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So Judas was a part played by an actor on the stage...I knew that 40 yrs ago....good.
Exactly. No different from Pharaoh. As far back as Isaiah God said He would harden the hearts of His people that they would not turn and be saved from their wicked ways. This was necessary so that the gospel could come to the Gentiles. It couldn't have happened if God had not deadened the hearts of the Israelis to Jesus' message and then had Him crucified. There was no free will involved in any of this. It was God's plan in action and God's will, not ours, being exercised.
No...just one God. He created everything, including Satan, and he has already judged Satan.
He is allowing Satan to run free for a time, but he will eventually be cast into hell.
For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy.
And then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them?
What else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them!
How EXACTLY all of this fits together is known only to God. What I'm trying to convey is that God didn't just invent satan and then sit helplessly along the sidelines while satan rebelled. God is not out of control of His creation like that. God is not at the mercy of anyone's supposed "free will". No one has a free will. They do EXACTLY as God directs them to do. That's why Solomon says, "A man plans his steps (via "ability to choose") but the Lord directs his path (God's will to accomplish what He has determined is dominant over man's will to do as he likes) and Paul says, "God has bound us all over to disobedience so that He can have mercy on us all." There's no actual free will to choose evil over good in operation here while God nervously wrings His hands and says desparingly, "Oh woe is Me. Why do My children choose to do evil? It really distresses me?" God is in complete control of EVERY action we undertake and it works according to the grand cosmic plan He has mapped out from the beginning of time to its end.
Wow, you ARE on something and I want some ...it could just be raw veggies making your mind clear.
Bravo.
Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us.
With respect.
I don't believe this for a second.You think satan, the personification by Christians of the lower ego self,
does not know our thoughts?
Why do u think this?
And thank you in advance....interesting, Maxwell.
The reason for speaking in tongues is so that Satan won't know what we're praying about. Only God knows, and anyone that can interprate. If Satan could read our thoughts praying in tongues would serve no purpose.
I don't believe it says in the bible that He can or can't do this, but it is what I believe.
I also believe that if He could read our mind, He would have left Job alone, and God wouldn't have let him have His way with him in the first place, because there would have been nothing to prove. He would of already known, what God knew about Job, if they were on an even playing field. If Satan could have read Jesus' mind, I believe He would have been completely against the atonement, which He would have seen coming.
For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy.
And then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them?
What else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them!
Exactly. No different from Pharaoh. As far back as Isaiah God said He would harden the hearts of His people that they would not turn and be saved from their wicked ways. This was necessary so that the gospel could come to the Gentiles. It couldn't have happened if God had not deadened the hearts of the Israelis to Jesus' message and then had Him crucified. There was no free will involved in any of this. It was God's plan in action and God's will, not ours, being exercised.
How EXACTLY all of this fits together is known only to God. What I'm trying to convey is that God didn't just invent satan and then sit helplessly along the sidelines while satan rebelled. God is not out of control of His creation like that. God is not at the mercy of anyone's supposed "free will". No one has a free will. They do EXACTLY as God directs them to do. That's why Solomon says, "A man plans his steps (via "ability to choose") but the Lord directs his path (God's will to accomplish what He has determined is dominant over man's will to do as he likes) and Paul says, "God has bound us all over to disobedience so that He can have mercy on us all." There's no actual free will to choose evil over good in operation here while God nervously wrings His hands and says desparingly, "Oh woe is Me. Why do My children choose to do evil? It really distresses me?" God is in complete control of EVERY action we undertake and it works according to the grand cosmic plan He has mapped out from the beginning of time to its end.
Well, it distressed Jesus. And he said at one point "if you love me then keep my word" or "if you love me then why do you not do what I say" or something to that effect.
I think this goes a little too far possibly, because, without *some* free-will element, is it really possible to have love? So then, according to your assessment, God plays this game with himself where he forces some to love him, and some not? That sounds a little masturbatory (pardon the reference) like God playing army men with himself or something.
The old serpent nature is evil alright, but very subtle with it. He( the serpent nature)did a great job of causing us to believe in good and evil and think from it.
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
Unfortunately serpent minded(sin conscious) Christians want to talk about how evil we are, rather than pointing us to how wonderful God IS.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
You see,Jesus pointed us to the way where we should think from, how much more our Heavenly Father is. Where sin abounds grace over abounds.
The reason for speaking in tongues is so that Satan won't know what we're praying about. Only God knows, and anyone that can interprate. If Satan could read our thoughts praying in tongues would serve no purpose.
I don't believe it says in the bible that He can or can't do this, but it is what I believe.
I also believe that if He could read our mind, He would have left Job alone, and God wouldn't have let him have His way with him in the first place, because there would have been nothing to prove. He would of already known, what God knew about Job, if they were on an even playing field. If Satan could have read Jesus' mind, I believe He would have been completely against the atonement, which He would have seen coming.
Thank u, Maxwell,
I speak in tongues or pray in tongues regularly (and try to remind my siblings not to forget to...)
If "satan" didn't know my thoughts, tho....why does "he" say to me,
"The third piece of chocolate cake is FINE!!!"
"Go ahead have another Martini!!..."
"He" knows me in and out!!!!
(Ps...I haven't mentioned this...but "he" is under my thumb...and has been for years!
Well, it distressed Jesus. And he said at one point "if you love me then keep my word" or "if you love me then why do you not do what I say" or something to that effect.
I think this goes a little too far possibly, because, without *some* free-will element, is it really possible to have love? So then, according to your assessment, God plays this game with himself where he forces some to love him, and some not? That sounds a little masturbatory (pardon the reference) like God playing army men with himself or something.
Dah....and
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