Featured A Novel Soteriological Explanation in the Calvinism vs Arminianism Debate

Again... this is flawed thinking. God's emotions are in no way tainted by sin, but ours most certainly are. So, God's emotions are fundamentally different than ours since He is not fallen and we are.

The anger of God is not an emotional response, per se. Rather, it is a product of His settled disposition against sin and sinners.

Your estimation of God and His emotions (as articulated above) has more in line with Zeus and the other Greek gods than it does with the God of the Bible or the theology thereof.

The Archangel

 

Romans 1 comes to mind (especially 1:18):

[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23 ESV, emphasis mine)

The Archangel

 

Yeah... I've heard this before. While I agree that His perfections neither increase nor decrease, I find it difficult to support that God "doesn't have love." Of course Scripture tells us (as you've stated already) "God is love." But it also tells us that God demonstrates His love. Scripture seems to affirm that He is love and that He has love.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

Excuse me?!

 

Fair enough.

If you've never read Packer's Knowing God, he has an excellent discussion on these matters from about p. 150-155, if memory serves. I highly recommend it.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

You seem to be arguing with yourself. First you say God’s emotions are fundamentally different from ours, then you say ours are just tainted by our sin. These concepts are opposed to each other.

If God gave us language (we know He did because He talked with Adam on his first day), and He inspired scripture, then don’t you think God can figure out the right words to use when describing His own emotions?

 

You are not giving a reason for that argument. How is God being more than your logic my problem?

That makes no sense. That is contrary to the law of logic of the excluded middle.

Either God Himself solely [Monergism] saves a person or God needs the cooperaton of a person in order to save anyone, that is a faith plus the person's works salvation [Synergism].
Now that you further explained what you mean, either you or i have a wrong understanding of Monergism and Synergism.

.

 

This has stirred some controversy in the last view years...Impassibility.

The portions of Pink I quoted in posts 18, 19 are my chief concern. I do not think these can be violated. I might not phrase things as clearly as I would like, but I would never support anything that in any way detracted from what these verses offer.
Jesus showed His love in leaving heaven to accomplish redemption of all the children given to Him by the Father,

2cor8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

I believe we are agreed on this.

 

Any change in God’s plan is a minor repurposing, but not to the extent of altering His primary or major purposes. Here’s another example:
2 Peter 3:12 (NASB) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

If the day can be “hastened”, then the time is not previously fixed, but God is waiting for an occurrence, triggered by someone, perhaps believers.

 

We probably do agree... I've found your thoughts here to be clear on many occasions--and they are good thoughts. This issue about whether God is love or demonstrates love is easily summarized by acknowledging the both-and as Scripture itself does.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

According to John 6:29 faith in Jesus as the Christ is a work of God, "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Therefore is never Synergism.

 

Theology without biblical warrant is fiction.
John 6:29 says faith in Christ is the work (singular) God requires.
Theology based on not understanding ambiguous verses is the basis of false doctrine.

 

Not at all... You added "just." God is the Creator and we are the creature. As such we are different than Him. He did not create copies of Himself. Our existence is fundamentally different from God. This is basic theology here. In addition to our differences, we have the Fall. As a result of the Fall, man's emotions are affected by sin. God, who is fundamentally different from us, is not affected by sin. Therefore, there are two differences--who God is and His perfections (being untainted by sin).

This is a bad analogy... While God did give us language, it is not endemic to us as creatures. In other words, the lack of language does not makes us less-than-human. So those who are mute, for example, are not some other class of creature. Language and emotions are apples and oranges.

Also, you are ignoring how human emotions work in a reactionary sense. Human emotions are the result of a cause--seeing your wife or children, being cut-off in traffic, etc. (different emotions to be sure). God never reacts. If God were to react that would mean something took Him by surprise. If He is omniscient, that can never happen. Therefore, the emotions He displays are planned and settled expressions of His holiness.

The Archangel

 

Not sure what Bible you are reading...