Dr. White, thank you for the video and the information you dealt with. I have only one question. What's that beautiful canvas on the wall and who did done that? ;)
Pastor James, This is my only point of disagreement with you, regarding the doctrines of grace. I believe that God allows evil. He never creates it. Where Isaiah 45:7 implies God's creation of evil, I believe it was the writers only way to make the point of God's sovereignty sure. God's permissive will is seen in the 1st chapter of Job. God did not make Satan do anything, but he did allow it. James 1:17 comes to mind. God is only good. Be careful that you are not guilty of the unpardonable sin. Attributing the work of evil to God is a dangerous thing to do brother. I understand that you mean well, but I believe we can take the truth of God's sovereignty to extremes when we teach that God makes evil happen. What about child rape or any crime for that matter? Does God make us commit crimes? I have so much more to say on this, but I await your response. Your recent series on the doctrines of grace w/Pastor Jeff were excellent. It is only in this area that we disagree. God's best to you brother.
"Does God make us commit crimes?" Maybe I missed the reference that bothered you in this video, but I think it's fairly clearly stated by Calvinists that God does not compel innocent people to commit sin. He doesn't have to do so. The rebellion is always there in some form since the Fall - God often restrains the evil that might have resulted from that rebellion, but He is free to act or not. "He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of Earth." The language can be a little tricky, though. In Whom do you believe that these sorts of criminals "live and move and have their being?" Do you believe that the God of the Bible struck down Uzzah, Ananias, Sapphira and Herod (Acts12:23)? Was He "obligated" to allow their sin to continue? If He acted in those situations, is He obligated to act in similar situations now? If he doesn't act to stop it and He obviously can (simply by withholding the breath of life), you could argue (in human terms) that He should be held responsible. Job is "permissive" in a sense but not exonerating. Even under human law, if I have a dog with a violent history and I let it loose outside and it harms a child, I am responsible. I can't say, "I let it happen but I didn't cause it to happen." God actually says He is the one acting against Job in Job2:3, and Job said: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away” (1:21) and “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (2:10) and in saying these things, he did not sin, so he was not misrepresenting God. So I don't see how Job helps your case at all.
Wow, 3yrs ago. Good stuff. But I think you are missing an important point. Why is the king’s heart haughty? [Pro 21:1 KJV] 1 The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. [Rom 9:20 NKJV] 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed [it], "Why have you made me like this?" God didn’t just happen to find a king with a wicked heart to come against His people. God created the king for this very purpose.
Are not the king’s sinful intentions also part of the Divine Decree? God‘s justice is not based upon man’s free or independent wills. This justice is based on his rights as the creator.
@@mr.thinker2273 James cannot see the difference between God intending an evil event for good and God determining the desires and motives of people which brings about the evil event for good. God intended the cross, God intended the selling of Joseph into slavery , God interred Assyria to destroy Israel (Isaiah 10) etc. But God did not determine/cause/decree the sinful desires and motives which brought these evil events about. God used sinners to do these things. He intended it for good and they intended it for evil, but God did not determine their evil motives and desires (such as pride , jealousy etc.). Even James said in the video "God uses sinners". I agree with this!! But God does not decree pride and then judges people for it (1 Jn. 2:16). Be that as it may, you are probably a Calvinist and probably a follower of James White so I fear my response is in vain. Feel free to respond, but I am not interested in an ongoing argument. If you are born again and love Jesus then you are my brother in Christ. May the Lord bless you!!
@@juan-pierreleroux3828 God doesn't "decree pride" he just lets the sinner do what he desires, which will all work together to his plan. If i have a dog on a leash and i let it go I'm not decreeing he should run in mud but i allow him to.
@@juan-pierreleroux3828 God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree
This is too funny at 5:40 and 11:40. James White admits that God decrees all things even evil acts but here he talks about God judging man's heart and actions yet God is the one who causes it. Talk about double talk. God judges what he causes to happen? Yeah, okay. You can't have it both ways. There is NO righteousness in Judging those who you cause to do evil acts. Once again, NO Jewish commentary or writings would dare confirm Calvinistic beliefs. NO such teachings existed until Augustine. So White has to read back into Scripture his Calvinistic doctrine. Try reading it in Hebrew.
What are your thoughts on the Essenes who believed predestination? They lived in the 3rd century or so before Christ. “Before things come to be, [God] has ordered all their designs, so that when they do come to exist-at their appointed times as ordained by His glorious plan-they fulfill their destiny, a destiny impossible to change…. He created humankind to rule over the world, appointing for them two spirits in which to walk until the time ordained for His visitation. These are the spirits of truth and falsehood. Upright character and fate originate with the Habitation of Light; perverse, with the Fountain of Darkness…. It is actually He who created the spirits of light and darkness, making them the cornerstone of every deed.” (1QS 3.15-19, 24-25) www.faith-theology.com/2006/04/qumran-and-predestination-i.html?m=1
@@reformedcatholic457 The Essenes were not part of Judaism or from the house of Hillel where Paul was trained. The Essenes adopted Greek and Stoic ideas like determinism. It was part of pagan ideas and thought. Do you think Jesus, Paul, and the Apostles adopted Greek and pagan teachings?
@@dralgarza Thanks for your reply. Could you please give me a link on how the Essenes were influenced? I obviously disagree Paul or Jesus or anyone for that fact were influenced by paganism or Greek thinking. I'd be interested how you would interpret Acts 13:48, Galatians 1:15, 1 Peter 2:9.
Biblical Theology Thank you for the question. You can pick up any textbook on the subject regarding the Essenes. I have videos dealing with those verses too. Do you know that Paul was from the house of Hillel? They did not teach what Calvinist believe regarding Soteriology. You will not find any writings or Jewish thought from them. They all believed God foresees all but choice is given.
