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Hi,
there are several views about this in Christianity. Your teacher will probably believe in Augustinian/calvinist view of predestination and salvation.
It is new for you probably because you were used to another view.
If you are interested in it and are afraid to ask the teacher, you can google it for yourself... or we can recommend you some books.
Keep up your interest in deeper things!
there are several views about this in Christianity. Your teacher will probably believe in Augustinian/calvinist view of predestination and salvation.
It is new for you probably because you were used to another view.
If you are interested in it and are afraid to ask the teacher, you can google it for yourself... or we can recommend you some books.
Keep up your interest in deeper things!
Ge 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
KJV
We are created in the image of God; but what does that mean?
Certainly if a person looks in the mirror and claims ' I see God' he/she is either very arrogant or very confused!
So the image of God does not refer to physical appearance.
What attributes or characteristics do people share with their creator?
The best answer I can think of is:
The three characteristics that define personhood. and are shared by all three persons of the Godhead are: intellect, will, and emotions.
Mankind thinks, decides, and feels.
God thinks: Isa 55:8
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
KJV
God decides: Ge 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
God feels:Ge 6:6
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
KJV
It makes little sense that God created mankind with the attribute of will unless He intends that we exercise that will.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
KJV
We are created in the image of God; but what does that mean?
Certainly if a person looks in the mirror and claims ' I see God' he/she is either very arrogant or very confused!
So the image of God does not refer to physical appearance.
What attributes or characteristics do people share with their creator?
The best answer I can think of is:
The three characteristics that define personhood. and are shared by all three persons of the Godhead are: intellect, will, and emotions.
Mankind thinks, decides, and feels.
God thinks: Isa 55:8
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
KJV
God decides: Ge 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
God feels:Ge 6:6
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
KJV
It makes little sense that God created mankind with the attribute of will unless He intends that we exercise that will.
How can it be a faux pas when that is precisely what the Westminster Confession of Faith states (as I have quoted from a few times)?
CHAPTER III
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
"...others foreordained to everlasting death." can be stated as "...others predestined to everlasting death", since it parallels "predestinated unto everlasting life..."
Since this is repugnant to Christians, it was modified in the London Baptist Confession of Faith (which is a duplicate of the Westminster Confession). But if God seemingly "ignores" some, or leaves them to their own devices, it is the same thing, and that goes contrary to Scripture.
The word "foreordained" in Scripture means predestinated, so there can be no misunderstanding.
CHAPTER III
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
"...others foreordained to everlasting death." can be stated as "...others predestined to everlasting death", since it parallels "predestinated unto everlasting life..."
Since this is repugnant to Christians, it was modified in the London Baptist Confession of Faith (which is a duplicate of the Westminster Confession). But if God seemingly "ignores" some, or leaves them to their own devices, it is the same thing, and that goes contrary to Scripture.
The word "foreordained" in Scripture means predestinated, so there can be no misunderstanding.
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Yes, sure.. Leibniz is all online: The Project Gutenberg eBook of Theodicy, by G. W. Leibniz
My summary would be something like:
God could create unending number of various universes. He chose the best one of all. Every small detail in it makes it the best one. If one small detail would be changed, it would not be the best one anymore. Therefore, God allows various evils happening in it. Like black in painting or low tones in music.
God is good and love. Everyting that is born of Him (like His Son) is perfect. What is just created from nothing, has various limitations and incline to evil, if it does not have enough of grace.
God decides how much grace to give to various creatures (angels, humans...) to make it all the best possible world, like a genius architect. He is love, so He gives as much grace as possible and eliminates evil as much as possible.
Regarding our freedom vs predestination, God predestines every detail, but only by His positive force. The evil side is from our inclination, its only the lack of His positive force.
My summary would be something like:
God could create unending number of various universes. He chose the best one of all. Every small detail in it makes it the best one. If one small detail would be changed, it would not be the best one anymore. Therefore, God allows various evils happening in it. Like black in painting or low tones in music.
God is good and love. Everyting that is born of Him (like His Son) is perfect. What is just created from nothing, has various limitations and incline to evil, if it does not have enough of grace.
God decides how much grace to give to various creatures (angels, humans...) to make it all the best possible world, like a genius architect. He is love, so He gives as much grace as possible and eliminates evil as much as possible.
Regarding our freedom vs predestination, God predestines every detail, but only by His positive force. The evil side is from our inclination, its only the lack of His positive force.
You post this like somehow it proves God looked through time to see who would choose him. You are aware, are you not, that salvation is not via choice, will, determination?
Why do you all reject biblical election, and make man the one who made it happen by his vote. You do reject it, no matter your arguments, I'm just asking. What happens is you turn from that teaching in Scripture, then find a verse that says "whosoever" as if that proves election false, and that it is up to man. It isn't very good 2 Timothy 2:15 brother, pitting Scripture against Scripture.
I believe many are scared of the doctrine, it instills fear, and man feels more confidence in something he believes he did rather than trusting on what God did. Fatalism and determinism are thrown in, with accusations as if we don't believe John 3:16 &c or have never read it.
Frankly it's a very weak argument that doesn't fly.
For the record: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Note also Acts 18. God elects whom he wills, and only whom he has chosen. There is no boasting in those whom he has chosen, it is all him.
Why do you all reject biblical election, and make man the one who made it happen by his vote. You do reject it, no matter your arguments, I'm just asking. What happens is you turn from that teaching in Scripture, then find a verse that says "whosoever" as if that proves election false, and that it is up to man. It isn't very good 2 Timothy 2:15 brother, pitting Scripture against Scripture.
I believe many are scared of the doctrine, it instills fear, and man feels more confidence in something he believes he did rather than trusting on what God did. Fatalism and determinism are thrown in, with accusations as if we don't believe John 3:16 &c or have never read it.
Frankly it's a very weak argument that doesn't fly.
For the record: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Note also Acts 18. God elects whom he wills, and only whom he has chosen. There is no boasting in those whom he has chosen, it is all him.
Thanks for the link.
You will not find this anywhere in God's holy writ. It wasn't like God thought up a bunch of differing scenarios and chose the universe we have now.
I can also agree with this, with one caveat...God did not have a bunch of universes in mind, and this was the best possible scenario, so He created it. You can not support this with the bible.
You're teetering on the Son being less than God. God is eternal. Jesus is eternal, seeing He is God. Eternal means w/o beginning. If He was born of His Father, then He has a beginning. This is some weird thinking, if I am understanding you correctly.
Please expound upon your thought expressed here. Thanks.
I can agree with this.
You will not find this anywhere in God's holy writ. It wasn't like God thought up a bunch of differing scenarios and chose the universe we have now.
I can also agree with this, with one caveat...God did not have a bunch of universes in mind, and this was the best possible scenario, so He created it. You can not support this with the bible.
You're teetering on the Son being less than God. God is eternal. Jesus is eternal, seeing He is God. Eternal means w/o beginning. If He was born of His Father, then He has a beginning. This is some weird thinking, if I am understanding you correctly.
Please expound upon your thought expressed here. Thanks.
I can agree with this.
Molinist leanings. Do you really think God had to do some research and development before he created the world by exploring all scenarios? So God learned? That is also a blending of Open Theism with Molinism. Both are errors that should be rejected and mitigate the character, nature and attributes of God.