How Does God's Omniscience Work?

This sounds like a complex question but it's really quite simple. As Isaiah 40:28 (KJV) says, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."

Prophesies fulfilled also prove that the Lord has planned everything out from the beginning. Revelation 1:8 KJV) tells us, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Proverbs 22:2 (KJV) also explains, "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all." He knows us thoroughly so he also knows what he has planned for us to do.

The Apostle Paul also wrote of God's omniscience in 1 Corinthians 2:7 (KJV). "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:"

Paul likewise wrote about God in 2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV). "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

God knows even what we think and what future generations will believe. Isaiah 66:18 (KJV) prophesies, "For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory."

I'll write more about how God is omniscient in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Because we can't explain everything about God doesn't mean those things aren't true. His ways are far above ours.

Can People Lose Their Salvation?

I've pointed out previously how Satan strives to sabotage the trust of believers in God. One of his attacks is on the matter of being truly saved. Some people fall into sin and the Devil convinces them that it means that they aren't really saved.

One verse which many people misuse to supposedly prove that Christians can lose their salvation is in Hebrews 6:4-6  (BBE) which says, "As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit, With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time, And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him."

One good example of an unsaved follower, perhaps the best one, is Judas Iscariot. He was chosen by Christ and worked with him and his disciples for three -and-a-half years. But look at what John 6:70 (KJV) says. "Jesus answered them, 'Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?'"

Judas tasted, sampled, the world to come and the power of the Lord but he never gave his life to Christ. Look at what John 12:6 (KJV) says of him and his objection to the woman pouring that expensive perfume on Jesus. "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."

Jesus said, regarding those who claim to be Christians, in Matthew 7:21 (KJV)that, "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,'shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

And what is that will? We read in 1 John 3:23 (KJV) "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

I'll be explaining more about this implicit trust in Christ's atonement in my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Unless people surrender their wills and lives to Christ's control they will have no part with him. No amount of good works and kind words will ever gain anybody eternal life in heaven; period.

Saturday Song: Randy Stonehill, "World Without Pain"

Throughout human history, people have yearned for a world where there was no pain or sorrow. Stories and movies have created imaginary worlds where people finally found paradise. As just on example, C. S. Lewis' "The Last Battle book ended with the characters finally finding that wondrous world of endless beauty and perfect health.

Hear Randy Stonehill's song here.

A day will come when people who trust in Christ will live in such a world. As we read in 2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)  "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

The Lord promised this in Isaiah 65:17 (KJV)  "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."

In that glorious day, all that happened in this world will doubtless seem like a bad dream. Like C. S. Lewis wrote, we'll be out of the shadow world and in one more real than this dim place.

That day can't come soon enough for me but for others it'll be too late. Only by surrendering one's life to the leadership of Christ can people enter that glorious world. I hope you're one of those.

So, what do you think of Randy's song and what I wrote here? Please leave me a comment. Or else, have a great weekend anyway.

Why is Openness Theology Dangerous?

I pointed out before how this aberrant doctrine undermines people's faith in God's ability to care for them. Sowing doubt in people's minds is what Satan specializes in.

Genesis 3:1 (KJV) shows how he caused the first two people to doubt God. "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, 'Yea, hath God said, "Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'"

Limiting God is also what the pagans did in this instance from 1 Kings 20:28 (KJV). "And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, 'Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys," therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.'"

By believing that God Almighty isn't as powerful as he is, Openness proponents rob him of his glory and honour. Look at what Revelation 4:11 (KJV) plainly says. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Likewise, Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that God Almighty is the one to whom all honour, praise, and authority belong. He said in Daniel 4:3 (KJV), "How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation."

I could write much more about how certain people limit God while exalting themselves but I'll save it for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? If God isn't all powerful and he doesn't know the future, it's pointless to trust fully in him. But since he is and does, we can.

Why is Openness Theology Wrong?

As I pointed out previously, Openness Theology claims that God doesn't know the future. But the Bible shows that he most assuredly does know what is to come.

This belief is blasphemous because it undermines people's faith in God's providence. Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) plainly says, "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

But some might claim that it's merely wishful thinking on our part. Prophecy proves such persons wrong. Look at what was prophesied about Christ. John 19:24 (KJV) shows that no mere mortal could have set up this to fulfil the prophecies about his crucifixion. "They said therefore among themselves, 'Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be:' that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, 'They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.' These things therefore the soldiers did."

And how could prophets hundreds of years before these events have guessed how much money was paid to Judas to betray  the Messiah? Matthew 27:9 and 10 (KJV) says, "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.'"

Matthew 27:35 (KJV) also proves the impossibility of anybody guessing this. "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.'"

I could show many more prophesies of how God foreknew what would happen in the future. I'll save those verses for my next book. People need to know that God truly does know the future and what he says does come to pass.

Saturday Song, David Bowie, God Knows I'm Good

This song is so convicting for anybody who still has a conscience. The shoplifter hopes God will cut her a break since she's so poor and the "national concern" has so much money. "God may look the other way today," she tells herself.

Hear "God Knows I'm Good" here

But God knows what's going on. Nobody can fool him. Worse yet, people professing to be Christians act just like the woman in this song. They say they never murdered anybody and they never robbed a bank. This is most likely true but the Lord still can't be fooled.

What many Christians don't realize is that God judges the thoughts of people. Jesus explained this in his Sermon on the Mount regarding murder. Even anger is akin to murder. Matthew 5:22 (KJV) quotes Christ's statement, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

The same goes for inappropriate desires. A man can claim to have never sexually assaulted a woman but look at what Christ said in Matthew 5:28 (KJV). "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

So, what do you think? Are you really a good person or have you wished that some jerk would drop dead? Have you secretly envied those folks with more money? If you wish to, please leave a comment on this subject in the comments box. If not, have a wonderful weekend anyway.

What Is Openness Theology?

Another wrong and blasphemous doctrine taught by certain denominations is called Openness Theology. It claims that God isn't omniscient but is as clueless as we are regarding the future.

As far as I know, there is no scriptural basis for this belief. The Bible is quite clear that God knows everything and has history all planned out.

Isaiah 46:9 and 10 (KJV) explains, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand,' and I will do all my pleasure:"

If God were limited to knowing only what had happened, how could he know his counsel would stand to the end? Since he is eternal, he isn't limited by time and space as we are.

Psalms 90:2 (KJV) shows that the Lord is eternal and not limited to our myopic view of history. It says of him, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV) also declares God's eternal state of being. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, 'Destroy them.'"

I'll be adding this and many more warnings of deception in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Satan loves to distract those whom he can't destroy. My hope is that those misled people will be led to safety by God through the work of my hands.