Does the sovereignty of God nullify the grace of God?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
The natural man is a slave to sin.
Thanks for clarifying Magenta. Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Please explain. Sounds interesting.
yes determinists predict the future of a person and persons which is a form of futurism

A preterist will say the authentic word of God.

Of course I am speaking from the view point I'm a preterist by some here 😬

And my little preterist heart says robin hood and his dainty men says differently

Especially the thief on the cross 😊
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Sorry, I think we may have a culture bearer.
well the Calvinist belief is mainly based on the belief of one person, John Calvin by the looks of it.

So I bring you a belief of something concerning a predetermined view of a belief I have expressed, within many beliefs to you, some of which can be explained in scripture.

But like John Calvin not all of my view points can be proven in scripture. So yes I confess to this.

I know the Jews believe gog and Magog may not need to happen where by a battle unfolds and a whole nation is wiped out 😊

but then don't many prophecies spoken to people happen very soon in the bible.

like on many occasions the lord tells people what to say in an event that is coming soon.

because he knows what will happen in that event if they don't say what there told to.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
If you believe this is the natural man, then you are misinterpreting 1 Cor 2:14, because "a knowledge of God" cannot be revealed to him. God is a Spirit and the natural man cannot discern the things of the Spirit, thinking them to be foolishness. The natural man believes the world evolved. The big bang theory. Man evolved from the Ape, etc.
If you keep reading you will see these people are homosexuals, lesbians and such. But you think this is about Christians? Yeah, I think there's nothing more to say here.

26. Therefore God handed them over to disgraceful diseases*, and their females changed their natural need and became accustomed to that which is unnatural.
27. And again also their males in this way abandoned the natural need for females, and they were ravished with desire one for another, even male for male, and committed disgrace and received a right reward in their persons for their error.

But this describes Christians to you?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,816
29,195
113
Thanks for clarifying Magenta. Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
That's true, and you are welcome, Forest, but that verse does not address the fact that the natural man is incapable of loving God in that he is hostile in his mind toward Him - an enemy. We both acknowledge that God must move first, and Jesus draws all men to Himself, though I think on that second point you hold to it only being the elect who are drawn, while I hold to it being whosoever will believe, for the gospel goes out to all, and though men (and women, too, of course) may acknowledge and/or see God's handiwork in creation, this does not in itself expose them to the gospel message, nor guarantee they know the One True God. So while some say, what is the point of preaching if God has already chosen whom He will save, I believe people are seeking Truth in their own way, and even Pilate wondered what was truth, while faced with the Person in Whom it is embodied. And to those who diligently seek truth, God will reveal His Son, and the message of the cross. Now at what point a person's heart is circumcised is little spoken of here, but that needs to happen before we can love God and truly submit our will to His, even after having sincerely sought and had revelations and Divine interventions. I may have left something out? I just got home from work and grocery shopping... and tomorrow is another work day for me...
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
yes determinists predict the future of a person and persons which is a form of futurism

A preterist will say the authentic word of God.

Of course I am speaking from the view point I'm a preterist by some here 😬

And my little preterist heart says robin hood and his dainty men says differently

Especially the thief on the cross 😊
I couldn't understand any of that. Could you explain less cryptically what you see as preterism and futurism, and why preterism is more biblical than futurism.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
How much freedom does a slave have?
The slave has the freedom to desire/will/thelein whatever s/he wants to desire, and his/her master can't stop them from desiring whatever they choose to desire/thelein.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
This is an excellent answer. I asked because I wondered if it would be more loving to make so great salvation available or make it inevitable.
Any thoughts?
To make so great a salvation available to all who can be regenerated by willing to believe in the saviour is more loving than making it inevitable for a few who don't even need to believe to be regenerated and saved.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,893
6,488
113
62
To make so great a salvation available to all who can be regenerated by willing to believe in the saviour is more loving than making it inevitable for a few who don't even need to believe to be regenerated and saved.
You limited my question. Can you answer it without any presupposition?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,816
29,195
113
The slave has the freedom to desire/will/thelein whatever s/he wants to desire, and
his/her master can't stop them from desiring whatever they choose to desire/thelein.
You can desire to fly to the moon all you want, but you will not get there. You cannot will yourself to the moon.
The same can be said to be true of many things you may desire or try to will into existence. You simply cannot.
Moreover, the will is constrained by many factors, so many in fact, that I cannot see it as being free at all.
Please note that these constraints do not nullify people's ability to make choices. Yet our options are limited.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,893
6,488
113
62
Without applying context, it's becomes a stupid question.
Context is fine. I just didn't want the question changed. Can you simply answer between the choices given?
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
You can desire to fly to the moon all you want, but you will not get there. You cannot will yourself to the moon.
The same can be said to be true of many things you may desire or try to will into existence. You simply cannot.
Moreover, the will is constrained by many factors, so many in fact, that I cannot see it as being free at all.
Please note that these constraints do not nullify people's ability to make choices. Yet our options are limited.
You don't understand what "will" is biblically, Will is desire, not the ability to perform one's desires. Romans 7:14-23 makes this quite clear. We are free to desire, and we are accountable for sins of the heart, and not just sins of the heart that we manage to perform.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
Context is fine. I just didn't want the question changed. Can you simply answer between the choices given?
There is no coherent answer to the question as you posed it. What is your answer?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,893
6,488
113
62
There is no coherent answer to the question as you posed it. What is your answer?
Sure there is. You keep deflecting and moving the goal posts. But that's OK. That's your take. Appreciate your answers.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
759
293
63
The greatest exhibition of love would be to affect salvation to the maximum number of people.
I think the greatest manifestation of His love is the fact that He even died for those who He knew would not choose Him. He died for ALL sin, even those who never believed. All sin is judged.........It's conjecture on my part, but I believe that will be why hell is pure hell.....They will know He died for them, and they rejected His free offer.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,893
6,488
113
62
I think the greatest manifestation of His love is the fact that He even died for those who He knew would not choose Him. He died for ALL sin, even those who never believed. All sin is judged.........It's conjecture on my part, but I believe that will be why hell is pure hell.....They will know He died for them, and they rejected His free offer.
You feel that way, and rightly so, because you are saved. What about the guy being cast into hell. Do you think he would that God had compelled his salvation?