Quote
John_C said:
My former Pastor used the terms, 'Perfect Will' and 'Permissive Will', not in the historical context, but in explaining why some Christians do bad things that run contrary to biblical-ethics. . .
John,

What do you think of the terms and distinction your former pastor used? Personally, when I hear someone speak in this manner, particularly when comparing a "Perfect Will" to another "will", I cannot help but wonder if there must not be an "Imperfect Will"? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratchchin.gif" alt="" /> In regard to "Permissive Will", it would be all too easy for someone to conclude that God had a tentative plan laid out for this individual (Imperfect Will) which the person disregarded and rather than somehow stopping what the person was about to think, feel or do, God simply decided (temporal change) to "permit" it and would deal with things later with "Plan B". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

This is why I much prefer the "Decretive" and "Prescriptive" terms which cannot be wrongly set against each other. The first is what God has determined from eternity and the second is that which man is fully responsible for. If a person lives contrary to the latter, then the person is responsible and will be held accountable even though everything was eternally decreed.

In His grace,

[Linked Image]

simul iustus et peccator

[Linked Image]