Why bad things happen:

[FrankFaith]

1. We have a free will.

2. satan exists.

 

[BenAdam]

You forgot Adam's sin.

 

[FrankFaith]

You forgot Adam's sin.

That's included in #1, I think.

 

[BenAdam]

Well bad things just happen because of the fall. Bad things also happen because we make stupid choices too.

 

[FrankFaith]

Well bad things just happen because of the fall. Bad things also happen because we make stupid choices too.

Yes--that's what I'm referring to as "free will". We have the freedom to choose to make those stupid choices.

 

[ghs1994]

If we look in the book of James chapter 1, we find that it's our own desires that cause us to sin. We have a will, how we define "free" is a loose term. Our "free" will only goes as far as God permits it. He is Sovereign after all. Never make the mistake that God is in full control of all things.

 

[FrankFaith]

If we look in the book of James chapter 1, we find that it's our own desires that cause us to sin. We have a will, how we define "free" is a loose term. Our "free" will only goes as far as God permits it. He is Sovereign after all. Never make the mistake that God is in full control of all things.

Are we robots?

Or do we have a free will as scripture says?

God is the same--yesterday, today and forever. Take gravity as an example. Here on earth, gravity will always work. Why blame gravity when you jump off a cliff and die when you hit bottom? Is is gravity's fault--of God's fault for creating gravity? Like gravity, God does not change. He has written his charactor on our hearts--He is good.

That said, God IS. His charactor remains. His created systems are intact. Does God "permit" us to violate His will and go to hell? I think that this is a delima submitted by satan and our unregenerated minds. God is GOOD and emplores us to choose LIFE. *He gave us a free will to choose, told us which choice was correct (good), then gave His own life (Jesus) to save us from our bad (wrong) choices, should we accept this free gift.

 

[Glenda]

I look at it as being on a path.. God says.. Glenda, this is the path I have chosen for you.. go this way..

So I start down that chosen path.. but along the way, I see a fork in the path.. and it looks really inviting.. so I decide (free will) to go that way instead of the way God said to go..

And I get in trouble (sin).. my own faut most times.. sometimes not.. example: someone else who's decided to go that way too.. a drunk driven is going along that way too & hits my car.. collateral damage for me for not staying on the path God gave me..

I would never have been involved if I had stayed on the path God said to go.. but it was my free will..

God knows what's best.. He can see my past.. my present.. & my future.. I believe that things happen to me because of the choices I have made along the way..

 

[FrankFaith]

I look at it as being on a path.. God says.. Glenda, this is the path I have chosen for you.. go this way..

So I start down that chosen path.. but along the way, I see a fork in the path.. and it looks really inviting.. so I decide (free will) to go that way instead of the way God said to go..

And I get in trouble (sin).. my own faut most times.. sometimes not.. example: someone else who's decided to go that way too.. a drunk driven is going along that way too & hits my car.. collateral damage for me for not staying on the path God gave me..

I would never have been involved if I had stayed on the path God said to go.. but it was my free will..

God knows what's best.. He can see my past.. my present.. & my future.. I believe that things happen to me because of the choices I have made along the way..

I agree. And don't forget satan--you know--the one with the mission to disrupt us from obeying God.

 

[Glenda]

I agree. And don't forget satan--you know--the one with the mission to disrupt us from obeying God.

You are right about that, brother..

We just have to remember that we have the authority on earth to tell him & his cronies to get away from us..

Jam 4:7 Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

God bless..

 

[ghs1994]

Are we robots?

Or do we have a free will as scripture says?

God is the same--yesterday, today and forever. Take gravity as an example. Here on earth, gravity will always work. Why blame gravity when you jump off a cliff and die when you hit bottom? Is is gravity's fault--of God's fault for creating gravity? Like gravity, God does not change. He has written his charactor on our hearts--He is good.

That said, God IS. His charactor remains. His created systems are intact. Does God "permit" us to violate His will and go to hell? I think that this is a delima submitted by satan and our unregenerated minds. God is GOOD and emplores us to choose LIFE. *He gave us a free will to choose, told us which choice was correct (good), then gave His own life (Jesus) to save us from our bad (wrong) choices, should we accept this free gift.

This will explain my position on the Sovereignty of God and the will of man.

www.doctrine.net/freedomofthewill.htm

Man's will is only so "free". If it was absolutely free of all things including God, then His sovereignty (control) is diminished and He's nothing more than a spectator. This is absolutely contrary to the scriptures. It is a balance between man's will and God's purpose. Not as a puppeteer and not as a spectator, but of One who transcends our understanding of how all these things come to pass.

 

[ghs1994]

I agree. And don't forget satan--you know--the one with the mission to disrupt us from obeying God.

James 1:14-15
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

I've heard the ol' story of the devil made me do it millions of times over. We have to remember that even tho Satan can tempt us, it is our desires to follow the flesh instead of the Spirit. Once those temptations are there, it is our desire to fulfill them once they're there if we're not led by the Spirit. We are responsible, not the devil. The devil's fate is already sealed, but ours is not. Man's biggest problem is pride and we would rather pass the buck instead of looking at ourselves for the responsiblity. But then again, it ain't the devil who has to give an account is he?

 

[JimfromOhio]

God's Authority. Bad things happens is the Will of God, which purifies our faith, to the glory of God (1 Peter, verses 6-9). (Also read 2 Cor. 1:3-7 and James 1:3). In Third John 1:2 says "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." There is confusion between the determined Will of God and our responsibility as a Christian. As a human being, we love the familiar of our life, to have a comfortable life and something that we can control my life. Also, as Christians, we have received the eternal promises of God. We just need to know and understand the Will of God from God's view. The better you get to know the Word of God, the less confusing is the Will of God. Those who struggle the least with the Will of God are those who know the Word of God the best because the object is to claim today is mine and tomorrow is none of my business but God's. If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not see clearly what is required of me now. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, ""My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." In 1 John 5:14-15 says "And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for". In Proverbs 16:9 "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." If we view things as temporal rather than eternal (meaning temporally), we are going to be upset and disappointed. However, if we are a Christian and completely trusts God, then we will view our circumstances of our life as little more than necessary inconveniences to the accomplishment of God's greater purposes. There are Christians who did not, do not, or will not receive the blessings or spiritual gifts have nothing to do with their faith. This has to do with God's Will alone. God's Will does not come with guarantees while we are living in our temporary bodies. We all will receive our promises one day as Hebrews Chapter 11:39-40 reminded us that if we don't get them while we are on earth, we will get them in Heaven simply because God is eternal and His promises are eternal.

 

[umaro55]

1. We have a free will.

2. satan exists.

I think that pretty much covers it, great post.

 

[ghs1994]

I think that pretty much covers it, great post.

Show me freewill outside the will of God. You won't find it. He knows cuz He's willed it thru the hearts of men. You can't go above God to accomplish anything.

 

[umaro55]

Show me freewill outside the will of God. You won't find it. He knows cuz He's willed it thru the hearts of men. You can't go above God to accomplish anything.

I'm not sure what you mean, or where you are going with that.

 

[FrankFaith]

Show me freewill outside the will of God. You won't find it. He knows cuz He's willed it thru the hearts of men. You can't go above God to accomplish anything.

I perceive that you know the charactor of God!

Why is it that people have such a difficult time comprehending the Will of God?! Every time I read a post that describes God's Will being anything other than perfection, my jaw just sort of drops and I really don't know where to begin. This one piece of revelation is what allows the transformation of us into receiving God's blessings--it is the grease for our skids!

We're literally stuck, exhausted in works, without it (revelation of the Will of God being perfect/good).

 

[FrankFaith]

Show me freewill outside the will of God. You won't find it. He knows cuz He's willed it thru the hearts of men. You can't go above God to accomplish anything.

How does this apply to the choice of death (our use of our free will to choose sin instead of agreement with Holy Spirit)?

 

[ghs1994]

How does this apply to the choice of death (our use of our free will to choose sin instead of agreement with Holy Spirit)?

???? Try to explain what you're asking me a bit more indepth because I don't comprehend what you're asking.

 

[probinson]

Completely unrelated question for ghs1994:
Does "ghs" by any chance stand for Greenville High School?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled debate already in progress....