> General Discussions
God is "longsuffering"
hillsbororiver:
Hi Dawidos,
We really cannot remove doubts with human reasoning and logic, the plain fact for us in this journey is we must have faith. God does not "think" like we do in the flesh, faith is our spiritual conduit to Him.
Meditate on these 2 verses a bit;
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
As you know Ray does a very in depth study on how we got the the bible;
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.0.html
Here is another verse to ponder as you seek understanding of God and how He uses scripture to teach, lead, cajole and humble us.
Eze 17:2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Could you be more specific in your "free will" question?
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
Hi Kat,
I was typing as you posted, I just wanted to say;
Great post!
Peace,
Joe
mharrell08:
Email reply from Ray (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2196.msg17723.html#msg17723):
Dear Justin:
The two sections of Genesis merely emphasize things from different perspectives. Chapter two is not suggesting that the animals were created chronologically AFTER Adam was created. So help me I don't even see how people have a problem with things this simple. Millions of times in history and story telling these exact same principles are used in books, stories, movies, etc.
The faith is not for everyone. The person who is waiting for scientific proof that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, will be waiting till Kingdom come--however, not too much longer after that. I receive hundreds of emails from people who want me to prove to them that every word of the Bible is inspired by the Creator of the Universe, and then they want me to show them how to be healthy, happy and wealthy. Sorry, can't do it.
Read the material on our site. Read ALL of it. Maybe some of it will "rub off" on you. I personally have my faith strengthened by reading Paul's epistles. You see, I know in my heart of hearts that Paul is not a phony, a liar, a charlatan. Paul was one intelligent dude, and he emphatically believed the Scriptures. He believed Jesus. He performed miracles. He raised the dead. Most will say, "But I don't believe it." I know they don't. That's why I said "The faith is not for everyone."
One way to really come to believe in the Scriptures is not to speculate, and read the higher criticism of others aout them, but by LIVING THEM. When you live them, you believe them, and you start to understand them. Try it.
God be with you,
Ray
DougE6:
Hi byonespirit
I think when it says "God waited patiently" it is NOT saying that God was wishing, hoping, waiting in the that weak ignorant and powerless HUMAN way that He ACTUALLY does not know or cannot cause what will happen, whether any would actually hopefully, oh dear me, by themselves... repent or regenerate.... To think that way to take God down to our level! LOL That is actually what your friend is saying. I do not think it means at all that God was hoping/wondering/wishing/crossing his fingers if some men of their own accord would finally see the light and then finally come to embrace Him. I do not think that scripture means that at all. I know you understand this too,
I think what it is telling us that God does in some much different and much higher sense waits patiently for us all, in that He has given us all an experience of evil to live through, to humble us. This takes time. We live through it, and God goes through it with us. This is actually Gods main work right now! Praise Him for this. It will involve us doing many things that God actually hates, even though God has foreseen and planned out all our steps already. So in the human sense, to help us get a picture of the great patience in God (as actually, patience is a fruit of the spirit) and His forbearance as we do all these things that are contrary to his nature. He is very patient with us, knowing the outcome He is bringing us all to is very good, but God condescends to working with us on our COMPARATIVELY glacier slow pace, while we gain all the humility and repentance and the IMAGE of God that He is slowly developing in us. God is very patient with us, throughout this long process, which for a few of us will be completed sufficiently in this lifetime, where we will become manifest Sons of God at the onset of the next age, but for most will extend far into the next age.
Dave in Tenn:
Romans 2:3,4 as Kat shared.
And, O man, the one judging those practicing such things, and doing them, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and the long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
He won't see it unless the Lord gives him eyes, because he is 'not knowing' that the kindness of God leads a man to repentance.
Anyways, he won't see himself anywhere in those verses. To his mind, they will only apply to others, or he will think that he is beyond that, so they no longer apply to him. It will make perfect sense to him, just as it did to us.
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