tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-844580814553243517.post537438478067860317..comments2024-03-20T06:13:51.909-04:00Comments on Christ is All!: All Your Disappointments Are Ultimately Christ's DoingJoseph Randallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16595065822113855411noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-844580814553243517.post-84965480817718209202010-07-01T12:39:30.479-04:002010-07-01T12:39:30.479-04:00Sorry about the links - try these for the Piper es...Sorry about the links - try these for the Piper essays:<br /><br />http://tiny.cc/ordainevil<br /><br />http://tiny.cc/twowillsJoseph Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16595065822113855411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-844580814553243517.post-46746903314833620012010-07-01T12:31:15.746-04:002010-07-01T12:31:15.746-04:00Hello Dan,
I totally hear what you are saying. I...Hello Dan,<br /><br />I totally hear what you are saying. I was thinking about my post from the perspective of a girl who has been raped or abused, even as a child. Or from the perspective of any other number of things that are absolutely wicked. This would be a tough word and would have to be handled with care.<br /><br />First, the word "Ultimately" in the post title is very important to me. Ultimately, everything is under God's sovereign control, even the most wicked act ever committed in the universe - the cross. <br /><br />Luke writes: ". . . 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, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place" (Acts 4:27-28).<br /> <br />Ultimately, God predestined the cross, but there was much sin involved - Herod's sin, Pontius Pilate's sin, the Gentiles' sin, and the Jews' sin, but God used the sin of these people in a sinless way (God never sins) to bring about His perfect plan - the salvation of His people. This is very similar to the story of Joseph: <br /><br />Genesis 50:18-20: His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. <br /><br />God meant for good (not just "used" or "turned around" for good) what Joseph brothers meant for evil. God used sin sinlessly to bring about His perfect plan. <br /><br />If God can do that with the greatest sin that has every been committed, He can do it with anything. The story of Job is another great example.<br /><br />These two essays by John Piper have really helped me a ton on these matters:<br /><br />http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/1998/1476_Is_God_Less_Glorious_Because_He_Ordained_that_Evil_Be/ <br /><br />http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1580_Are_There_Two_Wills_in_God/ <br /><br />I hope that was helpful. <br />JosephJoseph Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16595065822113855411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-844580814553243517.post-27765678181476353412010-07-01T03:13:25.623-04:002010-07-01T03:13:25.623-04:00Joseph, I do find great comfort in that. Yet, I s...Joseph, I do find great comfort in that. Yet, I struggle reconciling God's goodness with these means (I understand the end). How is it that He is separate, yet intricate?<br /><br />Example... Yesterday, one of my best friends had twins. His little boy got sick soon after birth and underwent critical surgery this afternoon. At one point it looked like he would die, but the surgery went very well and it appears that he will be fine... Now, sickness and death are part of the fall. So is it that God allows these episodes or does he command these things to take place. <br /><br />Let me know if this makes sense. Please hear me that I'm with you and for you, and I think your post is right. I just have some cob webs that I'm trying to sort through.Dan Orrhttp://www.itsabeautifulgospel.comnoreply@blogger.com