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Thursday, May 23, 09:09:58am

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Subject: To continue further. Author: Wade A. Tisthammer [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 05/30/02 11:16am In reply to: tenuousgrip 's message, "to continue" on 05/27/02 11:45pm >Thankyou for your reply. You’re welcome. >>>For what specific purpose did god create us? >> >>One possible answer is that he wanted creatures with >>free will that would freely accept/reject Him and His >>commandments. >> >>>To go to heaven, what must one do/not do? >> >>There has been some talk on faith vs. deeds to justify >>oneself in the eyes of God and thus go to heaven. Some >>people believe that since you’ve got faith, you don’t >>have to worry about good deeds. But that’s probably >>not the way it really works (if Christianity is a >>correct religion). If you define faith as accepting >>certain truths, such as believing that God exists, >>then such faith is useless (see James 2:14-26). Even >>demons (if they exist) believe that God exists! >>Legitimate faith in God requires love, faithfulness, >>and reverence for the Almighty. Thus, any genuine >>faith will produce good deeds. Faith and actions work >>together, and faith is made complete by what we do >>(James 2:22). > >Your two answers here strike on the core of my >problem. If god created us to have free will, it seems >to me that by having it we are doing what god wants >regardless of what choices we actually make. I don’t see how that logically follows. God wants us to have free will, yes. But he also wants us to choose good. With free will, there’s the possibility for humans to do evil. In this way, it is possible to have free willed creatures and still have a world that God doesn’t quite want. But it’s not possible for God (or anyone else) to create free willed creatures with true responsibility if those creatures are continuously forced to refrain from evil. It wouldn't really be free will at all. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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Subject Author Date The Real Reason Me 02/15/05 6:45pm Making sense. -- Charlie, 02/20/05 5:29pm Re: Making sense -- QUITTNER, 02/22/05 1:07pm