 God Knows As Christians we are best known as “believers.” This is because we believe that Jesus died in our place for our sin according to what was prophesied beforehand in the scriptures. We also believe that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day for our justification (Romans 4:22-25) according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). In essence, we believe whatever God says. We are not captive to vain philosophies or even our own limitations. Because, while we don’t know all things, we do believe the one who knows all things. This means that when dealing with ideas and concepts that are beyond our finite capabilities we can know that what God tells us is true. This requires a real humility. It is not arrogance because our knowledge is not found in us, but in God who knows all things. Our assurance is God exalting because it is found in God not us (2 Corinthians 4:1-7). With this humility in mind, I would like for us to consider the amazing foreknowledge of God. How is it that God knows beforehand what will happen? The most common understanding is what I will call the “simple foreknowledge.” This view is that God in eternity before time was created looked forward into time to see what free creatures would do. This view has two great advantages. The first great advantage is its simplicity. It is uncomplicated and makes perfect sense within our finite framework. You could imagine that if you were in eternity you could also see with this type of foreknowledge. The second advantage is that it seems to protect the genuine freedom of the persons. The individuals are making choices that while God knows them beforehand he still knows them responsively not proactively. However, I would like to present a case for why the simple foreknowledge view is not consistent with an orthodox understanding of God. Premise #1 My first premise is that as believers drawing our understanding of God from the text of scripture, we believe that God is omniscient. By this I mean that God knows everything without qualification. In the introductory paragraph of this post I affirm twice that Christians believe that God knows all things. This means that God knows everything past, present, and future. This means that God has always known all things. This means that God knows more than just possibilities or probabilities, He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:8-11). He not only knows what could happen He knows exhaustively and precisely what will happen. Premise #2 My second premise is that God is immutable. Immutable means that God is unchanging. He does not change. This means that if God ever changed then either He wasn’t God and became God when He changed or He was God and stopped being God when He changed. Both of these are ridiculous from a biblical perspective. God has always been God and will always be God. God Himself says clearly that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). The brother of the Lord Jesus states clearly that there is no variation in God at all (James 1:17). And the Hebrew writer asserts the truth that Jesus Christ is the same always (Hebrews 13:8). Conclusion If these two premises are true then simple foreknowledge cannot be true. Why? Because simple foreknowledge hinges on this point: that it was before time and in eternity when God learned what we, His free creatures, would do. But if God is all knowing and unchanging then He cannot learn. For God to learn would mean that His knowledge and understanding was changed. If this were true then God would be neither all knowing or immutable. So what is the alternative? Sovereignty! God has decreed whatsoever comes to pass. He has destined the world and its inhabits for His glory and as the redeemed possession of His Son (Psalm 2:7). He has made His decree before the ages began and all things happen purposefully and accordingly (1 Corinthians 2:7). I know that this is not the simplest understanding, but in the Biblical context it does seem to be the plainest meaning. Let us celebrate the fact that God is in control and accomplishing His purposes. Brothers and Sisters, we can trust Him for He is the just judge of all the world and He will always do right (Genesis 18:22-26)!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |