Recent content by lee_merrill

No, he wound up with the same number of children he had before, yet the Lord did give him double. Which means he didn't lose his first ten children. Blessings, Lee

I posted a definition that I found in Wayne Grudem's systematic theology: "God is able to do all his holy will." I think that is defensible, and avoids the various conundrums proposed in the video. Regards, Lee

Or any suffering at all? It seems in principle you are objecting to all suffering. But again, God bears that suffering, and if the cross of Christ means anything at all, it means that God chooses the way of suffering, and asks us to follow him. He then began to teach them that the Son of Man...

I don't believe we choose to love God, I believe being in a relationship with him is by his choice of a given individual. Then love can be freely given to God, "we love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

"But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (Ex. 32:32) Moses did propose this to God, and was told "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book." (v. 33) Paul expressed the same sentiment: "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not...

God is primarily the one suffering, and the focus is on both. God bears suffering, which does not make it explicable, but gives me at least, hope--hope that God knows what he is doing in creating a world in which evil and suffering occur. Regards, Lee

Yes, he is omniscient. Out of love, he wanted to show his love and his glory. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." (John 17:24) But God knows his own future...

So I would be willing to defend the existence of God, this would seem to be an appropriate forum for that. Regards, Lee

No, I claim God bears suffering, in such a way that it's primarily him we sin against when we sin. Thus Jesus' outlandish claim to forgive sins. Because good behavior generally involves some self-denial? Not all suffering is beneficial, though I can see how it might all be beneficial, if God...

So now we're getting into the existence of God, if God exists, then the account is plausible. Regards, Lee

Unless you hope that all may repent, as I do. He is both able and willing, and eventually... "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Re 21:4) And if there was no suffering at all, what would there be to reward? Regards, Lee

Do you mean with Job? It was God who issued the challenge there... Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you...

Through fulfilled prophecy, for one. "Babylon will never be rebuilt or reinhabited", though people have tried. Well, knowing the future (see above) is a good start. And I went to my favorite systematic theology book and found this definition: "Omnipotence - God is able to do all his holy will"...

Well, that was before us humans got a hold of it! Christian belief is that the New Testament is inerrant in the original manuscripts. Regards, Lee

There are a lot of differences in manuscripts, but few would seem significant: Regards, Lee