Spiffwiggler heard from Curt about It's a sin on 11-16-09
that we are to gather together, "Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves S>together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching."
-Rev. Michael E. Washburn
I have a question Michael: Ephesians and 1 Peter seem to say that the
church was predestined before the world was formed:
Eph 1:4-5
For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may
be holy and unblemished in His sight in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons....
and speaking of Christ:
1 PET 1:20
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these sake.
If Christ and His church were predestined before the world was formed then obviously the Father knew there would be the need for redemption - before any human ever had the chance to commit a single sin.
Don't you find that an interesting concept?
-Curt
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Curt,
Sorry it took me so long to reply here, but things have been hectic here at my house, and last Sunday someone stole my second car ( a little honda accord
that I use mostly) right out of my parking lot at my apartment. Oh well. As to the Predestination of the church before the world began and the Father knowing that there would be a need for redemption before a single sin could have been committed, yes, I do find it an interesting concept.
As human beings, we tend to think in Linear Fashion, and this often causes us
a great deal of trouble when conceptualizing things of spiritual nature. One thing that I find important to remember is that in Eternity Past, Satan, then called Lucifer, and all of the other created beings, the Angels had free will, and the ability to commit sins. This is where the struggle for the Throne came in when Satan said I will be like the most high etc. So although the world had not yet been framed, sin had at this time already been committed. God created the angels initially to choose to love and serve Him, but he didn't want
little minions, or slaves who would cater to His every whim. Which is why He gave them, and then us, as the new creation free will to choose to love Him.
So as to predestination, I do believe that it was predestined that we were chosen to be able to Love him, and I do believe that He knows those of us that will choose him, but due to evil in the world by Original Sin, some will not get that opportunity, becuase of Lives getting cut short etc. I do believe
that Redemption is available to ALL, but not all will take it, and God knows that, I believe that it saddens Him greatly to know that some will still
choose evil, even in the last times when Christ will be physically present on the Earth again, which is why He is delaying the return. But Predestination ends, IMHO with God makeing the sacrifice available to all humankind at the time of Christ, from there on out, it is up to us to witness, and him to stir up the seeds and water them through us etc. Hope this answers your questions,
I would be happy to have you check out my BBS, I also run an FTN network (SpiffNet) although traffic is a little on the slow side, I hope that I will
be able to start getting people to post through thought provoking questions like yours.
God Bless,
-Rev. Michael E. Washburn
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