Featured Do some doctrines steal from the Glory of God?

I use the term "permissive" will of God in connection with three Scriptural facts.

1. Evil does not have its source with the nature of God, as God does not delight in evil in regard to its inherent nature which is totally incompatible with the nature of God. Evil has its source with creatures who by purposeful design have responsible free agency which necessarily by its very design necessitates divine permission for ability to choose evil and thus evil has its immediate origin and author the responsible free will of God's creatures - "by one man sin entered the world and death by sin." Hence, it is a matter of necessary permission by the very nature of responsible free agency but in the face of express disapproval by God and thus by permission only.

2. In addition to the necessary permission of evil due to the design of responsible free will, the "permissive" will of God gives proper expression in regard to what evil God purposely allows versus what he purposely restrains (Psa. 76:10). He restrains all evil that does not serve His ultimate purpose. By contrast, He purposely permits that which will and does serve His ultimate purpose. So the term "permission" gives proper response to the antonym "restrain".

3. In addition to the above two facts, God delights in evil only as it pertains to his Justice, or its service as the penal consequences of sin and thus the righteous "wages of sin" and "as a man soweth that shall he also reap." Hence, all evil that actually does occur in time and space has been decreed by God within the boundaries of His just and holy purposes.

Thus, the term "permissive" infers that evil does not have its origin with the nature of God which is "without shadow of turning", that is, without any element of darkness but originates outside the nature of God with the will of responsible free agents in connection with the expressed disapproval by God but decreed as a necessary permission due to the inherent nature of responsible free agency. The unfallen free will of man is the author of sin in this world "by one man sin entered the world and death by sin" and the fallen will of man serves sin and is in bondage to "the law of sin."

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::wavey: Since you quoted my post I edited the last sentence to read different than what you quoted.

 

If evil is by permission then evil is by purpose or else it is not by permission. Thus Dahmer cannot do what God does not permit only what God purposed. So "foreknowledge" in regard to God's purpose simply refers to knowing all things because God purposed all that occurs. Note that foreknowledge follows purpose in Rom. 8:28-29. His permissive will is within His will of purpose and He works all things according to His purpose and that is why "we know" that "all things" including sin works ultmately for our good.

 

Of course. Remember what Joseph said? "Ye thought evil against me;but God meant it unto good..." (KJV)

Pharaoh was very evil,but God used the evil of that grand King to bring about His purposes.

The crucifixion of Christ was certainly most evil but used of God for good to be sure!

 

All Scripture Citations Are From The NIV

1 Sam. 14,15:"Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul,and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul's attendants said to him,'See an evil spirit from God is tormenting you."

1 Samuel 18:10a:"The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul."

Judges 9:23:"God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek."

Did God purpose,determine or cause evil in these cases --or did He merely allow?

 

My response does not contradict this. I did not say evil originates with God's nature but with God's purpose in permitting only that evil consistent with His end game plan. In Romans 8 God's purpose precedes God's foreknowledge as His foreknowledge is merely the knowledge of all the details He has placed within the framework of His plan that determine how He will work all things for the good of His people.

 

Calvinism/Arminianism Debate

Of course Christ should get the glory, no matter what side of the fence you are on or believers like myself who hold to the fact that there are Twin Truths to this subject.

And there is permissive will and has been since Adam & Eve in the garden. They had not sinned yet, so the seed of sin was not in either of them yet. Satan tempted Eve 1st and God permitted her to fall for his deception, then Adam followed. And now we all have the sin nature from Adam's seed which happened after the disobedience.

What really gets me is the constant confusion created by those who say that man's acceptance of the free gift of salvation is a work. Obeying the call to salvation in Christ by free choice is hardly a work but rather is no different in obedience than Abraham and David who also were credited righteousness by their obedience in faith.

 

Does God allow/permit for sinful persons to do what they desire to do, as their sin natures allow for them to be able to do?

yet still stay soveregn in all things ?

remember that paul stated that the Cross is glory of God, as his wisdom displayed for all to see, as he saves the lessor among us, yet allows the haughty and proud, and those relying upon vain philosophies and speculations go to their fall!