Quote:
Originally Posted by Joshua  Quote:
Originally Posted by SoliDeoGloria What lets us breathe?
What lets us live?
Why do we have food? | Who's us? The Elect or the Reprobate? It's a different answer for each group.
For the elect, these things are God's temporal gifts and comforts, or his longsuffering toward them before He brings them to salvation. For the reprobate, these things serve as a hardening and ripening exercise fitting them unto destruction (Rom. 9). |
Well I suppose the "us" would include everyone.
I consider all these things regardless as to whom they are for, an act of grace towards all people whether for hardening and ripening or for temporal gifts and comforts as you put it.
My opinion is that regardless of whom they are for, they are a gracious gift which we still receive even though we are sinners. I consider that even despite our sin and suppression of God's truth He still provides for such things which is in my mind an act of grace. Which will ultimately for the reprobate only prolong their life until judgment, or for the elect as a gift of grace and love and mercy from God which we don't deserve that we might enjoy God for being so gracious in providing them.