Hi Dawidos,
When we have a Scripture like, "the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11), it is an absolute truth. Now there are those Scripture that speaks to the effect that 'we' must do something...
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
These Scriptures are relative to our perspective as to how things work. But never do they contradict the absolute Scriptures, as you can see by the next verse.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
But Ray has already explained this, so here is an email.
http://bible-truths.com/email14.htmDozens of times (maybe hundreds) God speaks to us AS IF He were a man. But God is NOT A MAN.
Some examples:
"And the Lord REPENTED [changed His mind] of the evil which He thought to do unto His people" (Ex. 32:14).
Vs.
"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man that he should repent [change His mind]" (I. Sam. 15:29).
Is this a flat out Biblical contradiction? NO. On statement is from man's point of view, and the other is from God's point of view. One is the RELATIVE, while the other is the ABSOLUTE.
"...choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Josh. 24:15).
Vs.
"Ye have NOT chosen me, but I have chosen you..." (John 15:16).
The relative point of view from man's position seems to put the ability to choose on man's shoulders, while the ABSOLUTE truth from God's position is that 'no one CAN come to Me...." (John 6:44).
"...whosoever does not righteousness is NOT of God" (I jn 3:10).
Vs.
"ALL is of God" (II Cor. 5:18).
Unrighteousness is NOT of God's heart. Those who doe wickedness are of their father the devil, Jesus said. Yet, even THAT is OF GOD in the ultimate sense.
One more:
"Zachariah was JUST before God" (Luke 1:5).
Vs.
"NOT ONE is JUST" (Rom. 3:10).
Again, Zachariah was "just" FROM MAN'S point of view. When comparing him with all the other corrupt priests, Zachariah certainly appeared to be JUST. But from God's ABSOLUTE point of view, not even Zachariah was just.
And so there are hundreds of just such statements in Scripture that appear to make God out to be HUMAN, with HUMAN anatomy (eyes, ears, face, hair, arms, etc.) when in reality God IS SPIRIT and has ABSOLUTELY NO HUMAN ANATOMY.
When God asked: "Where art thou Adam?" Are we to assumed that God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE ADAM WAS HIDING?? And then, "WHO TOLD YOU that you were naked?" Does God REALLY NOT KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE SIMPLE QUESTIONS?
It was for ADAMS SAKE that God asked: "Where art thou" and "who told you that you are naked." From man's point of view God "repented" or "changed His mind." But God has not revealed to the whole world that ALL IS OF HIM, and he NEVER EVER CHANGES ANYTHING! Now do you see and understand. Good.
There are thousands of highly educated theologians and teachers that do not grasp these simplest of Bible Truths.
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As for the authenticity of the Scritures as being Holy and God's Word to man, Ray devoted a whole conference to that 'How We Got The Bible.' Even Jesus Christ Himself endorsed some of the Scriptures. I would put excerpts, but it would take a great many, so I will just leave it to be read as a whole to find all the undisputable info about how we got the Bible that we have today.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.0.html mercy, peace and love
Kat