Decisional Regeneration

[Amy.G]

RB, I think you will probably say the most important thing to God is to glorify Himself. I don't know about that. God IS. He is I AM. I don't know how much thought He gives to glorifying Himself. He doesn't have to because He's God, I AM. I love His name! I'm not sure if that makes any sense to anyone except me. :tongue3:

But, it seems to me that from the time God created the world and everything in it, His purpose has been to create a family for Himself. This is what I read from Genesis to Revalation. I think the most important thing to God is His children and the family He has made for Himself which will last for all eternity.

 

[TCGreek]

RB, I think you will probably say the most important thing to God is to glorify Himself. I don't know about that. God IS. He is I AM. I don't know how much thought He gives to glorifying Himself. He doesn't have to because He's God, I AM. I love His name! I'm not sure if that makes any sense to anyone except me. :tongue3:

1. God acts on behalf of himself. Whatever he does is to bring glory to himself (Ps 115:3; Isa. 48:9-11).

But, it seems to me that from the time God created the world and everything in it, His purpose has been to create a family for Himself. This is what I read from Genesis to Revalation. I think the most important thing to God is His children and the family He has made for Himself which will last for all eternity.

2. God created man to glorify himself (Isa.43:6, 7).

 

[Amy.G]

1. God acts on behalf of himself. Whatever he does is to bring glory to himself (Ps 115:3; Isa. 48:9-11).



2. God created man to glorify himself (Isa.43:6, 7).

OK, He's making a family to glorify Himself.

Seriously, what does it mean for God to "glorify" Himself?

 

[MB]

1. God acts on behalf of himself. Whatever he does is to bring glory to himself (Ps 115:3; Isa. 48:9-11).

That's interesting neither verse states that all God does is for His own glory. Neither verse backs up your belief.

2. God created man to glorify himself (Isa.43:6, 7).

Still doesn't say all God does is for His own glory. I'm affraid that your statement is an assumption on your part.
MB

 

[TCGreek]

OK, He's making a family to glorify Himself.

Seriously, what does it mean for God to "glorify" Himself?

For God to glorify Himself is to enjoy Himself forever!

 

[TCGreek]

That's interesting neither verse states that all God does is for His own glory. Neither verse backs up your belief.


Still doesn't say all God does is for His own glory. I'm affraid that your statement is an assumption on your part.
MB

Hi MB,

1. "Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name" . (Isaiah 63:14, emphasis added)

2. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name." (Ezekiel 39:25,emphasis mine)

3. "For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11)

4. Often in Scripture, the name of God stands for His glory. As all those texts demonstrate, God seeks His own glory in what He does.

 

[TCGreek]

That's interesting neither verse states that all God does is for His own glory. Neither verse backs up your belief.

1. What pleases God brings Him glory. If He does whatever He pleases, then He brings Himself glory in what He does.

Still doesn't say all God does is for His own glory. I'm affraid that your statement is an assumption on your part.
MB

2. In this Hebrew parallelism, God acts for His own glory and His glory He will not give to another.

3. If He does not give His glory to another, then God must keep it for Himself. I know of no other explanation.

 

[webdog]

For God to glorify Himself is to enjoy Himself forever!

Why does He need creation to do so? You mean He would not enjoy Himself forever without the Genesis 1 account?

 

[TCGreek]

Why does He need creation to do so? You mean He would not enjoy Himself forever without the Genesis 1 account?

God decided to go public with His glory, so much so that even creation brings Him glory (Psa. 19:1).

 

[ReformedBaptist]

You cannot put me in any category, especially in an Arminian one. I do not have to obey the law to be saved, but I am saved by grace through faith.

He loves me ,loves me not is more like some calvinist think. He loves this one, but He doesn't love this one.

I believe the scripture that say's God loved the world that He sent His Son.

Ok, lemme try again.. A calvinist, an Arminian, and a middle-grounder walk into a bar.... oh, nevermind. :tongue3:

 

[psalms109:31]

Ok, lemme try again.. A calvinist, an Arminian, and a middle-grounder walk into a bar.... oh, nevermind. :tongue3:

We are not to pick and pull what we want to believe out of scripture that will fit our doctrine, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The word of God can never change, but our man-made doctrine can be changed for the scriptures.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

TC has answered all the questions!

The idea behind asking the question, "What is most important to God?" Would be to get us all thinking about the highest purpose of God. Someone asked me this question some time ago. My first answer would have been, "The salvation of souls." Yet that falls short of the glory of God and makes man the center of God's attention. He is not. God is the center of God's attention.

As TC said, it is His own glory that is most important to God. If God put anything above Himself it would make Him an idolator.

What is the chief end of man? This an old, old catechism question. Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Why has God created the universe, the world, and all that in there is? To glorify Him Himself.

This is especially repugnant to the natural mind, which wishes itself to be the center of attention. My next post will be comprised of Scripture.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

We are not to pick and pull what we want to believe out of scripture that will fit our doctrine, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The word of God can never change, but our man-made doctrine can be changed for the scriptures.

Knock knock...

 

[MB]

Hi MB,

1. "Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name" . (Isaiah 63:14, emphasis added)

2. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name." (Ezekiel 39:25,emphasis mine)

3. "For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11)

4. Often in Scripture, the name of God stands for His glory. As all those texts demonstrate, God seeks His own glory in what He does.

If it's all about God's glory then God would be self seeking. God sent His son to die for me. Can there be a more selfless act? Can there be any greater act of Love than to lay down your life for another. If not your life what about your only Son's life. Was it glory to be beaten ? was it glory to be spat upon? Was it glory to ask for a drink and be give Gall instead? God's focus is His treasure and His treasure is those who willingly worship and Love Him. He should be our treasure Just as we are His.
MB

 

[ReformedBaptist]

The Glory of God

Maybe this should be a thread all to itself. Yes, it should be.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

If it's all about God's glory then God would be self seeking. God sent His son to die for me. Can there be a more selfless act? Can there be any greater act of Love than to lay down your life for another. If not your life what about your only Son's life. Was it glory to be beaten ? was it glory to be spat upon? Was it glory to ask for a drink and be give Gall instead? God's focus is His treasure and His treasure is those who willingly worship and Love Him. He should be our treasure Just as we are His.
MB

You have just told us that God has placed the creature above the Creator, who is blessed forever.

 

[webdog]

You have just told us that God has placed the creature above the Creator, who is blessed forever.

I don't think he placed the creeature above the Creator. He detailed the Creator bringing the creature to full redemption and into the Creator's family...the Creator's design from the beginning.

 

[TCGreek]

If it's all about God's glory then God would be self seeking. God sent His son to die for me. Can there be a more selfless act? Can there be any greater act of Love than to lay down your life for another. If not your life what about your only Son's life. Was it glory to be beaten ? was it glory to be spat upon? Was it glory to ask for a drink and be give Gall instead? God's focus is His treasure and His treasure is those who willingly worship and Love Him. He should be our treasure Just as we are His.
MB

1. As RB, just outlined, the natural man repudiates the idea of God seeking His own glory.

2. You have made no attempt to explain all those passages I quoted. None.

3. When did God seek your counsel or mine about the ethical value of seeking His own glory? God is the only Being for whom seeking His own glory is not a sin. If God didn't seek His own glory, He would not send His Son to die for sinful man.

4. "But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:10, emphasis)

5. "Crushing the Son" glorified the Father. The Hebrew verb behind "pleased" means "to delight in, having pleasure in."

 

[ReformedBaptist]

I don't think he placed the creeature above the Creator. He detailed the Creator bringing the creature to full redemption and into the Creator's family...the Creator's design.

Perhaps he doesn't mean to.

God's focus is His treasure and His treasure is those who willingly worship and Love Him.

What this says to me is that at the center of God's attention, what is His highest focus, is the redeemed. This puts the creature above the Creator. God does all that He does, especially redemption, to glorify Himself. This is expressed in Scripture as glorifying His Name, saying God created those who are called (the elect) for His glory.

Indeed, the Son of God came to glorify the Father and the Father glorified the Son. "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."


Our very prayer life is to have at its center the glory of the Father in Christ "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. " John 14:13

"Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." John 12:28

More in the new thread.

 

[psalms109:31]

scripture

Knock knock...

For instance you can change the scripture that God loved the world that He sent His Son.

I have alway's loved God the day I heard this. I was like 6 years old. I had no Idea what that meant. I was told that He was the creator of the universe. I thought it was just awesome that the creator of the world loved me. I was the world. I couldn't understand the Son part, but knowing God loved me was all I needed.

I knew what love was.

You either believe it or you don't. I will not disagree with or change any scripture that you give me. Scripture will never take away from another scripture, but it adds on to other scripture's. We cannot take away or add to scripture but have faith in it.

God does love the world even if some can't understand it through the veil of man-made doctrine.

I prayed all the time to God when i was younger to make me superman, so i could change the world. God introduced me to His Son Jesus Christ when I was 11.

Superman is already here and He is here to save the world.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus is right at your door knocking to let Him in, just open the door and He will come in and change your life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.