Additional Comment on the “Omniscience” Article

[netchaplain]

Concerning the article about God’s omniscience, I felt a need to clarify what I mean by “God’s commands are only to those whom He knows are going to desire to obey them.” My intention in this statement is related to those who God knows are never going to believe, e.g. “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed” (Jhn 3:18). Notice the past tense in “hath not believed,” which to me is reference to God’s foreknowledge of those who He knows will never believe. Hope this helps my mistake of not noticing its significance earlier. Thanks and God bless!

 

[Hospes]

Just a thought: maybe a better way of stating your position is that “God’s commands are effective only for those whom He knows are going to desire to obey them.”

 

[Christ_empowered]

so, God's commands are intended for and binding upon The Elect?

 

[netchaplain]

so, God's commands are intended for and binding upon The Elect?

Hi and thanks for your reply and comment! Yes, and I like the way you included "binding," because to me it refers to how God's "work" in us (Phil 2:13) produces the desire to remain bonded with Him.

Concerning "Elect," it's my understanding that it is in reference to those who God knows, prior to creation, are going to choose to believe, and not who God chooses who are going to believe (not trying to establish a debate but just wanted to mention).

God bless!

 

[Christ_empowered]

no debate, here. I'm not 110% gung-ho about Calvinism, TULIP, etc. I will say, however, that I have learned a whole, whole lot from RC Sproul and LIgonier ministries.

I recall reading, somewhere (probably Sproul...) that God -requires- repentance of all, but only those who are predestined -will- repent. Thus, only the truly saved are even beginning to live in accordance with the basics of what God demands of humanity. The others...are doomed, not because God chose to condemn them, but because they were/are not chosen to be provided the grace needed to believe upon THE LORD and be saved from His just wrath.

something like that, anyway.

 

[netchaplain]

no debate, here. I'm not 110% gung-ho about Calvinism, TULIP, etc. I will say, however, that I have learned a whole, whole lot from RC Sproul and LIgonier ministries.

Thanks and I always appreciate your replies and comments! Yes, I agree, Sproul was a good Presbyterian, Reformist and above all good Bible student. Yet even within the Reformation there is not a complete understanding concerning the separation of Judaism and Christianity, hence the errant term "Judaeo-Christian." The only act the Reformation is most known for is recovery from the false doctrines of the Papacy, which more or less retain the belief that salvation is through Christ plus the adherence to the Papacy's doctrines of works (Romanish doctrine teaches there's no salvation apart from its organization).

The importance of this separation is to demonstrate a differentiation between works (primarily Judaism, which adheres to the Mosaic Law) and grace, of which I think may continue to be misunderstood by many who profess Christianity; and among these, only those who are truly Christian will eventually understand the truth. If not it's only because they're not truly seeking it.

I recall reading, somewhere (probably Sproul...) that God -requires- repentance of all, but only those who are predestined -will- repent. Thus, only the truly saved are even beginning to live in accordance with the basics of what God demands of humanity. The others...are doomed, not because God chose to condemn them, but because they were/are not chosen to be provided the grace needed to believe upon THE LORD and be saved from His just wrath.

something like that, anyway.

I compare predestination, election, etc. to the passage "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction" (Rom 9:22). To me, "fitted for destruction" demonstrates God's foreknowledge of those who He knows, while "fitting" them (i.e. creating them in the womb) that He is bringing those into life that are going to choose to be a "vessel of dishonor" thus, "fitted (created) for destruction." Verse 23 demonstrates the same thing concerning the saved, that these are the "vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory."

 

[Hospes]

so, God's commands are intended for and binding upon The Elect?

God's commands are for everyone.

"The times of ignorance He overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent." (Paul speaking in Acts 17:30)

The elect do repent.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

My intention in this statement is related to those who God knows are never going to believe, e.g. “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed” (Jhn 3:18). Notice the past tense in “hath not believed,” which to me is reference to God’s foreknowledge of those who He knows will never believe. Hope this helps my mistake of not noticing its significance earlier. Thanks and God bless!

I think it is not necessarily talking about people God knows who will not believe, but its talking about people that refuse to believe. God knows everything but people make their own choices. Names can be blotted out of the book which implies that people were saved but then lost their salvation. I do not believe in predestination.

 

[netchaplain]

I think it is not necessarily talking about people God knows who will not believe, but its talking about people that refuse to believe. God knows everything but people make their own choices. Names can be blotted out of the book which implies that people were saved but then lost their salvation. I do not believe in predestination.

It's my understanding that the blotting out mentioned in Scripture (when related to "the Book of Life") designs the intention that it would be he same as if the name was never in there, that's why we never see an instance of an actual "blotting out." Names in this Book are those whom God knows would choose to love Him, which can never be removed; nor will there ever be a need to remove them seeing He already knows who they are.