He does (according to Isaiah 45) know everything that's going to happen beforehand, right? If you do think so, why? If not, why not?
2007-12-01 14:51:12 · 21 answers · asked by Wired 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dewcoons - very interesting angle you're developing here. Already I feel 10 points coming your way.
2007-12-01 15:22:07 · update #1
Theists are here seeking freedom - you make perfect.......whatever.
2007-12-01 15:23:29 · update #2
Whenever a baby is born, it already has all the "parts" needed for sexual relations. God mad them that way. Does that imply that he intends for them to raped, since everything needed is there? Of course not.
The child is suppose to grow, mature, learn a lot about life, marriage and love, and finally come to a point where they are physically and emotional mature enough to handle that kind of a relationship. If used before that, it becomes an abuse that can destroy the rest of a person's life.
So why are they born with all the "parts"? Because it is God's plan that they will eventually use them. They are suppose to come to the point where sexually will provide intimacy and procreation. Both needed for life to continue.
God placed the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" in the Garden because he planned that eventually they would eat from it. But before then, they were suppose to do a lot of growing, maturing, and learning about love, life and the consequences of their actions. There would have come a day when eating the fruit, with God's permission, would have been the right thing to do.
Because they eat, and gained the ability to make moral decisions, before they were right to handle it, the results is all the trouble we see today.
2007-12-01 15:09:09 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man did not fall due to Adam and Eve defaulting. Man has not fallen, look where we are today. We live on an evolutionary planet of rebellion and so did Adam and Eve. The rebellion of Lucifer began before the days of Adam and Eve. Only the Father, God above All, foreknows everything. God is the Master of his divine plan, but we do have free will. All parts equal the whole.
2007-12-01 15:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"intended", no....understood it as a possibility, yes
wait a minute...he put both trees in the garden according to the story. that does logically dictate that both possibilities were approved by the creator of the possibilities. This damn thing is so metaphorical. Does the tree of life symbolize our desire to not die? And does the tree of knowledge symbolize our thirst for understanding? Further, could all of this make any sense.
I mean why would you create the mind of modern man and with both desires for life and knowledge and then ask them not to act in line with the mind that you just created in them?
Even if this story is purely metaphorical and it likely is what is going on with it? If you give it all or your faith so to speak and take it at it word you have to ask your self this question; does free will require a test of subjectivity?
2007-12-01 14:58:45 · answer #3 · answered by Old guy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Jed. But it is a reasonable question and a damn good one if you are not a Christian. We should not be scared to explore questions like that if we want to be real. As long as at some point we choose the road of humility. Keep up the good work. I asked the same question when I first became a Christian.
2007-12-01 14:58:00 · answer #4 · answered by matthound 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no he did not want everyone to fall, but because you keep going your own way, there had to be a sacrifice for your sins. Romans 3:10-18 verse 11. says no one is seeking his face and no one understands him. Hosea 10:12 says to seek TILL he comes to you and fills you with Holiness and righteousness. But no one is seeking after "his"righteousness "perfection". seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you.
I will not fall to this world, and I am the only one so far to beat the devil, for the lord WILL guide my ways and make me holy like him.
Lords prayer, LEAD me not into temptation but away from.
does he answer your prayer's? he will answer mine and lead me always away from sin.
2007-12-01 14:59:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, God didn't intend for man to fall. That would be like saying the God created us for the sole purpose of making us sin, which would mean that He meant for us to be unclean. This is an impossibility because nothing God makes is unclean. The sin is a result of the misuse of the gift of free will by man.
2007-12-01 15:00:20 · answer #6 · answered by Danny H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. God's plan is for us to become like He is. In order to become like He is...we had to learn about good and evil (God knows all about that...and so we need to also)
Consider this scripture:
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the MIDST of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Does a parent put a plate full of cookies on the table in front of their kids and say: I don't want you to eat those...nevertheless you may do as you desire...and then leave the house.
Placing that tree in the MIDST of the Garden was all part of God's master plan!
2007-12-01 15:00:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God gave our first parents free will, and they were free to fall or not. God foreknew that they would fall, and did nothing to stop them, because the only way He could have stopped them would be to take away their free will. The decrees of God are eternal, so once given, free will could not be taken away. It's the same with Judas. God forknew that Judas would betray Jesus, but Judas made his own decision.
2007-12-01 14:59:51 · answer #8 · answered by viciousvince2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Why do you think He put the tree of knowledge in the garden. God has even chosen those who He will have mercy on. Those who believe do not believe because they "chose" to (as many like to believe) but because God put it in them. That's complete Grace and love. That not even have we chosen God, but He has chosen us. (those who believe in Jesus Christ). So there is no boasting to be done by the believer. What you have to understand is that God is all righteous, all loving, and just. So what ever He has done is loving and righteous and just.
God bless, read this
http://www.salvationbygrace.org/uc/sub/docs/bygracealone.pdf
It pretty long but really good.
2007-12-01 14:59:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had this discussion with my pastor. It's hard for me to get my head around the thought that God intended the fall. But it makes sense. He wanted to create us so that we could worship Him and He could love us and we Him, but there's that pesky thing called sin that would get in the way. He came up with the plan for salvation before He created us, I think. So, He may not have wanted the fall, but with free will and us not being perfect, it was inevitable. So perhaps in a round about way, He did intend it.
2007-12-01 14:56:56 · answer #10 · answered by Theresa N 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋