tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post3930477414100199196..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Of Tractor Beams and Irresistible GraceElizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-36382479428969633572017-04-01T08:29:01.585-04:002017-04-01T08:29:01.585-04:00Hi Anonymous,
your question is a good one and it ...Hi Anonymous,<br /><br />your question is a good one and it touches on one of the most essential questions and debate in all of Reformed Christendom. There seems to be an irreconcilable tension between what we understand from the Bible regarding God's sovereignty and man's responsibility for his sin. Now, we know that God alone ignites mens' hearts (Psalm 51:10 and draws them to Himself. (John 6:44; 12:32).<br /><br />No, it is by grace alone we are saved, not choice alone or in part.<br /><br />Yet at the same time, we also know that man is thoroughly depraved. Genesis 6 says men were only inclined to evil all the time. We cannot do anything for God that He would consider righteous. At all. (Romans 3:10). Man's sin against God is infinite and deserves an infinite punishment. Man is born a sinner, dead in his trespasses.<br /><br />So if man is born a sinner and nothing he does or can do can get him NOT to be a sinner NOR can he save himself, isn't it unjust of God to allow men to be born, sin, then send them to hell?<br /><br />No. Because God is good. All He does is good. He is right to send all men to hell. That He saves some is <i>evidence</i> of His goodness.<br /><br />We cannot understand the tension between these two doctrines, and the Bible does not resolve them. But we do not need it to- we also know that God is love, God is Good, and all he does is good, and the two doctrines are resolved in HIS mins. That's all we need.<br /><br />FMI: <br />https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/43-15/twin-truths-gods-sovereignty-and-mans-responsibilityElizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-63134763640380699682017-03-31T07:37:06.328-04:002017-03-31T07:37:06.328-04:00"Whoever causes one of these little ones who ..."Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea."<br /><br />What was the point of saying this then? Kind of harsh punishment if He is going to just "zap" them into submission and if they don't have a choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-15327645722827605072016-02-29T09:09:10.847-05:002016-02-29T09:09:10.847-05:00I did the same thing. I had a bookcase full of sel...I did the same thing. I had a bookcase full of self-help books, some Christian, some secular, but all were focused on self, not Christ. My efforts to turn myself into a better person failed because I was focused on self, attitudes, and behavior, not confession, repentance, and receiving the gift of forgiveness and restoration. Once my heart was right was Christ, behavior and attitudes fell into line as He was my guiding light, not myself. I'm not saying it was always easy but it was less effort and less frustrating than when I was trying to fix myself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06184436358329388536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-26215682461191532972016-02-28T05:20:49.819-05:002016-02-28T05:20:49.819-05:00My walk was similar. Though I wasn't as resist...My walk was similar. Though I wasn't as resistive to the Spirit I was caught up in the things of this life and, though God called me, at one stage I turned away from Him. When I He called me again I tried many other false ways before I finally accepted that God was the only way. I always believed that He searched me out. He saved me. He drew me to Him. If it were up to me I'd still be wandering around in a wilderness of worldly confusion.<br />God bless you!Melinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02140001658756088010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-63258915781069712302016-02-26T21:56:24.967-05:002016-02-26T21:56:24.967-05:00I can relate to your book quest in an attempt to s...I can relate to your book quest in an attempt to satisfy your heart's longing with anything but Jesus. You should have seen the nonsense I was reading!<br /><br />When I began attending church, I would get so mad and offended by things the preacher said, I would leave, never to return. But then find myself there again the next week. Only God can draw by repelling.<br /><br />JenniferAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com