MennoSota writes:
“ God is the Sovereign King. “
Response:
Why is He a King? Is it because He has a kingdom? Can God be a King without a kingdom? Isn’t having a kingdom a prerequisite for being a king? Can God violate His own nature? The nature that is, reality itself? If anything is real, it’s because of God. Having a kingdom and subjects is a real requirement for being a king. Just like being the infinite, almighty God, demands that there isn’t another infinite and almighty God. By default, the implications of infinity, infinite power, infinite knowledge, excludes “others” from possessing such infinite, absolute power.
Being a just and gracious God, demands just that. And what is just and gracious? Do words have any meaning? Your philosophy ignores the fact that God has a lot more options and resources than we do, hence why assume God would abandon 99.9% of humanity to destruction? With all of the knowledge and power He possesses, it’s more likely a just and gracious, infinite God would provide a more constructive, far reaching solution to man’s fallen nature. With an emphasis on restoration, reformation, regeneration, reconciliation.
In your version, the devil wins. The evil one destroys practically all of creation, except for a few five point Calvinists.
MennoSota writes:
He is not obligated to withhold punishment on lawbreakers. In fact, since God is a just God, he is fully obligated to require that justice be meted out.
Response:
He’s not obligated to continue providing anyone with life, but He does, out of His compassion. Is it truly just to cast a creature into a state of eternal torment in hell, for being corrupt, when the ultimate source of that corruption is beyond its control? Thousands of years ago Adam broke God’s law, introducing sin into a perfect world, hence Adam’s offspring are forced into a state of corruption. You might object, but I assert that God’s justice is tempered by His grace and omnipotence. He is omnipotent and omniscient, hence His focus is not on destroying the wicked, but in reconciling them to His Son. Regeneration and restoration, rather than eternal damnation and torment.
Christ is the resurrection and the life, the savior of not just the elect, but of the whole world. All of creation.
MennoSota writes:
God expects the elect to forgive those who wrong them because God has chosen to forgive the elect through Jesus atoning sacrifice.
Response:
But according to your philosophy, he chooses not to forgive His enemies? We should forgive those who wrong us, God on the other hand is obligated not to forgive those who wrong Him? Why did God’s creatures wrong Him? Could it be, because they were born with a fallen, corrupt nature? If anything, God being just and merciful would use His omnipotence and wisdom, to restore His creation, rather than abandoning it in a state of torment.
Is there life, apart from God? There is no life, no existence detached from God, hence what you propose is that God is going to maintain 99.99% of humanity in a state of utter torment and torture, for behaving according to the fallen nature forced upon them at birth. Is this what your philosophy considers “just” ? You hold a very peculiar notion of justice.
The elect are the first fruits of salvation. The few in this age/aeon, who are born again and will one day reign with Christ over the nations. Who will the elect reign over? The elect are like the angels, the ministering spirits that manage God’s creation. That will be the role of the human elect in the age to come. Not all who are spared from the second death, reign with Christ. The elect are comprised of the genuine, born again disciples of Christ, who walked with Him in this life.
MennoSota writes:
Humans will never choose God.
Response:
Our choices are often influenced by many different factors, hence God’s grace and wisdom working within us, to restore us to His original image, the image of His Son. Nonetheless, within a certain context, people do choose God and His Kingdom, over this fallen world.
MennoSota writes:
Even in the Garden, Adam and Eve hid from God.
Response:
They sinned, without a sin nature. They fell, and then they felt shame. One doesn’t have to be totally depraved to sin or choose to disobey God. Likewise, one doesn’t have to be perfect or free of a sinful, corrupt nature, to choose God over evil.
MennoSota writes:
So it is with all lawbreakers. No criminal wants to be caught. They don't seek out the one who rightly judges their sin. God must call them out and choose to grant them pardon. God does not choose to pardon all humanity.
Response:
God will not pardon, nor restore all of humanity, on this point we agree. Some will indeed suffer the second death. The problem with your understanding, is that you believe only the elect will be spared the second death and they will reign with Christ, over….??????? God knows what. I propose, that the elect will reign with Christ over the nations, a sea of humanity, that was indeed spared from the second death. Every knee shall bow and tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord. Indeed, that will occur one day.
A significant number of people, will be spared the second death, thanks to the grace afforded to them, through Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Not all who inherit the earth and this physical universe, will be of the elect. The elect will reign with Christ, as ministering spirits/angels, over creation. Members of His royal family.
MennoSota writes:
There is no need to have faith in Adam to be corrupt. Our corruption is passed down by nature. We are born in rebellion to God.
Response:
We are born with a corrupt nature, but the sin of rebellion is a conscious one. A decision, not a question of nature. All of creation, including the animals, the plants, are in a state of corruption. Being born with a corrupt nature, is not the same as an angel created in a perfect state and environment, choosing to rebel against God. That is much worse. Adam and Eve, were not born with a sinful nature, yet they rebelled. You and I were born under very corrupt conditions, out of our control. That’s not rebellion, that’s a tragedy, one that God solved through Christ. The Second Adam.
MennoSota writes:
Unless God chooses to pluck us out, we will die in rebellion to God.
Response:
This is true. Our corruption, leads to a rebellious and wicked condition. Our fallen nature, leads to rebellion and without God’s grace we are doomed. Christ however was God’s solution to this crises.
MennoSota writes:
You are correct...if God chose not to extend his gracious saving hand, we would die as rebels to God. Our salvation is all by God's choice. Our faith is God's gift to us.
Response:
Yes indeed….No Christ, no resurrection or life. We would all be doomed to destruction.
MennoSota writes:
Christ is God. He is not adopted into God's family. He is the Sovereign King, the God of Creation.
Response:
I agree, He is God, the very image of the Father. Humanity was adopted into the family of God and divine Kingdom.
MennoSota writes:
We, whom God has chosen and elected to adopt are place in God's family so that we can cry out "Abba Father." One day we will have specific roles in God's Kingdom. It will not be like angels or like God. It will be the role God has ordained for us.
Response:
I believe the role God has ordained for us, is to be ministering spirits , messengers (angels).
MennoSota writes:
You have provided no scripture, therefore your claim to be from the Bible is illegitimate.
Response:
Everything I said is supported by inspired scripture. Perhaps not your understanding of the bible or holy scripture, but nonetheless, from my perspective and those who share my beliefs, this is the truth. More importantly, we are in agreement with the truth, reality itself, which is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. A Spirit filled life, in Christ Jesus.
MennoSota writes:
You claim that you are guided by the Holy Spirit, yet the Counselor points us to God's word…
Response:
God’s Word is Jesus Christ. Not a collection of writings. The writings are profitable for instruction and guidance, provided you are born again and filled with Christ’s spirit. The church is superior to the book, the body of Christ, is comprised of every spirit filled disciple of Jesus Christ. The true elect, who work out their salvation in fear and trembling, making their election and calling sure. Christ first, then His Church/Bride, then what is written. Those who don’t really have a relationship with Christ, and haven’t been born again, do not understand this.
MennoSota writes:
which you have not provided. At this moment you are making an unproven assertion.
Response:
But if you cite the protestant bible, according to your own interpretation or understanding, then it’s a “proven assertion” ?