I wanted to share something that I’ve touched on before concerning the omniscience of God. I believe His foreknowledge of all things supplies answers to learning His Word more than any other concept! For example, since He knew man would choose to sin and that He would allow it, I find no confirming refutation to consider against the idea that this is how He chose to begin manifesting Himself and teaching His mind. Thus, it wasn’t that man wasn’t supposed to sin, because He knew He would be using it to manifest His Holiness. So, His commands manifest right and wrong (Gen 2:16, 17), which leads to manifesting good and evil (Gen 3:7).
Thus, I believe it was God’s way for us to experience Himself—by us experiencing that which is antithetical to His divine nature. It’s difficult for me to think that, how this life transpires, is not God’s choice concerning its occurrences (all for learning). Nothing happens without Him first allowing it to take place (or He could have chosen a different way). Even though it is not His desire that most will not choose His way (Mat 7:13, 14), His will (not His desire - 1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9) for the lost is that they be resurrected unto damnation, and the saved unto life; neither of which can be altered (Jhn 5:28, 29)!
I’ve come to experience peace in everything occurring in believing His controlling hand is orchestrating the outcomes all that transpires to “work for good,” especially using evil to manifest good! Therefore I have learned that even if the concept herein discussed were not true, it supplies great encouragement for me to learn from God that this is His will for man to use in choosing which way we want to go—His way or not.
For many years now I have been using this as truth and it has been most encouraging to in manifesting my love for God, by willingly enduring the infirmities of possessing the sin nature, in order that His nature be manifested! Believers in Christ are no longer in the old man (Rom 8:9), and though it is in them and yet effects them, they are not considered in it, which answers to Paul’s declaration, “it is no more I that do it,” (Rom 7:17, 20) because it is the “old man” who is doing it (at the root, desiring it). We continue to see God’s nature when we see the contrast and effects of the old nature. But what matters now is that we are not our old nature but our new nature! The Spirit—via using the Life of Christ and our new nature keeps those reborn from ever again desiring evil (though we still see the desires of the old nature), shown in the lifestyle of no longer “sinning willfully” (Heb 10:26).
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).
Yes, it is beyond expressing the worth of living His way now, in order to live His way latter!
Incomparable!
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by NetChaplain, May 31, 2022.
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The woman saw that "the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes;" which was God's declaration in (Gen 2:9), but the pride was seen before the sin committed, as she saw it was "a tree to be desired to make one wise" (3:6) to be like God, as the serpent said - 3:5).
But my point is that God saw the way everything would go and chose that way, or He could have done it another way. -
-
Foreknowledge does not mean foreordained. It is enough to believe God & obey & trust He wants the best for us. God warned Cain before he killed his brother & gave Cain the way of escape but he chose to follow the evil one in his murderous lies & chose to directly disobey God & choose evil, not discern it & turn away. God wanted the best for Cain & so warned him; He did not want Cain to commit murder even though God knew what He would do.
'Thou shalt not kill.'
'When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.'
2 Sam 14:17 And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to DISCERN GOOD FROM EVIL, JUST LIKE THE ANGEL OF GOD. May the LORD your God be with you.’ ”
1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people & to DISCERN between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"
Heb 5:11-14 About this we have much to say & it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their POWERS OF DISCERNMENT TRAINED BY CONSTANT PRACTICE TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL.
God wanted Adam & Eve to discern the evil temptations of the devil & turn away in obedience to God not EXPERIENCE the believing of lies & actual evil in rebelling & disobeying God's command. One does not need to experientially KNOW both good and evil; only to know good and discern evil & turn away from it. That is how Scripture shows us the truth and not humanistic reasoning & speculation. -
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
To me, this is just part of being in God's image, "to know good and evil" (Gen 3:22), because they had yet to experience them. Good is learned by contrasting it with evil, as they go together, for without the one, the other isn't known. God's holiness is manifested when contrasted with evil. He created man with the need of knowing His holiness, and of God indwelling him!
What we share with one another concerning our beliefs is at times speculative, thus how we respond is significant in how we learn.
As it has been wisely admonished, “in essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity” (Rupertus Meldenius, circa
1627). -
Thank you for your reply & honesty. I like your last line by Rupertus, the Lutheran theologian (grew up in the Lutheran fellowship). A wise & peacemaking summary. Blessings.
-
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
-
-
NetChaplain Well-Known MemberSite Supporter