Comments on: Why I Prize the Sovereignty of God http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/ Dave's Exegesis is my eclectic site of exegesis on pretty much everything I can think of, whether biblical studies, theology, music, movies, culture, food, drink, sports, or the internet. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:03:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dave http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Dave Sat, 22 Jan 2005 20:58:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-26 I am familiar with Derek Webb and apprecriate his, and Caedman's Call's bringing people back to reality. It's good stuff, thanks for the feedback, I'm glad to hear that you and your wife are discussing such important things. It's good to know there are others that feel the same way. I am familiar with Derek Webb and apprecriate his, and Caedman’s Call’s bringing people back to reality. It’s good stuff, thanks for the feedback, I’m glad to hear that you and your wife are discussing such important things. It’s good to know there are others that feel the same way.

]]> By: Rick and Christie http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Rick and Christie Sat, 22 Jan 2005 08:42:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-25 dave - great description and explanation of your reformed views. my wife and i were discussing our thoughts and beliefs today and it seems the more we study, the more convinced we are of God's absolute and total sovereignty. i was reading another blog last week, where someone actually stated that they not only believed God did not cause the tsunami in asia, they were unsure if he even knew it was going to happen. how in the world can you actually believe this - and to top it off, this was a seminary student at princeton - supposedly one of the brightest minds america currently possesses. we also were discussing tonight that every time someone attempts to refute calvinism they quickly move away from scripture and try to base a conversation on how they feel and what is "fair" and i don't think God would do that because that's not "right". we are such a selfish and self centered people - americans place such a great emphasis on themselves that even in the church, we forget that life is first and foremost about God - like it or not. it's as if they've already made up their minds on theology and nothing - including scripture will change it. "i know what i believe, don't confuse me with facts!" are you familiar with Derek webb - great artists that is calling the church back to reality. you can read some comments about him on our blog. check it out. dave –

great description and explanation of your reformed views. my wife and i were discussing our thoughts and beliefs today and it seems the more we study, the more convinced we are of God’s absolute and total sovereignty. i was reading another blog last week, where someone actually stated that they not only believed God did not cause the tsunami in asia, they were unsure if he even knew it was going to happen. how in the world can you actually believe this – and to top it off, this was a seminary student at princeton – supposedly one of the brightest minds america currently possesses.

we also were discussing tonight that every time someone attempts to refute calvinism they quickly move away from scripture and try to base a conversation on how they feel and what is “fair” and i don’t think God would do that because that’s not “right”. we are such a selfish and self centered people – americans place such a great emphasis on themselves that even in the church, we forget that life is first and foremost about God – like it or not. it’s as if they’ve already made up their minds on theology and nothing – including scripture will change it. “i know what i believe, don’t confuse me with facts!”

are you familiar with Derek webb – great artists that is calling the church back to reality. you can read some comments about him on our blog. check it out.

]]> By: Dave http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Dave Wed, 19 Jan 2005 05:02:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-24 I appreciate your concern. Obviously we don't have all the information to answer every question. To be fair, though, you do think that God is not the author of sin based upon certain presuppositions. I happen to think that God wanted sin to exist based upon certain presuppositions. I would certainly agree with you that certain will and should remain mysteries, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have sanctified speculation (and I know you would agree with that). I mean think about it, we live 2000 years removed from the NT era and speculate all day thinking about how everything will apply in our modern day context. I think the Bible is far clearer on the sovereignty of God and its ramifications than how we should view stem-cell research or Peak Oil, you know. You asked the question about how God could command us to be holy as He is Holy. This is the same God who has sovereignly given His Spirit that empowers sinful saints like you and me to actually follow His command to be holy. He can do it because He's God. Now for me to even answer these kind of questions can seem precarious because of your concern to keep mystery mystery. But the fact that you are asking me the question the question and already have an answer shows me that you are trying to explore the depths of Scripture too. I appreciate your concern. Obviously we don’t have all the information to answer every question. To be fair, though, you do think that God is not the author of sin based upon certain presuppositions. I happen to think that God wanted sin to exist based upon certain presuppositions. I would certainly agree with you that certain will and should remain mysteries, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have sanctified speculation (and I know you would agree with that). I mean think about it, we live 2000 years removed from the NT era and speculate all day thinking about how everything will apply in our modern day context. I think the Bible is far clearer on the sovereignty of God and its ramifications than how we should view stem-cell research or Peak Oil, you know.

You asked the question about how God could command us to be holy as He is Holy. This is the same God who has sovereignly given His Spirit that empowers sinful saints like you and me to actually follow His command to be holy. He can do it because He’s God. Now for me to even answer these kind of questions can seem precarious because of your concern to keep mystery mystery. But the fact that you are asking me the question the question and already have an answer shows me that you are trying to explore the depths of Scripture too.

]]> By: james http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-23 james Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:41:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-23 I don't think God is the author of sin. I do fear your line of theology, taken far enough, leads to this conclusion, however. How could God be the author of sin and still command us to "be holy as I am Holy"? Doesn't seem to make sense. Don't get me wrong. I definitely lean toward the Reformed camp, though there is a point to which i am able to say "i don't know," and leave some of the mystery exactly as mystery. I do think it is okay to not have God all figured out, per se. I don’t think God is the author of sin. I do fear your line of theology, taken far enough, leads to this conclusion, however. How could God be the author of sin and still command us to “be holy as I am Holy”? Doesn’t seem to make sense.

Don’t get me wrong. I definitely lean toward the Reformed camp, though there is a point to which i am able to say “i don’t know,” and leave some of the mystery exactly as mystery. I do think it is okay to not have God all figured out, per se.

]]> By: Dave http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Dave Tue, 18 Jan 2005 04:01:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-22 That is a loaded question, and I am all out of bullets. No good Christian can escape the fact that God ordained that sin be. "Author" may or may not have connotations that have too much baggage, but if his ordaining is authoring, then yes. If you are a monist, then you must concede this. Now, obviously God has not sinned, but God uses sin all the time for his own glory. Now whether he created sin directly or indirectly, that's a side point. Created created people that sinned. Bottom line. I think the thing we need to realize also, as Christians, is that God died on the cross. God died. Infinite theological problem. Also an infinite theological solution. God created sin (however you want to look at it), he saw sin, he felt sin, he tasted sin, he absorbed sin, and he conquered sin. It was from Him, through Him, and to Him. What do you think James? Is God the author of sin? That is a loaded question, and I am all out of bullets. No good Christian can escape the fact that God ordained that sin be. “Author” may or may not have connotations that have too much baggage, but if his ordaining is authoring, then yes. If you are a monist, then you must concede this. Now, obviously God has not sinned, but God uses sin all the time for his own glory. Now whether he created sin directly or indirectly, that’s a side point. Created created people that sinned. Bottom line. I think the thing we need to realize also, as Christians, is that God died on the cross. God died. Infinite theological problem. Also an infinite theological solution. God created sin (however you want to look at it), he saw sin, he felt sin, he tasted sin, he absorbed sin, and he conquered sin. It was from Him, through Him, and to Him. What do you think James? Is God the author of sin?

]]> By: james http://www.davesexegesis.com/why-i-prize-the-sovereignty-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-21 james Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:06:00 +0000 http://www.davesexegesis.com/?p=18#comment-21 So if God is the creator of all things, is he then the author of sin? So if God is the creator of all things, is he then the author of sin?

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