Rom 9:16-21 "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the scripture says to the Pharoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be delcared in all the earth." Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens."
"You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?"
I was thinking about posting on this very subject this morning myself. Funny how God can put the same line of thinking into alot of people at the same time.
I was just wondering about this......since it IS GOD, and not our own free will as to weather we believe or not, and some people are formed for "dishonor" or
"prepared for distruction" as the next verse puts it, it almost seems like THEY should get the 'BIGGER' reward, since their lives were doomed before they ever started..... Is this wrong thinking? When coming against people whom God has blinded their eyes that they see not, and their ears that they hear not, I feel SOOOOOO sorry for them......it makes me feel VERY humble that for some unexplained, UNDESREVED reason, my eyes have been opened. At sometimes, at the same time, a little seed of doubt starts to wiggle its way into my thoughts that maybe I am the one who is blind!?!?!?! does anyone else experience this?
lauri
Remember, the doom the world is trained to think about is final. The doom in Scripture, for humanity is temporary and necessary. Otherwise we (humanity) cannot grow into what GOD HAS Already Purposed for us All. Doubt is a weapon of the Adversary. Scripture is Truth, if we are given to understand and discern Truth, and the witnesses that GOD Use, for us to verify that it is HIS Truth. Then we can run to those witnesses, to rebuke the doubts, whenever the Adversary brings it up to try us.Deu 17:6 (CLV)At the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses, the one about to die shall be put to death. He shall not be put to death at the mouth of one witness.
Deu 19:15 (CLV)A single witness shall not rise against a man regarding any depravity or any sin. In any sin which one may sin, the matter shall be confirmed at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witn
Mat 18:16 (CLV)Yet if ever he should not be hearing, take still one or two others along with you, that at the mouth of two witnesses, or of three, every declaration may be made to stand.2Co 13:1 (CLV)Lo! This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses, and three, shall every declaration be made to stand. "
Four times above The Scriptures tell us how to verify and wash away doubt. And four times below we can see examples of why, when doubting GOD'S Word we will get nothing from HIM. Mat 21:21 (CLV)Now, answering, Jesus said to them,
"Verily, I am saying to you, If you should be having faith and not be doubting, not only that to the fig tree will you be doing, but if you should be saying to this mountain also, 'Be picked up and cast into the sea!' it will be occurring."Mar 11:23 (CLV)verily, I am saying to you that whosoever may be saying to this mountain, 'Be picked up and cast into the sea,' and may not be doubting in his heart, but should be believing that what he is speaking is occurring, it shall be his, whatsoever he may be saying."Rom 14:23 (CLV)Now he who is doubting if he should be eating is condemned, seeing that it is not out of faith. Now everything which is not out of faith is sin."
James 1:6 (CLV)Yet let him be requesting in faith, doubting nothing, for he who is doubting simulates a surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed."
So to sum it up, here is what The Scriptures Teach us, about how to handle these seeming causes of confusion:Eze 43: 10-11 (GW)10 "Son of man, describe this temple to the people of Israel. Then they will be ashamed because of their sins. Let them study the plans.
11 Suppose they are ashamed of everything that they have done. Then show them the design of the temple, its arrangements, its exits and entrances-its entire design. Tell them about all its rules and regulations. Then write these things down for them so that they can remember its design and follow all its rules.
2Ti 2:15 (MKJV)Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
James 1:25 (GW)However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say.
george.