Is God All Knowing?

[Thiscrosshurts]

God plays a great role in the life of those the believe on him. The earth does have a begging and a end. Everything will take place just as the Lord said it would. There are so many scriptures that indicate that God is not forcing himself on any one. God responds to our actions and words. We draw nigh to him first, then him to us. We honor him first, then he honors us. We have a choice, and God told us to choose him, choose the blessing, choose life.

That seems logical but doesn't satisfy all scripture such as :
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

In the case of unbelievers:
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

This verse puts much doubt on the concept of freewill:
Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

I agree that there are also many verses that do seem to imply freewill.
This is one of the many issues I would like more clarity on.

 

[David777]

Hello all.

If God is all knowing, why did He create mankind knowing they would
sin. Knowing that not all would be saved, knowing that many would be damned.

Here is a clue I think to answering one of the truly big questions.

Man was created in the image of God, why?

Why in God's image, why not like the angels or other entities that God has created in the past?

 

[Brother Mike]

Free Will, God Knowing.

I agree that there are also many verses that do seem to imply freewill.
This is one of the many issues I would like more clarity on.

Luk 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

God had a plan, that plan was to bring John the Baptist into this World. Zacharias in unbelief spoke that he may be to old, as well as his wife.

Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

The people in Mal where saying, what good does it do to serve God, what good is it bringing the tithes, we can't tell a difference. Yet God just said he would open the windows of Heaven to where there would not be room enough to receive. They saw nothing, because they were in agreement with the wrong thing.

God wanted to give Israel the promise land, told them it was theirs, yet they said the giants are to big, and God just brought us out here to die. Once again, God says one thing, man says something different. They come up with a new Doctrine that God free's people to just have them killed.

Jesus said, You shall have what you say. Now Zacharias was out of agreement. The Lord still had a plan to do. So, if Zacharias can't speak, then the plan goes through. Zacharias can't possibly mess it up, because you have what you say and believe, and if you can't say, then..........................

Luk 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

David777

Here is a clue I think to answering one of the truly big questions.

Man was created in the image of God, why?

Why in God's image, why not like the angels or other entities that God has created in the past?

Strange you bring this up, I will tell you want the Lord spoke to me a few years ago. I was out praying in tongues, and I asked the Lord the very question. "Don't you know what we are going to pick and choose anyway?" It was a question concerning the end time stuff.

The Lord spoke to me, which made me go back and study scriptures again. Not a voice, but inside my spirit.

He said.... "How would I know? I made you like me. Had I known, you would not be like me, and I had no children. Yet you are equal with me, and exactly like me."

That is all he said. I sensed at the time we are really his Children, that for him to be fulfilled, he duplicated himself to fellowship with many on his level. I still don't understand everything.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[David777]

Hello Mike.

I am answering the question asked in this thread, the question is;

Christians seem to suggest that God is all knowing, if He is, then why did he create humanity knowing we would fall?

So I asked, why did God create man in His image?

This is very important, the reason God created man in His image has more than one purpose.

I believe this revelation is part of a much deeper revelation which may answer the initial question.

 

[David777]

Following on...

Why did God create man in His own image, why not like the angels?

Why did God knowingly create mankind, aware of the consequences?

Colossians 1
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Notice Jesus creates all things, mankind, angels, and other creatures, both visible and visible.

Created in Pure, Holy, Eternal Love by Jesus and for Jesus.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Mankind was created in God's image for a purpose, a very important purpose.

Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was placed within Eden.

Adam and Eve have the power of choice, so do the angels, and other creatures of the Heavens.

The clock is now ticking, choices are made not forced, pure freedom of choice.

Adam falls, death enters creation, this is the outcome of disobedience.

Remember that not only did man fall, but heavenly beings including angels exceeded their boundaries also.

This problem at all levels has to be addressed by the creator Jesus Christ.

An unholy decision by Adam results in the Holy declaration of death for mankind.

Romans 8
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.

Divine reconciliation on a grand scale is required, but who can reconcile all things.

There is only one, the creator of all things in the Heavens and on Earth, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Please notice that this reconciliation was not only for mankind.

Jesus reconciled all things in Heaven and on Earth.

That is why Jesus created man in His image, so he could become the image itself.

Thereby enabling the astonishing sacrifice of the image itself (Jesus as a man),
to reconcile in Love all things.

Pure, Holy, Eternal Love achieving what only Jesus could do.
That is why we respect and worship not the image but the Eternal Creator,
the source of love itself Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:22
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,
angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Colossians 2:14
...having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

All things are now subject to Jesus, all have been reconciled, all may now be judged.

Holiness, Love, peace and joy have been established once again over all things,
above and below, by the image itself and the creator Jesus Christ.

This image was crucial, man was the image of God, Jesus became the image for us and all things.
A divine plan of astounding depth administered at all levels in pure love. That's the Jesus we love.

 

[B-A-C]

To me, the title of this thread is a little misleading.

Is God all knowing? That could mean a number of things.
The inference is, he may "know" everything, but does he control everything?
Is he simply an observer that knows everything, or does he actively get involved?

It is difficult to separate this question from predestination and the elect.
Is God really in control of everything, or only some things, or is he some distant impersonal force that either isn't in control or doesn't care enough to try to control everything? Is he just all knowing, or is he also all powerful?

We see through the Bible that God was always involved with his people. In the OT this was primarily Israel. In the NT this of course includes the Gentiles.

See we see in 2nd Peter that it's God will that none should perish and ALL men should come to the knowledge of the truth. We see in John 6 that no one can come to Jesus unless God draws him near, how do you reconcile the two seemingly opposites?

For me personally, I don't believe God controls our decisions, at least not until it's "too late". (He may know in advance what they are going to be, but he doesn't control them) I believe he does control our circumstances.

All through the Bible I see this, in the OT God was trying to get Israel to turn away from false Gods and turn back to him. He let circumstances control Israel, he predicted that if they didn't change other countries would conquer them, other kingdoms would enslave them, famine and disease would affect them. In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah they were eventually destroyed, but not without much warning first. I believe God always gives us warning signs when "too late" is approaching.

We see this with Jonah, God wanted him to do something, he resisted it up to a point. God controlled his circumstances, but not his decision. We see this pharaoh and Moses, God sent plagues to change pharaoh's mind. Pharaoh never did, so in the end, God said he would "harden Pharaoh's heart". Even in the NT there are verses that say if we keep on sinning and refuse salvation, God will eventually give us over to our sins.

I believe everyday God puts choices and decisions in front of us. Sometimes they are difficult trials, sometimes they are pleasant blessings, but either way, God is in control of them. Sometimes we make good choices because of them, sometimes we make bad choices because of them, either way, God is in control.

If he is the author and finisher of our faith, the alpha and omega, all powerful and all knowing, then he knows how the story ends. I find a great deal of comfort in that.

It's one of the great things that separates Christianity from most other religions. Our God loves us enough to get involved. To get his hands dirty and messy in bad relationships, dirty hurting people. He doesn't love them because of who they are, he loves them in spite of who they are. Before they receive salvation they are lost sinners. After they receive salvation they have the right to be called sons of God and have eternal life. He loved us so much that while we were yet sinners he sent his only son to die for us, not just us but the entire world. How many other religions and Gods can say that? None that I know of.

 

[jiggyfly]

Why did God create man in His own image, why not like the angels?

Why did God knowingly create mankind, aware of the consequences?

Colossians 1
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Notice Jesus creates all things, mankind, angels, and other creatures, both visible and visible.

Created in Pure, Holy, Eternal Love by Jesus and for Jesus.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Mankind was created in God's image for a purpose, a very important purpose.

Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was placed within Eden.

Adam and Eve have the power of choice, so do the angels, and other creatures of the Heavens.

The clock is now ticking, choices are made not forced, pure freedom of choice.

Adam falls, death enters creation, this is the outcome of disobedience.

Remember that not only did man fall, but heavenly beings including angels exceeded their boundaries also.

This problem at all levels has to be addressed by the creator Jesus Christ.

An unholy decision by Adam results in the Holy declaration of death for mankind.

Romans 8
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.

Divine reconciliation on a grand scale is required, but who can reconcile all things.

There is only one, the creator of all things in the Heavens and on Earth, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Please notice that this reconciliation was not only for mankind.

Jesus reconciled all things in Heaven and on Earth.

That is why Jesus created man in His image, so he could become the image itself.

Thereby enabling the astonishing sacrifice of the image itself (Jesus as a man),
to reconcile in Love all things.

Pure, Holy, Eternal Love achieving what only Jesus could do.
That is why we respect and worship not the image but the Eternal Creator,
the source of love itself Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:22
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,
angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Colossians 2:14
...having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

All things are now subject to Jesus, all have been reconciled, all may now be judged.

Holiness, Love, peace and joy have been established once again over all things,
above and below, by the image itself and the creator Jesus Christ.

This image was crucial, man was the image of God, Jesus became the image for us and all things.
A divine plan of astounding depth administered at all levels in pure love. That's the Jesus we love.

A most excellent post David, yes indeed a divine plan from the very beginning.

 

[aaroncam85]

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

this describes hell or whatever you want to call it.

by all knowing, i mean God knew before creating mankind that some would not make it to heaven.

 

[aaroncam85]

and just to clarify, i am not talking directly about predestination or the elect or free will, God knew, before creating the world that people would not accept Jesus and He knew these people would be eternally separated from Him, if He truly wished that none would perish He shouldn't of created us, free will plays no part because noone had a choice to be created.

The Bible says judas was created for destruction, seems he is used as a pawn for Gods purpose, are we disposable? is this loving?

try to separate God from the Bible so you may see my point, i believe in God, i just feel that either the bible is wrong or has been corrupted or maybe man has interpretted it wrongly.

alot of christians think they know and understand the word, the bible says you should be careful, even the pharisees and saducees, who spent years studying scripture got it wrong, why are you right or why is your pastor right? something to think about

 

[jiggyfly]

If God is not all knowing how could His Spirit lead anyone into all truth?

 

[jiggyfly]

and just to clarify, i am not talking directly about predestination or the elect or free will, God knew, before creating the world that people would not accept Jesus and He knew these people would be eternally separated from Him, if He truly wished that none would perish He shouldn't of created us, free will plays no part because noone had a choice to be created.

The Bible says judas was created for destruction, seems he is used as a pawn for Gods purpose, are we disposable? is this loving?

try to separate God from the Bible so you may see my point, i believe in God, i just feel that either the bible is wrong or has been corrupted or maybe man has interpretted it wrongly.

alot of christians think they know and understand the word, the bible says you should be careful, even the pharisees and saducees, who spent years studying scripture got it wrong, why are you right or why is your pastor right? something to think about

Very Good post Aaroncam85, you make some good points. Hopefully you will get adequate answers.:wink:

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

or maybe man has interpretted it wrongly.

I believe this is the case,God is love so any interpretation that does not fit Love must therefore be a lie.

John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

This leads me to believe even the men who wrote the old testament may have had an imperfect revelation of the true nature of God.

We needed a Judas right?

What if we chose who we would be like a video game RPG and we got to design our strengths and weaknesses.Would you have chosen the path that you find yourself on?

Where in the Bible does it tell us we had no say in our lives?

 

[AudreyNicole]

the Bible and many Christians seem to suggest that God is all knowing, if He is, then why did he create humanity knowing we would fall?

Hello aaroncam,

I won't pretend to know the answer to this question because I don't, but I will try my best to help you with it.

As a young Christian, I have wondered this question a lot. Why didn't God just make us all perfect angels... literally. Why did He have to make Satan if He already knew Satan would ruin everything? Why did He have to put that darn tree in the garden?

Well, God is most definitely all knowing, and I believe He did all of those things to glorify His name. Its just one big act of glory.

God is all powerful all knowing and all loving, and He wants us to know that we can do nothing without Him. Therefore He made us weak and imperfect that He might be strong and perfect. He made the Ten Commandments intentionally knowing we could never keep them because He wanted to show us that we are unable. He created us this way because He wanted us to see that He is the only way. And I believe that when Jesus comes back, we will see God's glory clearly revealed before us.

I know this seems a little selfish of God.... like all He cares about is Himself. But there is a beautiful relationship within Christ were God's glory is also our greatest joy. Its a difficult concept, but once understood is very liberating. The Lord taught me this a few months ago and it continues to bless me with an unbelievable trust.

He intentionally created Adam and Eve to sin, because through that sinfulness, He would be glorified. We see this as He sent His son Christ to die for us on the cross, signifying that He is the only way; the only one perfect; the only one able. If He made us perfect and able, we wouldn't need a God.


I hope this helps somewhat. I definitely recommend you listen to this sermon by Matt Chandler of the Village Church, It's called God is for God:
Matt Chandler - God Is For God (Code Orange Revival) - YouTube

Its also on iTunes (Code Orange Revival, Night 3, Matt Chandler)

It is a beautiful and powerful message about the glory of God and the sinfulness of man.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

I won't pretend to know the answer to this question because I don't, but I will try my best to help you with it.

I found that helpful and refreshing,that's almost exactly the conclusions I have come to and I feel just short of an answer.

If He made us perfect and able, we wouldn't need a God.

Jesus said be perfect so it is possible.
Remember this is all a temporary condition just like preaching.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Our occupation is to be perfect footstool craftsmen.

As for him making people, knowing they would be punished for eternity I don't see that.It would take several long posts to explain why.
But I probably have a different concept of eternity than most.
I think of it like the Hebrews did before they were Hellenized.

 

[jiggyfly]

Without any fall, failure or offence how could God express the magnitude of His mercy, forgiveness, grace and love?

 

[Furious_Love]

Without any fall, failure or offence how could God express the magnitude of His mercy, forgiveness, grace and love?

My answer to that would be why would an all powerful Creator let us go through so much torment just to believe in Him.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

My answer to that would be why would an all powerful Creator let us go through so much torment just to believe in Him.

Where in scripture does it tell us we never had any choice or say in being here?
I get that information from my five senses and my carnal brain but my carnal brain is a liar.

 

[Brother Mike]

I am the blessed!!!

God Said choose....... choose death, choose life. Choose blessing, Choose cursing.

We are told to choose life, we are told to cleave to him, we are told to obey his voice.

Now if we choose by our own mouth to not have our needs met, choose to speak fear, choose other things but what God said, then it's our own fault.

I am blessed, My son should have been dead, but healed completely the day he was suppose to die. You won't hear me speak things I don't want. I choose life, I choose the blessings.

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Your life, and early demise is not up to God, he put that power in your tongue.

Psa 34:12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

As a someone might say:
Now I am being "DEAD" serious about this!! I would write more if my back was not "killing" me right now.

What words are you speaking, what are you in agreement with? hell, or the Word of life?

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

I am the blessed!!!
God Said choose....... choose death, choose life. Choose blessing, Choose cursing.

We are told to choose life, we are told to cleave to him, we are told to obey his voice.

Now if we choose by our own mouth to not have our needs met, choose to speak fear, choose other things but what God said, then it's our own fault.

I am blessed, My son should have been dead, but healed completely the day he was suppose to die. You won't hear me speak things I don't want. I choose life, I choose the blessings.

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Your life, and early demise is not up to God, he put that power in your tongue.

Psa 34:12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

As a someone might say:
Now I am being "DEAD" serious about this!! I would write more if my back was not "killing" me right now.

What words are you speaking, what are you in agreement with? hell, or the Word of life?

Jesus Is Lord.

I completely agree with your position here.
However I have a different concept of eternity,time,past and the future.There is no past and there is no future there is only now and next.
So the death you are referring to would be physical and next.We are always in the now and prophesying to the next.We proclaim life or death from the now and call it into the next.
Linear time and past and future are an illusion that happens because we can't handle the truth.
They are only in our heads.
This could explain why the early church expected his return soon and they seemed to be wrong but we are still waiting for the next.They simply used the word soon instead of next and since there is no past they were right and still are .He is coming next.
I see time in the heavenlies as event driven not the decay of matter driven.
Linear time is a thin line with a curved envelope and it drops off quickly in both directions to infinity.
I have found that looking at time in this manner answers a lot of difficult to grasp scripture.

 

[aaroncam85]

if God is willing for some to be separated from Him so He can recieve glory from man whom He created, thats a weak arguement.

He would have to not care about those being separated

You talk of choice, i by no stretch of the imagination had a choice in being created, that was God choice, i did not conciously choose to exsist.

the fact is in scripture God knew some would go to hell and He created them anyway, thats not love, love does not use others as a means to an end, dispose of some so He can be glorified.

p.s. hell does exsist in scripture, matthew 25:40-41