rjskal [Linked Image]

In reply to:

[color:"blue"]I don't understand your position that God cannot be sovereign and still allow us to forfeit our salvation. He doesn't lose any of his supreme, permanent authority by allowing believers the option of turning away from Him.

First of all, welcome to The Highway Discussion Board. I hope you will enjoy your stay here and also take advantage of the great many of books, articles and sermons on the The Highway home page

The problem with the semi-Pelagian and Arminian view is that what God does throughout eternity is determined not by His own eternal, immutable council, but by whatsoever the creature decides to do. Looking at this a bit deeper, it isn't just a matter of salvation but all things inclusively. As you surely realize, that history is dependent and determined (looking at it from the horizontal [human] perspective) upon prior actions and events. Let's consider the following illustration. If a man one hundred years ago decided to commit suicide, then all those who might have come from his loins would be non-existent. Even the smallest action of a man has an effect on what follows after him, not excluding the choices others would be faced with.

Bringing this to the issue at hand; God can only "know" what will happen in the future IF what He allegedly foresaw (Arminian "foreknowledge" aka "prescience", i.e., the availability of knowable raw data/facts <----- misnomer as will be shown below.) actually takes place. The caveat to this entire view is that it elevates the "free-will" of man (i.e., the ability to choose contrary to his nature, which even God is unable to do) to the loftiest place. Thus, it is impossible for God to actually "know" what will take place at any given time since the creature is able to change his/her mind within any given set of circumstances; he/she being able to choose that which is contrary to nature. Therefore, God can only know after the fact (an actuality) and this makes the creature the "sovereign" and not God, Who is bound by the creatures decisions.

One contemporary speaker once described this view by God likening God to a thermometer, which only records the ambient temperature and man as a thermostat, which actually controls the temperature.

The Scriptures, however, everywhere speak of God as the Sovereign Ruler and Creator of the universe. It is HE Who has determined all things according to His will (determinate council, good pleasure, etc.). See Ps. 33:11; 135:6; Prov 19:21; 21:30; Isa 11:1-16; 41:6; 43:13; 46:9, 10; Dan 4:35; Acts 4:27, 28; 13:48; Rom 11:33-36; Eph 1:9-11; Heb 6:17; Rev 19:6; et al An no one can change what He has foreordained.

Lastly, determinism is at the very foundation of biblical prophesy. God, through His appointed prophets, spoke in time past of what would come to pass; authoritatively and infallibly. Unless God was sovereign in both power and authority and by His providence determined and controlled ALL THINGS the likelihood that anything which was prophesied as taking place in the future would take place would be nil. For all it would take to prevent a prophesy from occurring would be the "free-will" decision of one single man. [Linked Image]



In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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