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That wasn’t even in view though.
I’m looking for a substantive answer.People who have a hard heart like the imaginary person in the prodigal son story, might have to reach bottom by God's help before looking up, but some might stay there.
Right. But that’s not what we are talking about.We do not make that call, since we are told to go out making disciples.
We do not know what would have happened, if we did not go to a person who refuses God's charity. God can reach out to them without us and they could still refuse. It helps our Love to grow by ceasing opportunities to teach others.Right. But that’s not what we are talking about.
Okay, then let’s do it this way. Yes, we are commanded to go into all the world. But if your view is correct, those who die before we get there are better off than those who have been reached and rejected God.We do not know what would have happened, if we did not go to a person who refuses God's charity. God can reach out to them without us and they could still refuse. It helps our Love to grow by ceasing opportunities to teach others.
A hard heart at one time and one place in a person's life can change at another time and place. Jesus gave a parable about a child being asked to do something and refuses, but later changes his mind and goes.I’m looking for a substantive answer.
We are not the only tool God has. We need to go to help us grow our Love. There will always be those who die before having the opportunity to accept or reject God's charity, but when people reach mature adulthood God can use us or some other means to reach them.Okay, then let’s do it this way. Yes, we are commanded to go into all the world. But if your view is correct, those who die before we get there are better off than those who have been reached and rejected God.
And the reason for that parable?A hard heart at one time and one place in a person's life can change at another time and place. Jesus gave a parable about a child being asked to do something and refuses, but later changes his mind and goes.
But if your view is correct, those who die before having the opportunity are better off than those who have been reached and rejected God.There will always be those who die before having the opportunity to accept or reject God's charity,
Jesus is probably referring to the Gentiles who early on refused God and will turn later on.And the reason for that parable?
Yes.But if your view is correct, those who die before having the opportunity are better off than those who have been reached and rejected God.
So nothing about hard or soft hearts.Jesus is probably referring to the Gentiles who early on refused God and will turn later on.
We could use the story of Jacob, Paul, Samson, and other Biblical characters who turned back to God.
The idea is at one time earlier their heart was such that they refused and later for some reason they repented (changed their mines) and did it.So nothing about hard or soft hearts.
Except it doesn’t say that.The idea is at one time earlier their heart was such that they refused and later for some reason they repented (changed their mines) and did it.
Except it doesn’t say that.
Thanks for making my point.The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Sovereignty is not determinism. God's sovereignty means that we cannot instruct God about how He goes about expressing His plans and purposes as affecting our lives. We have free choice about how we conduct ourselves, what education we have, who we can marry, where we can live, what church to go to, what employment to choose. When things go well with us we praise and thank God for His grace toward us. But when the bottom drops out of our world, we don't moan at God, but be like Job who said, "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." We praise and thank God for His grace that He is allowing to go through trouble and suffering so we can show that we are true Christians who trust the Lord through the good and the bad. "Though I walk through the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, because your staff and rod will comfort me."I think we can all agree that God is sovereign. This thread is meant to try to explore the extent of His sovereignty. So to start, I pose these questions.
Does God know every action man might freely choose? If so, can He let man do that action if it suits His purpose? Also, can He intervene to prevent man from performing that action?
It’s almost as if God doesn’t interact in our lives unless we let Him.Sovereignty is not determinism. God's sovereignty means that we cannot instruct God about how He goes about expressing His plans and purposes as affecting our lives. We have free choice about how we conduct ourselves, what education we have, who we can marry, where we can live, what church to go to, what employment to choose. When things go well with us we praise and thank God for His grace toward us. But when the bottom drops out of our world, we don't moan at God, but be like Job who said, "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." We praise and thank God for His grace that He is allowing to go through trouble and suffering so we can show that we are true Christians who trust the Lord through the good and the bad. "Though I walk through the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, because your staff and rod will comfort me."
There are those among us who want to be guided like a horse or mule with a bit and bridle, and cannot make decisions without God's permission. The Scripture tells us not to be guided in that way. "A man may plan his way, but the Lord guides his steps". "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, and the Lord will guide your steps". Therefore we can confidently make our life decisions, trusting Him to guide us in ways where we will always glorify Christ in the way we live.
It is a mystery about how God interacts in our lives and yet we make our own life decisions. The bottom line is that God is not a micro-manager as some would like Him to be. We have the Holy Spirit in us, and so there is an aspect of being led by the Spirit, living and walking in the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is to do with building the Christian character. As we come closer to being conformed to the image of Christ by the working of the Spirit in us, our conduct will reflect it.It’s almost as if God doesn’t interact in our lives unless we let Him.
It’s funny that when sovereign control is mentioned that folks go to “micro manage”. How do you think the cross happened?It is a mystery about how God interacts in our lives and yet we make our own life decisions. The bottom line is that God is not a micro-manager as some would like Him to be. We have the Holy Spirit in us, and so there is an aspect of being led by the Spirit, living and walking in the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is to do with building the Christian character. As we come closer to being conformed to the image of Christ by the working of the Spirit in us, our conduct will reflect it.
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