Believe in God's fairness.
(Life’s not always fair, but God is! Romans 12:19-21 says He will right every wrong.) Remember, it happened for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore, it will happen for you. The Bible says, "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) That doesn't mean He doesn't respect you. It means that He won't show partiality – blessing one person and not another. But you have to believe it and expect it. What He did for Abraham, He has promised He would do for you. Galatians 3:29 says, “For if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs of the promise!”
Believe in God's fairness.
-
bevhembree
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:44 am
-
Guest
We never know as it is happening if WHAT is happening is a blessing or a curse.
Something today that seems terrible may take you down a road to your fulfillment as a person.
Don't assume you know how your life will turn out!
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans - Suzanne Somers (of all people)
Heather
Something today that seems terrible may take you down a road to your fulfillment as a person.
Don't assume you know how your life will turn out!
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans - Suzanne Somers (of all people)
Heather
I understand where you are coming from, or at least think that I do. Fairness, in my opinion, is a humanly created idea, and means one thing to us humans but something totally different to God.
There is debate in this area (predestination) as to whether God's idea of fairness is like a human's idea. Some believe that a human being chooses to be redeemed, that we have a free will to choose redemption. To me it isn't quite as clear. I am not sure we have free will at all. All of this coming as news to me in the last 5 or so years.
See John 6:44,65, Ephesians 2:1. If we are DEAD (no life) in our sins, how can we choose life unless God makes it possible? And if it is not us, but God who makes it possible, then we do not have free will to choose.
There are instances in the Old Testament where children are killed upon God's orders. Pharaoh's son was slain, not because he had done evil, but because God was using him for His purposes. That's not fair or just in my eyes, but then I am only a human being. Humanly speaking, that is not fair. So, my ideas about God have changed drastically in the last 5 years. If you are chosen, you are blessed, but not all are chosen as is obvious from scripture. Therefore, there is clear partiality in scripture.
Many are invited, but few are chosen by God, Matthew 22:14. Esau and Jacob are good examples. Favor or partiality to Jacob over Esau was determined by God before their birth so that "God's purpose in election might stand", Romans 9:10-13.
Romans 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
Ephesians 1:4,5 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us.....in accordance with his pleasure and will." Paul's own conversion is a good example of not having free will to choose, but being destined.
God does show partiality, as the scriptures themselves clearly show.
There is debate in this area (predestination) as to whether God's idea of fairness is like a human's idea. Some believe that a human being chooses to be redeemed, that we have a free will to choose redemption. To me it isn't quite as clear. I am not sure we have free will at all. All of this coming as news to me in the last 5 or so years.
See John 6:44,65, Ephesians 2:1. If we are DEAD (no life) in our sins, how can we choose life unless God makes it possible? And if it is not us, but God who makes it possible, then we do not have free will to choose.
There are instances in the Old Testament where children are killed upon God's orders. Pharaoh's son was slain, not because he had done evil, but because God was using him for His purposes. That's not fair or just in my eyes, but then I am only a human being. Humanly speaking, that is not fair. So, my ideas about God have changed drastically in the last 5 years. If you are chosen, you are blessed, but not all are chosen as is obvious from scripture. Therefore, there is clear partiality in scripture.
Many are invited, but few are chosen by God, Matthew 22:14. Esau and Jacob are good examples. Favor or partiality to Jacob over Esau was determined by God before their birth so that "God's purpose in election might stand", Romans 9:10-13.
Romans 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
Ephesians 1:4,5 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us.....in accordance with his pleasure and will." Paul's own conversion is a good example of not having free will to choose, but being destined.
God does show partiality, as the scriptures themselves clearly show.
ATTITUDE -- The mind is like a parachute...it doesn't work unless it's open!!
-
Guest
Hi Don,
I should have posted in the first time that I was quoting a devotional. Sorry.
In the past week, for the first time ever, I had been crying and asking why? and saying that this wasn't fair, i.e. I didn't think I had done anything to deserve this. For example, I had a terrible first marriage, and my husband now says if I thought back hard enough, I'd have seen the very things that were miserable will we were dating. Young? Foolish? probably. And I chose to stay in that mess for 11 years, so I never said it wasn't fair.
There are some that will say I create the circumstances I live under now, and I'm not going to get into a big discussion over it. I am trying, and that's all I can do. The side effects of a mood stabilizer are increasin gmy anxiety. The situation is happy, but something in my mind creates a "down" feeling.
Back to the devotion, I can't argue theology with you. I am a very young Christian. This was just something that made me feel better about what I was going through.
I should have posted in the first time that I was quoting a devotional. Sorry.
In the past week, for the first time ever, I had been crying and asking why? and saying that this wasn't fair, i.e. I didn't think I had done anything to deserve this. For example, I had a terrible first marriage, and my husband now says if I thought back hard enough, I'd have seen the very things that were miserable will we were dating. Young? Foolish? probably. And I chose to stay in that mess for 11 years, so I never said it wasn't fair.
There are some that will say I create the circumstances I live under now, and I'm not going to get into a big discussion over it. I am trying, and that's all I can do. The side effects of a mood stabilizer are increasin gmy anxiety. The situation is happy, but something in my mind creates a "down" feeling.
Back to the devotion, I can't argue theology with you. I am a very young Christian. This was just something that made me feel better about what I was going through.
Don57,
If we are chosen and have no free will then we would not sin at all. God wouldn't allow us to sin if there was no free will.
In Ephesians 2:1-3 says
Any you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the course of this world, according to the price of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lists of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
In refrence to Matthew 22:14 ...as many are called, but few are chosen: The word called in this instance refers to being "invited" not to the call of God as Paul used the word (Rom. 8:28, 29) All Israel had been invited, but only a few would accept and follow Jesus. Not all those invited will be among the chosen of God, for not all will believe.
Ezekiel 33:11....
Say to them; As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?
If we had free will than he wouldn't be pleading for people to turn from their ways.
Jennifier
If we are chosen and have no free will then we would not sin at all. God wouldn't allow us to sin if there was no free will.
In Ephesians 2:1-3 says
Any you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the course of this world, according to the price of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lists of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
In refrence to Matthew 22:14 ...as many are called, but few are chosen: The word called in this instance refers to being "invited" not to the call of God as Paul used the word (Rom. 8:28, 29) All Israel had been invited, but only a few would accept and follow Jesus. Not all those invited will be among the chosen of God, for not all will believe.
Ezekiel 33:11....
Say to them; As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?
If we had free will than he wouldn't be pleading for people to turn from their ways.
Jennifier
Bev,
I loved what you wrote. Remember not everyone will agree with everything a christian says or writes but that is okay when the holy spirit moves you then it was meant for you. A lot of times we will make decisions that will affect our lives, but the Lord can get us through anything that we are going through, even if we make the wrong choices. When you are young you make mistakes and yes if you were looking for things to be wrong then you would have seen them but who looks for things to be wrong with the people that we love? Alot of people are very deceiving when you first get together and you being a new christian for say means that you weren't asking the Lord for what or who you should be with. So yes it is okay to feel like it isn't fair and I am sure the Lord will tell you the reasons that it was done. If you have children with your first husband than that was probably the reason that you were together for so long. I know that I got married when I turned 18 because we had a child, yes not right of me to have relations outside of marriage. My marriage didn't last and my spouse cheated on me several times. I was young and stupid but I learnt from my mistakes. We do have free will! If we didn't than we wouldn't be able to make any decisions at all for ourself. We would be sinnless and that as we all know only Jesus Christ was. Anyways, ask the Lord to restore your heart and not hold on to the past, ask him to heal you in the areas that concern you and to help you forgive those that have done you wrong. God bless you!
Jennifier
I loved what you wrote. Remember not everyone will agree with everything a christian says or writes but that is okay when the holy spirit moves you then it was meant for you. A lot of times we will make decisions that will affect our lives, but the Lord can get us through anything that we are going through, even if we make the wrong choices. When you are young you make mistakes and yes if you were looking for things to be wrong then you would have seen them but who looks for things to be wrong with the people that we love? Alot of people are very deceiving when you first get together and you being a new christian for say means that you weren't asking the Lord for what or who you should be with. So yes it is okay to feel like it isn't fair and I am sure the Lord will tell you the reasons that it was done. If you have children with your first husband than that was probably the reason that you were together for so long. I know that I got married when I turned 18 because we had a child, yes not right of me to have relations outside of marriage. My marriage didn't last and my spouse cheated on me several times. I was young and stupid but I learnt from my mistakes. We do have free will! If we didn't than we wouldn't be able to make any decisions at all for ourself. We would be sinnless and that as we all know only Jesus Christ was. Anyways, ask the Lord to restore your heart and not hold on to the past, ask him to heal you in the areas that concern you and to help you forgive those that have done you wrong. God bless you!
Jennifier
-
Guest
My apologies to you bevhembree. I shouldn't have posted what I did. These are issues I can not resolve, don't know how to. I used to think "whosoever believes will be redeemed". Now I would like to believe that, but find too much scripture which is contrary to that. It is confusing to me.
Jennifer,
Christ is clear that no one can come to him unless he is enabled by the Father. He was speaking to a group who were following Him at the time. They were denied access to the Father. That's honestly how I see it. Also the Ephesians 2:1-3 you quoted - the first few words are "And you HE made alive". Again, it is God, not us. Even the faith we have is given by God. It does not originate from us who were "dead". It comes from God's Holy Spirit. If predestination were not valid, Paul would not have mentioned it, in my opinion.
In the Ezekial quote, how can a person dead in sin turn to God? It is the spirit which quickens and gives life, gives the desire to turn to life. Without the Holy Spirit working with a person, instilling the very desire to turn to life, a spiritually dead person can't turn to God. It is impossible. We are not out in the water, yelling and flapping our arms at God for a life presever, we are dead in the water, our faces down in it, floating, with no signs of life. Our depravity is absolute, not partial. Without the miraculous raising us to life we have no hope. We are helpless in our fallen state.
I respect that you don't buy what I am saying. However, I don't buy what you are saying either. I used to think the same way.
My apologies to you both. I simply don't see a human's concept of fairness as being the same as God's. However, I do believe that if one possesses the Holy Spirit he/she is totally secure and can never lose it. Romans 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Again, it is not our will, but God's who decides our destiny.
Jennifer,
Christ is clear that no one can come to him unless he is enabled by the Father. He was speaking to a group who were following Him at the time. They were denied access to the Father. That's honestly how I see it. Also the Ephesians 2:1-3 you quoted - the first few words are "And you HE made alive". Again, it is God, not us. Even the faith we have is given by God. It does not originate from us who were "dead". It comes from God's Holy Spirit. If predestination were not valid, Paul would not have mentioned it, in my opinion.
In the Ezekial quote, how can a person dead in sin turn to God? It is the spirit which quickens and gives life, gives the desire to turn to life. Without the Holy Spirit working with a person, instilling the very desire to turn to life, a spiritually dead person can't turn to God. It is impossible. We are not out in the water, yelling and flapping our arms at God for a life presever, we are dead in the water, our faces down in it, floating, with no signs of life. Our depravity is absolute, not partial. Without the miraculous raising us to life we have no hope. We are helpless in our fallen state.
I respect that you don't buy what I am saying. However, I don't buy what you are saying either. I used to think the same way.
My apologies to you both. I simply don't see a human's concept of fairness as being the same as God's. However, I do believe that if one possesses the Holy Spirit he/she is totally secure and can never lose it. Romans 9:16 "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Again, it is not our will, but God's who decides our destiny.
-
Guest