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If this is your first time reading this article, you might want to read up the other parts first. You can follow this links to Part-1, Part-2, Part-3 and Part-4 ===========================================================
Now that you’re satisfied with the explanation given for the previous question about Judas betrayal. We’ll need to test the same theory further with regards to the challenge posed to whether God is truly Omniscience.
The question: “If man’s life is predestined even before he was born then why did God regret that He made Saul the king and why was God sorry that He had made man? (1 Sam 15:10-11; Gen 6:6) Didn’t God know before hand that Saul will fail Him and that man will sin?”
The above question challenges predestination and God’s Omniscience i.e if our life is truly predestinated then God would have known what happens next and therefore God could not have regretted or saddened for something that He already predestined. Otherwise, we’ll have to agree that God is not Omniscience since He does not seems to know that Saul will turn away from Him and therefore, He regretted selecting him.
In order to provide a satisfactory explanation, we’ll need to determine what does Regret and Sad means. Does it means that God does not know that Saul will turn away from Him or that Man will sin?
Simply by the definition of predestination, it may seem difficult to explain why God felt this way. However, if we were to explain predestination as we’ve established earlier in our theory then it became a straightforward answer.
Take the example of Saul, he would have the choice to walk with God or turn away from God. Saul was personally select by God to be king (1 Sam 9:15-16); surely God knows that Saul would fail Him in future. If that is correct, then why God still choose him?
I like to introduce a theory here, which requires your careful consideration. While God had predestinated our life, God also gave us free will. Therefore, before we make a decision – God does not know what would be our decision.
To make this clearer, we use the example of Saul again.
When God selected Saul, He knew there is a chance that Saul will turn away from Him but at that point in time, Saul was the best choice to save the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines.
We all know that God is not limited by time and space but man is constrained. As long as Saul had not lived his life up to the point in time when he turn away from God, God’s view of Saul’s life is still a set of mingled paths of “good” and “bad” decisions. It is this, God had prepared or predestined for Saul - also for each of us, our own unique blueprint.
God will be clear of what is Saul’s outcome when Saul comes close to the turning point. God may, through some events and situations tries to influence him to make a “good” decision, just like He did for Judas but Satan is also working at the same time.
In the end, according to the example of Saul, God regretted that He choose Saul because Saul had made a “bad” decision. At that point when Saul was about to make that fatal decision, God knows that Saul is going to make a “bad” decision and informed Samuel (1 Sam 15:11-23). This is a solid proof of God’s Omniscience.
In conclusion, when God regretted or saddened, it does not mean that God does not know the outcome of man but rather it was the decision that man had made that had causes God to grieve.
God had predestinated our life for “good” and “bad” outcomes and it was up to us to choose how we live out our lives. This is when most of the time, we causes God to regret and be saddened.
My theory supports that God is Omniscience and the reason why God regretted or saddened, is solely due to "bad" decisions on the part of man. Man could have chosen to obey God – so, always consider you decisions and choose wisely.
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You can continue reading this article by following this link to Part-6
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More Reference:
Recently, I came across a set of fantasy game books by Ian Livingstone. Browsing through one of them will give you a very clear understanding of this theory of Predestination that I'm presenting here.
You can also go to Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Fantasy for further information about him and his books.
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4 comments:
I beg to differ from the view that God does not know man's decisions beforehand. Since God is omniscient, He knows ALL things, including man's decisions before they are even conceived. Like you said, "God is not limited by time and space but man is constrained".
I'm certain the God knew Adam would sin even before He created the world. What do you say?
Thank you, 僕人彼得 for your comment.
I think this is a hard topic and not everyone will holds the same view.
BUT since, you asked, I'll clarify my view for you and others...
I do not dispute that God is omniscient, neither, do my concept of predestination opposes this attribute of the almighty God. In fact, it support and clarify it.
"...God is omniscient, He knows ALL things, including man's decisions before they are even conceived." - I totally agree with you.
Do you agreed that God knew Adam will certainly sin? If you DO then this is where the difference lies.
By this it effectively determine that there is no way Man can avoid sinning, thus, negating FREE WILL.
Without FREE WILL then Man is not responsible for his action/decision because it can always be argued that God had predestinated Man to sin thus the term "Fair" judgement will be in BIG QUESTION.
However, if there is FREE WILL then Man must be responsible for what he choose to be and thus the term "Fair" judgement will not be contended.
I totally agreed with you that God knew Adam would sin BUT I do not agree that God knew Adam would CERTAINLY sin.
My view is God knew all possible decisions that Man will take. Therefore in this aspect, my perspective to predestination is much broader compare what most would think.
Our days and ways are predestinated even b4 the we are in existence.
In the case of Adam, God knew he would sin and therefore had prepared a destiny for him (mankind) which ended up in a world where we are now.
At the same time, God had also prepare a destiny where Adam did not sin and that is where paradise is where babies and wild animals can mingle and not hurt each others.
Adam has a CHOICE to choose to obey God or to sin against God.
So with this, my concept supports God's omniscient to a much greater extend and also make clear that God is FAIR in His judgement.
Thanks for the quick and lengthy reply. Such topics require more time to discuss in detail. However, I would like to just state a few principles in my interpretation of scripture:
1) Accept what the Bible says without tweaking in to cater to our limited understanding.
(a)If God doesn't know outcomes but only possibilities, then He cannot be said to know ALL things.
(b)In the case of Adam, when there are only 2 possible outcomes (sin or not sin), not knowing the outcome means knowing NOTHING!
2)Accept the "WHAT" in the Bible even though sometimes, we don't understand the "HOW".
So,God is just and loving, yet He created Adam, knowing Adam will definitely sin.
(a)I do not exactly how God's justice works out, but I just trust His justice.
(b)Also I do not dare to downplay His definite knowledge. I trust He knows how to explain Himself in the future, I don't need to play the role of His defense lawyer (who am I?!)
(c) I don't question how He can be just and demand an answer here and now
3) Admit that we can only have limited but useful knowledge of some biblical subjects, eg predestination. So we should not try to explain till it's crystal clear. This is the humility God wants us to have.
僕人彼得,you've brought up a very valid and true point. I do not dispute with your wise interpretation of the scripture.
Like I said, this is a very hard topic and do not expect everyone to hv the same opinion.
There are many things in the scripture that are not review and therefore we can only comment on it based on our own opinion or view. By so doing, I don't agreed that we're tweaking the truth as none of it had been changed.
God is omniscient, as this is the basis of my opinion. I only hv the following to say:
God knows the outcomes of our decision since HE alone had predestine each of our choices, only HE had left the "Decision" to us (Man).
Anyway, it is just a personal opinion. That alone does not make me wrong or you right nor am I right and you wrong.
But I do strongly agree with you that I don't need to play the role of His defense lawyer (who am I?!)
Finally, I'm just explaining it and other related queries based on my own opinion to those who raise such questions - STATING CLEARLY that this is only my opinion and it can be proofed wrong in future.
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