[quote]Cortes wrote:
<<< I wrote a post that seems to have disappeared into the ether >>>[/quote]As did my fairly long one from this morning =[
No time at the moment. I don’t how to consciously live as if my life were predestined or not. I simply awaken every morning and ask God to teach me how to love Him more perfectly than I did yesterday, to love my wife as He loves me, to order my every thought, word and deed to His glory and a whole lotta prayer for other personal stuff and other people as well. Including many here.
I haven’t spent a significant amount of time or energy probing the unsearchable depths of His persons or plan for years. BTW, I do believe in free will, but that God’s will is freer.
[/quote]
Okay, I really tried, but I’m still not going to be able to give this topic the time it needs. However, before I go to bed, that line up there in bold sure did jump out at me. You are going to have to explain that one to me, because either I see a contradiction in your position or I don’t understand it. I’ll assume the latter and ask for your assistance.
Second, an honest question. This will quickly reveal the source of my confusion with the above, too. A while back, you posted (favorable, I assumed) a portion of Jonathon Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God,” which I happen to have read. Now I have heard you mention this off and on, but I wanted to ask you directly: Do you believe that certain humans are predetermined from birth to be damned to the fires of hell? Meaning, these humans will never be able to change their lot. They are born to die. Or is this an oversimplification or outright error? I ask with nothing but the utmost sincerity.
And I promise this is not just a big elaborate red-herring. I’ll share my thoughts on free will just as soon as I can. Which will hopefully be tomorrow. (but no promises…)
[quote]ephrem wrote:
<<< The validity of your premiss is founded on the essence of what “I am” actually is. >>>[/quote]And THAT I am actually is. Seems a semantic distinction without a true substantive difference. Of course I start with “God is, therefore I am”. “but how can you perceive God… or anything else without first assuming your own existence?” And therein lies the very essence of biblical epistemology and it’s contrast with all others. I assume the existence of the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Jeremiah, Peter, James, Paul and John before all else and He provides the definitions of absolutely everything. I contend that even many truly redeemed Christian people greatly err in failing to grasp this and persisting in the arena of the old man in Adam. Your arena, the one they’ve been delivered from.
I am greatly blessed my friend, thanks for asking. How are things with my second favorite Hollander?
[/quote]
Things are just fine over here T, they’re just fine.
However, the question of “Who am I” is key. You can’t just accept another man’s word on the subject. To really get to the heart of the matter you need to observe and investigate the nature and aspects of yourself with unrelenting honesty.
It is the assumption of self, and this is where we part ways, that’s the boon of existence. It is this first false assumption that clouds truthful judgment; that obscures clarity of mind and being.
It’s this first assumption that must be dissected and doubted for truth to shine through.
[quote]Cortes wrote:<<< Okay, I really tried, but I’m still not going to be able to give this topic the time it needs. >>>[/quote]No hurry man. When you can [quote]Cortes wrote:However, before I go to bed, that line up there in bold sure did jump out at me. You are going to have to explain that one to me, because either I see a contradiction in your position or I don’t understand it. I’ll assume the latter and ask for your assistance. >>>[/quote]There are contradictions in everybody’s positions if human intellect is THEE standard. I have no precise idea how it works and never will. I’m cool with that. Very cool as a matter of fact. [quote]Cortes wrote:<<< Do you believe that certain humans are predetermined from birth to be damned to the fires of hell? Meaning, these humans will never be able to change their lot. They are born to die. >>>[/quote] With all my heart. They are spiritually stillborn. Conceived and born dead already and are never resurrected and will never want to be. Just like all of the elect in Christ would have been if left to themselves, most assuredly including me. God chose some to be born again into the life of Christ bought by His death and resurrection. I live because He lives.
The key here is a proper understanding of sin and death which is death indeed. All dead people stay that way unless an external force greater than death itself raises them. GOD works this in the elect and simply does not in the reprobate. I have absolutely no clue who is who. None of my business. I can produce mountains of biblical evidence for this and truthfully? It simply follows when one realizes what kind of God is under discussion.
This is why I keep chiding my brethren here. They’re talking to dead people. They are laboring under the false assumption that if only a sufficiently persuasive intellectual presentation is put forth, the unbeliever will be cornered into believing. Does anybody see any of that going on? They are dead, they cannot hear you. Paradoxically they especially cannot hear you when you insist on speaking their language. Like I told Brother Chris. They do not need convincing. They need to be resurrected. I cited 1st Corinthians 1 where Paul flatly states this. I merely tell them. Only the Holy Spirit can raise them up AFTER which they will then be convinced.
[quote]Cortes wrote:<<< Or is this an oversimplification or outright error? >>>[/quote]Only an oversimplification in that God alone defines the justice in all He decrees. especially that. [quote]Cortes wrote:<<< I ask with nothing but the utmost sincerity. >>>[/quote] I would expect nothing less from you[quote]Cortes wrote:<<< And I promise this is not just a big elaborate red-herring. I’ll share my thoughts on free will just as soon as I can. Which will hopefully be tomorrow. (but no promises…) >>>[/quote]These are huge mind bending topics dude. I would never pretend otherwise. Think (and hopefully pray) it through and when you’re ready fire away.
[quote]ephrem wrote:
<<< Things are just fine over here T, they’re just fine.
However, the question of “Who am I” is key. You can’t just accept another man’s word on the subject. To really get to the heart of the matter you need to observe and investigate the nature and aspects of yourself with unrelenting honesty.
It is the assumption of self, and this is where we part ways, that’s the boon of existence. It is this first false assumption that clouds truthful judgment; that obscures clarity of mind and being.
It’s this first assumption that must be dissected and doubted for truth to shine through.
[/quote]My dear friend you really have no idea how you are so gingerly and adroitly tip toeing all around the very God I worship. You’re so close (and yet so far away) He’s right there in front of you. However, close doesn’t save in the providence of God. You’re on the top of my list of people from here I’d love to meet in person. Not so I could beat you over the head with a bible as you may suppose. I meant it several months ago when I told you that God had given me a burden for you. That’s Jesus freak vernacular indicating an especially strong desire to see the Lord move in someone’s life.
To be clear, I do find some of the posts from you and some other folks around here stimulating and fascinating. Seriously. You might think I just write everybody off as heathen jackasses. Not so at all.
[quote]ephrem wrote:
You’re such a sweet talker T. Has anyone ever fallen for that line?[/quote]Sweet talker? I’m not sure how to take that, but which line are you referring to?