Posts Tagged ‘Grace’

DailyTheocentrism: The Divine Will of God and the providential will of God

It must be said that there is an attribute, both eternal and uniquely divine, about God’s will so as to say that it is immovable, immutable and the only reality there will ever be. (Job 42:2)

This is coupled with the fact that He provides some freedom to those who have been reborn and can thus be alive and make choices. It CANNOT be said that man ever has freewill, as a “free-will” would be able to do anything it wants to do anytime it wants to do it – only God can do that. Rather, we live within the realm of responsibility and Divine Sovereignty, as D.A. Carson writes. Yet, how if God’s WILL is sovereign over all can we ever make a choice. Well . . . we can and we cannot.

This is where the principle of complexity needs to replace ideas of contradiction. Two items may only seem to contradict, unless they are elementally opposed – then they contradict. Otherwise, they may be two corollary attributes of a thoroughly complex system. Here that applies to the reality that the tension between say, the imperatives (commands) in Scripture and the fact that God has no thing outside of His WILL, is no tension at all – it only seems to be. This applies to sin and the Sovereignty of God as well. His Will is complex enough to contain His will (providence with man) and it is neither a contradiction, nor a diluting of the integrity of God.

See the illustration below:

God’s providential will (the filial application of God’s Sovereign WILL to His relationship with mankind) lies always within His Sovereign will, namely because it is born out of it – as all things are. Yet, it is within the complexity of His will a real realm of [limited] choice – namely to please or not to please Father. These two categories are essential to even begin a dialog on the Will/will of God. For truly, no thing can ever thwart the WILL of God.

DailyTheocentrism: On the Cross, Jesus kept it (all) together [Acts 18:28; Col. 1:17]

It can truly be said, that while Christ was here, holding Himself on the cross, he was holding the molecules of His tormenters and mockers together, while he was holding the breath in their lungs that they used to hurl insults at him, while He was holding the planet on its axis, while He was holding the universe together, while He was holding the galaxy in place, while He was . . .

Might and grace – may I never forget.

DailyTheocentrism:We can only give out of what we are;this is why God’s eternity is key for us.

We can only give out of what we are; this is why God’s eternity is key for us. Without it He could not offer eternal life. His offer of it must be affirmed by His ability to provide it. Since we cannot categorically provide something beyond us, we cannot give unless we have. It is an old drummer thing that I have taught a’many’a student: “Son, if you ain’t got the rhythm in you, you ain’t gettin’ it out” It’s a bit like that – only different.

Now think about what God is . . .

In the midst of it all, God’s love is more . . .

As some of us have been taking a hard look at life and the danger of wasting it, paradigm shiftd have ensued. What we must never forget is the deep, deep love of God.

Please take the time to watch this sermon.

It matters.

If there is a shadow, there must be sunshine . . .

Great music with lots of truth – don’t make too much of the first line.

Perspective

Diagnosis

Encouragement

My favorite trifecta!