Hi everyone,
I'm a reformed Christian from TX. I believe in the absolute sovereignty of God and in the fullness of deity and sovereignty of His one and only son Jesus, the Christ. I believe in mans total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and the perseverance of His saints. I'm looking forward to some interesting conversations and debates that I'm sure are to come from just a few of the threads I have read
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FiremanWes77
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Kenisaw
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Post #11
Biologically our purpose is to continue the species and be successful. That, however, is not what you meant. In terms of a higher meaning or purpose, we don't have one. We are a collection of molecules following the laws of chemistry and physics, that's all. I know some people want there to be some higher purpose than just soaring, but there is no known evidence that such a purpose exists.FiremanWes77 wrote: [Replying to post 8 by Divine Insight]
In a reply without striking up a full blown debate, it all depends on your view of the bible. What's the purpose of everything? What's the purpose of any of us being here?
If that was the god creature's purpose in everything, why make the Jews slaves in Egypt first, and drown the entire planet before the son came calling? Why tell people to stone their own kids outside the city walls if they disobeyed? Why was the god creature such a jerk before Jesus? I guess the worse he made it, the better his kid looked, eh?I believe the we are here for the glorification of God and His Son. The bible says Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Gods purpose in everything was to glorify His son with a redeemed body of believers that worship Him in spirit and in truth.
So that means that everything had to happen the way it did, which means there isn't any free will. I agree with you on that one actually. An all knowing god creature makes the existence of free will impossible.All plans were laid before anything was created
So we don't get to choose being born, and we aren't worthy of the god creature's attention unless we cower to it. Doesn't seem like a creation worthy of a perfect being, does it...It's all about the redemption of Gods people and their justification to Himself. If you want to look at it through fair or not fair, the bible says we all deserve Hell forever, and it's God's mercy upon those who He has chosen. And we are not chosen by any form of merit or righteousness of our own. It's all salvation by grace through faith.
Again, welcome to the site. Sorry if the above answer seem nitpicking, but everything said on this site is scrutinized by everyone else. Better to learn that now I suppose
Have fun.
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Divine Insight
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Post #12
That alone would be a worthy topic of debate. I personally don't see where an appeal to purpose resolved the massive contradictions in the Biblical paradigm. Also "glorification of God"? Why would on omnipotent magical entity have a need to be "glorified"? And how would purposefully placing humans in a "depraved" situation glorify God anyway?FiremanWes77 wrote: [Replying to post 8 by Divine Insight]
In a reply without striking up a full blown debate, it all depends on your view of the bible. What's the purpose of everything? What's the purpose of any of us being here? I believe the we are here for the glorification of God and His Son.
How does placing man in a state of "deprivation" equate to a high view of God? And if men's salvation is entirely dependent upon God's arbitrary mercy and grace over who God elects or doesn't elect then why doesn't God just give mercy and grace to everyone? What would be the deciding factor?FiremanWes77 wrote: I would also add that it's not such a low view of man, it's a very high view of God.
If the deciding factor depends in any way on the behavior, beliefs, or actions of the man, then this conflicts with the whole "elect versus non-elect" scenario where only God calls the men he chooses for his grace. What could he possibly be basing his choices on if not the behavior, beliefs, or actions of the men he chooses.
It seems to me that the paradigm you have chosen to support has some deeply serious problems. But that's what this forum is for.
Here I've started an actual debate thread for you. By the way this is a common way to start a debate thread here and is often used:
Does a need for Purpose Justify the Bible?
Feel free to dive right in.
[center]
Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
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Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
[/center]
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JoeyKnothead
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Post #13
From the OP:
As a proud believer in doin' me some depravity, I'm sure we'll find agreement here and there.... I believe in mans total depravity...
I might be Teddy Roosevelt, but I ain't.
-Punkinhead Martin
-Punkinhead Martin
Post #16
Indeed. Having a little depravin' goin' on to some degree here tooJoeyKnothead wrote: From the OP:
As a proud believer in doin' me some depravity, I'm sure we'll find agreement here and there.... I believe in mans total depravity...
