Don't forget it. He does whatever He wants. You cannot resist Him. Hear and understand. You cannot resist God.
Isa. 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
He does whatever He wants. He CAUSES it to happen. Get it?
Jonah 4:6-7 Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
APPOINTED: Hebrew word prostasso from the root tasso.
1. to arrange in an orderly manner
2. (generally) to assign or dispose (to a certain position or lot)
KJV: addict, appoint, determine, ordain, set
Really Job? You don't say.
Job 12:13-14 With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
Job 23: 13-15 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him
Job 42:1-2 THEN JOB said to the Lord, I know that You can do all things, and that no thought {or} purpose of Yours can be restrained {or} thwarted.
Wait, wait... I know that men can plot against God and thwart His plans.....oh really?
Acts 4:24-28 And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant {and} child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton {and} insolent {and} rage, and the people imagine {and} study {and} plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]? The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled {and} combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah) For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child {and} Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will {and} purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur.
But but.......that's just your interpretation. It's not what the Bible actually teaches. You sure?
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Ps 115:3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
isa 14: 26-27 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
2 Chr 20:6 And said, O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.
Is 43:13 Yes, from the time of the first existence of day {and} from this day forth I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand. I will work, and who can hinder {or} reverse it?
Ps 135:6
​​​​​​​​Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, ​​​​​​​in heaven and on earth, ​​​​​​​in the seas and all deeps. ​​​
I find nothing comical about salvation or eternity. It is sad to think some people are unsure of where they will spend eternity when it is clear in the Bible that we can know.
Yes, IWA, you shared why you believe you are 'elected' as others have shared why they believe they are saved from God's sentence for sin. There are others that seem to think posting others interpretation (citing paragraphs from man's books...which is their choice) elains why they think they are 'elected'.
There is no question that God is Sovereign...king, supreme being. Stating that I asked Him for forgiveness for my sins and asked for His gift of salvation does not reduce His Sovereignty. I acknowledged Him as my King of Kings and followed His directions.
IWA, you seem to want to label my beliefs into categories that are convenient for you; however, I have stated several times that I do not believe all of the teachings of those doctrines either. There are more than 2 schools of thought on salvation. I am a Christian, a follower of Christ, an adopted child of the King of Kings. I know my place and I know the expectations He has for me, His servant. While I try to resist the devil and my human nature to follow God's will, I often fail and when I do, He is faithful to forgive me when I confess my sins to Him. He already knows what I've done wrong, but I have to humble myself before Him seeking His forgiveness.
You're right...God didn't say it, man has said it and IWA you seem to want to label people's beliefs by your belief and understanding of man's doctrine.
I believe what the Bible clearly states. I do not need man's label on my beliefs because man's labeling tries to narrow God's power, authority, and abilities based on what man thinks makes sense.
I am a very logical person...when it comes to God, my logical process does not apply. The God I serve doesn't fit in man's boundaries or in a bow or in a manmade list. He is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, loving, fair, merciful, caring with the power and authority to mete out justice and wrath.
Teach you seem to want to continue to LABEL me as someone who "wants to label people's beliefs by my belief and understanding of man's doctrine." (whatever that even means) It appears to me to be nothing more than just another accusation against a true believer.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, PREDESTINATION, ELECTION, REPROBATION, TOTAL DEPRAVITY, ATONEMENT, ETC. are all BIBLICAL doctrine-- YES BIBLICAL doctrine. And, I do believe in and teach those doctrines as part of the "whole counsel of God" These are not "man's doctrine". You cannot simply throw out ad hominem over and over again as a means of dismissing what the Bible teaches.
Teach you seem to want to continue to LABEL me as someone who "wants to label people's beliefs by my belief and understanding of man's doctrine." (whatever that even means) It appears to me to be nothing more than just another accusation against a true believer.
It means just what you say, but Teach did not label you as such, that is your doing. it is not to be blamed upon another.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, PREDESTINATION, ELECTION, REPROBATION, TOTAL DEPRAVITY, ATONEMENT, ETC. are all BIBLICAL doctrine-- YES BIBLICAL doctrine. And, I do believe in and teach those doctrines as part of the "whole counsel of God" These are not "man's doctrine". You cannot simply throw out ad hominem over and over again as a means of dismissing what the Bible teaches.
Some are terms you will find in the bible but there none that are in agreement with bible doctrine, as taught by reformers, as they have reformed the word of God to their own liking.
IWA, you refer to yourself as one who adheres to the reformed doctrine. I refer to myself as a Christian. When I make a statement, it appears you add to it what you think I also believe as well as making comparions to other doctrines of men such as Armenianism.
I am not Armeniam or Calvinist or reformed or any other manmade label other than Christian.
I believe in the Sovereignty of God...i have limited sovereignty in my home and job...I know my limits and I know my Heavenly Father has NO limits to His power and authority. My beliefs do not limit or override God's sovereignty.
God doesn't fit in a box...and is not limited by any human's beliefs...or understanding.
"IWA, you refer to yourself as one who adheres to the reformed doctrine" Where do I do this? I have specifically stated that I agree on all five points of doctrine in the TULIP. I held those views prior to knowing the TULIP existed. I have also stated that. The reason why I held them is because they are explicitly Biblical. I have also said that it is this TULIP that most often goes under the label of "Calvinism". A label that I am willing to accept merely as a summary of what I believe on those five points.
I adhere to what the Bible teaches. PERIOD! It is an historical fact that their was a return to biblical doctrine during the reformation. This was in contrast to the errant RCC doctrine. ALL Protestants emerged as a result of the Reformation in "protest" to the RCC church and their teachings. To now condemn "reformation theology" shows much ignorance of church history as well as of Scripture itself.
Now it is also a fact that many Protestants have now "returned to Rome" in some of their foundational doctrinal formulations. No matter what you wish to label it or call it, the current understanding that you, PJ, Jude, and others here articulate is not consistent with the Biblical doctrine declared throughout Scripture. The three of you are also dishonest in your approach when directly confronted with the question as to what it is that you do believe pertaining to the aforementioned doctrines always hiding behind the argument that you do not believe this or that or that you believe a little of both sides but never expressly articulating using Scripture what it is that you agree with or disagree with and why. It's always some kind of smoke and mirror diversion or ad hominem attack.
There have always been Christians that did not conform or align with the RCC so to say that all those who are labeled by today's definition of Protestant are a result of the reformation era is historically inaccurate.
Man has always tried to label people and then categorize all people in that group as aging the identical beliefs or values.
I am Christian. I choose to attend an independent Baptist church because it aligns most closely with how I believe and how I like to worship and fellowship. Because the pastor is only human, there are times I do not 100% agree with his interpretation or teaching of a given topic/passage. I memorize Scripture not catechisms or other lists of men's writings.
God is Sovereign, His inerrant, infallible Word is sufficient for me?
Read what I said: "ALL Protestants emerged as a result of the Reformation in "protest" to the RCC church and their teachings. To now condemn "reformation theology" shows much ignorance of church history as well as of Scripture itself."
Did I say that there were no "Christians" outside of the RCC? No, I did not.
PROTESTANT - a member of any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth; broadly : a Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church. Merriam Webster
ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD "PROTESTANT" The exact origin of the term protestant is unsure, and may come either from French protestant or German Protestant. However, it is certain that both languages derived their word from the Latin: protestantem, meaning "one who publicly declares/protests",[2] which refers to the letter of protestation by Lutheran princes against the decision of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms in 1521, banning Martin Luther's 95 theses of protest against some beliefs and practices of the early 16th century Catholic Church.
The term protestant was not initially applied to the reformers, but later was used to describe all groups protesting Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Since that time, the term protestant has been used in many different senses, often as a general term merely to signify Christians who belong to none of the churches of Catholic tradition (Roman, Orthodox, Monophysite or Nestorian Churches).
Protestantism is one of the major divisions within Christianity. It has been defined as "any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth" and, more broadly, to mean Christianity outside "of an Orthodox or Catholic church".[1] It is a movement that is widely seen as beginning in Germany by Martin Luther with The Ninety-Five Theses in 1517 as a reaction against medieval doctrines and practices, especially in regard to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology. The doctrines of the over 33,000 Protestant denominations vary, but most include justification by grace through faith alone, known as Sola Gratia and Sola Fide respectively, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the supreme authority in matters of faith and morals, known as Sola Scriptura, Latin for "by scripture alone".
In the 16th century, the followers of Martin Luther established the evangelical (Lutheran) churches of Germany and Scandinavia. Reformed churches in Hungary, Scotland, Switzerland and France were established by other reformers such as John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Knox. The Church of England declared independence from papal authority in 1534, and was influenced by some Reformation principles, notably during the English Civil War. There were also reformation movements throughout continental Europe known as the Radical Reformation which gave rise to the Anabaptist, Moravian, and other pietistic movements.
