Hey Mitch
I am not familiar with non-euclidian geometry. Is it irrational? If so why is it important to understand? Do you also believe there are different standards of reason for East and West, or are the laws of logic fixed ?
As to your previous post.
Do you believe that Satan was not originally evil, but became so through an act of free agency? Is free agency/will necessary for moral beings to exists (God, man, Satan, and other angels). Could Satan now decide to choose Good or come back to God (however unlikely), or is Satan no longer Free?
Will we (or you, at least) still have free will in heaven? If so, could you then become evil after already entered the kingdom of God? Do you need to worry that maybe your salvation is not permanent, but subject to you continuing to choose (with your free will) correctly?
That's a load of questions and I'm not sure I'm qualified to give you an adequate response, but I'll share my opinion as to what I believe the bible teaches. Christianity is not dualistic. There is not a good God and a bad God. God is totally and unalterably good. Satan is a created being who became evil by choosing to rebel against God. There is not a great deal of explicit teaching on the how and why of Satan's demise, but it is clear in the bible, that there is no going back to God for Satan. Satan has forfeited his freedom and indeed does not desire to be reconciled with God.
Humans on the other hand are in essentially the same position as Satan with respect to our position and desire, before God. However we do have the opportunity of reconciliation with God because and only because God, in His graciousness toward Humanity has made the way of reconciliation open through faith in the voluntary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the GOD/MAN. This sacrifice, propitiated or satisfied God's just wrath so that He could be (at the same time) both just, and the Justifier.
Protestant Christians see "salvation" as having three aspects that while they can be distinguished, can never be separated. They are Justification, sanctification, and Glorification.
Justification, (and again, Catholics do not agree), is viewed as something that God alone accomplishes. We must receive it through an act of faith but as it turns out, even our faith is a gift from God. Justification is seen as a forensic declaration on God's part. A legal pronouncement if you like, whereby the Righteousness of Jesus Christ (the sinless Son of God), is imputed to our account, and our sins are laid on Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for them at the cross.
Sanctification, is a process whereby in cooperation with God we become more and more like Christ, into who's image we are being transformed. Simply put it is a process im which we become, in practice what we have already been declared by God to be in position. That is why all Christians are Saints. Not because of our own efforts or because of some ecclesiastical pronouncement, but on account of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Glorification is the end result of our relationship with God. We will receive new, glorified bodies that will have an eternal perfection. Our hearts will also be transformed, not in a way that stifles our wills and therefore prevents us from sinning like a wall that keeps something out, or in. Rather our wills themselves will be transformed so that the desire to sin will be totally absent. In other words we will be like Christ in all possible ways. It would obviously not be possible for us to be God since we are created beings, yet it is possible for God to perfect our characters without denying us freedom.
Maybe this is way too much info, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Have a great day
Greg |
