Are we the co-author of our own life

Sigur Ros · 03-22-2006, 01:42 AM

I was reading one of the forum's on free will & thinking about it all and I was wondering 2 what extent to we control our lives

Now if god already knows everything that is going to occur and choices we are going to make how can there be such a thing as free will not in the sense that the greater being (god) will influence or make the alternative’s for us but in the sense that all of the universe and more importantly our three state's of soul (thinking,feeling,willing) now seem to be just an extension of god's plan living itself out and human being's mechanically going along with the process even if we are conscious of it or not & that true contentment (happiness) is just what god will's (happy) to b, I get that same feeling neo does in the matrix like you know how he doesn’t like the idea he's not in total control of his life and he’s just going along with the ant farm. Maybe I am going in circles here and not asking the right question but I think its an important thing to reflect on.

Vespertine · 03-22-2006, 02:02 AM

The part where you mention consciousness bears relevance. The point that humans are placed inside time when God is outside time means that we are only aware or conscious of the events in our portion of eternity. This means that although God is outside time and knows all the choices we are to make and then actions we commit we are still the authors of our own lives; we have the power to make each decision. That is the way that God created us.

Planet Bass · 03-22-2006, 02:04 AM

Hmmm... now if thats not a lot to think about then i dont know what is... lol

I think that we do have control of our lives. We chose what to do, when to do it and how much we let god guide us through our lives. Its just that god created us. He knows us so well that he knows exactly what we'll do and when we'll do it. HE knows how we think, how we react to certain things and exactly what wed do when were presented with the exact things that we are going to be presented with in our lives to come.

I dont think in the way that our lives are set in stone and whats going to happen is going to happen. I just think that gid knows what we are going to do, and we should be thinking that were going to do him proud. We should be expecting that what god sees for us is something amazing. And we should grab hold of that and live for him.

Live life 2 da max

Sigur Ros · 03-22-2006, 02:06 AM

Yeah but dosent that come bak to the hole "why wud god sit out side of time and space as the casual obserevr and let us make these mistakes"

also ...is this really the best of all possible worlds lol

Planet Bass · 03-22-2006, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigur Ros

Yeah but dosent that come bak to the hole "why wud god sit out side of time and space as the casual obserevr and let us make these mistakes"

also ...is this really the best of all possible worlds lol

No, god kicked humans out of the garden because they showed him we wanted our independence. I think God lets us make our own mistakes because we need to learn from them. And i dont think that god just sits outside of time and space as the casual observer. HEs as real and right here right now as you or i am... even realer id say...

Vespertine · 03-22-2006, 02:17 AM

Quote:

best of all possible worlds

What do you mean of all possible worlds?

Also, God created us with free will. So in a sense yes, God has to sit outside and be the casual observer because if he was to make our decisions for us it would contradict the way he wanted us to be.

Vespertine · 03-22-2006, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Planet Bass

No, god kicked humans out of the garden because they showed him we wanted our independence. I think God lets us make our own mistakes because we need to learn from them. And i dont think that god just sits outside of time and space as the casual observer. HEs as real and right here right now as you or i am... even realer id say...

Adam and Eve were banished from the garden because they already had independance. This is shown in that they were able to choose whether to eat from the tree or not. Unless you define independance to be seperated from God.

Sigur Ros · 03-22-2006, 02:37 AM

the best of all possible worlds - in the sense that god wud not allow anything less than the universe that is (now) that this 1 (out of) universe has the best out come for human beings and all other things because certain and even uncertain events will/dont take place. so as it has been put many time before the optimist says brightly, "This is the best of all possible worlds," whereupon the pessimist sighs, "I'm afraid you're right." and we will always accept what god creates.

**Skeeter** · 03-22-2006, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vespertine

Also, God created us with free will.

Scripture?

Vespertine · 03-22-2006, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Scripture?

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

From this I would assume that if God commanded man to eat freely from any tree except one and man was able to choose not to, I would consider that man is able to choose freely ie. has free will.

**Skeeter** · 03-22-2006, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vespertine

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

From this I would assume that if God commanded man to eat freely from any tree except one and man was able to choose not to, I would consider that man is able to choose freely ie. has free will.

I think this is a misinterpretation of the type of freedom God granted to Adam. He is given the freedom to choose from which tree he will eat. This does not equate to free will. His choices were still determined by his will. There is certainly debate over whether pre-Fall man had actual free will, but I think it's clear that post-Fall man is slave to sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:16) and thus makes choices from a will that is not free.

I fail to see how God can be portrayed as a casual observer of our lives when "in all things God works for the good of those who love him," calling "according to his purpose," predetinating, foreknowing, justifying, glorifying (Romans 8:28-30). This is not a picture of a God that sits back as a casual observer.

Ephesians 1:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

**Chrysostom** · 03-22-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigur Ros

I was reading one of the forum's on free will & thinking about it all and I was wondering 2 what extent to we control our lives

Now if god already knows everything that is going to occur and choices we are going to make how can there be such a thing as free will not in the sense that the greater being (god) will influence or make the alternative’s for us but in the sense that all of the universe and more importantly our three state's of soul (thinking,feeling,willing) now seem to be just an extension of god's plan living itself out and human being's mechanically going along with the process even if we are conscious of it or not & that true contentment (happiness) is just what god will's (happy) to b, I get that same feeling neo does in the matrix like you know how he doesn’t like the idea he's not in total control of his life and he’s just going along with the ant farm. Maybe I am going in circles here and not asking the right question but I think its an important thing to reflect on.

You're assuming that our acting must be merely "mechanical" if our action is an outworking of God's definite plan. This doesn't seem to have been the case with the work of Jesus (see below), a fortiori it needn't be the case with us.

John 10:17-18
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

Acts 2:23
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 4:27-28
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

1 Peter 1:20
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,

**Sean** · 03-22-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vespertine

Also, God created us with free will. So in a sense yes, God has to sit outside and be the casual observer because if he was to make our decisions for us it would contradict the way he wanted us to be.

Scripture?

Napoleon17 · 03-22-2006, 04:42 PM

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Elationist · 03-22-2006, 10:27 PM

Q: Are we the co-author of our own life?

A: Yes...but God still forgives us through Christ our Lord.

Well the answer is actually No we are not.

Let me explain what I mean. Yes, we are involved in our own life through choice as one means, but we are not co-author of it.

God is Author (capital G) (capital A).

He is also the perfecter, the finisher of our faith.

That's why we're here!

God made us in His own image and after sin entered, He brings us into relationship again with Him by His sacrificial atonement. So we are twice God's.

Call it a mystery, well it was mystery but had been revealed in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:9-11 (NIV) 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 2:10 (NIV) In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:17 (NIV) Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So in conclusion: Through physical creation and now through the Spirit of God, we are spiritually His creations. God alone is the Author. We are not co anything...well except co-heirs with Christ! Amen.