The Response of Man

Free will kibbitzing

A careful reading of Ephesians 1 and 2 should lead one to believe one is saved by God for His purpose and pleasure. He supplies all the requirements--from before the foundation of the world. It is a done deal--man is still tinkering with his new chronograph. God is not bounded by time nor eternity.

Oh yes, free will--we all have one. Problem: It is enslaved to our depraved nature. We know not how to choose wisely without God's intervention. Consider: Saul on the road to Damascus--persecuting That Way--thinking he was doing God a service. God got his attention and turned him around--willing or not. Paul later said God had chosen him before he was born. There is that Purpose of God again.

God's ways are not our ways. I am thankful that He overrides our wills--whether we are willing or not. He allows us to exercise our free wills in terms of service--we usually mess that up too. See I Cor. 3--the part about wood, hay and stubble.

God is The Potter--we are clay--from the mire.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

...Bob

 

I disagree with it. I don't pray for God to 'overpower their wills', I pray for God illuminate the truth to them, to use people in their lives to bring them to Him. Your theory by my account alone has been quashed.

 

A high school friend of mine goes to your church, Bill Scott.

 

ok...

I'm sure there is a point, I'm just not clear what that point is.

 

I just realized that Andy Stanley was a guest speaker at his church in Atlanta (Buckhead) and he doesn't attend your church...sorry.

 

A few years ago I read of a citrus farmer in California who had raised oranges for 20 plus years.

He remarked that this past year’s crop was simultaneously the largest as well as the smallest crop of oranges ever.

Impossible?

No. Because of the climatic conditions of the harvest year the individual oranges were larger in size than he had ever seen and the total collective weight of these oranges was larger than any previous crop.

On the other hand the total count of oranges was the smallest he had ever seen.

The news account seems impossible at first because we didn’t know these facts of weight versus count.

I believe there are factual elements of God’s sovereignty versus man’s responsibility that we just don’t know and not only that they are presently beyond our comprehension as well.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

... with God all things are possible.


HankD

 

Well, I guess its better than making daisy chains and holding hands as you sing "smile on your brother".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-P68oyxUrY&feature=related

 

Thanks for sharing my testimony of salvation! :thumbsup:

Oh, and I am SO glad. Praise God who is no respector of persons and who does what He wills!

 

But, a hatred of sin does not transform one into a non-sinner.