(09/28/2016) Divine Knowing, Finite Will?

Today, focus is upon the confusion and familiar errors associated with “free will”, divine knowing, and “predestination”.   While there are “freedom”, “latitude when applying the law”, “liberty”, and self-will within the living that may be understood as provided from GOD, there is no such thing as “free will” that makes a person exempt from divine judgment, or releases the living from having to respond to conditions for existence, the fulfillment of sacred promises, and the accomplishment of prophecy in place from before the foundation of the world.  One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:

Are free will and omniscience a contradiction?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  (1st Peter 1:  13-21, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Cross and Critical Thinking? (04/13/2016); Knowing? (05/24/2015); The Philosophy of Free Will? (04/08/2014); The Name(?) of GOD (04/09/2014); Doing GOD’s Plan? (02/20/2014); “Prayer Death”? (02/21/2014); No Free Will? (10/19/2010); Speaking of GOD (10/20/2010)

“Anonymous”, lacking correct sacred knowledge, many of us have confusions about divine authority and “free will” (i.e., that there is no accountability or duty to answer and serve GOD; there should be no limits upon self-will in created beings and living creatures).  The issue is not one of contradiction; it is many and includes betrayal, defiance, disobedience, and rebellion.  Sinners must go beyond the idea that divinity “reads your mind,” “programs you like a computer,” and “knows all your private thoughts and secrets.”  Mature Christians will agree both that self-will within finite created beings and living creatures appears as a product from divine consciousness and sovereign will, and that self-will has been provided to the living so they may carryout and fulfill eternal purposes that have been established as basic to their own lives.  Sacred (rather than secular) knowledge is comprised of information, principles, and expressions of divine will such as law, miracles and sacramental events, proclamations and utterances by spirit beings as well as promise, prophecy, revelation, and relationships that have their origin and value through GOD.

The process of “knowing” that exists among mankind as a requirement to participate in the world is carnal, mental, and social, and relies upon such limited tools as appetite, emotion, imagination, logic, philosophy, science, and technology.  By contrast, awareness and “knowing” for divinity may be spoken of as a kaleidoscopic spirit process wherein inseparable content from the makeup of GOD are ceaselessly positioned, joined, patterned, and reconfigured.  As a movement of spirit substance, divine knowing is active, detailed, diffuse, organic, quickened and unspecified, yet, must be acknowledged as immutable, incorruptible, and unchanging.  Existing as a “godhead” (summation of all divine person and power) that displays oneness without sameness, Deity is incarnate as well as at once selfless and continually self-engaged.  Thus, we speak of divine knowing as categorical, comprehensive and unbounded even when appearing in communication, exchange, focus, interaction, and judgment.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC