WordSword Posted February 5, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 167 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,160 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 644 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/07/2010 Status: Offline Share Posted February 5, 2019 Various could be the imaginations of what man’s life might have been without the fall, but I believe one concept may be fairly certain. Man would not have known, nor partaken of God’s Son and Spirit in the presently needed capacity. There would be no need of being one in spirit with the Trinity, for man would then have no need of such union; as a union being “in” one far surpasses merely being “with” one (Christianity – being in God: Judaism – being with God). Surely it cannot be disagreed that God’s purpose for creating was to glorify Himself, and too spacious are the scriptural passages attesting to this truth to include here. It’s my understanding that the greatest of that which glorifies God, after creation, is His attribute of holiness (then love, etc.). I believe Adam may not have been familiar with the meaning of right and wrong until they were “contrasted” with one another, via the commands of that which he may do (Gen 2:16) and that which he may not do (v 17). The same concerns the knowing of God’s holiness via the contrast of evil, similar to the learning of light via first the presence of darkness (and creation was dark before it was lighted – Gen 1:2, 3). My perception of “Our image, after Our likeness” in verse 26 of the Bible’s first Chapter is that “image” refers to what God looks like (head, eyes, ears, arms, hands, etc.); and “likeness” refers to God’s autonomy (thinking, reasoning, choosing, etc.). God desires us to choose Him (Deu 30:19; 1Tim 2:4; 2Pet 3:9), and in so doing He prepares the believer to trustingly endure the infirmities and difficulties which must be encountered via the sin nature, in order to teach us that which is of His holy nature. Therefore, I think this answers to the reason of His foreknowledge and use concerning the pair on the ground choosing to partake of the apple on the Tree (pun, assuming an apple), through their enlightenment concerning “good and evil.” They could not (even today) know of God’s holiness without comparing it to evil, and so the serpent (per usual) brings forth an admixture of truth and error in saying, “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”; which is close to the truth that “ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil (which is a likeness of Him). One cannot misunderstand that God foreknew man would partake of the Tree (in His omniscience), and the intent of this article is to assure believers that He’s using everything—from the beginning of the present heaven and earth—to the new heaven and earth, for glorifying Himself, especially in believers, “according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself” (Eph 1:9). Believers are never left to themselves in anything (Jhn 14:6; Josh 1:5; Psa 37:25)! NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WordSword Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 167 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,160 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 644 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/07/2010 Status: Offline Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 15 hours ago, pinacled said: When a jew writes or expresses their faith in the Lord with a term of HaShem. It is a form of respect. HaShem is the gentle fruit of the spirit that sheaths a sword with blessings. Hi, and thanks for your interesting comment! Yes, I think most Jews believe in God (Lord), which is saying much more that the majority of mankind not believing in Him. But most Jews choose not to believe in the Lord Jesus until He returns; and those living at His return will not be blessed as the Jews "that have not seen (Him), and yet have believed" (Jhn 20:29). This is referring to His resurrection, which is also directly related to belief in Him; for one who does not believe in His resurrection does not believe in Him. Right? Blessings Friend in Christ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 241 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 6,932 Content Per Day: 3.27 Reputation: 4,864 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted February 6, 2019 22 hours ago, WordSword said: choosing to partake of the apple on the Tree (pun, assuming an apple), In some cases "apple" is a generic term to describe the seed-bearing fruit of plants. Camelias are an example of this. Sorry, was there a pun, WordSword. I could't find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike 2 Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 12 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 499 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 277 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/06/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted February 6, 2019 Why do you suppose God wants to glorify Himself? It can't be for a selfish reason........ Did He create us solely so that we would glorify Him or is there more to it than that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WordSword Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 167 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,160 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 644 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/07/2010 Status: Offline Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 24 minutes ago, Mike 2 said: Why do you suppose God wants to glorify Himself? It can't be for a selfish reason........ Did He create us solely so that we would glorify Him or is there more to it than that? Hi and appreciate your questions and comment! Yes, primarily "for Himself" (Pro 16:4), in which is the believer's greatest desire to please Him first (Rev 4:11; 14:7). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 241 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 6,932 Content Per Day: 3.27 Reputation: 4,864 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted February 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, WordSword said: Hi and appreciate your questions and comment! Yes, primarily "for Himself" (Pro 16:4), in which is the believer's greatest desire to please Him first (Rev 4:11; 14:7). Pro 16:4 (4) The LORD has made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Yes, good reference, WordSword. Also, God's purpose in Creation is inseparable from His love. Joh 3:16-21 (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that does truth comsh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WordSword Posted February 6, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 167 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,160 Content Per Day: 0.24 Reputation: 644 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/07/2010 Status: Offline Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, Michael37 said: Pro 16:4 (4) The LORD has made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Yes, good reference, WordSword. Also, God's purpose in Creation is inseparable from His love. Yes, I agree, that's why I mentioned "primarily," then secondarily as you've well mentioned, His love to man, which one could say is the primary means of His glory manifested. Good Word Michael. God be blessed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted February 7, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 596 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,089 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,833 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Offline Share Posted February 7, 2019 4 hours ago, Mike 2 said: Why do you suppose God wants to glorify Himself? It can't be for a selfish reason........ Did He create us solely so that we would glorify Him or is there more to it than that? don't forget we are to judge angels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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