctrine; in other words, it is what you might call a "textbook response".I would say God cannot change at all.

For He to be "forced to follow His attributes" but can't, would mean that He is trying to do something that is not in His nature to do, but is meeting resistance that is beyond His capacity to overcome.

If I was, wouldn't that be considered a mental defect?

God has no defects.That I don't know.

I would guess and say the potential is certainly there, yet it will never be realized, as it cannot affect Him in any way.

So therefore is God omnipotent, considering that he is restricted by his own nature?

Don't follow me too far on this -- I'm in uncharted waters here ---

I'm not looking for evidence and facts. If I was, I wouldn't be asking these questions when I know that such evidence does not exist. I'm more interested in your conclusions, thoughts and guesses. It's a much more fun topic

 

[SithDoughnut]

God refers to Himself as The creator, so it would seem that it would not be possible for the Creator to be apart of his own creation. Or at least to the degree we understand the roles of a creator and the creation.

OK, so he is seperate to 'all things'.

Sometimes in the English language we use phrases that may imply a deeper or even a contradictory meaning even when that implied meaning is not intended. like sun rise and sun set. The sun does not actually rise or set in relation to the horizon, the phrases simply describes day break or dusk. that is, despite it descriptive nature to the contrary. in this case referring to the basic understanding of God only refers to a simple understanding of nature of God's role that is being described. It is not implying that there is a hidden sub nature. Surly at even at 18 years of age, you should have come across this type of usage of the English language at least once by now.

Indeed I have, yet a 'basic level' comment does have implications of a higher level. I know it doesn't have to. That's why I started the question with 'Is there...'

My belief in who god is, can be found in the answers He has Left us. God is "I am, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end."

This may seem like a cop out answer to you, but if God is truly an infinite being then how can a finite person have a full understanding of who God really is? It would be like trying to describe the depths and wonders of all the worlds oceans, by examining one single shot glass worth of sea water.

With that in mind God has given a shot glass worth of information, He is The I am, the alpha and omega, and the beginning and the end. Even in that simple phrase our limitations become apparent, because some of us have difficulty understanding what these words actually mean in relation to God.

Hypotheses about the ocean can be made from a shot full of its water. The same for some applies to God. Your answer is not a cop-out at all - you believe that there is no more that we can know, and it's your beliefs that I'm looking for.

Are you sure you have no guesses though?

 

[brinny]

I'm sorry if this comes across as too close to apologetics; this is best place I can find to put this seeing as I'm not allowed to post on the forums where this might be more appropriate. It will be exploring Christianity, after all, so I think it's safe here.

I'm not looking for a debate or for persuasion to become Christian. I'm less interested in Christianity and more about Christians - more importantly, what you all actually believe, and how far you've looked into the questions surrounding them. I've done this with my Christian friends and a local church and I've come up with all sorts of weird and wonderful answers.

I'll point out that I'm not trying to break your beliefs (I did this on another board and all I got were defensive replies and accusations rather than actual answers) or try and put subversive atheist thoughts into your minds. I actually found that the Christians I 'interrogated' (as they chose to call it - not in a negative way of course ) found out that they believed many things they did not know they did, and for practically all of them this did nothing but strengthen their beliefs, now strong in the knowledge that they'd chosen (or been forced to, depending on how you look at it) to properly think about it.

(Important Note: If you're not up for some pretty intensive questioning, then this might not be for you )

I know some of this may cover other threads - it depends on where it goes. If you've answered a question somewhere else and don't feel like answering it again, feel free to tell me where you answered it and I'll go find it myself.

OK, we'll start with a big overall question and I'll hope that this doesn't completely fail like the last time I tried:

What is God?

Why are you asking? Are you searching for something? Are you wondering if God exists? If so, why are you wondering if God exists? Do you have doubts as to whether He exists or does not exist?

 

[SithDoughnut]

Why are you asking? Are you searching for something? Are you wondering if God exists? If so, why are you wondering if God exists? Do you have doubts as to whether He exists or does not exist?

I want to know what you think. That's all there is to my question. Christianity is subject to many different interpretations of the Bible, personal experience and so on - I find that interesting.

Like I said in the OP I'm not that interested in Christianity - I'm more interested in Christians.

 

[brinny]

Originally Posted by brinny
Why are you asking? Are you searching for something? Are you wondering if God exists? If so, why are you wondering if God exists? Do you have doubts as to whether He exists or does not exist?

I want to know what you think. That's all there is to my question. Christianity is subject to many different interpretations of the Bible, personal experience and so on - I find that interesting.

Like I said in the OP I'm not that interested in Christianity - I'm more interested in Christians.

Christians? Like me? Have ya checked out me blog? There's a reeeeeal interesting consortium of what/how this one particular Christian thinks on things, and how i think on this God, and my daily goings on and experiences as a child of God.

 

[Doveaman]

So he is considered separate from 'all things' in your reading of the Bible? He is not part of 'all things'?

No, He is not part of 'all things'.

'All things' are part of Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. - Col 1:17.

I like to think of God as being 'pregnant' with us.

The Universe is like the 'womb' of God, and He is presently going through 'labor pains' until we are born again.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. - Rom 8:22.

When you say God is a who, do you mean that he is some form of human-type thing?

Nope.

It is the "human" that is some form of 'God-type thing'.

(I know he is bigger and greater than that, but man was created in his image)

That is why we are some form of 'God-type thing'.

Who is generally reserved for people, not other species, which is why I am asking.

This is why "people" are created in God's image, and not "apes".

 

[brinny]

I want to know what you think. That's all there is to my question. Christianity is subject to many different interpretations of the Bible, personal experience and so on - I find that interesting.

Like I said in the OP I'm not that interested in Christianity - I'm more interested in Christians.

Your question is:

What is God?

 

[SithDoughnut]

Your question is:

What is God?

Yes.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Christians? Like me? Have ya checked out me blog? There's a reeeeeal interesting consortium of what/how this one particular Christian thinks on things, and how i think on this God, and my daily goings on and experiences as a child of God.

Not everyone has a blog, but I'll have a look at yours

 

[SithDoughnut]

No, He is not part of 'all things'.

'All things' are part of Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. - Col 1:17.

I like to think of God as being 'pregnant' with us.

The Universe is like the 'womb' of God, and He is presently going through 'labor pains' until we are born again.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. - Rom 8:22.
Nope.

It is the "human" that is some form of 'God-type thing'.
That is why we are some form of 'God-type thing'.
This is why "people" are created in God's image, and not "apes".

So God is more than 'all things'?

 

[brinny]

Not everyone has a blog, but I'll have a look at yours

fair enough.

 

[Doveaman]

So God is more than 'all things'?

Yes, all things created, as He Himself is not.

I am God , and there is no other; I am God , and there is none like me.

I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. - Isa 46:9, 44:6.

 

[Maranatha27]

I'll be back for this one, Nice Thread, I like it!

 

[Maranatha27]

"more importantly, what you all actually believe, and how far you've looked into the questions surrounding them"

Hi SD, I think this is a great question. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that He left heaven and became a man when the Holy Spirit concieved in Mary. I believe that the blood He shed on Calvary has provided the only way for men and women to stand before God blameless. I believe that He rose bodily from the dead and sits at the right hand of God, and is the only mediator between God and man. I believe that He is coming again to this Earth in great wrath and will reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years.

I
I
v

 

[Maranatha27]

Now I want to be honest with you, you as an atheist can not enter into these things because you are without the Spirit.

1 Corinthians
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

When you have something that is a special possesion to you, you mark it with your signature or symbol to show possesion. God puts the Holy Spirit within His own in just the same way. When a poor sinner looks to Christ and accepts him, God brings him into His family by imparting the Holy Spirit as a free gift.

Romans 8
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Now With that said I want to answer the second part of your question, "how far have you looked into them?"

I
I
v

 

[Maranatha27]

As a student of the Word, There are some things that have to be accepted by faith. I have to take God at his word, that his Son was born of a virgin, that he rose from the dead bodily and that He is coming again. The question that I want to get to the bottom of is, why I accept this with millions of others, with all our heart.

For me, I believe Jehovah is a God of prophecy.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure

Now the God of the Bible, states that He knows the future before it comes to pass. Can any thing in history confirm this fact.....Yes!

When The Jews rejected thier Messiah, The city and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD as predicted. Their rejection and diaspora were both prophesied in the OT long before the events. Though the God of the Bible has outstanding covenants with his chosen people and promised that he would regather them in the "last days" and fulfill his promises!

Amos 9
[11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
[12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
[14] And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
[15] And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Isaiah 11
[10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
[11] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

These are the two that come to mind, but the fact is, that this is the most dominant prophecy of the OT.

A partial fulfilment has taken place in 1948 when the nation of Israel was declared, the complete fulfilment takes place in the 1000 year reign of Christ from Jerusalem. This is where end time events focus in the Word of God. God states in his word that the main issue that will be the catylst is the city of David, the city of the Great King...Jerusalem

Zechariah
[2] Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
[3] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

If you have been following the news you know that the status of Jerusalem is a major issue in world politics. Niether side is willing to conceed to the other. There are other powerful examples found in the Word such as Daniel 2,7 and 9, Ezekiel 35-39 to name a few....

JN 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

 

[drich0150]

Are you sure you have no guesses though?

there is no reason to guess when an answer is given. All one has to do is to work with the answer given.

 

[salida]

Are you asking these questions to learn something? If you go to a bible study many of your questions will probably be answered.

 

[AV1611VET]

Are you asking these questions to learn something? If you go to a bible study many of your questions will probably be answered.

I notice a lot of questions fall within the realm of basic doctrine.

For instance --- and I realize not everyone here believes in it --- but I'm noticing more and more how easily questions can be answered by invoking the doctrine of Dispensation Theology.

I didn't really realize how potent that doctrine is, until I started using it as an apologetics tool.

 

[brinny]

Are you asking these questions to learn something? If you go to a bible study many of your questions will probably be answered.

i was wondering the same thing....