Truth or Tradition
A Layman’s Exposition of Christian Theology
by
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Out of all these billions upon billions of possibilities, God knew what the best possible world was. Of all of them, out of all the innumerable possibilities, God chose the one we live in now. It is important to understand that although God knew all these possibilities, it wasn’t necessary for Him to consider every possibility before making a choice. God knew immediately which of the billions of possibilities was the best. God doesn’t ponder choices or consider options. His knowledge of everything is immediate and always with Him.
God chose the one we live in now, the one where you and I exist. This should cause all of us to pause and ask why God chose to create me? If God chose to create me from billions of other possibilities He could have created, then there must be something special about me. There must be something God wants me to do. There is nothing random about God’s creation. There must be a purpose for each and every one of us. The right thing to do, if you do not already know, is to pray and ask God to reveal His purpose for you. And when He does, do it boldly.
When God saw all the possibilities for a world, He created the scenario He determined to be the best. God created the heavens and the earth, brought forth the dry land, the vegetation, the great lights, the fish, and the animals. Five times He said it was good. In Genesis 1:31 we are told that God saw everything He made and thought that it was indeed “very good”.
From all the possibilities God could have created, there must have been a countless number where sin did not exist. Those may have been similar to Garden of Eden scenarios where man existed, yet without the temptation of Satan. In those worlds, the angels would have never fallen, Satan would not have existed, and sin would have never come into the world. There must have been something about this type of world that did not meet the needs of God or His plan for mankind. If that was the kind of world God wanted, then that would be the kind of world we would be living in.
Everything God has done or will do is with purpose.
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About the Book
This book explores and presents a fresh perspective on many often misunderstood doctrines of the Christian faith. This book answers many questions: Does God change his mind? Are all my prayers really answered? Is God sovereign, or do I have free will? Did God choose me, or did I choose Him? Is this the best world God could create?
Having served as Bob Raymond’s pastor for the last few years, I have had an opportunity to spend time with him discussing the Word of God. I have found him to be a man that doesn’t just accept what he’s always been taught, but with a passion, he dives deep to discover truth for himself.
Because of that, he blasts apart much of our traditional thinking, causing us to spend time contemplating our own preconceived notions. I invite you to read this work with an open Bible, an open notebook, and an open mind. You will be blessed!
—Dr. Randal E. Helms Senior Pastor Forestbrook Baptist Church
About the Author
Bob Raymond retired from a career in Information Technology Administration. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 58. As a new Christian Bob had many questions about God, His character and His creation; which led him to seek a greater understanding of Christian theology. God has faithfully brought him to a deeper understanding of some of the bibles most basic doctrines. Truth or Tradition – A Layman’s Exposition of Christian Theology shares his reflections and conclusions.
Bob lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his wife, Mary. His free time is spent traveling and spending time with their 5 children and 14 grand children.