At least you're consistent. :chuckle:
Consistently what?
Okay. Either way, God cannot deny Himself. He cannot do it. He is NOT "free" to deny Himself.
I know it says "cannot." But God is not a programmed robot who can't do, say, or act otherwise. A good example: When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest's servant, Jesus said, "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" (Mat. 26:53). Jesus went WILLINGLY to the Cross. He did not HAVE TO. He willingly will not deny Himself (us as members of the Body). He does not have to!
[/Quote]I'll refer you to my post
Here[/Quote]
I'm not good with computers. I will go back and look at this.
[/Quote]I'm no rookie. You don't need to tell me things I learned 25 years ago.[/Quote]
I've not had any dialogue with you in the past. So, I know not what you know and do not know. I did not mean to offend.
Which proved that Jesus is God, who cannot sin.
The ultimate end or outcome of Closed Theism is that God Himself is not free to do otherwise. I always ask this question: Can God change the number raindrops that will fall in Montana tomorrow?
Again, I will ask you... Is someone born (begotten) of God greater than God? Is Jesus born (begotten) of God?
There are two beings on earth who had no earthly fathers--Adam and Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. When He came in the flesh, He emptied Himself of His quantitative attributes such as omnipresence, omnipotence, etc. But He did not empty Himself of His qualitatie attriutes of being alive, personal, relational, good, loving, righteous and just. In John, Jesus prayed, "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory WHICH I HAD WITH YOU BEFORE THE WORLD WAS" (John 17:5).
Adam can't be greater than God, for he is a created being by God. You or I can't be greater than God, for we are offspring of Adam and Eve. Now Jesus can't be lesser than God; He is God!
Who is "we"? In other words, who are YOU in Christ? Are you righteous? Holy? Blameless? Perfect? A Saint? Or something else?
All except "something else." We sin, but we are no sinners--in Christ. But that's another Bible lesson for another time.
No, I want to eaxlt Jesus as God, because that is who He is, proven by the fact that He cannot sin. Yes, it is an external temptation. Satan tempted Jesus. Jesus was not tempted. Understand the difference?
If Jesus Christ could not be tempted, then Satan did not tempt him. It would be like me trying to attempt my dog, Gus, with onions. Jesus Christ is God. But, and this is a big but, He took on flesh. He lowered Himself. He became as we in the flesh. He sweated. He grew weary. He wept. He feared (prayer in the garden the night before crucifixion). He felt pain. He experienced humiliation. If none of these things are real, then His not sinning has no value or meaning. Jesus was tempter in all ways. But the difference between Him and us is that He did not give in to the temptations.
Not true. You can prove gold through fire. It is tested, and proven. You can throw a lit match in a barrel of oil or a barrel of water. The result proves what it is. I am an Open Theist, and yet, I know that God is righteous, and not in submission to any law.
I can't see the anaology? Jesus Christ had a free will to choose just as we do. Who can tell God that He CAN'T do otherwise. If He can't do otherwise, this His righteous actions lose their value. He's not righteous because He chooses to be righteous; He's righteous because He just can't be unrighteous.
Then you have a god who is less than the law that He serves. You have a god who eats from the wrong tree.
God did not create any laws. Laws are descriptions. The moral law is a description of God's righteousness. The pagan Greeks posited that the gods could be capricious and do anything they wanted to JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE GODS. There are many Christians today who say that God can do other than the laws that describe Him.
God can do other than the laws that describe Him, but then He would be a different God, for His description would change. If God lied, He would no longer be honest. If God broke His word, He would no longer be trustworthy. If God sinned, He would no longer be righteous, and so on.
Now God's righteousness can be esteemed and valued not because He can't violate the moral laws; rather, because He can, but freely chooses to be righteous.
I like a great deal of what you teach on this site, Tom, but on this you are in grave, egregious, error.
Thank you! I had no idea anyone was reading what I'v written.
Sozo, I've given this subject very careful thought. I believe I'm riight. I apoligize I did not answer you sooner. I was being bombarded, and I guess you got lost in the shuffle.
God bless, Tom from Mabank, TX
