God is absolute.

[37818]

The title of this thread was going to be "God is not arbitrary."
By reason God is not finite, being infinite.

My question is, if you believe God to be arbitrary, why?

An evidence to me God is not arbitrary is He has always been three distinct Persons.

 

[JonC]

When it comes to knowing the mind of God we can know no more than is revealed in Christ.

What we cannot know should be chalked up to mystery rather than concluding that God is arbitrary.

 

[37818]

There are two passages that come to mind in which God is not arbitrary.
Titus 1:2.
Hebrews 6:14-20.

 

[1689Dave]

The title of this thread was going to be "God is not arbitrary."
By reason God is not finite, being infinite.

My question is, if you believe God to be arbitrary, why?

An evidence to me God is not arbitrary is He has always been three distinct Persons.

The Arbitrary election of whom He saves and whom He damns. Everything is based on His nature for His glory. If he chose you because of your supposed goodness, it would be for your glory, not His.

 

[37818]

The Arbitrary election of whom He saves and whom He damns. Everything is based on His nature for His glory. If he chose you because of your supposed goodness, it would be for your glory, not His.

God's choosing excludes merit. That is not an arbitrary condition. Matthew 7:21-22.

 

[1689Dave]

God's choosing excludes merit. That is not an arbitrary condition. Matthew 7:21-22.

So those He saves were a cut above the rest and share His glory? They do good works because He saved them. Remember, they were chosen unto good works, not because of them.

 

[JonC]

If he chose you because of your supposed goodness, it would be for your glory, not His.

You say it is arbitrary or because of our goodness. This is a false comparison.

It is NOT arbitrary AND it is NOT because of our goodness. It is because of God's will.

Why did God choose Israel? Was it because of their goodness, their strength, their might? No. It was because of a lack thereof.

 

[Iconoclast]

arbitrary
är′bĭ-trĕr″ē
adjective

1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle.
2. Based on or subject to individual judgment or preference.
3. Relating to a decision made by a court or legislature that lacks a grounding in law or fact.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

More at Wordnik

God does not do arbitrary,at any time.It is not possible.

 

[1689Dave]

You say it is arbitrary or because of our goodness. This is a false comparison.

It is NOT arbitrary AND it is NOT because of our goodness. It is because of God's will.

Why did God choose Israel? Was it because of their goodness, their strength, their might? No. It was because of a lack thereof.

Unless you can silence Paul in this matter, God's election of mercy is purely arbitrary. Why do you think He saved you?

 

[JonC]

Unless you can silence Paul in this matter, God's election of mercy is purely arbitrary. Why do you think He saved you?

You are wrong. Paul attributes the mind of God as anything but arbitrary. In fact, he asks who you are to question God. God says the same to Job.

God is not a god of chaos but has a will and a plan.

You are confusing the fact that nothing in us merits salvation with the fiction that God is arbitrary.

What you ignore is God works for His own glory.

Why did God save me? For good works He repaired before hand. Why me and not someone else? With Paul my answer is this is God's business, but it was not because of anything in me.

 

[1689Dave]

You are wrong. Paul attributes the mind of God as anything but arbitrary. In fact, he asks who you are to question God. God says the same to Job.

God is not a god of chaos but has a will and a plan.

You are confusing the fact that nothing in us merits salvation with the fiction that God is arbitrary.

What you ignore is God works for His own glory.

Why did God save me? For good works He repaired before hand. Why me and not someone else? With Paul my answer is this is God's business, but it was not because of anything in me.

You are misinterpreting my use of "arbitrary". If God makes from the same lump one vessel to honor and another to dishonor, how can it not be arbitrary (indiscriminately)?

 

[37818]

God is not mindless in His choices. Romans 4:4-7, ". . . Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."

 

[1689Dave]

arbitrary
är′bĭ-trĕr″ē
adjective

1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle.
2. Based on or subject to individual judgment or preference.
3. Relating to a decision made by a court or legislature that lacks a grounding in law or fact.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

More at Wordnik

God does not do arbitrary,at any time.It is not possible.

Why did God save you?

 

[1689Dave]

If you suppose God's election of individuals was not arbitrary, why did He save you? Nobody answers this. Why not?

 

[canadyjd]

If you suppose God's election of individuals was not arbitrary, why did He save you? Nobody answers this. Why not?

Scripture answers. It is according to His will. That may not satisfy your theology, but it is the truth of scripture.

“Arbitrary” suggests no purpose or reason for the choice. Are you saying God has no purpose or reason for His work of election of individuals for salvation?

Scripture tells us God “knows” us before the foundation of the world. “Knows” in the sense of relationship not simply knowing information about us.

The relationship between God and His people is intentional and purposeful not random or arbitrary.

peace to you

 

[1689Dave]

Scripture answers. It is according to His will. That may not satisfy your theology, but it is the truth of scripture.

“Arbitrary” suggests no purpose or reason for the choice. Are you saying God has no purpose or reason for His work of election of individuals for salvation?

Scripture tells us God “knows” us before the foundation of the world. “Knows” in the sense of relationship not simply knowing information about us.

The relationship between God and His people is intentional and purposeful not random or arbitrary.

peace to you

So He arbitrarily chose you from the mass of wicked sinners to glorify His mercy. As Paul says.

 

[Iconoclast]

If you suppose God's election of individuals was not arbitrary, why did He save you? Nobody answers this. Why not?

As several have given you biblical responses,
titus 2:11-15
Focus on vs.14....

 

[1689Dave]

As several have given you biblical responses,
titus 2:11-15
Focus on vs.14....

How does the grace of God appear apart from God's reprobation of the rest of the wicked? It does not say what you need it to say to prove your point.

 

[Iconoclast]

So He arbitrarily chose you from the mass of wicked sinners to glorify His mercy. As Paul says.

Your use of the term "arbitrary" in reference to God, is profane in reality.
At first it seemed as if you did not know or understand that word.
That you continue to double down on such error, might be a warning sign that you do not know God, or for sure do not understand His Holy Divine attributes.
I
Are you okay?Your recent posts seem to be drifting?

 

[1689Dave]

Your use of the term "arbitrary" in reference to God, is profane in reality.
At first it seemed as if you did not know or understand that word.
That you continue to double down on such error, might be a warning sign that you do not know God, or for sure do not understand His Holy Divine attributes.
I
Are you okay?Your recent posts seem to be drifting?

You and others still avoid answering why God saved you. Paul tells you it was purely arbitrary since God is no respecter of persons. And he made you from the same lump as he did the person in hell.