Bible question

happyperson · #1 Jul 22, 2003, 06:06 AM

Hello everyone,

I have a question for all you Bible scholars. What is the theme of the Bible and what does it have to do with the end of this system of things?

Thanks,
Happyperson

ajackson · Jul 22, 2003, 08:41 AM

Hi;

The theme of the Bible is: It is God's love letter to us about Jesus. Thus, the Bible is a roadmap that guides us and teaches us how to relate to God, how to relate to others and how to relate to ourselves.

Arthur

juanruiz · Jul 22, 2003, 01:33 PM

So let's all go out now and kill us some Canaanites!

ysicj · Jan 3, 2004, 05:14 PM

The purpose of all creation is to glorify God. Man's salvation or damnation will accomplish this either way. The Bible is part of God's plan as he has chosen that his desire and plan of salvation be by his grace, not man's works, through faith.

So in understanding the way he deals with man you must remember that all things are design and performed with the end result of glorifying God and to get man to put his faith in him.

God could simply open the heavens at any time he liked and introduce himself, but this is not how he has decided to glorify himself. It is like the Titanic, once someone opened there month and made the statement that she was unsinkable or not even God could sink her, she was doomed, regardless how many lives would be lost.

ajackson · Jan 6, 2004, 06:46 AM

Very good reply. I loved your analysis with the titantic.

In His grip!

Arthur

ysicj · Jan 6, 2004, 02:44 PM

Unfortunately, not many really understand this principle of God's plan and word. His Glory comes first, then man's salvation, e.g., to deny that God is in charge, even of the evil, is to deny him his glory, 9-11, etc. Those who do so have a fanciful Santa for a God.

Quote:

]Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

Graham3 · Jan 16, 2004, 05:56 PM

Hi

The evil which consists in the defect of action is always caused by the defect of the agent. But in God there is no defect, but the highest perfection, Hence, the evil which consists in defect of action, or which is caused by defect of the agent, is not reduced to God as to its cause.

But the evil which consists in the corruption of some things is reduced to God as the cause. And this appears as regards both natural things and voluntary things. For it was said that some agent inasmuch as it produces by its power a form to which follows corruption and defect, causes by its power that corruption and defect. But it is manifest that the form which God chiefly intends in things created is the good of the order of the universe. Now, the order of the universe requires that there should be some things that can, and do sometimes, fail. And thus God, by causing in things the good of the order of the universe, consequently and as it were by accident, causes the corruptions of things, according to 1 Kgs. 2:6: "The Lord killeth and maketh alive." But when we read that "God hath not made death" (Wis. 1:13), the sense is that God does not will death for its own sake. Nevertheless the order of justice belongs to the order of the universe; and this requires that penalty should be dealt out to sinners. And so God is the author of the evil which is Penalty, but not of the evil which is fault, by reason of what is said above.

These passages refer to the evil of penalty, and not to the evil of fault.
The effect of the deficient secondary cause is reduced to the first non-deficient cause as regards what it has of being and perfection, but not as regards what it has of defect; just as whatever there is of motion in the act of limping is caused by the motive power, whereas what there is of obliqueness in it does not come from the motive power, but from the curvature of the leg. And, likewise, whatever there is of being and action in a bad action, is reduced to God as the cause; whereas whatever defect is in it is NOT caused by God, but by the deficient secondary cause.

The sinking of a ship is attributed to the sailor as the cause, from the fact that he does not fulfil what the safety of the ship requires; but God does not fail in doing what is necessary for the safety of all. Hence there is no parity.

Graham3

ajackson · Jan 17, 2004, 12:50 PM

Hi Visci and Graham,

I enjoyed your answers, nevertheless, the original question was "what is the theme of the Bible"? My answer to this question at first should have been JESUS IS THE THEME OF THE BIBLE (see Luke 19:10) and is now my corrected answer.

speedball1 · Jan 17, 2004, 02:14 PM

the original question was "what is the theme of the Bible"? My answer to this question at first should have been JESUS IS THE THEME OF THE BIBLE (see Luke 19:10) and is now my corrected answer. [/quote]

Iguess we can just toss out the old testament Huh?

ysicj · Jan 17, 2004, 02:21 PM

Graham3,

Well has the Scripture spoken, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

The passage you quote as 1 Kings 2:6 is 1 Samuel 2:6 for reference sake. Why you would think that God did not make death is beyond me, who else would or could have? The Bible has 66 books corresponding to the 66 chapters of Isaiah, the book of "Wis." is not one of them. The proofs of the Bible are self contained. The phrase, "God hath not made death," is not found in his word, seeing he made all things.

Quote:

](Proverbs 16:4) The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

No sir, your sophistry simply robs God of his glory. Who created the lake of fire?

Quote:

](Matthew 25:41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

No sir, God created death just as he did life.

Quote:

]Samuel 2:3-8
(3) Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
(4) The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
(5) They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
(6) The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
(7) The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

(Deuteronomy 32:39) See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Satan could not even persecute Job without God’s permission and could not kill him.

Quote:

](Job 1:12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

(Job 2:6) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

God rules in the kingdom of men.

Quote:

](Daniel 4:17) This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

To say that God is not in control, even of the evil in the world, is to be completely ignorant of his word. There are many more examples I could relate in scripture to support this fact.

Quote:

]Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.



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