God's in Charge
Puritan Board Freshman
I think I understand and agree with reformed teaching concerning oppression, Satan, and his activity. It all makes sense when reading a book or article by a reformed author. Job's boils and the Church in Smyrna seem to answer EVERY question.
I honestly hope they do answer all - but after all these years I've yet to read an explanation of New Testament healing ministry that closed the book for me. Do all these (and many more) fit into the same category as Job's boils? Are these all God ordained "oppression". And Jesus and the Apostles were God's instruments at his appointed time to deliver them just like Job was eventually healed.
I assure you I'm not trying to pick a fight. Reformed theology is the only thing that makes sense to me but hopefully someone will be able to see through my eyes how challenging these are to fit into Job's box. Is there another category of oppression? And what is God's role in it? When we walk in darkness does God "permit" oppression that he has no redemptive purpose in? When the Israelites refused their land, was there a redemptive strategy behind every demon in that wilderness they all died in?
I can go on but need to stop before opening too many doors.
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 ESV Were these people who Jesus healed experiencing the same level of God's will while oppressed by the devil as they were after encountering Jesus?
And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 ESV No one believes Job's boils remained 18 years. And the redemptive purpose for this woman's infirmity just happened to be fulfilled at the same time she meets Jesus?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, Luke 4:18 ESV
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed Acts 5:16 ESV
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Acts 19:12 ESV
Thanks for any help you can be
Brian
I honestly hope they do answer all - but after all these years I've yet to read an explanation of New Testament healing ministry that closed the book for me. Do all these (and many more) fit into the same category as Job's boils? Are these all God ordained "oppression". And Jesus and the Apostles were God's instruments at his appointed time to deliver them just like Job was eventually healed.
I assure you I'm not trying to pick a fight. Reformed theology is the only thing that makes sense to me but hopefully someone will be able to see through my eyes how challenging these are to fit into Job's box. Is there another category of oppression? And what is God's role in it? When we walk in darkness does God "permit" oppression that he has no redemptive purpose in? When the Israelites refused their land, was there a redemptive strategy behind every demon in that wilderness they all died in?
I can go on but need to stop before opening too many doors.
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 ESV Were these people who Jesus healed experiencing the same level of God's will while oppressed by the devil as they were after encountering Jesus?
And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 ESV No one believes Job's boils remained 18 years. And the redemptive purpose for this woman's infirmity just happened to be fulfilled at the same time she meets Jesus?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, Luke 4:18 ESV
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed Acts 5:16 ESV
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Acts 19:12 ESV
Thanks for any help you can be
Brian