Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, agains the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly rhealms."
So please, folks, let's not make the mistake of thinking that our battle is against flesh and blood (each other) but instead it's the battle between Satan and God. But if we are under the illusion that man has free will, then we make our battle against flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan.
Claiming that people could have chosen to do the right thing breeds shaming, blaming, and judgmental attitudes. It also elevates human pride when one thinks that he himself has made the right choices in life by his own will. But acknowledging that one cannot help himself because he has been blinded, breeds, grace, mercy, and forgivenss. The latter is all over the bible and is from the humility and grace of the Spirit. Some of Christ's last words were; "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
So I think if we adopt the grace and mercy that comes with acknowledging that people can't help themselves and only God can change their hearts, then there will be less of a battle against flesh and blood here and leave it only between God and satan.
So please, folks, let's not make the mistake of thinking that our battle is against flesh and blood (each other) but instead it's the battle between Satan and God. But if we are under the illusion that man has free will, then we make our battle against flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan.
Claiming that people could have chosen to do the right thing breeds shaming, blaming, and judgmental attitudes. It also elevates human pride when one thinks that he himself has made the right choices in life by his own will. But acknowledging that one cannot help himself because he has been blinded, breeds, grace, mercy, and forgivenss. The latter is all over the bible and is from the humility and grace of the Spirit. Some of Christ's last words were; "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
So I think if we adopt the grace and mercy that comes with acknowledging that people can't help themselves and only God can change their hearts, then there will be less of a battle against flesh and blood here and leave it only between God and satan.