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C
Bookends = black
Me = purple
Once we are saved don't we belong to God? Yes, as servants, we belong to whomever we follow as lord.
Giving up our free will to live as we did in the past? Inasmuch as Jesus surrendered His will in order to do the Father's will, we, in that same example, are to choice the Father's will over our will. But we still possess that will as beings who freely choose to do the Father's will. If that will is taken away, do we not loose our identities and become programmed robots. Even Jesus maintained His will when He said, 'Not my will but your will be done', a decision which changed the coarse of eternity.
That now it is the Spirit that compels us to pray, worship, fellowship, study and drives our actions to do good works?
How is it that when we are not Christians we have our will to decide if Christ shall be our Lord, but once we are a Christian we loose that will and are forced into praying, and worshiping, and fellowshipping, and studying? If my will is stripped and I am led by force then is not my praise nothing more than a pre-written dialog? Is it not true that my praise and thanksgiving comes from a grateful heart? O LORD, my praise is true and from my soul. Is it not my soul who hungers to know the Truth? Why yet are we compelled, when even Jesus, our example, willfully did the Father's will.
But nevertheless, we walk and obey the Lord willfully, knowing that to our God, we are more than robots, we are His sons and daughters who seek Him as LORD.
By no means are we compelled, but each time we are faced with two realities, do we choose the beckoning from the Spirit or do we walk towards the beckoning of the flesh? If only we all would be bold as our Lord and say, 'not my will, but your will be done Father'. Jesus, our perfect example of following being a willful choice and not a compelled walk.
Me = purple
Once we are saved don't we belong to God? Yes, as servants, we belong to whomever we follow as lord.
Giving up our free will to live as we did in the past? Inasmuch as Jesus surrendered His will in order to do the Father's will, we, in that same example, are to choice the Father's will over our will. But we still possess that will as beings who freely choose to do the Father's will. If that will is taken away, do we not loose our identities and become programmed robots. Even Jesus maintained His will when He said, 'Not my will but your will be done', a decision which changed the coarse of eternity.
That now it is the Spirit that compels us to pray, worship, fellowship, study and drives our actions to do good works?
How is it that when we are not Christians we have our will to decide if Christ shall be our Lord, but once we are a Christian we loose that will and are forced into praying, and worshiping, and fellowshipping, and studying? If my will is stripped and I am led by force then is not my praise nothing more than a pre-written dialog? Is it not true that my praise and thanksgiving comes from a grateful heart? O LORD, my praise is true and from my soul. Is it not my soul who hungers to know the Truth? Why yet are we compelled, when even Jesus, our example, willfully did the Father's will.
But nevertheless, we walk and obey the Lord willfully, knowing that to our God, we are more than robots, we are His sons and daughters who seek Him as LORD.
By no means are we compelled, but each time we are faced with two realities, do we choose the beckoning from the Spirit or do we walk towards the beckoning of the flesh? If only we all would be bold as our Lord and say, 'not my will, but your will be done Father'. Jesus, our perfect example of following being a willful choice and not a compelled walk.
C
How much more worthy than is God to be approached knowing that He has given us a High Priest who seats upon a Throne of Grace. How, when a contrite heart seeks the Lord, He is found. The Lord indeed is far from the wicked, but when they seek Him for mercy, they shall meet Him upon His Throne of Grace handing our mercy to those seeking it.
A
You see I didn't approach the throne of God.
He found me in the dirt and lifted me out of the darkness and confusion of my life. then set me upon the path toward that upward calling.
I don't know many who claim to have met "God upon His throne of Grace handing out mercy to those seeking it"
However I know plenty who can testify how God meet them upon the road in a pit of their own sin.
He found me in the dirt and lifted me out of the darkness and confusion of my life. then set me upon the path toward that upward calling.
I don't know many who claim to have met "God upon His throne of Grace handing out mercy to those seeking it"
However I know plenty who can testify how God meet them upon the road in a pit of their own sin.
C
Ariel,
As a human created in the image of God, what shame is there if I desire to seek out the goodness of God? Truly man is not so depraved that it is beyong his ability to seek goodness and not evil only? Truly a man can seek life and not death?
Is it not the man who had chosen evil ways and its path of death? If a man can choose evil things, then certainly he can choose good things. Certainly he can choose God over Satan....Choose you this day....a man cannot have two masters, so choose....Come and follow me, so choose whom you shall follow....die to the flesh and be risen with the Lord, so choose the spirit or the flesh....Yes, the one who seeks the face of the Lord shall find Him, so choose the desire of your heart....
But yes, Ariel, the Spirit does bring a child of the rebellion to a contrite heart. Then what? They either choose to remain in that ditch or seek the face of the LORD. The child of the rebellion faces darkness. If he does not seek the face of the Lord, is he not still looking at the darkness.........So to them: seek you the face of the LORD and He shall be found, seeing that it is time to seek the LORD UNTIL He comes and rains righteousness upon you. Infinitely: seek you the face of the LORD until you have found mercy from your rebellion.
Just a few verses on those who seek the LORD.
Psa_9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psa_22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psa_27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
Psa_34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Psa_40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psa_69:6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Psa_83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Psa_105:3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Psa_105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Psa_122:9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Pro_28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Act_17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
I don't see much difference from what I said "Giving up our free will to live as we did in the past?" and what you said (rather what Jesus said), 'not my will, but your will be done Father'.
When we become born again, our spirit and the Spirit of Christ mingle to become one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 , states, 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." It's not like we give up our free will unwillingly. And it's not like God doesn't allow us to make some decisions. God's will for us is ultimately to believe, trust and obey. He may give us also some specific things to do as individuals. But if you feel like it is a chore or a burden to give up your will to serve, or like is hard choice to make, or even still a choice, then I would serious consider this: Matthew 11:30 and do self inspection to see if you really rely on the work of Christ or your own. Following the Lord should be joyful and living in a still fallen world is what makes being a Christian difficult.
Jesus Gives True Rest
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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C
Bookends = black/blue
Me = purple
　
I don't see much difference from what I said "Giving up our free will to live as we did in the past?" and what you said (rather what Jesus said), 'not my will, but your will be done Father'.
-- Giving up implies that you are no longer in possession of it. If Jesus had no free will, then He would not have even said, 'my will', which implies that He choose God's will over His. Wouldn't God be rewarding Himself with all things for having performed His own will through Christ, or was Jesus rewarded by the obedience He suffered? Did not the Word freely come to do the Father's will and hence why He, as Jesus, was elevated far above every name? Besides, does God look for those who come to Him on their own accord or those compelled? If we are then compelled, then what purpose is there of ever proclaiming the Gospel, seeing that they who will come to God will be forced to come to God?
So, to me the difference in the wording is that in one instance, a person looses his identity and in the other instance, a person chooses God and his faith is more of reality than a pre-written doctrine which has a soul not accountable for his actions. If we are to be rewarded for our deeds done in conjuction with the Spirit, then how can we if there is no object (one's will) to base that rewarding on? It cannot be but concluded that God again would be rewarding Himself for the deeds He has done through an indivial.
In the end, I would have to say that we do not give up our will, but as Jesus, we choose to follow God's will through the Holy Spirit. It is only then that we can be rewarded accordingly, as Jesus was rewarded by the things He did in God's salvational plan.
　
When we become born again, our spirit and the Spirit of Christ mingle to become one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 , states,
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh."
17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
-- I am a very strong believer of the indwelling of His Spirit, that we become one in purpose, as the Trinity is one in purpose (will) and which was desired by Jesus upon us. We, the person, are led by the Spirit, much as Jesus was, to perform God's will. And yes, it is a delight when we choose God's will over our will. But during what time of this intermingling do we loose our individuality, that which makes us a being who shall face God, either as a saint or a sinner? It must be then that we willfully choose to be led by God, seeing that we are judged and/or rewarded accordingly.
　
It's not like we give up our free will unwillingly. And it's not like God doesn't allow us to make some decisions.
-- If we are not held accoutable for either reward or punishment and it is God who performs any of ours deeds for us, then shall God judge and/or reward Himself? God forbid. But, on the other hand, He is a Rewarder of those who seek Him and a Judge of the wicked. Where is a soul's accountability if we only are allowed to make some decisions? Are those decisions made by God accredited to our account, as though we performed them ourselves? Will you show me verses which say that God makes decisions of actions for us to have performed? I have always thought that we, by the leading of the Spirit, choose and when we choose God's will over our will, we are then being led by His Spirit, much in the same way as 'follow the leader'.
God's will for us is ultimately to believe, trust and obey. He may give us also some specific things to do as individuals. But if you feel like it is a chore or a burden to give up your will to serve, or like is hard choice to make, or even still a choice, then I would serious consider this: Matthew 11:30 and do self inspection to see if you really rely on the work of Christ or your own. Following the Lord should be joyful and living in a still fallen world is what makes being a Christian difficult.
Jesus Gives True Rest
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
-- Yes to this whole part. It should be a pleasure to do God's will.
Me = purple
　
I don't see much difference from what I said "Giving up our free will to live as we did in the past?" and what you said (rather what Jesus said), 'not my will, but your will be done Father'.
-- Giving up implies that you are no longer in possession of it. If Jesus had no free will, then He would not have even said, 'my will', which implies that He choose God's will over His. Wouldn't God be rewarding Himself with all things for having performed His own will through Christ, or was Jesus rewarded by the obedience He suffered? Did not the Word freely come to do the Father's will and hence why He, as Jesus, was elevated far above every name? Besides, does God look for those who come to Him on their own accord or those compelled? If we are then compelled, then what purpose is there of ever proclaiming the Gospel, seeing that they who will come to God will be forced to come to God?
So, to me the difference in the wording is that in one instance, a person looses his identity and in the other instance, a person chooses God and his faith is more of reality than a pre-written doctrine which has a soul not accountable for his actions. If we are to be rewarded for our deeds done in conjuction with the Spirit, then how can we if there is no object (one's will) to base that rewarding on? It cannot be but concluded that God again would be rewarding Himself for the deeds He has done through an indivial.
In the end, I would have to say that we do not give up our will, but as Jesus, we choose to follow God's will through the Holy Spirit. It is only then that we can be rewarded accordingly, as Jesus was rewarded by the things He did in God's salvational plan.
　
When we become born again, our spirit and the Spirit of Christ mingle to become one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 , states,
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh."
17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
-- I am a very strong believer of the indwelling of His Spirit, that we become one in purpose, as the Trinity is one in purpose (will) and which was desired by Jesus upon us. We, the person, are led by the Spirit, much as Jesus was, to perform God's will. And yes, it is a delight when we choose God's will over our will. But during what time of this intermingling do we loose our individuality, that which makes us a being who shall face God, either as a saint or a sinner? It must be then that we willfully choose to be led by God, seeing that we are judged and/or rewarded accordingly.
　
It's not like we give up our free will unwillingly. And it's not like God doesn't allow us to make some decisions.
-- If we are not held accoutable for either reward or punishment and it is God who performs any of ours deeds for us, then shall God judge and/or reward Himself? God forbid. But, on the other hand, He is a Rewarder of those who seek Him and a Judge of the wicked. Where is a soul's accountability if we only are allowed to make some decisions? Are those decisions made by God accredited to our account, as though we performed them ourselves? Will you show me verses which say that God makes decisions of actions for us to have performed? I have always thought that we, by the leading of the Spirit, choose and when we choose God's will over our will, we are then being led by His Spirit, much in the same way as 'follow the leader'.
God's will for us is ultimately to believe, trust and obey. He may give us also some specific things to do as individuals. But if you feel like it is a chore or a burden to give up your will to serve, or like is hard choice to make, or even still a choice, then I would serious consider this: Matthew 11:30 and do self inspection to see if you really rely on the work of Christ or your own. Following the Lord should be joyful and living in a still fallen world is what makes being a Christian difficult.
Jesus Gives True Rest
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
-- Yes to this whole part. It should be a pleasure to do God's will.
C
Hi Rick,
Why do you keep saying, 'we have been through this Chris', I think this is the third time in posts you have said this?
Anyway, it is not that we are not drawn by God, it is very well understood that God draws, but even in Scripture, we understand that not all will come to Christ. The old saying, 'You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink', should explain, just like the horse, we choose 'to be or not to be'.
As far as I understand, all things are subject to the Sovereignty of God, seeing that He is the Potter. Are you implying that Jesus were coerced like a puppet to fulfill God's will? Are humans coerced also to fulfill God's will?
Why do you keep saying, 'we have been through this Chris', I think this is the third time in posts you have said this?
Anyway, it is not that we are not drawn by God, it is very well understood that God draws, but even in Scripture, we understand that not all will come to Christ. The old saying, 'You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink', should explain, just like the horse, we choose 'to be or not to be'.
As far as I understand, all things are subject to the Sovereignty of God, seeing that He is the Potter. Are you implying that Jesus were coerced like a puppet to fulfill God's will? Are humans coerced also to fulfill God's will?
A
what makes your hand move?
Your hand or your will for your hand to move?
What makes your heart continue to beat?
To do things according to God's will and to say that it is God through us that we do good and follow the plan and do the work He intended and created us to do is not to say we are robots without minds of our own.
It is just recognizing the divine order of things.
Do you know how many problems would occur if your heart started beating out of harmony with rest of your body?
Your hand or your will for your hand to move?
What makes your heart continue to beat?
To do things according to God's will and to say that it is God through us that we do good and follow the plan and do the work He intended and created us to do is not to say we are robots without minds of our own.
It is just recognizing the divine order of things.
Do you know how many problems would occur if your heart started beating out of harmony with rest of your body?
C
And this is the conclusion of the matter: we "do things according to God's will" not as robots but as co-participants. Indeed, our servitude to Him is willful. And we, in agreement with the Spirit, follow Him so that we can "...do good and follow the plan and do the work He intended and created us to do".
It was Jesus Himself who said, "I say unto you.....do good to those who hate you..." And if we do good only to those who do good to us, what thanks (from God) do we have? My Good Master was further asked by a man obedient to the commandments, "What shall I do to inherit everlasting life", and His reply was to give everything away, and to take up the Cross and follow Him." You see, it is not God who is accountable for our actions. We are to do or not to do, and accordingly, we are either eternally rewarded or punished as to whose child we are.
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying, it is His Spirit who leads and apart from Him, our own acts are but a filthy rag. And if we are to "follow the plan", then we are to be led by Him. If we are to "do the work He intended and created us to do" then we are to follow Him. Apart from this leading, we would wonder in the wilderness, never reaching the Promised Land. Just as those in the wilderness had to hearken to His Voice, so too must we hearken to His Voice if we are to be led Home. I understand and accept that it is His Spirit who brings up the option to do good and all which that concept projects to its end purpose, but we, knowing that faith is a choice, are the ones to concur. This is not to say that we have any part in our salvation, but our faith to go along with the Spirit who leads to Christ plays an important part. In the sense: if we are resistant to the leading of the Spirit and knowing that God is not a god of forced worship, then we do not progress towards that Light and are left in limbo.
But, one has to wonder also if they who were led into the wilderness were led by force or did they willfully go? We understand that they wanted to turn back, which gives an indication that they had an option. And this option gives us an understanding that they therefore had a choice. Naturally, a choice indicates a will.
To get back on track, it is God who speaks of His will to us, and just as Adam and Eve, even the fallen angels, we have an option in that we choice life or death, good or evil.......and it is these choices that we are either being led by the Spirit or by the flesh (etc). So, I cannot see how it can be said that God performs our deeds once we are His child. Even a child of God can make a wrong decision. Hence, the purpose of the Throne of Grace and the necessity of asking for forgiveness and the very argument of saying that we are not yet perfected. This along, in implying that it is God who performs our deeds as His child, should give the indication that even as that child, we are held accountable for each and every action we do. Otherwise, God would have to judge and/or reward Himself for the things we do since it is He who had performed the action.
If we do not willfully follow Him, then we are robots. If we are mere puppets, then what point was to be made when it was spoken in Scripture about not only the Day of Judgment (accountability), but also the Law in the Old Testament and the commands by Jesus having consequences attached to them? There are too many 'if...then...or else' concepts to argue that once we become a child of God that we loose or individualities (wills) and that it is all His doings through that child. We are either held to a standard in our walk with God, or else, there are no borders upon that straight and narrow path led by Him. We are kept in step by our obedience to His Voice........
It was Jesus Himself who said, "I say unto you.....do good to those who hate you..." And if we do good only to those who do good to us, what thanks (from God) do we have? My Good Master was further asked by a man obedient to the commandments, "What shall I do to inherit everlasting life", and His reply was to give everything away, and to take up the Cross and follow Him." You see, it is not God who is accountable for our actions. We are to do or not to do, and accordingly, we are either eternally rewarded or punished as to whose child we are.
Please do not misunderstand what I am saying, it is His Spirit who leads and apart from Him, our own acts are but a filthy rag. And if we are to "follow the plan", then we are to be led by Him. If we are to "do the work He intended and created us to do" then we are to follow Him. Apart from this leading, we would wonder in the wilderness, never reaching the Promised Land. Just as those in the wilderness had to hearken to His Voice, so too must we hearken to His Voice if we are to be led Home. I understand and accept that it is His Spirit who brings up the option to do good and all which that concept projects to its end purpose, but we, knowing that faith is a choice, are the ones to concur. This is not to say that we have any part in our salvation, but our faith to go along with the Spirit who leads to Christ plays an important part. In the sense: if we are resistant to the leading of the Spirit and knowing that God is not a god of forced worship, then we do not progress towards that Light and are left in limbo.
But, one has to wonder also if they who were led into the wilderness were led by force or did they willfully go? We understand that they wanted to turn back, which gives an indication that they had an option. And this option gives us an understanding that they therefore had a choice. Naturally, a choice indicates a will.
To get back on track, it is God who speaks of His will to us, and just as Adam and Eve, even the fallen angels, we have an option in that we choice life or death, good or evil.......and it is these choices that we are either being led by the Spirit or by the flesh (etc). So, I cannot see how it can be said that God performs our deeds once we are His child. Even a child of God can make a wrong decision. Hence, the purpose of the Throne of Grace and the necessity of asking for forgiveness and the very argument of saying that we are not yet perfected. This along, in implying that it is God who performs our deeds as His child, should give the indication that even as that child, we are held accountable for each and every action we do. Otherwise, God would have to judge and/or reward Himself for the things we do since it is He who had performed the action.
If we do not willfully follow Him, then we are robots. If we are mere puppets, then what point was to be made when it was spoken in Scripture about not only the Day of Judgment (accountability), but also the Law in the Old Testament and the commands by Jesus having consequences attached to them? There are too many 'if...then...or else' concepts to argue that once we become a child of God that we loose or individualities (wills) and that it is all His doings through that child. We are either held to a standard in our walk with God, or else, there are no borders upon that straight and narrow path led by Him. We are kept in step by our obedience to His Voice........
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Yes, ponder Proverbs 21:1, The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. But we must also look at the next verse, Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs (pondereth,#8505 תָּכַן takan {taw-kan'}KJV) the hearts. Now if God is in complete control over our heart, what would the sense in Him weighing them?
Analyze #8505 if you would please, Cfultz3
Is this passage speaking it terms of God sovereignty over the coarse of nations, or the individual?
Analyze #8505 if you would please, Cfultz3
Is this passage speaking it terms of God sovereignty over the coarse of nations, or the individual?
I knew you were going to ask this, but I think you know. Ponder these verses:
Isaiah 43:1
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
and
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The extreme is believing that one who is born again can be unborn. So this is were I draw the line with you, but it's a secondary issue to me and a debate that I had enough of.
C
It is the heart of every king (president, pharoah, prime minister, higher powers, etc...) which is in His hads as channels of waters, to conture at His desire. It is God who measures out (ponders, arranges, levels, equalizes) their heart to do His will (whatever that will might be), seeing that every authority has been put in place by Him (Romans 13), and one day, all these ordained authorities will be rendered useless by Christ (1Cor 15:25), as He has been given even the authority which was asked for by those in the wildereness: the desire to have a human king to rule over them then God.
Without going to in dept, there are many examples of God using kings (those in authority) to do His will. One of the perfect examples of how God uses those he placed in authority is in Rev 17:17. So much are kings like puddy in God's hands, that those 10 kings, by God putting it in their hearts, handed over their kingdoms to the beast.
To this, I would have to say and agree with you Bookends, that God keeps those in authority under His direction, seeing that they are ordained by Him to be in that position.
Without going to in dept, there are many examples of God using kings (those in authority) to do His will. One of the perfect examples of how God uses those he placed in authority is in Rev 17:17. So much are kings like puddy in God's hands, that those 10 kings, by God putting it in their hearts, handed over their kingdoms to the beast.
To this, I would have to say and agree with you Bookends, that God keeps those in authority under His direction, seeing that they are ordained by Him to be in that position.
C
OK. I won't say a word about how 1Cor 6 is talking about how we are to choose God's will over our will to do those things mentioned. How that, in our relationship with God, we are not to do what we want but what He wants since our bodies are a temple and the Temple is God's abode and thus, not ours to do with as we wish. May I ask what you make of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17? 
(could not resist)
(could not resist)
OK. I won't say a word about how 1Cor 6 is talking about how we are to choose God's will over our will to do those things mentioned. How that, in our relationship with God, we are not to do what we want but what He wants since our bodies are a temple and the Temple is God's abode and thus, not ours to do with as we wish. May I ask what you make of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17? (could not resist)
(could not resist)
In the old testament, how was the physical temple (which is a type to our physical bodies and the Church) defiled? Was it not by offering unclean animals, an un-sincere offering, or bring in a false idol, worshiping other gods? I believe the context of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 is in verses 5 through 15, verse 9 in particular, "9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building." Paul is not talking about individual salvation here. He's talking about the Church corporately. And if anyone comes into the Church and tries to lay a new foundation (a false teaching), something other then the gospel of Jesus Christ, which Paul had taught, that the work of that individual will be destroyed, burned by fire (verse 15), but that individual will be saved from that destruction (so that he will have time to repent).
So verse 16 and 17 Paul is staying to the corporate Church body of the Corinthians that they are the body of Christ, the temple of Christ, and the person who tries to corrupt them will see his works destroyed, also per verse 15, "If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." When Paul says "God will destroy him" he is not talking about death, but his works and reputation, and of coarse if this person does not repent and receive Christ he will ultimately see destruction (ruin) of his eternal soul.