"awelight, posted
These principles continually work together to maintain a state of equilibrium, harmony and order for the general good of mankind. They are consistent and unchangeable. They do not choose who to favor or who not to favor. They are part of creation and are interwoven into events that occur in creation or in time and in our everyday life. We read in Ecclesiastics 9:2, that all things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the sinner. This means that one event happens unto all but it is our individual or collective choice of actions that determines what happens to us. Our reactions to these events makes or mars us.
Through out the scripture, we observe that God ordained two paths of life on earth from the beginning. There is a path that leads to life and another that leads to destruction or death. These paths do not intermingle. We also observe the freedom of choice embedded in his creation as we read in Genesis. Moses reiterated this to the Israelites of old. Joshua enjoined them to make their choice and boldly declared that he and his family have chosen to follow the living God. The path we choose opens us up to what befalls us in life for they have their features and characteristics. We see that in the lives of the Israelites of old and through out the scripture.
God finished His creation but the system continues to unfold the creation in our everyday life, or in time ensuring that man is accountable for his actions for as a man sows, so he reaps. At each dispensation of time, the mysteries of God as interwoven in creation begin to manifest. Man's salvation in Christ was ordained even before the world began but manifested on earth at the fullness of time, for an example. Man- still has the choice either to believe or not to believe in the way of the cross.
I believe the fall of man did not take away his freedom of choice. Cain and Abel made different choices.
God drove Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden because the life of the flesh which they chose has no part in him and cannot inherit his kingdom. The Lord God allowed the seed of sin to remain in man to learn the difference between living a godly life and sinful life. To learn the difference between serving God and turning away from Him. (2 Chronicle 12). It serves as a check on our actions to redirect our steps to right living. He allowed it so that we can experience the pain and sorrow inherent in sinful life and peradventure change for the better. It therefore serves as a motivational tool to live aright to the intent that we might know that God is the Lord God Almighty who rules heaven and earth and whose works are in truth and His ways judgment. Those who walk in sin He abases and punishes
Adam and Eve could be said to have humbled themselves after their transgression and God granted them some level of deliverance but allowed the seed of sin to remain in them and passed on to mankind for our lesson. The bible tells us that we learn by experience. Their (Adam and Eve) transgression put them in affliction but overtime, they learnt to engage their hearts towards God as the scripture recorded no further transgression by them. Through their affliction, they went through a purification period for tribulation teaches patience, and patience teaches experience. Experience springs up hope and faith towards God ( Romans 5:4). Hence, Abel and his younger sibling, Seth, were born in a more godly environment which godly disposition was testified in the scripture about their lives.
Even in the midst of sin, there were cases recorded of men who pleased God, after the fall of man, for instance, Enoch was taken up to heaven and saw no death because he pleased God. Noah was found righteous. There is a difference betw
Again, you make some good points but where we are differing, is about choice. Man lost His ability to choose righteousness because he could no longer perceive what was righteous.
Rom 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God,
they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but
became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
These verses are telling us what happened to the natural man, subsequent to the Fall. While every person, without exception, know of God by His creative works, they gave God no credit as Creator. Their reasoning became useless. In order for the natural man to make a righteous choice, God must first do something for the natural man. This is the "New Birth" (John 3:3-10). This is a supernatural event that changes the heart of stone to a heart of flesh and replaces that dead and useless spirit, that was corrupted in the Fall, back to a working spirit that can discern righteousness in truth. (Eze. 36:26)
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Every person who made a correct choice for God and righteousness, has had that work performed upon them.
You used this verse in your discussion, and said: "
We read in Ecclesiastics 9:2, that all things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the sinner. This means that one event happens unto all but it is our individual or collective choice of actions that determines what happens to us. Our reactions to these events makes or mars us."
You do realize the subject under discussion in Ecc. 9:2, is the subject of Death? Not at all the way you used it.
Ecc 9:1-5
For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them. ( Solomon was speaking about the things he had come to understand during his life with God. In verse 1, he knows that as one begins life, the works of righteousness are in the hands of God.)
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
The all things that come alike, is death. Physical death is the common denominator, regardless if you are righteous are unrighteous, good or wicked. The Adamic Curse, has brought physical death upon us all. This is not about God's Gracious Salvation, which can save the soul; Solomon is lamenting the pointlessness of a man's life, regardless of what he does, he will die and be forgotten. However, to be alive is better than being dead.
Again in 2 Chr. 12, This is not an example of one making a choice regarding salvation. These are choices, the natural man makes all the time in his/her life. Rehoboam, was not a good king, he had lead Israel away from the Law of Jehovah. God sent Egypt to punish him and Israel. Shemaiah is sent to warn them, because of their transgressions, the armies of Egypt, will destroy Jerusalem. They humbled themselves before God, so God did not destroy them utterly. However they were put into servitude and many treasures were taken from them.
This does not demonstrate a "repentance" out of a "regenerate" heart. This "humbling of oneself" was not out of love for God but out of fear of the Egyptians. They humbled themselves but there was no true repentance. To have genuine repentance, God would have to give it to them, as part of His Grace in the New Birth.
While even in a believers' life, God grants us repentance, so that we may turn back from what ever it is that has ensnared us. 2Ti_2:25
in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, Yes, the natural man makes many choices during their lifetime but they lack the spiritual ability, to choose righteousness over what they know and have been taught in the World system. This worldly knowledge and the deceptions of the Devil, keep their minds darkened. Therefore, this twofold process, 1) Wisdom of the World, 2) The
deception and
snatching of the Devil, (Luke 8:12), leaves the natural man, who cannot discern spiritual things, (1 Cor.2:14), in a hopeless condition, if it were not for the Grace of God.
Isa 43:21
the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.