Growth What is God's business?

[Kidron]

What is God's business?

well, He has 2.

1.) He's in the Creation business.

2.) He's in the Restoration business.


Both of these can be defined as "miracles", and he works on our behalf from a position that is not contained within the boundaries of time..... yet he performs the miraculous within the boundaries set by time that he designed.
This is how God is explained as never having a beginning, yet when dealing with His creation that is set in time, he operates supernaturally by setting aside the laws of nature and time within the physical realm to perform a miraculous change in a circumstance that needs a change.
If this change is on your behalf, then this is known as favor, or its known as a prayer answered.
An answered prayer, is God changing or redesigning or removing a circumstance that is harming us or someone we are praying for, and both of these are noted above as #1 & #2.....which is his Business.

 

[Brother Mike]

Both of these can be defined as "miracles", and he works on our behalf from a position that is not contained within the boundaries of time..... yet he performs the miraculous within the boundaries set by time that he designed.

We have a scripture where God works in a area not contained in time? Is not time a byproduct of creation?

I understand your trying to encourage, but we reap what we have sown.

 

[Northman]

We have a scripture where God works in a area not contained in time? Is not time a byproduct of creation?

Probably having to do with knowing the beginning from the end.

 

[Brother Mike]

Probably having to do with knowing the beginning from the end.

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
(Isa 46:10)

That is more of a Calvinism Scripture not a teaching of Jacob Arminius.

 

[Northman]

That is more of a Calvinism Scripture not a teaching of Jacob Arminius.

Heard of the first guy, never seen the name of the second guy. So what exactly does that statement mean?

 

[Brother Mike]

Heard of the first guy, never seen the name of the second guy. So what exactly does that statement mean?

Sorry about that Northman. Forgive me.

God knows the end from the beginning is often a quote in the Pentecostal type denominations. Not limited to though. It's often a quote in the Word of Faith camps, not limited to. It's also a quote heard in Baptist and other groups split on Calvinism and Arminamism.

However, who quotes it, it's misquoting a scripture.

There are zero scriptures that say God knows the end from the beginning.

If the Lord declares a thing, that is it. It stands and comes to pass. That is just not knowing something. It's not a crystal ball moment. It's God speaking and that word going forth, causing what He spoke to be accomplished.

That would be election, Calvinism. Not God gazing into a crystal ball and just knowing something.

Sorry for the confusing Brother. Even I don't know all the doctrines running around out there, and I know many.


Blessings.

 

[Northman]

Sorry about that Northman. Forgive me.

Nothing to forgive, just figured there was a misunderstanding or brain-fart or whatever you want to call it.

However, who quotes it, it's misquoting a scripture.

This is the part I didn't realize you were saying. I would not have spoke if I knew this was happening. You will have to excuse me if I give no credence to the statement.

Take care

 

[Brother Mike]

Nothing to forgive, just figured there was a misunderstanding or brain-fart or whatever you want to call it.



This is the part I didn't realize you were saying. I would not have spoke if I knew this was happening. You will have to excuse me if I give no credence to the statement.

Take care

I will see what Kidron has to say about his post. He might have something way different in mind.

 

[Malachi]

What is God's business?
well, He has 2.
1.) He's in the Creation business.
2.) He's in the Restoration business.

While this is essentially correct (if "restoration" includes salvation), God's "business" extends far beyond this. God has very specific and eternal plans and purposes for the earth, the universe, and for those whom He has redeemed by His grace. And we should not forget that He presently sustains the universe, and that Christ upholds all things by the power of His word. While gravity appears to be merely a natural law, it is an expression of God's sustaining power. Eventually, God will say "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev 21:5).

 

[Marilyn C]

Hi Malachi,

I do like & agree with what you have posted. And I don`t think it would take us off track to explore a little. So what is your understanding of Acts 3: 21. I`ll write a bit before hand -

`Repent therefore & be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, & that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.` (Acts 3: 19 - 21)

Marilyn.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

God's business is to get us saved.
That's why Jesus said, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent".

 

[Malachi]

Hi Malachi,

I do like & agree with what you have posted. And I don`t think it would take us off track to explore a little. So what is your understanding of Acts 3: 21. I`ll write a bit before hand -

`Repent therefore & be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, & that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.` (Acts 3: 19 - 21)

Marilyn,
Actually the passage you have quoted ties in very nicely with God's business, and it is giving us a synopsis of God's plan from the first coming of Christ until the consummation of all things, with the Lord Jesus Christ always in the forefront.

That word apokatastasis which has been translated as *restitution* or *restoration* refers primarily to redeemed and restored Israel in the Millennium (these words being addressed to the Jews), but because "all things" are mentioned, we must go back to Romans 8:18-25 which speaks of the restoration of all creation, as well as the redemption of our physical bodies.

What this passage is teaching is that (1) there is present salvation for the Jews through repentance and faith in Christ, (2) that God the Father will send Jesus back to earth to complete the salvation of the saints, (3) that Christ will remain in Heaven until His Second Coming, (4) that Christ will redeem and restore all things as prophesied in the OT since creation.

There is no mention of God's judgments here, but severe and righteous judgments are also part of God's business. Restoration will be preceded by universal destruction, and indeed a world wide conflagration which cannot even be imagined(2 Pet 3:7-13).

 

[Marilyn C]

Hi Malachi,

Thank you for you detailed reply. Now I think I agree but would like a further explanation, if you could please, on 2) & 3).

Marilyn.

 

[Brother Mike]

God's business is to get us saved.
That's why Jesus said, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent".

I thought His business was to get me money. Thanx Rollo, I guess I was way off track there. To much Word of Faith teaching, I guess.

Blessings though.

 

[Eugene]

.
Kidron - What is God's business?
Joh 6:29 This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Brother Mike - There are zero scriptures that say God knows the end from the beginning.
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Gen 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD?
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,
Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

 

[Brother Mike]

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Greetings Brother Eugene. Sort of let down a bit here though. If I said there are not scriptures, then my hope is that out of respect, or knowing me then you would have believed me.

There are two doctrines. Election and Foreknowledge. Election does not believe God picks through foreknowledge but by divine will, and foreknowledge believes man picks but God knows the out come anyway.

Declaring something to the end from the beginning is not foreknowledge. It's election for what God speaks, it does not return void and his counsel will stand.

Alpha and Omega is not Foreknowledge. Nothing in scripture there about that, and we don't add to scripture.

And God certainly did not cast away Israel, or those He foreknew.

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
(Rom 11:1-2)

Nothing is to hard for God, but do we add fortune teller in there also? We base the understanding of all we can drum up? Or do we base it on the many examples in Scriptures?

For unto Israel God had said, I give you the promise land, the Land of Milk and Honey.
God is more than able to get them that land.

Numbers 14 though God said, I am breaching this promise I made to you.
They did not enter in because of unbelief.

One example out of many. For God to have known they were not going to make it. Makes God a liar, and it's no longer foreknowledge but election.

 

[Eugene]

Dear Brother Mike, there is absolutely no disrespect intended; I simply understand it differently. Your alluding to Calvinistic doctrines of election is certainly not what I am proposing. It somehow appears as if we’re saying six of one, and a half dozen of the other.

I propose that without knowing the future end of all things, there would remain little to be considered truthful of prophesy. Is there a way you might think that God sat in His council wondering that you would receive Christ as your Savior? Did God speak His creation into existence not knowing the outcome beforehand? Was there a surprise to God when man partook of the tree of good and evil? Just because God saw you and me had received Jesus, it was our will to do so, and as the result His work in us is to conform us into the very image of His Son.

Anyhow brother, that is some of my thoughts on the subject. Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[Brother Mike]

I propose that without knowing the future end of all things, there would remain little to be considered truthful of prophesy.

Brother, I do love you. Prophecy, is not God knowing something. Not like God looks into his Crystal ball, and said, "OH, and write this down Isaiah, just go some new info today."

God speaks just how He wants it to turn out, it stands. That is causing, God knows, because the Word can never not come to pass.
Not fortune telling.

Adam............ God caused, or God knew?

A tree in the Garden. God knows it possible at best.

What was the wrench in the works? There was another factor involved here.

Did God tell Adam to subdue the Earth, multiply? That never happened. Adam gave it over to Satan, died early at 940 years old.
Did God mislead Adam? Give him some false sense of security?
is God like that?

 

[Malachi]

Hi Malachi,

Thank you for you detailed reply. Now I think I agree but would like a further explanation, if you could please, on 2) & 3).

Marilyn.

Item #2 pertains to the Resurrection/Rapture of the Church. That is the completion of redemption, since we all will be perfected at that time (1 Jn 3:1-3).

Item #3 indicates that Christ is presently seated at the right hand of the Father ("whom heaven must receive") until His Second Coming ("he shall send Jesus"), which is in two phases. Christ first comes FOR His saints (Rapture) and then WITH His saints (Revelation).

It is amazing how the Holy Spirit sums up in a few words events which span God's plan of redemption and restoration over at least 3,000 years. There is a lesson here for us. We do not need wordy dissertations to present God's truths. God says in a few words what man tries to say in volumes.

 

[Marilyn C]

Hi Malachi,

Yes God is very precise & as you said can sum it all up for us. Now, I agree with most of what you wrote, however where does it say that Christ come with His saints (ie. second coming)?

Marilyn.