> General Discussions
Repentance a MAJOR Door to understanding!
claypot:
--- Quote from: Kat on March 10, 2010, 04:23:36 PM ---
Hi Arc,
I can see that the forum is really maturing too and I think that being here together has helped us tremendously. We are developing into a kind of close knit family, not only are we studying together that I think accelerates the learning process, but also we have comfort and encouragement from each other.
God has provided this place for His people so that we can be taken care of and He is using each of us one way or another to accomplish that. So those that have been here for a while and have gained some maturity, can help the new ones that come here after being beaten down by the world/Babylon. It's such a blessing to be here and to realize and see how He has brought all of this about.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
--- End quote ---
Beautifully put Kat. Perfectly put! Of course I’m new here but I feel in my spirit that you are completely right on. I feel your sincerity here! It is like an oasis in a very dry desert!
cp
Deborah-Leigh:
--- Quote ---to think how many times in my life what could have happend had God removed his Hedge or Frame from around me is very humbling and scary.
--- End quote ---
I was thinking the same thing yesterday Longhorn!
Most of the world’s assurances, sell us a false sense of security, that are for sale which we have to pay for like insurance, safety belts, tithes and vitamins.
A false peace of mind, doesn’t depend on God.
We cannot buy God’s protection.
Psa 119:117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe; and I will always have respect to Your Precepts.
Pro 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
God’s protection is not for sale - so we can appreciate God so much more as you say, Longhorn, for that FRAME God has framed us in.
Yes micah7:9 I too enjoy that Scripture that shows us that God gives us the desire AND the ability to achieve His Purpose. There are TWO aspects to this. Desire and Ability. Both are God’s gifts to us
.
God has you here for His wonderful Purpose Judy and it is great that He is showing you His Work as He trains you in His precepts.
Hi aqr
I expressed the comment that we are not responsible but accountable, with the following in mind. :)
GOD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ETERNAL FATE OF AFRICANS
A Sermon by:
James Kennedy, A.B., M.Div., M.Th., D.D.,
D.Sac.Lit., PhD., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., D. Humane Let.
A Critique by: L. Ray Smith
RESPONSIBILITY
Not only are all the billions of heathens who never heard the gospel not responsible for their own salvation, but neither are we responsible for our salvation either. Nowhere in the Scriptures does God hold man responsible for anything. This is just another man-made doctrine that clashes with the Scriptures.
We can use the word "responsible" in a relative sense, such as: "It is a man's responsibility to provide for his family." We all know what the word means. But even if this man doesn't provide for his family, God will hold him accountable not responsible.
Arc
claypot:
--- Quote from: Arcturus on March 22, 2010, 09:13:18 AM ---
--- Quote ---A Sermon by:
James Kennedy, A.B., M.Div., M.Th., D.D.,
D.Sac.Lit., PhD., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., D. Humane Let.
A Critique by: L. Ray Smith
RESPONSIBILITY
Not only are all the billions of heathens who never heard the gospel not responsible for their own salvation, but neither are we responsible for our salvation either. Nowhere in the Scriptures does God hold man responsible for anything. This is just another man-made doctrine that clashes with the Scriptures.
We can use the word "responsible" in a relative sense, such as: "It is a man's responsibility to provide for his family." We all know what the word means. But even if this man doesn't provide for his family, God will hold him accountable not responsible.[/color]
--- End quote ---
Arc
--- End quote ---
Hey Arc, this still blows my mind a bit. Can you explain why we are even accountable?
Do you see it as we will give an account of why we did as we did and God will know He was responsible for making us with weak hearts? Will our accounting of ourselves be an explanation to God on why we did as we did?
Is it like Adam and Eve who seemed to have to give an accounting for what they did…..she gave to me and I did eat…….or it was the serpent………?
God did seem to accept their accounts as factual which is clear by His response.
cp
Deborah-Leigh:
--- Quote ---Can you explain why we are even accountable?
--- End quote ---
God MAKES us accountable.
If we were not accountable, then we would be as a robot. We are not robots.
God includes us in His work by extending to us accountability for our actions. This inclusion does not preclude God’s Work but depends on God’s Work within us. God will have ALL the Glory for His Work and one day we shall all see that if it were not for God, we could not have any part of the Glorious Work of God that is making us into His Image.
Our accountability is God’s way to include us in the Glorious finale when He will reward us for His Work. We shall come to see that all is of God and even those good works that God has ordained that we shall walk in, we shall see are His Works prepared before us. That God will give us the reward for these works that He prepares before us, is just the magnificence of God’s Love that is so vast it defies human logic.
How can God reward us for what He does? Make us accountable and see what God does.
Try to look at accountability not from the evil or painful consequence of mis-conduct, but from the every knee will bow, perspective and hold your breath as you see how Great our God is. 8)
That’s the best I can do for now. Let me know if you see something. :)
Arc
Kat:
Hi Claypot,
Here is an email response that Ray explains the accountability thing.
http://bible-truths.com/email11.htm#responsibility -----------
[Ray Replies]
Dear Chris:
You ask how one is held "accountable" when he only did what he HAD to do? I actually do answer this in my paper, but let me relate it for you. God has NOT given man 'free' will (the ability to make UNCAUSED choices), all of man's choices are CAUSED BY SOMETHING. But the man DOES MAKE THE CHOICES!
When you or I are confronted with a decision to either do something that we know is right, or know is wrong, we weight the options and MAKE THE CHOICE. God has absolutely given man a brain that has the ability to process information. Man CAN process information and make a choice. But it is the information itself the causes the choice one way or the other. The man cannot make a choice WITHOUT some form of information that influences or ultimately CAUSES him to make a choice. NO ONE MAKES US MAKE THE CHOICE, even other unforeseen circumstances and information DOES MAKE OR CAUSE US TO CHOOSE! True, circumstances beyond our control, which we do not see or even perceive, do cause us to MAKE a choice, but ... BUT, IN OUR OWN HEART AND MIND, WE MAKE THE CHOICE -- not someone else or something else.
But "it's all GOD" Who is ACTUALLY doing it, isn't it? NO, YOU, ACTUALLY, ARE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPANT WHO IS DOING IT! God merely brings about the circumstances that INFLUENCE AND CAUSE YOU TO DO IT!
Now then, pay close attention to what I am saying: Why are we held accountable for something that we absolutely COULD NOT HAVE AVOIDED? Why? Because at the time we made the 'voluntary' (not absolutely 'FREE,' but 'voluntary') CHOICE, it was in OUR heart and in OUR mind to DO SO. And if the choice was WRONG, or SINFUL, then WE, not GOD, must be held accountable. God takes the "responsibility" for what we did -- hence He DIED ON A CROSS FOR US, but WE are accountable for our SINFUL WRONG CHOICES.
This is the only way man will LEARN right from wrong! Adam and Eve were 'TOLD' right from wrong, but not until they actually 'EXPERIENCED' right and wrong, did it make sense to them. IT IS WRONG TO SIN WHETHER WE WERE COERCED TO COMMIT SIN OR NOT. "The DEVIL MADE me do it." It matters not, YOU DID IT and are therefore accountable.
Juveniles commit MILLIONS of crimes and sins for which they are not RESPONSIBLE. But, nonetheless, our own court system HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE. And even human, carnal, judges take this factor into consideration when handing out penalties.
It is the PENALTY that also CAUSES US TO CHOOSE RIGHTLY after we have chosen WRONGLY! When we burn our fingers on a hot stove, we LEARN to not touch a hot stove.
God has developed a "ways and means" to accomplish His righteous end, plan, and purpose. And God's ways are VERY WISE -- they WORK, and they work very well! We have this absolute promise from God:
"When Thy JUDGMENTS are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world, WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isa. 26:9)!!!
God be with you,
Ray
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