Years ago I sat in a waiting room, on a stormy night in a southern hospital. I faced a wall of glass, but because the waiting room was well lit, and it was night outside, what I saw was a reflection, rather than what was outside. But occasionally, lightning would strike in the area, and the night was lit up in a flash. Then the reflection would briefly disappear and I could see the trees, rain, wind, blowing leaves, the fury of God's storm. But, just as quickly, the reflection reappeared. A trick of light.
When we look through the glass darkly, if we are full of our own light, knowing as truth through speculation what is actually speculation, we see the reflection rather than the truth. And so whenever our picture misses the mark, but we accept it, we engage unknowingly in idolatry.
The graven image of God we carve from a mound of speculation in our minds hinders our understanding of God. On the other hand, by the careful study of God's word, we can grow not only in our understanding of God, but our efforts to become more Christ-like will be closer to the mark.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NASB
For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
Why would Paul make such an all encompassing effort to persuade the lost, if God compels either rejection or acceptance?
Luke 16:31 NASB
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Here, a person's mindset is in view, if they are not open to God's word, they will not listen, and if they will not listen, they will not be persuaded.
Act 17:2 - 4 NASB
And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women.
Why explain to a group if 100% had been compelled to believe or not believe? Why give evidence? Why proclaim? And how is it some were persuaded? Why didn't God use a word meaning compelled to believe?
God attracted those born anew with His lovingkindness.
God credited the faith of those He transferred into Christ as righteousness.
God changed our spiritual nature when He caused us to be born anew.
God is not a Complusionist.
When we look through the glass darkly, if we are full of our own light, knowing as truth through speculation what is actually speculation, we see the reflection rather than the truth. And so whenever our picture misses the mark, but we accept it, we engage unknowingly in idolatry.
The graven image of God we carve from a mound of speculation in our minds hinders our understanding of God. On the other hand, by the careful study of God's word, we can grow not only in our understanding of God, but our efforts to become more Christ-like will be closer to the mark.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NASB
For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
Why would Paul make such an all encompassing effort to persuade the lost, if God compels either rejection or acceptance?
Luke 16:31 NASB
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Here, a person's mindset is in view, if they are not open to God's word, they will not listen, and if they will not listen, they will not be persuaded.
Act 17:2 - 4 NASB
And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women.
Why explain to a group if 100% had been compelled to believe or not believe? Why give evidence? Why proclaim? And how is it some were persuaded? Why didn't God use a word meaning compelled to believe?
God attracted those born anew with His lovingkindness.
God credited the faith of those He transferred into Christ as righteousness.
God changed our spiritual nature when He caused us to be born anew.
God is not a Complusionist.
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