The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Gods will!

John,

Let me be perfectly honest and just plain blunt. IF <------ what you have asked about, i.e., "contingencies" or "Plan B" or anything even remotely similar, if they were true, then the very definition of God Himself would be transgressed and denied. This is why I can confidently say although with great sorrow, that the vast majority of not only the unbelieving people on this earth but also those professing to be Christians "worship" a different God than I do. My God, the LORD God of the universe, the God Who revealed Himself through creation, the written Scriptures and in Jesus Christ, is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent in the fullest sense of those terms.

I believe that the LORD God's "foreknowledge" of all things is the natural result and expression of His eternal determinate council, i.e., whatever God has determined to do from all eternity (DECREE) is what He knows. It is (fore)knowledge only in relation to time and space, i.e., before it is brought to pass in that element called history, which is that which only belongs to and within which finite things exist. So, again but short and sweet, God knows all things only and just because He has decreed them. And He has decreed ALL things from and in eternity. There isn't even the slightest movement of the smallest particle of matter which God has created that hasn't been eternally determined (aka: foreordained). There is not one thought, word, feeling or deed from any human being that hasn't been eternally determined by God. THIS my friend, is what "Omnipotent" means. The one true God, the God of the Bible, is not only sovereign in power but also in authority. The apostle Paul certainly understood these things and was overwhelmed by the truth of them. And thus he wrote:

Romans 11:33-36 (ASV) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen."

Now, what about these "secondary causes"?? Simply put, John, look at them as God's "tools" . . . they are the means by which the eternal foreordination (DECREE) is applied and brought to pass in time. They are under the complete control of the MASTER's hand, much as a chisel is used by a master carver. There is first a "plan" and then it is brought to reality. The "blueprint" for the universe is not kinetic nor based upon contingencies determined by finite creatures but it is immutable; it has been carved in stone, so to speak. Of course, this truth tends to boggle the mind of those who seek after truth. Yet it is firmly grasped by faith and is the source of comfort and hope in all things. But, this same truth is seen as sheer foolishness by those who are perishing. They refuse to bow before this sovereign God. Instead they choose to create a "god" after their own liking which allows them "freedom"; a freedom to choose that which is totally opposed to God's will and further that this "god" then reacts to their creaturely wills and changes what was originally planned by him (hoped would happen is more accurate). This idol of the mind is said to be able to get what he wants in the end because he has full access to every kind of "contingency" and "knowledge" about how everyone will react to every situation. Their "god" reminds me of a Border Collie herding sheep. The sheep are determined to go their own way, but the dog cuts them off from going in all directions by jumping in front of them and driving them back by incredibly fast moves and loud barking. Eventually, the sheep are "coaxed" to the owner's final destination due to the superior ability of the dog.

This is the truth, brother: 1) God is totally, absolutely, indisputably SOVEREIGN. There is NOTHING.... NOTHING that God has not decreed/foreordained in eternity. ALL THINGS are the result of His eternal determinate council and ALL THINGS happen according to His good pleasure. 2) Man is totally, absolutely and indisputably RESPONSIBLE for EVERYTHING he/she thinks, feels and does. No one is ever compelled to do that which is contrary to his/her will. ALL THINGS flow out of their own selves most naturally and freely.

The LORD God's: DECREE - FOREORDINATION - FOREKNOWLEDGE - PREDESTINATION - ELECTION - REPROBATION has never forced any human being to do anything against their will. But no human being has ever thought, felt or done anything that wasn't determined from all eternity by God's decree.

Should you ever come across someone who tells you that they have figured out how these two truths work together, then you should immediately fall to your knees and worship him for He will be none other than the LORD Jesus Christ; God in the flesh... OR in every other case, you should simply smile and say something like, "Good for you!!" We humans with our infant brains will never be able to comprehend the infinite mind of God. There are just some things beyond us. Yeh, I know, there are some who would dispute that statement and believe that through logic and reason there isn't anything that can't be known. I suppose one could say that between those types of people and myself we know everything in the universe that can be known.... They know everything except they are complete morons and I am the one who knows that.

In His grace,