Doctrine, freewill and the “divine plan” are topics, today. Also, there is more on what it means to “come as you are.” The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Wisdom itself.” (Level 4 with 4,192 points, a member since August 26, 2011) posted the following:
If God gave man freewill, how is every-thing a part of His plan?
THE BATTLE AXE: Come As You Are (06/29/3013)—Because GOD is a spirit who must be worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4: 24 and Philippians 3: 2-3, KJV), mankind must be totally transformed to escape the limitations of flesh and mind. Coming to Christ we begin a journey to become completely immortal and incorruptible. Holy angels dwelling in the celestial presence (we say, heaven), were first to come under the influence of sin despite that they are spirit beings (not mortals, yet not immortal) who contain only sacred knowledge, and continue their existence through experiences of divine service. It is a consequence of sin that all upon the earth who seek open and permanent access to GOD must do so through repentance. In addition to remorse or sorrow for sin, repentance expresses growth, love, maturity, obedience, and awareness of sovereign presence. “Come as you are” is suitable only as a beginning for ones new awareness and spiritual change. The believer is also to embrace, “no turning back,” “crucified with Christ,” and “dead to sin, alive to GOD.” See Romans 6: 6 and 6: 11, Galatians 2: 20 and 5: 24, 1st Peter 2: 24 and Revelation 19: 9-11, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7: 14-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Common Danger (01/02/2013); The Root of Jesse (01/03/2013); See With New Eyes (11/06/2012); A Life Companion? (11/07/2012); Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Caesarea Philippi (10/22/2012); Sin Without Wrongdoing? (08/28/2012); On Religious Items (08/29/2012); (10/12/2011) Binder 15: Even From Everlasting; In The Rain? (03/07/2011)
“Wisdom itself.”, here are some thoughts GOD has provided to those living as believers in the kingdom of GOD through Jesus Christ:
(1) “Freewill” (some say, self-will) in mankind is finite and limited. Just as freewill does not stop the snow from falling on a cold winters day, or make it that rain is no longer wet, freewill cannot eliminate sin, overturn ignorance of GOD and divine purpose, or take the place of redemption and salvation through the shed blood of Jesus.
(2) That GOD has a “plan for all things” is shared as a simple formula to supply a beginning grasp upon multiple profound truths that pertain to the universe, and the spheres of all existence. Like children who master “mama”, “dada”, or recite the “ABC’s” (yet are still unable to read and write), to please GOD, created beings and living creatures must do more than merely exercise and master self-will.
(3) Sin may corrupt and dominate self-will. In mankind, the ability to detect and identify sin, and the strength to resist the influence of sin over will power are invisibly eroded and reduced over time through action and behavior. Only by receiving a fresh infusion of divine spirit through Jesus Christ do men possess the necessary measure of divine will that permits fulfillment of divine purpose.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4) Men become able to understand and cooperate with the divine plan only through such operations of GOD as baptism, redemption, repentance, salvation, and sanctification. So to speak: There must be the death of that original spirit one was born with; rebirth through an endowment by GOD of divine DNA; and growing up again while meeting the challenges and growing pains of life upon the earth.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD 