For some unknown reason, I am unable to post comments on my own site. And since I'm having a problem, I'm wondering if others are having a similar problem. I assure you I have not banned your IP, nor have I banned my own IP. I've contacted Typepad and haven't heard back from them. So if you are experiencing difficulty, know that I am working on it from this end.
That said, I'll simply write it here my response to Luke and to Byroniac. If you want to know what they said that generated my response, you'll just have to go read the previous post. :)
LUKE: Now, that all depends upon how you define "determinism" in any given situation, doesn't it? I will definitely allow you the fact that God allows stuff. After all, He allowed Jesus to be beaten, scorned, mocked, spat upon, humiliated, and betrayed, all with His pre-determined will to pay the price for our (as in all of the "ours") sin. He allowed that horrendous display of human rebuke of sinlessness and illustration of sinfulness of man "to carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur." Acts 4:28. THAT, to me, is one amazing Sovereign God. He did that to Himself if we are to believe that Jesus and He are One.
What an illustration of God's love for man! The horrid unholiness of man was hanging on that cross--not in Jesus, but upon Him. And it exemplifies the power of God, the forgiveness of God, the conclusions of God, the holiness of God, the attonement of God, the sovereignty of God and the love of God. And much much more.
I so agree that "it is really difficult to determine,humanly speaking, exactly what God is decreeing versus what God is allowing all the while considering that God is working His will in the midst of both." That's where we, as humans, must trust His Sovereignty as we live out His Word even when things seem very very wrong to us. Christianity seems to grow in leaps and bounds when under persectution and attack. Satan doesn't care whether sinners sin, he wants to see Christians sin and give in to their fleshly desires. That way he can use our faithlessness and our unrighteous behavior to condemn Christianity--not us.
Sometimes I think some well-meaning Christians are afraid to teach the whole Word of God because they think it's all ultimately upon God what we do or don't do. I don't see that kind of relaxation of His teachings as rational. selahV
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BYRON:..I gave some thought to those verses last night and this a.m. In fact, I went so far as to read the entire 4th and 5th chapters of Acts. And as I've answered Luke above, I find no problem with how God's sovereign will is carried out. I find it more of a problem that folks blame Him for whatever ill befalls us when He has given us direct laws to follow and then we blame Him for His pre-determined consequences of disobedience and self-seeking desires. selahV
[NOW....LET'S SEE IF we can post comments in this post's stream. selahV]
