Hello John
I know you LOVE to emphasize almost continuously how all is of God, and how it is God who does all the works. And I understand that, but I think my perspective is different. And you like rhetorical questions. OK so here is a rhetorical question, that may help me show what I mean. Why did God create Satan? Why would God have an in between? Of what REAL use is Satan? Why can’t God directly cause all the pains and evils, why can't God directly make the rapist to rape, and the terrorist to blow someone away, if as you say, God the Father is actually doing it? Seriously, why does God need Satan? I mean, God the Father does all the works, right?
I think, to answer my own rhetorical question, that since God IS NOT EVIL HIMSELF, He made Satan to be EVIL to do those very evil things that God has no stomach to do so. It is not God who is raping little children; it is evil men who are drawn away by their own lusts. It is Satan, who of his evil desires, being instrumental in directly causing these evil things. God needs evil to accomplish his works, to make us into His image, and has created both evil and evil beings and evil people, but God does not DIRECTLY do these things. He created beings to do these evil things, so He would not have too!!!
Of course God steers everything, and God is responsible for everything. God may goad satan to do things, or play “chess” with him, but when I or Satan or you do something evil, it is the lusts in ourselves that we are willingly obeying. We are the ones that do it. Not God. Even if it could NOT be otherwise, even if we are so subject to causes that if the event was repeated over and over the same outcome would result, doesn't change the fact that YOU or I DID IT. And we do it willingly and with intent. I am at peace with this. I feel God can justly judge me and hold me accountable. Even as I know He has planned all my steps, I still take ownership and despise the evil within me, and repent of my evil acts with tears. And as I grow in Him, thank God, less and less evil comes through and from me.
So, with Jesus in me, I find myself doing righteous things, and Less evil things! I have FAR LESS lusts in me than I have had before. I love others, and I want to DO things to help them. I think Craig asked a question near and dear to my heart. I do NOT want to stand before Jesus and say, I have no good actions, but, but, I have a lot of knowledge! NO NO NO. If anyones’ understanding of God doing all the works is SUCH that they end up using that AS AN EXCUSE to actually not to try, not to wrestle, then you are in a sad state indeed. It is not an EXCUSE NOT TO STRUGGLE AND OBEY! I want to DO something with all this newfound LOVE and UNDERSTANDINGS! I want to do the works of JESUS. I WANT TO OBEY! I want to live pure and holy. I want to love righteousness and hate wickedness. I want to give to others. I want to treat all my customers fairly. I want to be trustworthy and full of integrity. I want to be used for good.
I fully understand Marques words, I thought his explanations, the bible verses, were spot on and wonderful. Without Him we can do nothing, but what indeed, can we do with Him?
Great question. So let us walk in the Spirit so we DO NOT do the deeds of the carnal nature! Of course in our old selves we can do nothing! But who says we are to remain that way? ARE we not NEW CREATIONS? Can we not do all things through Christ who strengthens us? . And thank you Craig, for that EXCELLENT QUESTION.
Doug