Paradise on Earth

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:25 am

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

postroad · Post by **postroad** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 7:37 pm

[Replying to post 250 by onewithhim] Was Paul in error?

Gods Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though Gods word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abrahams children. On the contrary, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.[a] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are Gods children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abrahams offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.

10 Not only that, but Rebekahs children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad"in order that Gods purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls"she was told, The older will serve the younger.[c] 13 Just as it is written: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.[d]

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,

I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.[e]
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on Gods mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.[f] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

19 One of you will say to me: Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will? 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, Why did you make me like this?[g] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath"prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory" 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:43 am

postroad wrote: [Replying to post 250 by onewithhim] Was Paul in error?
Gods Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though Gods word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abrahams children. On the contrary, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.[a] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are Gods children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abrahams offspring.

No, Paul was not in error. He explained that God's special people now were not merely those descendants of Abraham (in the flesh), but were those who accepted Christ and were in line for the promises originally offered to physical Israel.

What's your point?

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postroad · Post by **postroad** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:07 am

[Replying to post 252 by onewithhim]
Paul indicates that the majority of the Jews had been predestined to be hardened by God and therefore could not believe in order to accomplish the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:7-10New International Version (NIV)

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.[a]
9 And David says:

May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:15 am

postroad wrote: [Replying to post 252 by onewithhim]
Paul indicates that the majority of the Jews had been predestined to be hardened by God and therefore could not believe in order to accomplish the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:7-10New International Version (NIV)

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,
to this very day.[a]
9 And David says:

May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.

I didn't get that out of what he said at all.

postroad · Post by **postroad** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:21 am

[Replying to post 254 by onewithhim] Only the elect amoung the Jews believed because God gave the rest a spirit of stupor in order that they be hardened and not comprehend and believe. It is all there in the text.

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:05 pm

postroad wrote: [Replying to post 254 by onewithhim] Only the elect amoung the Jews believed because God gave the rest a spirit of stupor in order that they be hardened and not comprehend and believe. It is all there in the text.

Yes. What does this mean?

It can be said that one cannot understand God's purposes without the gift of spiritual "eyesight." Doesn't He willingly give this eyesight, or, insight, to people who are willing to be His friend?

"If you, then, being [relatively] evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11:13, NASB)

The Jews were uninterested in the Holy Spirit and spiritual insight. This is clear from Jesus' words about them. (E.g., Matthew chapter 23.) Jehovah does not give spiritual insight to those who are stubborn or rebellious (which the natural Jews were, since the days of Moses). He LETS their "eyes become darkened"....their spiritual eyes of understanding. (Luke 19:42; Romans 11:8-10)

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postroad · Post by **postroad** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:44 pm

[Replying to post 256 by onewithhim] God also promised to give them a new Spirit of obedience. Did he change his mind about that?

Jeremiah 32:38-40New International Version (NIV)

38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:52 pm

postroad wrote: [Replying to post 256 by onewithhim] God also promised to give them a new Spirit of obedience. Did he change his mind about that?

Jeremiah 32:38-40New International Version (NIV)

38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

Nope. His people are now the Christian congregation---"spiritual Israel," "the Israel of God."

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postroad · Post by **postroad** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 12:58 pm

[Replying to post 258 by onewithhim]
Seems difficult to believe concidering God hasn't given Christianity those gifts either? Was God lying to the Jews when he gave that promise.

onewithhim · Post by **onewithhim** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:02 pm

postroad wrote: [Replying to post 258 by onewithhim]
Seems difficult to believe concidering God hasn't given Christianity those gifts either? Was God lying to the Jews when he gave that promise.

No. They could've stopped their hard-headedness and started obeying Him and cleared out the pagan gods from their midst and started treating each other with love. But they chose not to do that.

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