Mornin' to ya.
We cannot know for sure why God created us.
Maybe He just needed more love than the Trinity and love He would get back --- freely. Since only free love is real love. If God determined man to love Him, that is not true love.
To add "love" to God (or to add or subtract anything from God) is to contradict His immutability. So that does not seem to be sound reasoning in my opinion. Job 35:7-8
Since only free love is real love.
I won't take the bait this time. *smiles*
Or,,,maybe God is just a creator and is creating to this very day.
I've heard some say that God is continuously creating his creation as opposed to it being initiated and continues on it's on power. Maybe Colossians 1:16
As far as God creating us for His glory...
We "backward" reformed people believe everything created is for God's pleasure and glory.
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith: He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them. Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him.
Numerous verses:
Numbers 14:21 but indeed as I live,
all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Of repentance, Joshua 6:19. "Give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him."
Isaiah 46:9-10 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else! I am God, and there is none like Me, 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".
Isaiah 48:9
Isaiah 49:3 "Thou art my servant
Jacob, in whom I will glorified."
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that others seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven."
John 17:1 "Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." As this is his first request, we may suppose it to be his supreme request and desire, and what he ultimately aimed at in all.
John 17:10 "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and
I am glorified in them."
Romans 11:36
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen"
Of reason. Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, unto himself, according to the
good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace
Of reason. Ephesians 1:9 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, [or the secret of His will] according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself” 10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times
and the climax of the ages
to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. 11 In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion)
and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with
His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel
and design of
His [own] will,
Ephesians 3:10-11
Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers;
all things were created by him, and for him."
Every thing done for God’s own sake: Joshua 7:9; 1 Samuel 12:22; Psalm 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 106:8;
109:21; 143:11; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 48:9; Jerimiah 14:7a; Jerimiah 14:21; Ezekiel 20:9, 14,22,44; Daniel 9:19
What does GLORIFY mean to you anyway?
Good question. I had to rely on others work to come to an answer that seemed right to me. (Holiness also is mentioned in the bible, but hard to put finger on without significant study by others) ... I sometimes wish God wrote the bible with a dictionary ... preferably in English ... *smiles*
Definition
Glory in one sense of the word
glory simply means
“honor” or “excellent reputation of all His attributes” (Isaiah 43:7 Whom I created for my glory, John 17:5 the glory which I had with you before the world was made). In another sense, God’s
glory means the created bright light that surrounds God’s presence (Psalm 104:1-2 O LORD may God, you are the very great? You are clothed with honor and majesty, you who cover yourself with light as with a garment.) God’s glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself (
Psalm 104:2; Revelation 21:23)
The Bible often substitutes the word “glory” for a specific attribute of God, the attribute intended having then to be determined from the context.
Example:
- Isaiah 6:3 The seraphs’ antiphonal cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory,” probably intends to declare that God’s majestic holiness is present and manifest throughout the whole earth.
- Romans 3:23 In the sentence “All sinned and are falling short of the glory of God,” the word “glory” refers particularly to God’s righteousness.
can we honor a God that is not just in His dealings with manking?
Define Just, Define Agape Love, Define Mercy (please supply a source that agrees with your definitions) ... seems we are talking past each other when referring to these terms
My definitions:
Agape Love: The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.
https://www.gotquestions.org/agape-love.html
Justice and Mercy: God’s
justice and
mercy are seemingly incompatible. After all, justice involves the dispensing of deserved punishment for wrongdoing, and mercy is all about pardon and compassion for an offender.
https://www.gotquestions.org/mercy-justice.html
Of course, I don't agree that God is the cause of all things.
Give an example of something that exists that God did not create please. This would validate your assertion. What is the cause of this thing (or is it eternal and therefore without cause)?
Aside: I only know of one thing you might say, and it is not a thing... but let's see what you put forward.
All your theology derives from this....(that God is the creator of all things)
but this theology makes God be the creator of evil when the bible teaches that in Him there is NO EVIL.
This makes God be responsible for everything,,,,even the evil that man do.
What would be your response to this?
Fascinating question. Happy to answer this on the condition you answer the following question first:
Where did evil come from ???
All your theology derives from this....(that God is the creator of all things)
but this theology makes God be the creator of evil when the bible teaches that in Him there is NO EVIL.
You've come to an invalid conclusion due to a false premise. I will explain when you answer the question:
Where did evil come from ??? (or admit your theology can not come up with an answer ... I'll give you a way out ... *smiles*)
McCarthur says there is no answer.
We just have to accept it.
How do you accept two opposing thoughts?
1. God is love.
2. God causes evil.
3. God holds us responsible for it even though HE caused it.
I challenge you to find a quote where MacArthur propagates #2 and #3. IMO you found something he said and wrongly think it implies #2 and #3. But, prove me wrong. Find one place where MacArthur states #2 or #3.
God hated Esau?
Could you support that somehow?
Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13
Perhaps HATE means something different in
Romans 9:13 ??
Put forward your definition of Hate ....and of Agape Love, Mercy and Justice (preferably with a source that agrees). Hopefully you will say Hate means "Loves Less", which definition I am fairly comfortable to accept (though not what I would put forward as my definition) as it is my contention that God does not love all people the same.
Perhaps "God hates sin, but loves the sinner" to try to explain God loving those that are evil?
Always interesting ... thx for your patience and thoughtful demeanor.
