Friday, March 22, 2024

March 22nd - The Sovereignty of God vs the Free Will of Man

"For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36)

"...being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own Will." (Ephesians 1:11)

Has God predetermined every detail that happens in the Universe?  
If this is true as to every detail, it seems to me it would be rightly termed "fatalism", a doctrine that stresses the subjection of all events to destiny. Religion challenges this "fatalism" by giving humanity an absolute "free will". Thus they make their Sovereign God subservient to the "free will" of humanity, making humanity's will more powerful than God - essentially making humans gods.  However,  the Scripture says there is only one God.

"Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I distinguish the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come, saying: ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’" (Isaiah 46:8-10)

Some teach that the Sovereignty of God requires that He dictated every detail of life when He created humanity, both thoughts and actions, and yet insist this is not "fatalism". They say in the Absolute sense of things
 God has predetermined every detail, but the Relative sense God sometimes lowers Himself to the level of humanity (a figure of speech they call condescension) and only appears not to know about or CAUSE certain things. An example of this is how they interpret the followings verses in Scripture.

"They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it NEVER ENTERED MY HEART TO COMMAND SUCH A THING. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly!" (Jeremiah 32:35)

God clearly says that He never commanded such a thing nor did it ever enter His heart. So, 
I personally do not accept that God being Sovereign requires that He predetermine every thought and action of man. My view is that humanity has free will as "limited" by God. Humans are free to choose to do what they do but God has the power to work the unexpected bad choices for good in this life, and in the next. And, God will eventually remove the consequences of those choices, together with the pain. He will make a New Creation where such things no longer exist.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Humans are free to make up doctrines such as the doctrine of eternal conscious torment, however, that doctrine never entered the mind or heart of God.  God's Will and Purpose is to save humanity and reconcile His creation to Himself in spite of all the bad choices of humanity that has caused so much evil in this present wicked age. Those bad choices will humble humanity at the feet of Jesus who died to atone for them all.

“I applied by heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: It is an experience of EVIL Elohim has given to the sons of humanity TO HUMBLE THEM by it…I see the experience that Elohim gives to the sons of humanity TO HUMBLE THEM by it.” (Ecclesiastes 1:13; 3:10)

"He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." (1 John 2:2)

December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His ...