RD>or even in the hands of other people, for example, Abraham's 
RD>to save Sodom,
God had already decided to do exactly what He did and knew exactly what He 
was going to do.  The whole incident was for Abraham's benefit, not God's. 
God apparently changes His mind, etc., in order to reveal to us His 
longsuffering, patience, and mercy.  In fact, most theologians would call 
these manifestations of God anthropomorphic.  They are there to help us 
relate to God but God Himself is unchangeable and totally transcendant.
RD>and Moses' changing of God's mind when God was bent on
RD>destruction.  However, it NEVER shows God creating anything with the 
RD>intent
RD>of it being evil and condemned.
No, but when Adam and Eve rebelled as federal heads of the human race they 
brought the curse of sin and condemnation on all.  To deny original sin is 
essentially and ultimately to deny the need for the cross because we could 
then choose not to sin and would not need a Savior.  The Bible and 
universal human experience shows that this is not true.  All are born 
sinners and continually sin all their lives.  That is why we need grace to 
transform us.
The case of Moses is also the same.  God does not literally repent, but for 
Moses' own peace of mind and to teach the Jews a spiritual and theological 
lesson the Scriptures portray a change in God's intention.
RD>Remember, God, in Jeremiah 3, says that RD>he
RD>intended for the Jews to obey and be saved.  Their own disobedience 
RD>caused
RD>their fall, just as disobedience caused the fall of Adam and Eve, and 
RD>that of
RD>Satan.
True.  Free will did lead to rebellion because the innocence and sinless 
state of Adam and Eve and even Satan was mutable or changeable.  God does 
not change.  He never sins.
RD>A "victorious" Jesus is one who gives us a choice, and can save all who
RD>the right choice.  A "defeated" Jesus is one who wasted his death on 
RD>people who
RD>were already saved, and cannot do anything for those who are damned.
Again, this is a misconception.  People are elected before the foundation 
of the world.  However, they are not saved until the point of their 
response:
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter 11  Of Justification
4. God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,(11) and 
Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for 
their justification;(12) nevertheless, they are not justified personally, 
until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.(13)
11. Gal 3:8; 1Pe 1:2; 1Ti 2:6.
 12. Ro 4:25.
 13. Col 1:21-22; Tit 3:4-7.
Additionally, people are not already saved.  They must actually repent 
before they can receive the application of Christ's blood atonement.
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Chapter 15
Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,(4) whereby a person, 
being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, 
doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, 
detestation of it, and self-abhorrency,(5) praying for pardon and strength 
of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk 
before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.(6)
4. Zec 12:10; Ac 11:18.
 5. Eze 36:31; 2Co 7:11.
 6. Ps 119:6,128.
The victorious Jesus does give all a free choice and the ability to choose 
their own self determination.  The problem is that those who are not 
enabled to respond to His grace always choose to rebel and continue in sin.
Jesus never fails.  He saves all who come to Him and His mission never 
fails because all are saved who will be saved.
1689 LBCF
Chapter 12
Of Adoption
1. All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of His 
only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,(1) by 
which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and 
privileges of children of God,
(2) have His name put on them,(3) receive the spirit of adoption,(4) have 
access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, 
Father,(5) are pitied,(6) protected,(7) provided for,(8) and chastened by 
Him as by a Father,(9) yet never cast off,(10) but sealed to the day of 
redemption,(11) and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting 
salvation.(12)
1. Eph 1:5; Gal 4:4-5.
 2. Jn 1:12; Ro 8:17.
 3. 2Co 6:18; Rev 3:12.
 4. Ro 8:15.
 5. Gal 4:6; Eph 2:18.
 6. Ps 103:13.
 7. Pr 14:26.
 8. 1Pe 5:7.
 9. Heb 12:6.
 10. Isa 54:8-9; La 3:31.
 11. Eph 4:30.
 12. Heb 1:14; 6:12.
Sincerely in Christ,
Charlie Ray, 
Chaplain
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourself and your hearers.  (NIV).
chaplain@isgroup.net
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 * WR  # 461 * Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide.
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