Does God “need” us?

[Jimbeaux]

Does God “need” us?

This question came up in another thread and I thought I would pursue your views on this.

Does God need humans to carry out His will in the world?
Are we totally responsible for our spiritual development?
(i.e., are we in the driver’s seat)

or

Does God honor us by allowing us to participate in the work of His kingdom?
Does God allow us to participate in what He is doing in our lives?
(i.e., are we being allowed along for the ride)


What do you think?

~Jim

If the first step in an argument is wrong everything that follows is wrong. ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

[CryoftheNation]

No God doesn't NEED us. But He does choose to work THROUGH us!

God bless

Simon

[BenAdam]

hmmm this could get into a calvinism vs arminianism debate...

Does God need us to accept salvation for it to be applied to our lives? Are we willing partners to our spirtual developments or are we dragged kicking and screaming into His will?

[CryoftheNation]

hmmm this could get into a calvinism vs arminianism debate...

Does God need us to accept salvation for it to be applied to our lives? Are we willing partners to our spirtual developments or are we dragged kicking and screaming into His will?

^_^

This could be interesting.

[JimfromOhio]

Let's see:

Creator needs creatures to do the work for HIM?

NO.

But He will use all CREATURES to do His will. Both believers and unbelievers. Now, that is THE very powerful God.

[probinson]

Perhaps the question isn't "Does God need us", but rather, does God need "someone"...

[pinetree]

well,if I say this..

Billy,I need you for something for me to do do such and such..

That statement seems to indicate that I cant get something done,I cant do it without you.


Now,If I say,I want you to go and do such and such..A command.

Which statement wields authority,power,fatherhood,sovereingty?

Try it on your kids,you will see what I mean.:D

Ps,where were we when the earth was formed?

[BenAdam]

Try it on your kids,you will see what I mean.:D

Ps,where were we when the earth was formed?

Well I don't know about you, but I was there, ready to inspect the work.

[CryoftheNation]

Well I don't know about you, but I was there, ready to inspect the work.

:D:D:D

and just who do you think carried all the bricks?

ME!!!!

lol (not really, sorry God! :blush:)

[Jimbeaux]

My view is that God has boiled our part in redemption down to a simple act of choice on our part. In order for us to be “free moral agents” and not mindless religious robots, He had to leave the choice to us. But everything else has been done for us … He, through Christ, has done it all. He even gives the faith that is necessary to believe unto salvation to non-believers.

Furthermore …
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15.5)

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2.13)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2.8)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2.20)

IMO, one of the mistakes we make thinking that everything rests on us, our performance, our faith, our dedication, our perseverance, our self, that God is dependent on us to accomplish His will. It is not me that matters at all—it is Him. His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven with or without me. I am just privileged to be allowed to participate with Him in the building of His kingdom.

~Jim


If the first step in an argument is wrong everything that follows is wrong. ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

[mont974x4]

I beleive option 2 is correct.

[map4]

My view is that God has boiled our part in redemption down to a simple act of choice on our part. In order for us to be “free moral agents” and not mindless religious robots, He had to leave the choice to us. But everything else has been done for us … He, through Christ, has done it all. He even gives the faith that is necessary to believe unto salvation to non-believers.

Furthermore …
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15.5)

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2.13)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2.8)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2.20)
IMO, one of the mistakes we make thinking that everything rests on us, our performance, our faith, our dedication, our perseverance, our self, that God is dependent on us to accomplish His will. It is not me that matters at all—it is Him. His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven with or without me. I am just privileged to be allowed to participate with Him in the building of His kingdom.

~Jim



If the first step in an argument is wrong everything that follows is wrong. ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain



Then it seems to me that we are given the ability to 'choose' whether to obey to participate in building His kingdom.

The fact is that there are some things that God wants done here on earth that can only be done THROUGH us as humans. Somebody has to do it for Him.
He may be able to do it without ME, but He does need US. If I choose to not obey, He will just find someone else.
Yes, He gives us everything we need to do His work. But, still, somebody has to do it.

So as to whether it rests on ME...only to the extent of whether I obey or not what He has told me to do.

[Jimbeaux]

Then it seems to me that we are given the ability to 'choose' whether to obey to participate in building His kingdom.

The fact is that there are some things that God wants done here on earth that can only be done THROUGH us as humans. Somebody has to do it for Him.
He may be able to do it without ME, but He does need US. If I choose to not obey, He will just find someone else.
Yes, He gives us everything we need to do His work. But, still, somebody has to do it.

So as to whether it rests on ME...only to the extent of whether I obey or not what He has told me to do.

Yes, we can choose every step of the way. But, IMO, when God chose to allow us to participate in His great work, He had enough confidence in us to know that many (though not all) of us would gladly participate. It is not that He “needs” us but that His love knows that our service is best for us … not for Him.

~Jim

The Bible is so simple you have to have help to misunderstand it.

[probinson]

He may be able to do it without ME, but He does need US.

...

somebody has to do it.

I like this! :thumbsup:

Reps headed your way!

[GrapeGirl]

Of course he needs me!!!!!! Have you seen me????? I'm freakin' HOT! How could anyone NOT need ME?????????

[Jimbeaux]

Then it seems to me that we are given the ability to 'choose' whether to obey to participate in building His kingdom.

The fact is that there are some things that God wants done here on earth that can only be done THROUGH us as humans. Somebody has to do it for Him.
He may be able to do it without ME, but He does need US. If I choose to not obey, He will just find someone else.
Yes, He gives us everything we need to do His work. But, still, somebody has to do it.

So as to whether it rests on ME...only to the extent of whether I obey or not what He has told me to do.

And somebody is doing this. God has always known somebody would be willing to accept His invitation to participate in the work of the kingdom. But He has never, and will never, need us.

Our sufficiency is of God, not the other way around.

~Jim

The Bible is so simple you have to have help to misunderstand it.

[NewSong]

Nope God don't need us! He is all-sufficient! His life don't even depend us. We are the ones that benefit just from His existance and very presence! How can we give something to GOD and meet a need in Him when everything comes from HIM?

[TheBloodOfJesus]

All things were made for His glory and according to His purposes.
Did He made something (us) that would not lend toward that purpose?
No.
So did He create something that He does not need?
No.

Case closed.

PS... Some people'e theology does not allow for this.

i.e their "doctrine" is messed up.

[mont974x4]

He does not need us, but He wants us.

[JimfromOhio]

As parents, do we need children? No, we want children.

While the children are growing up, do children needs their parents? Yes

Once the children are matured, do they need parents any longer? No, they move out.

Do parents and children need each other? Not really but they do love each other and they will do anything for each other.

God wants us so He created us so He can SHARE His love for us.

[mont974x4]

Amen!!!

[FoundInGrace]

God has so much love in Him, He is love, that i wonder sometimes that He does need us to love. But then real love isn't selfish so He just loves us because He is love.

And He wants us to know what the joy that doing stuff with Him brings, it benefits us and God wants us to be blessed, does He need us to do things for Him, not sure but He has definitely chosen that we have some responsibility, because if we don't obey, God can't work sometimes because He's chosen it that way i reckon.

Why has He set it up like that, i don't know, but there will be gnashing of teeth and i reckon it will be for the things we didn't do. That scares me quite a lot

[ARBITER01]

Does God “need” us?

This question came up in another thread and I thought I would pursue your views on this.


Does God need humans to carry out His will in the world?


Are we totally responsible for our spiritual development?


(i.e., are we in the driver’s seat)



or



Does God honor us by allowing us to participate in the work of His kingdom?


Does God allow us to participate in what He is doing in our lives?


(i.e., are we being allowed along for the ride)



What do you think?

~Jim


If the first step in an argument is wrong everything that follows is wrong. ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain




GOD has made the decision to work through mankind, so we are pivitol in the process of GOD's power here on earth. It is no challenge for GOD to move the heavens aside and everyone see HIM.