Meat Times of the End?

[steve]

Does a father micromanage everything in his family, just because he can?

Actually, some do.
More’s the pity.

 

[Joleneakamama]

Look around you at what is going on, could you possibly insult Yah more than by claiming that His will reigns?

He created the judgements. The curses of Deut 28 are upon us, and I would go further then to say that His will is reigning. I would say He is probably Happy about it too!
Deut. 28:63
"And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it."

I lean toward universal reconciliation though. Perishing here is simply going the way of all the earth.

 

[rockfox]

I would say that God condescends (i.e. with-descends) to our level to speak in temporal, relatable terms. Sometimes He chooses to speak like a mortal human to be better understood, and create a greater emotional connection. This isn't an alteration of His nature any more than when any of us talk to a baby in an entirely ridiculous manner that we would never use with another adult – we do it to connect with the baby.

That's a 'who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?' argument.

And your argument speaks to the opposite for me. I speak to my children like adults and they advance in language much faster than children of parents who use baby talk.

When God decided to destroy the people of Israel and Moses changed His mind, that wasn't God "talking to us like a baby". That was God having His course changed by a mere mortal man.

True, I added a new element there that complicated the question. I'll rephrase.

What if someone in all seriousness says the "sinners prayer", truly intending to follow God, but immediately goes back to a life of depravity, never speaks of Christianity, never meets with other Christians, never reads scripture. Just said the words. Do you believe they are saved?

The question is whether a simple affirmation of belief is all that is required, or whether someone needs to actually repent, ie honestly attempt to change their ways, to be saved. Is salvation by grace alone and granted to the person who sincerely professes belief, or by grace alone but granted to the person who sincerely repents of their sins and professes belief. It is about the role of repentance in salvation.

There is no sinner's prayer in the NT. Well, there is something that functions the same way; but it ain't a prayer.