If God is sovereign, why do anything?

[prism]

Saw the above title on a 'free will' forum. What would your response be?

 

[Marilyn C]

Saw the above title on a 'free will' forum. What would your response be?

God is sovereign, and within His overall rulership He has enabled man to make choices for that is how a moral character develops.

 

[Carbon]

Saw the above title on a 'free will' forum. What would your response be?

God is sovereign and that is no excuse to do nothing. God uses people as a means to an end.

 

[Marilyn C]

God is sovereign and that is no excuse to do nothing. God uses people as a means to an end.

May I suggest instead of `uses` that God `matures` people who participate in His purposes.

 

[Carbon]

May I suggest instead of `uses` that God `matures` people who participate in His purposes.

You can say that if you like.

 

[prism]

God is sovereign, and within His overall rulership He has enabled man to make choices for that is how a moral character develops.

What do you mean by God 'enabling man'?

 

[Marilyn C]

What do you mean by God 'enabling man'?

Good question. God gave man a conscience and because of that man can decide moral choices. Unless of course man continually goes against what his conscience `highlights, ` and then his conscience will become seared and of no help to him.

Taking note of one`s conscience enables a person to mature, and especially a believer for they have the Holy Spirit to further `highlight` and guide the believer. God desires mature sons who participate in God`s purposes, and not robots that He can just use.

 

[DialecticSkeptic]

"If God is sovereign, why do anything?" What would your response be?

Literally and in all seriousness: "Why not?"

 

[Marilyn C]

Literally and in all seriousness: "Why not?"

Do you mean, `Why not do anything? `

If so, then God does judge accordingly.

 

[prism]

Do you mean, `Why not do anything? `

If so, then God does judge accordingly.

ugh, I think I have a headache. It's been a hot day.

 

[DialecticSkeptic]

Do you mean, `Why not do anything? `

If so, then God does judge accordingly.

By the question, "Why not?" I mean to ask what the sovereignty of God has to do with whether I choose to do one thing or another.

• If God is sovereign, I choose one over the other.
• If God is not sovereign, I choose one over the other.

Therefore, what is the relevance of his sovereignty?

 

[prism]

By the question, "Why not?" I mean to ask what the sovereignty of God has to do with whether I choose to do one thing or another.

• If God is sovereign, I choose one over the other.
• If God is not sovereign, I choose one over the other.

Therefore, what is the relevance of his sovereignty?

What if, in His sovereignty, He chooses you for salvation because you have no choice of your own but to sin?

 

[Marilyn C]

What if, in His sovereignty, He chooses you for salvation because you have no choice of your own but to sin?

Remember God gave each a conscience, so we do have a choice in moral issues.

Also, God is not partial and does not choose some for salvation and some for hell.

 

[prism]

Remember God gave each a conscience, so we do have a choice in moral issues.

Also, God is not partial and does not choose some for salvation and some for hell.

Because of our depravity and bondage to sin, we would oppose God at every turn.

I believe Scripture reveals God elects/predestined some for salvation and passes over others letting them go their own way, the way of destruction.

 

[DialecticSkeptic]

What if, in His sovereignty, He chooses you for salvation because you have no choice of your own but to sin?

That's still the same question. Observe:

What does the sovereignty of God have to do with whether I choose to do one [sinful] thing or another?

• If God is sovereign, I choose one [sinful thing] over the other.
• If God is not sovereign, I choose one [sinful thing] over the other.

Therefore, what is the relevance of his sovereignty?

 

[Ladodgers6]

Saw the above title on a 'free will' forum. What would your response be?

Well, after many decades of dealing with Free-Willers, the best response I heard is this. But I will provide a lot more tomorrow. But before I get to that, I will point out a few flaws with Free-Willers. First of all, scripture is clear that after the Fall is free is in bondage to sin. They believe that the will is intact, where have I heard this before; Pelagianism/Semi-Pelagianism. They also cannot define what happened to the human-race after the Fall; the effects of it and the consequences of it.

Second, let's push the envelope further, if we have our wills intact, then why do we need Christ. If we can do it ourselves, there's no need for a Savior. One Free-Willers said that Adam was a cautionary tale or bad example not to follow & Christ is a good example to follow. Go figure! But Calvin among others pointed out that the sinner sins freely because this is what they want to do. Nobody is placing a gun to their head and coercing them to sin against their wills.

Lastly, they think in terms of everyday life of choosing between what clothes to wear, or food to eat, as if the things of God is the same exact thing. Scripture explicitly states that the carnal mind cannot understand the spiritual things of God. This is why we must be born again Christ said to Nicodemus.

Anyway, here's what I heard from Horton. We have creaturely freedom, God has Creator freedom, and in him we live and move and have our freedom. Now God doesn't control the sinner's action to sin, God allows or permits according to his will. He always superintending but not coercing. But we cannot resist his will, for he is almighty God! Whatever God wills to pass or whatever Covenant God makes no one can break it. Those who place man's will above God's will is full of pride and blind foolishness. Just by the question they impose demonstrates that they do not acknowledge the Sovereignty of God; and replace God with Man!​