The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Election

catholicsoldier,

I've been slowly getting back to my previous more active state here and still have some posts to reply to, one being the one you started on icons, etc... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But I thought I would type out a quick reply to this one as it seems easy enough to rebut.

In all the examples you have given thus far, they all involve people resisting God's preceptive will as opposed to His decretive will. If it were possible to subvert, alter or totally override God's eternal counsel, then this would of necessity deny the very definition and nature of God which He Himself has recorded for us in His inspired, infallible and inerrant written Word. Further, to hold to such a position results in a denial of the divine inspiration of Scripture. How? Because prophesy and its fulfillment would be impossible or at best a matter of incredible "chance".

All forms of semi-Pelagianism, Arminianism, and even paganism categorically deny the absolute sovereignty of God in relation to either authority and/or power; most often the former. As it has been posted in myriad places on this Board, the Scriptures teach incontrovertibly that man is "free" indeed according to his nature. Historically, this has been termed, "free agency". Secondly, God decrees the means as well as the end, which takes into account secondary causes, including the acts of men. (cf. Acts 2:23, 3:18; 4:26-28; also: Is 43:13; 44:7; 45:21; 49:9, 10; 55:11; Ps 33:11; 135:6; Prov 19:21; 21:30; Dan 4:35; et al)

For a more complete array of biblical declarations of the immutability of God's decree and of his sovereignty, see here: God's Indisputable Sovereignty.

In His Grace,