Hi largeli,
This life is a learning lesson, by experiencing good and evil, which is just living this life, we are learning what happens depending on what we do. Now I know that everybody does not always learn form the lessons they are experiencing right now, but their experiences will stick with them and I believe the lesson can still be learned in the next age when giving account.
1Cor 3:13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.
v. 14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.
v. 15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
Here is a couple of things that might help with this.
http://bible-truths.com/email11.htm#responsibility ----
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)!!!
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php?topic=5154.0 -----------
If humanity has free will and they can choose to do good. Why don’t they? What’s wrong? I have theologians say, and I’ll quote them, “It’s the most marvelous gift God has given to humanity is free will, it‘s the most marvelous gift of all.” If this gift is so wonderful, why doesn’t it ever work? Why is it broken? Why does it malfunction 100% of the time? Why doesn’t it work?
You got free will, which means there is nothing that causes you to do evil, when you can just as easily do good, nothing. So why don’t you? Why hasn’t anyone? Where is the first human (save Jesus Christ) that ever lived that way? And why did Jesus do it, because He had free will? “Of My own self I can do nothing.” (John 5:30)
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Am I going to fast for anybody? It doesn’t work. Even if we had free will, we know for a historical, Biblical fact it doesn’t work. It has never worked. What good is it? But we don’t even have it. We don’t have it, it’s an oxymoron.
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Would you say that the many, the called and the chosen all will experience good and evil but the chosen/elect will be humbled by it and learn to discern between the two all their life?
1Peter 4:17 For the time has come for the judgment to begin from the house of God. And if it first begins from us, what will be the end of those disobeying the gospel of God?
The elect will certainly go through their judgment now, to be refined and prepared to enter the kingdom at Christ's return and these learning lessons can be pretty difficult, but well worth the final results.
Heb 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives."
v. 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
v. 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
v. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
v. 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
v. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
mercy, peace and love
Kat