The difference between controlling decision, and making them
This is actually a debate I had with my father. We know that we can never fathom God, nor understand him, because if we did, we would not need him, and God desires to be with us. However, if you do get into a relationship with anyone, you will begin to understand them more and more. Maybe not entirely, but we would come to understand them more. God gave us free will, and that was the beginning of the downfall of mankind. God wanted us to decide to follow him, and not be robots, but it is said that God is all knowing. Does this mean God knows what decisions we make before we make them. I will address all these situations right here, right now. LETS GO!(If you are reading this allowed, make sure you yell that last part for a dramatic effect)
So, what do we know for sure from the word of God? We know that God gave us free will. The freedom to make choices, right or wrong. He does however not allow us to control every aspect of our lives, just have control over ourselves and only ourselves. We can "take over" someone else, but we still need to be the ones to "take over" them. If someone "takes over" us, that is against our will, and that is not in your power. So the downfall of having free will, is that everyone around you has it too, so it comes with pros and cons.
We also know that God is all-knowing. He knows the hairs on your head, he knows what you ate for breakfast that day, or if you ate breakfast. Well, this is where conflicts (or what people think are conflicts) come into play. God knows everything, past, present, and future, then If he knew you weren't going to follow him, why wouldn't he work in your life more? Why wouldn't he pull you out? Why would God let you make these sad mistakes. And this goes back to the free-will with consequences. He says, "Alright, you can do that, but I want you to know their will be consequences for the decision you are about to make..." This can be proven all throughout the old testament. One example is obviously in Genesis, when Adam and Eve eat from the forbidden fruit tree, and after that, they must be banished from the Garden of Eden, and they also receive punishment to their bodies. A possible symbol to show that our flesh is what causes us to sin. God did not even intervene when he could have stopped them from making "The Great Mistake" that would effect mankind for the rest of eternity. Well, a question is: Did God know?
My answer, simple. First, let me show you why some people think God didn't know. God comes down from heaven to look for Adam and Eve. God asked, "Where are you" to Adam and Eve. Why would he ask that if he already knew? This is all based off MY theology, but I think that it was to show that God has so much power, but still shows compassion and understanding for every single person. He gave them the opportunity to answer him. He wanted to show them that he was caring and understanding. You might ask: Well why did he banish them?!?! Simple answer again: Cause and Effect. You make a mistake, you have to pay the consequences. You touch a hot stove, you have to pay the consequences. The part I like about this the most, is even after God banishes them, Even after God gives them these curses, Genesis 3:21, that he made them garments. Question for you guys, how do you make clothes?
?
Good answer. You have to use fur from an animal. The VERY FIRST SACRIFICE God made for Adam and Eve. He was still showing compassion and care for his people. Don't believe me? Lets go a little farther in Genesis...
Cain and Abel, son of Adam and Eve. You know the story. Cain kills his brother Abel for being the "better brother". God says to Able in Gen. 4:12 "When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." Cain then says to God, "My punishment is more then I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." The Lord hears his cry, and then says to Cain, "No sol if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over" God shows his mercy and care to the first generation after Adam and Eve. You might ask: Why didn't God just tell him that in the first place!!! Your not listening, God wants to show them care and consideration. He wanted him to just try and fathom the punishment he was in for, and just says to God, "Lord, the punishment you have made for me is just too much for me to handle..." And the Lord makes a consideration. Have I made my point? If you don't think so, Ask me about "Sodom and Gomorrah", or King David, Joseph, and the list continues.
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Now, that might have been a bit of a rabbit trail, but we will see. People obviously have control of their own lives, so we weren't too far off track. Now, what are some evidences of God knowing the future before it happens?
Before I begin this, The Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit, trinity, 3 in 1, 1 in three. It is a major topic, but that is not the topic being addressed. anywho...
Most of the best examples are in the new testaments, I know they are all over the bible, but lets just look at the obvious ones. Jesus about to be taken to be crucified. That is where we are at right now guys. Peter says that he will never deny knowing Jesus, and Jesus says before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times(cf. Matthew 26:31-35). Now, how did Jesus know this? Well, he is God in the flesh. Did he tell Peter to, or was he simply saying it would happen. Well, Peter didn't want to, but he did anyways. God didn't control him, that is just proof God knows EVERYTHING. Jesus also tells Judas betrays Jesus. I'm sure he didn't want to, but it still happened. These are all examples of God knowing everything, but Doesn't intervene UNLESS you allow him to. If you surrender your will, for the Lords, the lord will work in your life, and intervene. I think this is where you would just have to be a looser to say, "I am not mature enough to submit to authority, and allow someone who obviously knows more then me to take the driver seat of my life." Which is really sad, because that seems to be how things are going in the world today...
Anyways, thats it for todays topic, I hope whoever is reading has learned a lot. Once again, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I love questions. They can even be rude ones, I don't mind, I get it a lot, and normally they just end with the person asking the mean questions just being ignorant, and using Ad Hominids to get themselves out of the debate. So I am just giving you fair warning. You can ask nice questions too if you want, those normally end with two happy parties, so they are more reccomended.
In Him
Matt
So, what do we know for sure from the word of God? We know that God gave us free will. The freedom to make choices, right or wrong. He does however not allow us to control every aspect of our lives, just have control over ourselves and only ourselves. We can "take over" someone else, but we still need to be the ones to "take over" them. If someone "takes over" us, that is against our will, and that is not in your power. So the downfall of having free will, is that everyone around you has it too, so it comes with pros and cons.
We also know that God is all-knowing. He knows the hairs on your head, he knows what you ate for breakfast that day, or if you ate breakfast. Well, this is where conflicts (or what people think are conflicts) come into play. God knows everything, past, present, and future, then If he knew you weren't going to follow him, why wouldn't he work in your life more? Why wouldn't he pull you out? Why would God let you make these sad mistakes. And this goes back to the free-will with consequences. He says, "Alright, you can do that, but I want you to know their will be consequences for the decision you are about to make..." This can be proven all throughout the old testament. One example is obviously in Genesis, when Adam and Eve eat from the forbidden fruit tree, and after that, they must be banished from the Garden of Eden, and they also receive punishment to their bodies. A possible symbol to show that our flesh is what causes us to sin. God did not even intervene when he could have stopped them from making "The Great Mistake" that would effect mankind for the rest of eternity. Well, a question is: Did God know?
My answer, simple. First, let me show you why some people think God didn't know. God comes down from heaven to look for Adam and Eve. God asked, "Where are you" to Adam and Eve. Why would he ask that if he already knew? This is all based off MY theology, but I think that it was to show that God has so much power, but still shows compassion and understanding for every single person. He gave them the opportunity to answer him. He wanted to show them that he was caring and understanding. You might ask: Well why did he banish them?!?! Simple answer again: Cause and Effect. You make a mistake, you have to pay the consequences. You touch a hot stove, you have to pay the consequences. The part I like about this the most, is even after God banishes them, Even after God gives them these curses, Genesis 3:21, that he made them garments. Question for you guys, how do you make clothes?
?
Good answer. You have to use fur from an animal. The VERY FIRST SACRIFICE God made for Adam and Eve. He was still showing compassion and care for his people. Don't believe me? Lets go a little farther in Genesis...
Cain and Abel, son of Adam and Eve. You know the story. Cain kills his brother Abel for being the "better brother". God says to Able in Gen. 4:12 "When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." Cain then says to God, "My punishment is more then I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." The Lord hears his cry, and then says to Cain, "No sol if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over" God shows his mercy and care to the first generation after Adam and Eve. You might ask: Why didn't God just tell him that in the first place!!! Your not listening, God wants to show them care and consideration. He wanted him to just try and fathom the punishment he was in for, and just says to God, "Lord, the punishment you have made for me is just too much for me to handle..." And the Lord makes a consideration. Have I made my point? If you don't think so, Ask me about "Sodom and Gomorrah", or King David, Joseph, and the list continues.
-----------------------------
Now, that might have been a bit of a rabbit trail, but we will see. People obviously have control of their own lives, so we weren't too far off track. Now, what are some evidences of God knowing the future before it happens?
Before I begin this, The Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit, trinity, 3 in 1, 1 in three. It is a major topic, but that is not the topic being addressed. anywho...
Most of the best examples are in the new testaments, I know they are all over the bible, but lets just look at the obvious ones. Jesus about to be taken to be crucified. That is where we are at right now guys. Peter says that he will never deny knowing Jesus, and Jesus says before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times(cf. Matthew 26:31-35). Now, how did Jesus know this? Well, he is God in the flesh. Did he tell Peter to, or was he simply saying it would happen. Well, Peter didn't want to, but he did anyways. God didn't control him, that is just proof God knows EVERYTHING. Jesus also tells Judas betrays Jesus. I'm sure he didn't want to, but it still happened. These are all examples of God knowing everything, but Doesn't intervene UNLESS you allow him to. If you surrender your will, for the Lords, the lord will work in your life, and intervene. I think this is where you would just have to be a looser to say, "I am not mature enough to submit to authority, and allow someone who obviously knows more then me to take the driver seat of my life." Which is really sad, because that seems to be how things are going in the world today...
Anyways, thats it for todays topic, I hope whoever is reading has learned a lot. Once again, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I love questions. They can even be rude ones, I don't mind, I get it a lot, and normally they just end with the person asking the mean questions just being ignorant, and using Ad Hominids to get themselves out of the debate. So I am just giving you fair warning. You can ask nice questions too if you want, those normally end with two happy parties, so they are more reccomended.
In Him
Matt