Confused in Christ

[Guest SpiritedDefence]

Hey all, I just registered on these boars, found em through google, cause I was having trouble with a lot of questions my friends (many of whom profess to be atheists or disbeleivers) ask me about God and Jesus Christ... Too many to into all at once I guess, but the one that was bugging me most was over the kind of powers that God has.

I mean, I've always beleived that God knew everything and could do anything, after all he created the universe and has a plan for each of us, but one of my friends pointed out that if God truly knew what we were going to do before we did it, then we never really had the choice! It seems kind of obvious, but I never really thought about it before. Do we have any choices??? Surely we must be able to choose properly and without anyone telling us what we will choose if we are to faithfully accept Christ. How does this work if God KNOWS (and since He can't be wrong...) what we are going to choose?

Its strange being at university and away from my old friends, so I guess some of you might be able to help. Anyway, hope you can,

In Christ,

SpiritedDefence

[Tyler]

Hey all, I just registered on these boars, found em through google, cause I was having trouble with a lot of questions my friends (many of whom profess to be atheists or disbeleivers) ask me about God and Jesus Christ... Too many to into all at once I guess, but the one that was bugging me most was over the kind of powers that God has.

I mean, I've always beleived that God knew everything and could do anything, after all he created the universe and has a plan for each of us, but one of my friends pointed out that if God truly knew what we were going to do before we did it, then we never really had the choice! It seems kind of obvious, but I never really thought about it before. Do we have any choices??? Surely we must be able to choose properly and without anyone telling us what we will choose if we are to faithfully accept Christ. How does this work if God KNOWS (and since He can't be wrong...) what we are going to choose?

Its strange being at university and away from my old friends, so I guess some of you might be able to help. Anyway, hope you can,

In Christ,

SpiritedDefence

Of course God "knows" everything...He knew you before you were born! He created you for fellowship, He did not create you a robot without will or intellect! Before you lies Life giving water Or eternal fire, stretch out your hand, which one do you choose to take!!

In the end you cannot blame God for falling away from Him...Life is all about choices, which one will you make?

Only Christ Saves

[nebula]

This is going to be simplistic, but if I have a dog, and I know that dog loves to eat meat, and I know that if I drop a piece of meat on the floor the dog will eat it, does that negate the dogs choice just because I know what he will do?

Or let's say I know a person well enough that I know how they will react to a certain comment. Let's say the person is an animal rights lover. I know that if I show this person a t-shirt that says: "Vegetarian: an old Indian word for a bad fisherman," I know this person will become angry and make comments back at me. Does my knowing effect the person's choice in reacting?

Now, if you look at the Bible, God knew Israel would sin against Him, yet He kept sending prophets to them to warn them and try to get them to repent and change their ways. Did God's knowing effect their choice? Doesn't look that way.

Now, keep in mind, your atheistic friends are clever in their anti-God reasoning, so with all their arguments and points, the point isn't necessarily the issue addressed. So, dealing with the issues is like trimming leaves off a weed. You need to find a way to kill the roots. Jesus did that in answering those who opposed Him - went past the issue addressed and got to the heart of the matter.

I know, easier said than done, but that's a principle I've seen.

God bless!

[jesusson]

Friend Proverbs 16:9 says,

[angels4u]

Hi Spirit of defense,

Welcome to this worthy board and I hope you will stay for a long time......

Which University are you going and what are you studying?

I

I have daughter who went and are going to the University and I know how the life style is there --its very much anti-God.

You will have to choose who you will follow yourself ,God is not asking you when you stand before His throne ,did you listen to such and so? But He will ask you what you did with Jesus Christ.

I know its hard to live your life as a Christian in the University, but with Gods help you can and you don't have to take part of all the parties they have, is there a good Christian church close with a nice youthgroup ?

That might lift your spirits and see if there is a bible study group somewhere.

The enemy will try very hard to confuse you now because he knows you're alone with all kinds of unchristian people around you to decieve you and he does not easely give up --

Its up to you to make the right desicion---choose for Jesus---You can't go wrong with that desicion.

With God all things are possible, He care for you and loves you and it waiting to turn your life completely to HIm

Hope this helps?? Angels

[other one]

I mean, I've always beleived that God knew everything and could do anything, after all he created the universe and has a plan for each of us, but one of my friends pointed out that if God truly knew what we were going to do before we did it, then we never really had the choice!

I have not been on this board but since December, and am by no means the bible scholar that you will find within these screens, however I can give you something that your college people will understand. I can not back this up with scripture but is does not go against scripture either.

We in this world, at the present time, exist in a 4 dimension world. The three dimensions of the physical word of up/down, left/right, back/forward and time. Mathematics shows that there are actually many more than 4 dimensions which we really do not fully comprehend.

God exists across all these dimensions and is not bound to the dimensions of space and time. He can view what will happen in your life at your birth, anywhere in the middle and death at the same time. He does not make your choices he just has the ability to see what you will do in 20 years (assuming you are here that long)

The story line of predestination or freewill you can debate forever using the bible.

So the gospel according to Sam (who is not a prophet, apostle or appointed one) is this: We were put here for a purpose. God is making something for the future for himself with us. Considering the rebellion of the angles in the past he really wants those people who will willingly follow him and can be trusted to do his will, by our own free will.

There are hints of things such as judging the fallen angles and other things that we can get into detail about, but those you will be talking to really don't care.

My 2 non-scriptural cents worth

[tsth]

Hi Spirit of Defense,

I know you are in a very hard place and I commend you for contending for the faith. Just remember to just speak the Truth. Tell them what the Word says, and why you believe that Jesus loves you and them. John 3:16 You don't have to convince them Spirit, you just speak the Truth, the Holy Spirit is able to do the rest. You are to just speak the Truth in love. Which brings me to the thought that your post invoked, and might lead to an introduction with them, as to the depths of God's love for them.

I mean, I've always beleived that God knew everything and could do anything, after all he created the universe and has a plan for each of us, but one of my friends pointed out that if God truly knew what we were going to do before we did it, then we never really had the choice!

And with that said, couldn't this also be the awesome testimony of how much HE LOVED US! I mean if He knew/knows everything, then that would also have to mean that Jesus ALSO KNEW FULL WELL, what was going to happen at the cross. Did He have the choice to be the sacrifice for our sins? He FOREKNEW how He would be treated, yet He came anyway. How's that for choices?

Matthew 26:50 But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Jesus/God definitely foreknew, and yet He came anyway for you/me/all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior.

:il:

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest LCPGUY]

I mean, I've always beleived that God knew everything and could do anything, after all he created the universe and has a plan for each of us, but one of my friends pointed out that if God truly knew what we were going to do before we did it, then we never really had the choice! It seems kind of obvious, but I never really thought about it before. Do we have any choices???

Just because God knew, and knows, the "choices" we will make in no way means we don't have the ability to make choices. It only means that He knows what we will choose before we do.

In my view, the whole predestination issue is simply that God looked down through the funnel of time and into the future and knew who would accept Him. He didn't arbitrarily hand pick a certain few for salvation and then Damn the rest of them by not allowing them to choose according to their will.

He simply knew in advance who would do what and when. There is a big difference between foreknowledge and programming someone's mind and not allowing them to choose.

John

[Guest LadyC]

nebula's analogies were very good examples. i was going to use a similar one myself. if i have a two year old that i know will throw a tantrum when i take a cookie away from him, it's still the child's choice to throw that tantrum. while there is always the possibility of an element of surprise, that is because we are human. God has no surprises in store. there is no doubt what our reaction will be, but God won't force us to give a reaction different from what we would choose.

God knows what choices we will make. and yes, even Christians have the choice, whether to obey God or not to, whether to allow God to guide our steps or to follow our own paths.

[WayneB]

SpiritedDefence,

When you read the responses to your questions, please realize that you will receive some sound doctrinal answers as well as some very false statements and ideas. This forum is open to everyone registered on the boards regardless of their personal beliefs and therefore you will get a wide range of answers to your query. I am sorry if some if some of the answers only confuse you. Not all are in line with our Statement of Faith, which you will find on the opening page.

Of course, the most important thing is for your FAITH to be grounded in the Truth and realize that none of us have all the answers. One thing that I do know is that mankind is a work in process, an uncompleted work, and God has a perfect master plan for its completion. Yes, he knows the end result --- part of that plan though was the creation of man who was created in God