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THE SPIRITUAL SAGACITY OF PREDESTINATION IN LOVE

 

 

FOREKNOWLEDGE AND CHRISTIAN FAITH

 

 

 

 

Robert E.  Donaldson

 

 

 

 

Published by World Wide Web Witness Inc.

 

©

 

 

 

ISBN  09758436 9 9

 

 

APRIL 2006

 

Extended May-June- August  2006

June 2007

 

 

 

 

PREFACE

 

In this volume, there is much attention given to the heights and wonders of a freedom that soars, yet is not autonomy, a foreknowledge which selects, but is not a 'horrible decree', to use Calvin's term, a predestination in love and the simple  fact that these biblical concepts are an apologetic triumph for biblical Christianity, for the lost who seek and for the insecure who long.

 

They are drawn from several chapters in other works, published since the fifth volume of the PQ or Predestination Quintet saw the light of day, with provision for further additions, one more being presented with this publication.

 

Now it is necessary to change that name PQ  to PH, as in chemistry, where it refers to hydrogen ion concentration, the most acidic as ph 1, and the more alkaline assembling itself after ph 7. Here however, since this is not chemistry, it is a matter of PREDESTINATION HEXAD, for the latter term can mean simply a group of six. It is no longer the PQ. That is the new name for what is now a six volume set on predestination, freewill, responsibility, love, justice, judgment and duty.

 

When therefore one may see somewhere on this site, the PQ designation, this will now in fact refer to the PH, this current work.

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1               THE GENESIS OF MAN, HIS GENES,
                        HIS GROWTH IN GRACE  AND HIS PLACE

 

... from  The True God has God, Gives Grace and Glory Ch. 4.

 

This chapter leads us to consider genetics and liberty, liberty and love, love and predestination, this and foreknowledge.

 

In addition, you may consult

 

News 45, 166, 153,
Licence for Liberty Ch.   6,  8
,

Lord of Life Ch.   5
Beauty of Holiness
Chs.  7 ,  8

Spiritual Refreshings Ch. 13,
Tender Times for Timely Truth
Ch.  10,

Ancient Words and Modern Events  Ch.  9;

Defining Drama Ch.  10

 

 

Chapter 2               THE TURMOIL OF TOLSTOY AND THE TRUTH

 

,,, from   Bon Voyage Ch. 1

 

In this, we examine some of the ideas of Tolstoy in this field, and find a proto-Marxist approach, which however, while urbane enough, does not come to the depth of that false prophet.

 

We see that it is not a question of endless causative dynamics in a consequential world, for this is a mere creaking of the structure of things. There is far more to account for, but Tolstoy is a good  starting point.

 

Chapter 3  THE LAVISH LUXURY OF LIBERTY IN THE HAND OF GOD

 

... from Scaling the Heights, Scanning the Depths, Spanning the Breadth Ch. 5. Though this chapter  has a multiple involvement in these themes, it gives special attention to FREEDOM and its correlative powers in man, spirit and its functions in man, and the nature of love.

 

Chapter 4  DESTINY, JUDGMENT AND MERCY

 

... from The Pride of Life, The Prince of Life and the Destiny of Man Ch. 7.

In this chapter, destiny and judgment receive focus, and how our basic topics relate to them.

 

 

Chapter 5  THE LORD LOVES, AND DON'T YOU BE FORGETTING IT

 

 

... from Christ's Ineffable Peace and Grace Ch. 2

 

This is a large chapter, roving through much of our whole domain, with attention to the very nature of love, longing, pity, compassion and results.

 

 

Chapter 6

 

OBVERSE AND OBSERVATION

 

Are there two sides to divine mercy and justice, human need and its provisions sent from the Lord ?

 

 

Chapter 7

 

BRANDING FOR BEAUTY

VOLUNTARY BLINDNESS FOR VITAL DELIGHT

from Christ's Ineffable Peace and Grace ... Ch. 3

 

THE HAPPY, HALLOWED and HARMONIOUS NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING
OF THE BIBLE, CONCERNING THE PASSION BEYOND PITY,
OF GOD

 

Chapter 8

THE HOPE!

MATTERS OF LOVE, WHOSE LABOUR IS NEVER LOST
WHEN THE LOVE IS OF GOD,
AS SHOWN IN THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF JEREMIAH

TIME TO LOOK AROUND IN THE WORD OF GOD

from Gratitude for His Glorious Grace Ch. 2

 

Chapter 9

FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE GENERATION OF GRACE

Grace's prodigality and pervasive presentation

from Gracious Goodness and This World in Disorder Epilogue

 

Chapter 10

THE LOVE OF GOD IS PURE, NOT INFLAMED,

KIND, NOT TO BE DEFAMED

from Downfall from Defamation Ch. 3

 

INVETERATE TREND TO MISCONSTRUE:
It is almost like a theological flirtation with Miss-Understanding:
but it is necessary to 'go steady' with God, by faith,
trusting Him and all He says:

such is the way of love, and it is founded in truth.

SEE ALSO:

Great Execrations, Great Enervations, Greater Grace Ch.  7  9;

Dizzy Dashes, Heady Clashes and the Brilliant Harmony of Inevitable Truth
Ch. 6, esp. *3

Massifs of Pure Splendour Ch. 7

To Know God ... Ch. 1.


 

Chapter 11

THE DYNAMIC AND DENIAL OF GOODNESS

- From THE COURT OF CULTURE

to THE COMPANY OF CHRIST

 

from Glory, Vainglory and Goodness Ch. 7

 

Chapter 12

 

LOVE: PURE, PERFECTED

UNIMPEACHABLE and UNIMPAIRED

 

from God to man

 

THE AWESOME WONDER
OF THE ILLIMITABLE CASCADE

OF DIVINE LOVE

from Ch. 7 Grand Biblical Perspectives

 

Ch. 13 (2007 addition)

 

LOVE-JUDGMENT GROUP

The Design of Predestination

The Depravity of Sin, the Engulfing Dynamic of Evil

and its Engulfment

from Ch. 10 of Deity and Design, Designation and Destiny

 

APPENDIX ON GRACE, LIBERTY, LOVE,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, MEANING
AND THEIR UNIQUE CONSISTENCY
IN THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Seeing foreknowledge and predestination, love and repudiation, history and liberty, in the scriptural light, that all may be seen in harmonious uniqueness: nothing less is found in the word of God, than what meets all the scope of man's thought in these arenas, leaving him naked to the word, but invited to be covered.

While such things have been touched before, providing a background for this, 

(cf. Marvels of Predestination and the Ways of Will  Ch. 6, 'theology' and Bible;
Ch.  6, *2, will and meritless operation;
Ch.  2 (selections)

The Pride of Life, the Prince of Life and the Destiny of Man
 Ch.  3,
    *1
Tender Times for Timely Truth
Ch.  11, esp. pp.172ff.

Great Execrations, Great Enervations, Greater Grace
Ch.   9;
His Wounds Opened Eternity 
Ch.
  4 (also contrasted with Islamic deficiencies);
Sparkling Life ...
Ch.   7,
Earth Spasm...
Ch.   6;
Scaling the Heights
...
Ch.   5),

yet this is considered in the light of the findings of Ch. 9, above, so that if any lack, they may feed on the word of God.