Predestination is misunderstood...

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Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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It's like being able to hear the light switch being engaged to the "on" position with that "might be" saved portion of verse 17. He's probably skimming through every version of the Bible reading John 3:17 now
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him. " John 3:17​

The TULIP sniffers have everyone condemned until God hits a remote control button to get certain robots to walk in his direction.
That's what it amounts to....
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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So if your giving an unmerited favor on the bases of love, how is that favor unmerited.
I just told you. Unless I am under some obligation or debt to the individual, whatever I do for them they have no claim to. It is done solely at my discretion.
Unmerited simply means undeserved. So in our example, I am under no obligation to give you my savings. If I do so, you have done nothing to earn it. I am merely exercising grace towards you.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,775
407
83
You are a joke, my friend. You can't ecven apply basic sixth grade reading comprehension to a bible texts to work out what it is actually saying, and you are telling me that Irefuse to listen to scripture.
I think you need God to teach you a big lesson in how to stop being condescending.
For you use that tact too often here.

And, by the way. You had two typos in your comment.
By sixth grade level of comprehension that should no longer be.

Just drop the "superiority complex" approach, please.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
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I think you need God to teach you a big lesson in how to stop being condescending.
For you use that tact too often here.

And, by the way. You had two typos in your comment.
By sixth grade level of comprehension that should no longer be.

Just drop the "superiority complex" approach, please.
Actually, there were three typos.

Maybe you are projecting a little.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
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I think you need God to teach you a big lesson in how to stop being condescending.
For you use that tact too often here.

And, by the way. You had two typos in your comment.
By sixth grade level of comprehension that should no longer be.

Just drop the "superiority complex" approach, please.
What does "use that tact" mean? Did you mean "Take that tack"?
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,775
407
83
I just told you. Unless I am under some obligation or debt to the individual, whatever I do for them they have no claim to. It is done solely at my discretion.
Unmerited simply means undeserved. So in our example, I am under no obligation to give you my savings. If I do so, you have done nothing to earn it. I am merely exercising grace towards you.
Why does everyone agree that grace means unmerited favor? That is not quite right...
For God wants us to transform by grace into what will merit his favor! Blessings.


Grace is God's enabling power. Power by means of the Spirit to transforms a man into becoming what God approves of!


But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may
rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9​
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed
into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18​


God sees the redeemed as a highly valuable commodity in his economy!
For we have been bought at a price!!! 1 Corinthians 6:20

God wants to invest His Grace in us to turn us into gold, silver, and precious stones!

We only do not merit favor when we are proud. When we refuse grace!
As long as we are accepting grace? We will MERIT more grace!

For it says....


But he gives greater grace; "The God keeps on opposing the proud . . .
but keeps on giving grace to the humble.".”
James 4:6​


Grace is God's power that God gives us, so that we can become transformed into what does merit His favor!!!!!!

Its without grace we do not merit His favor! For grace to be called unmerited favor? All of us would have to be always proud!

Just a thought... grace and peace
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,775
407
83
What does "use that tact" mean? Did you mean "Take that tack"?

I meant it short of a tactic....

But... After thinking about it? You're right!

For to define tact...

'Tact' is the ability to avoid upsetting or offending people by being careful not to say or do things that would hurt their feelings.

In contrast?

You take the tack...

Tack... something you sit on when another puts it on your seat intending to be a pain in the ___.

Yup..

Being condescending is a tack you take. ;)

grace and peace ..........
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
The TULIP sniffers have everyone condemned until God hits a remote control button to get certain robots to walk in his direction.
That's what it amounts to....
"IF" we are born to parents who follow such doctrine and then grow up in that system it's no different than being born to parents and growing up with a doctrine that opposes "TULIP." I grew up with a family that rejected the Law, even though I was made to learn it in a synagogue in order to know it. But I was made to do that to learn how those laws reflected upon the person of Jesus Christ. I also was raised in a home where the doctrine opposed "TULIP." When I was around the age of 27 I attended several Reformed Churches and began to learn all I could about "TULIP" because I wanted to know it, understand it, and compare it to the things I had already learned. Whenever I would see discrepancies, and there's many, I would research to make sure even my own beliefs were not being skewed by the prejudice of upbringing. And to be perfectly honest, there are "some facets" of the Reformed staple beliefs I do believe and have adapted as my own.

But I remember when I sat in the middle of teachers/preachers of my local community that represented all of the churches of that township and we were discussing John 3:16. And the bickering was almost heated about what this term "world" meant. Did it mean only the "saved," or "everyone?" I have no recollection as to why, other than the Holy Spirit, but as they were debating I started reading all of John chapter 3. And when I read verse 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him, the light switch was like being flipped to the "on" position. I spoke up and asked for the ability to speak without being uninterrupted. I was permitted. I said to everyone there, read verse 17 and focus upon the section that reads "MIGHT BE SAVED." Quietness filled the atmosphere. Everyone understood right then and there that John 3:16 was speaking about all human beings, not just the "Elect."

The Reformed doctrine has severely made God look impotent by creating this illusion He's this mad scientist creating people specifically for Hell. And since that day, God has led me to many places where doctrines and beliefs are challenged. And John 3:17 has stood the test of time in every instance.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
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I just told you. Unless I am under some obligation or debt to the individual, whatever I do for them they have no claim to. It is done solely at my discretion.
Unmerited simply means undeserved. So in our example, I am under no obligation to give you my savings. If I do so, you have done nothing to earn it. I am merely exercising grace towards you.
No you haven't told me.

You've still not answered. So I'll ask again.


You made a reason as why you would not give your life savings away.

That's not what I'm asking.

You said you would give your life savings on the condition it was out of love.

So on the bases of you giving your life savings away on the condition it's out of your love, are you giving it away for nothing.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
451
83
I meant it short of a tactic....

But... After thinking about it? You're right!

For to define tact...

'Tact' is the ability to avoid upsetting or offending people by being careful not to say or do things that would hurt their feelings.

In contrast?

You take the tack...

Tack... something you sit on when another puts it on your seat intending to be a pain in the ___.

Yup..

Being condescending is a tack you take. ;)

grace and peace ..........
I think we can all be condescending at times. My "condescension" toward my friend was in response to their repeated condescension toward me. "Answer a fool. according to their folly...."
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,892
6,486
113
62
Why does everyone agree that grace means unmerited favor? That is not quite right...
For God wants us to transform by grace into what will merit his favor! Blessings.


Grace is God's enabling power. Power by means of the Spirit to transforms a man into becoming what God approves of!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may
rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9​
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed
into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18​


God sees the redeemed as a highly valuable commodity in his economy!
For we have been bought at a price!!! 1 Corinthians 6:20

God wants to invest His Grace in us to turn us into gold, silver, and precious stones!

We only do not merit favor when we are proud. When we refuse grace!
As long as we are accepting grace? We will MERIT more grace!

For it says....

But he gives greater grace; "The God keeps on opposing the proud . . .
but keeps on giving grace to the humble.".” James 4:6​


Grace is God's power that God gives us, so that we can become transformed into what does merit His favor!!!!!!

Its without grace we do not merit His favor! For grace to be called unmerited favor? All of us would have to be always proud!

Just a thought... grace and peace
Then it wouldn't by definition be grace. But wouldn't you still be indebted for the original and ongoing grace?
I was just playing along. The idea you proffer has no merit to begin with. It only as we walk in the Spirit and Jesus lives in and through us that we are ever pleasing to God. This is grace upon grace.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,892
6,486
113
62
No you haven't told me.

You've still not answered. So I'll ask again.


You made a reason as why you would not give your life savings away.

That's not what I'm asking.

You said you would give your life savings on the condition it was out of love.

So on the bases of you giving your life savings away on the condition it's out of your love, are you giving it away for nothing.
I'm saying my giving it away without any obligation to do so is grace.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
29,194
113
Why does everyone agree that grace means unmerited favor?
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the
many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came
by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ
, abound to the many! Romans 11:3-6 “Lord, they have killed
Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? And
what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.” In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace,
then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,892
6,486
113
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But you said you would not give your life savings away to just about anyone.

So then when you give them away what reason are you giving them away for.
No I didn't say I wouldn't give it away to anyone. I said if I gave it away and it wasn't due to an obligation, it is grace.
God owes no one anything. Every act on His part is necessarily of grace. This is my supposition.