Comments on: Two People, One Saved, One Unsaved: What Made the Difference?

By: alex

alex — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:36:16 +0000

We cannot disregard (rom-9;18-24) “therefore he has mercy on whom he wills, and whom he wills he hardens…………………but indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God?…………..Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?……………” Point is that God is sovereign! None of us can reconcile fully, free-will and pre-destination. What it boils down to is our surrender to his word. That is faith, we can’t totally grasp it but, we trust in God. We don’t question him because he has given us his Holy Spirit to let us know how good he is! …” all things will come together for good for those who love God and are the called according to his purpose.”

By: gymbrall

gymbrall — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:52:13 +0000

You seem pretty smart, I figured it was enough for you.

The reason your observation is true is because a father isn’t an incidental thing. God calls himself a Father to those who believe in Him, he says that Satan is the father of those who don’t. Within the Christian faith, and within the world, a father is a real thing.

By: Infidel

Infidel — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:34:36 +0000

”
What is a Father?

Consider: this world is, in many ways, the answering of that question.
”

That’s not much of an answer.

By: gymbrall

gymbrall — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:01:14 +0000

Infidel :
Granted I already have my answer, but I’m very interested in yours.

I’ve actually posted on this before: http://thepreacher.cac2.net/2008/01/10/what-is-a-father/ (at least loosely)

By: Infidel

Infidel — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:48:27 +0000

Granted I already have my answer, but I’m very interested in yours.

By: gymbrall

gymbrall — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:55:22 +0000

Infidel :
The single most important factor in determining what religion a person might have, is what religion they were brought up with. A more interesting question might be why, overwhelmingly, do those brought up in Christian cultures turn out Christian, and those in Islamic turn out Islamic, and Buddhist, Buddhist? You see where I’m going with this. Why is god statistically dooming someone to hell for getting born into a different culture?

I can't for the life of me imagine why that question would be interesting to an atheist. Nurture vs Nature debate? Or did you mean interesting to me? How so?

By: Infidel

Infidel — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:22:42 +0000

The single most important factor in determining what religion a person might have, is what religion they were brought up with. A more interesting question might be why, overwhelmingly, do those brought up in Christian cultures turn out Christian, and those in Islamic turn out Islamic, and Buddhist, Buddhist? You see where I’m going with this. Why is god statistically dooming someone to hell for getting born into a different culture?

By: R. Sherman

R. Sherman — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 18:12:44 +0000

I’m not sure that question has an answer, because everyone’s metaphysical journey is different. I will say, I think God made Man with the ability to choose; the ability to obey or disobey. I think the Holy Spirit touches each Man’s heart when s/he is confronted with Truth. Why some choose Truth and others do not, I do not know. Perhaps it is simply that Falsehood and Lies are more attractive. As with Adam and Eve in the garden, the taste of the Fruit was more attractive than obedience. Why did they choose that, when they walked with God, Himself. It is in the nature of God’s creation, perhaps simply because God wanted to create a being which would love Him of the being’s on volition. Thus, he created Man and gave him the power to reject the creator.

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:17:12 +0000

Randall,
I appreciate the response. The question I have, is what made Cretin choose as he did? Where did that difference in him come from? I know Wesley describes Prevenient Grace as the grace that God gives men that they might freely choose Him, but what I want to know is what makes one man take that grace and see God as lovng and good and another man take that grace and hate God? If the grace is given equally to all men, it must be something in each man that is unequal. What I’m asking is what is that difference that grace cannot overcome?

That’s what I’ve never heard articulated in a way that helps me understand it.

Again, thanks for the read and the response,
Take care,
Charles

By: R. Sherman

R. Sherman — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:57:31 +0000

I perceive, perhaps incorrectly, that you and I are on different sides of the “Reformed Divide.” Thus, my answer is rather simple. Cretin chose not to accept the truth that was presented to him. For me, any other explanation implies an arbitrary and capricious God whose creation was designed ultimately to consign a certain number of entities to everlasting torment. I appreciate the reformed view, but why have a judgment if the answer of some will be “You didn’t choose me.”

Cheers.