Greetings Steve, and all who love the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your reply.
You said;
<< Please have patience with me here but you are not answering my question, or I am not hearing the answer clearly. >>
With all due respect Steve, I believe the latter is applicable here.
As I said previously, I do not know much more to say to you about this topic.
Have you not for a moment, stopped and considered what I said many times to you in previous posts.
You said;
<<< What I am addressing is this, if Pharaoh was fallen, he could not make a GOOD decision for God (by letting the Jews go), or to choose God (to believe in the God of the Jews), according to your beliefs. Why would God have to make special mention that he had to harden Pharaoh's heart, when Pharaoh was predestined to be fallen? It is inherent in your definition to be fallen, that a fallen man has a hardened heart, before he even lives. >>>
Steve, I'll try one more time;
1. Certainly Pharaoh could have chosen to let Gods people go, but he didn't. God in His foreknowledge knew that before it occurred. This "hardening " that you think God did to Pharaoh was just the " natural " result of Gods judgements against him. God was saying in effect, that Pharaoh's heart would harden as the result of Gods judgements. Can't you see that ?. Keep it in proper order.
2. " If " ( never the beginning of a true story ) Pharaoh chose to let Gods people go, this choice would still be rejected by God because ALL MANKIND HAVE A FALLEN NATURE INHERITED FROM ADAM. Do you not see that all decisions that are made in our natural life ( Adam ) , even though some might be " good " in themselves , they are rejected by God , since their origin is ADAM.
You said,
<< Let me also try to phrase it another way, according to your beliefs, isn't everyone that is fallen heart's hardened before they even live? And if that is true, why does God make special mention to us, repeatedly that he hardens Pharoahs heart, when it already was hardened before his life even started? If we knew Pharaoh was fallen, there would be no need to mention the hardening of his heart, according to your definition.>>
Everybody born from Adam has a " hostile " nature toward God and is spiritually dead " toward Him. Man is alienated from God and will never seek after a Holy God in himself. It is God Himself who makes the first move toward us......................end of story.
There is NOTHING good in you Steve, that is your " flesh ". The sooner you see that, by the grace of God, the sooner you will understand what I am struggling to share with you.
I know you read Watchman Nee. I find most of his writings very much in line with the Word of God. If your sincere Steve, please pick up a copy of his best book called , " The Spiritual Man " . It is a classic and a must for Christians to read and apply in their lives. It will help you very much to understand what we are talking about, especially the corruption of our " flesh ".
Talk with you later Steve, God Bless.
In Christ , Robert |
