God is a Mystery

[WIP]

A thought occurred to me. God is omniscient (knows everything), right? Having that quality must make for a really boring existence. There are no surprises, nothing catches Him off guard. So even the concept of having the ability to love God of our own choosing doesn't change anything for God. He knows before we're born if we will choose to love Him so how is this any different than programming us as robots to love Him?

But then the Bible is chock full of passages telling us to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. We are told to share the light of Jesus and be the salt of the earth to those around us. Why? God knows beforehand who will spread the gospel and who will hear it and respond to it. Why bother doing all of this?

Do you think that even though God, being omniscient, chose to set aside His own omniscience in order to enjoy the spontaneity of interacting with us? Is it possible this is one reason for creating us?

Just thinking out loud.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I was raised ((very liberal)) Presbyterian, so I'm kinda leaning to the TULIP side of things. Makes a lot of sense to me, both Scripturally and in how things play out in real life.

 

[for_his_glory]

I think it might be all about the fellowship as even though God has created all of us whether we come to Him or reject Him as God only knows who are His and it's within them that have fellowship with Him as we are all diverse in our own quirky ways

 

[GodsGrace]

A thought occurred to me. God is omniscient (knows everything), right? Having that quality must make for a really boring existence. There are no surprises, nothing catches Him off guard. So even the concept of having the ability to love God of our own choosing doesn't change anything for God. He knows before we're born if we will choose to love Him so how is this any different than programming us as robots to love Him?

But then the Bible is chock full of passages telling us to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. We are told to share the light of Jesus and be the salt of the earth to those around us. Why? God knows beforehand who will spread the gospel and who will hear it and respond to it. Why bother doing all of this?

Do you think that even though God, being omniscient, chose to set aside His own omniscience in order to enjoy the spontaneity of interacting with us? Is it possible this is one reason for creating us?

Just thinking out loud.

There's a difference WIP between knowing something and causing it to happen.

I could know there's going to be an auto accident
But it's totally different from causing it to happen.

So there IS a difference between God's knowledge of who will accept salvation and who won't, and CAUSING that person to accept or decline.

If He caused it, we'd be robots.
If He just knows it, then it's still OUR choice - but He just knows what we will choose.

God cannot turn off His omniscience. God IS knowledge, He IS present everywhere and He IS all-powerful.
How do you turn that off? If I know paper comes from a tree - how do I un-know it?

Ditto for the spreading of the gospel. We're not robots. We still have to DO. We are God's hands and feet. He knows but He still gave us free-will. For me, the concept of free-will is all important. If love is not freely given, it isn't love.

There is a lot to think about, isn't there?

My two cents.

 

[JohnDB]

That's one reason why God came to us in the form of Jesus. He purposefully limited himself so He could be shocked.

See the story of the Faith of the Centurion.
Jesus was shocked by his tremendous faith and humility.
His opportunity for a pleasant surprise.

 

[WIP]

God cannot turn off His omniscience. God IS knowledge, He IS present everywhere and He IS all-powerful.
How do you turn that off? If I know paper comes from a tree - how do I un-know it?

He is also omnipotent and therefore can do anything He wishes so I was thinkin' maybe He can choose to turn off His omniscience. Mostly I'm just contemplating for fun.

 

[GodsGrace]

He is also omnipotent and therefore can do anything He wishes so I was thinkin' maybe He can choose to turn off His omniscience. Mostly I'm just contemplating for fun.

I know what you mean.
I also know that you know everything I posted in no. 4 - just repeating.
If He turned off His omniscience, He might miss some prayers.
What say you?

 

[Jim Parker]

Having that quality must make for a really boring existence. There are no surprises, nothing catches Him off guard.

It is not the surprises that make life worthwhile; it is relationship.
God is Love and everything He does as to do with a relationship of love.
Even accepting the rejection of those He loves is an act of love because one who loves does not force another love him.

 

[Jim Parker]

I think it might be all about the fellowship

Spot on!
Without relationship, being is meaningless.

 

[GodsGrace]

It is not the surprises that make life worthwhile; it is relationship.
God is Love and everything He does as to do with a relationship of love.
Even accepting the rejection of those He loves is an act of love because one who loves does not force another love him.

Since God made us in His image, it's right to say that since we cannot make or force anyone to love us, then it stands to reason that God would also not force us to love Him. We mirror God in many ways. This is one of them.

 

[Jim Parker]

Since God made us in His image, it's right to say that since we cannot make or force anyone to love us, then it stands to reason that God would also not force us to love Him. We mirror God in many ways. This is one of them.

Absolutely.

 

[Christ_empowered]

what if...Jesus saves everyone The Father gives Him to save?

 

[Jim Parker]

what if...Jesus saves everyone The Father gives Him to save?

There is no"what if." He does.

 

[Christ_empowered]

so....calvin is correct? I'll be honest...I find Calvin appealing because it gives The Cross a 100% success rate, as opposed to the alternatives...which don't, obviously.

 

[Jim Parker]

so....calvin is correct? I'll be honest...I find Calvin appealing because it gives The Cross a 100% success rate, as opposed to the alternatives...which don't, obviously.

No Calvin is NOT correct.
And, No, Calvin does not give the cross a 100% success rate. That's the "L" in TULIP. (Limited atonement) Calvin taught the heresy that Jesus' atonement was not sufficient for all mankind and that God did not send His Son to save ALL mankind but only the ones whom He had programmed to "love" Him.
Calvin misrepresented God as loving only some of mankind.
Calvin misrepresented God as unwilling to save all of mankind.
Calvin's theology is heresy.
Imho.

 

[WIP]

It is not the surprises that make life worthwhile; it is relationship.
God is Love and everything He does as to do with a relationship of love.
Even accepting the rejection of those He loves is an act of love because one who loves does not force another love him.

Interesting you say this. Just before logging in I read the following statement I wrote in a document at home.

God is love and to love God is to know God and to know God is to love God.

Seems I may have just stumbled on a definition of the circle of life.

 

[KevinK]

The way I look at it is- I've seen the movie Star Wars probably some 30 times. I know how it's going to end. I know exactly how it's going to end. Yet, every time I rewatch it, I enjoy it as much as the first time. And it has nothing to do with upgraded CGI.

 

[GodsGrace]

what if...Jesus saves everyone The Father gives Him to save?

The Father gives to Jesus everyone to save.
Not everyone wants to be saved.

What you have to decide CE, is whether or not you have free will.

 

[GodsGrace]

Interesting you say this. Just before logging in I read the following statement I wrote in a document at home.

God is love and to love God is to know God and to know God is to love God.

Seems I may have just stumbled on a definition of the circle of life.

Again, not everyone wants to know God.
Some feel they are freer without Him
or don't believe He even exists.

Other than that, I like your circle!

 

[GodsGrace]

so....calvin is correct? I'll be honest...I find Calvin appealing because it gives The Cross a 100% success rate, as opposed to the alternatives...which don't, obviously.

How do you figure this?
See Jim Parker's post no. 15