Who is “He”, Who is “Us”, and Who is “Him”, in Ephesians 1:4?
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To NOT believe this statement is saying that God is NOT omniscient.
Omniscience, when attributed to God, refers to His attribute of possessing complete, infinite, and perfect knowledge. It means that God knows everything—past, present, and future—including all actual facts and all potentialities. This knowledge is not acquired or learned; it is inherent to His divine nature.
God knows everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen. This includes every event in history, every thought and intention of the heart, every word spoken, and every action taken by every creature.
God knows not only what is but also what could be under any set of circumstances. This includes knowing all possible outcomes of every decision and every event, even those that never come to pass.
God's knowledge is not acquired through observation or learning; it is inherent and immediate. He does not learn or forget; His knowledge is eternal and unchanging.
God's knowledge encompasses all things, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It includes the number of stars in the universe as well as the number of hairs on each person's head.
God's omniscience includes a deep, intimate knowledge of every person. He knows our thoughts, feelings, struggles, and desires, as well as our deepest needs.
Scriptural support for God's omniscience is abundant:
Psalm 147:4-5: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."
Psalm 139:1-4: "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely."
Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
1 John 3:20: "...for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."
God's foreknowledge is compatible with human free will because knowing what will happen does not equate to causing it to happen.
Omniscience, when attributed to God, refers to His attribute of possessing complete, infinite, and perfect knowledge. It means that God knows everything—past, present, and future—including all actual facts and all potentialities. This knowledge is not acquired or learned; it is inherent to His divine nature.
God knows everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen. This includes every event in history, every thought and intention of the heart, every word spoken, and every action taken by every creature.
God knows not only what is but also what could be under any set of circumstances. This includes knowing all possible outcomes of every decision and every event, even those that never come to pass.
God's knowledge is not acquired through observation or learning; it is inherent and immediate. He does not learn or forget; His knowledge is eternal and unchanging.
God's knowledge encompasses all things, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It includes the number of stars in the universe as well as the number of hairs on each person's head.
God's omniscience includes a deep, intimate knowledge of every person. He knows our thoughts, feelings, struggles, and desires, as well as our deepest needs.
Scriptural support for God's omniscience is abundant:
Psalm 147:4-5: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."
Psalm 139:1-4: "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely."
Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
1 John 3:20: "...for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."
God's foreknowledge is compatible with human free will because knowing what will happen does not equate to causing it to happen.
No. Omniscience means different things to different people. Does God know what a square circle looks like. Does God know every possible being that does not exist? Does God know what minnow that swallowed a whale looks like?
Omniscience is knowing (being certain that) everything that is true. Knowing (Being certain of) things that are not true is what we call being deluded. It is moot whether the future is true and real before it arrives as the present. The Bible does not say that God knows the future as already settled. In fact, there are many passages in scripture which indicate that God and His prophets regard the future as not settled.
Omniscience is knowing (being certain that) everything that is true. Knowing (Being certain of) things that are not true is what we call being deluded. It is moot whether the future is true and real before it arrives as the present. The Bible does not say that God knows the future as already settled. In fact, there are many passages in scripture which indicate that God and His prophets regard the future as not settled.
Psalm 147:4-5: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."
God has full knowledge of everything that presently is.
Psalm 139:1-4: "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely."
God has full knowledge of everything that is presently happening;' and by understanding what our brain patterns mean, can anticipate our words before we speak them.
Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
God has full knowledge of everything that presently is.
1 John 3:20: "...for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."
1 John 3:17-20 God has full knowledge of everything that presently is in our hearts.
When we are loving in deed and in trut,h we know that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before Him; for whenever our own hearts condemn us as not loving in deed and in truth, we should realise that God is greater that our hearts, and so also knows all things in our hearts. Therefore He knows with even greater clarity that we are not loving in deed and in truth.
These texts do only refer to certain things that God knows. They do not assert a blanket divine knowledge of every imaginable thing. Maybe you have other verses that say he knows all the future.
God has full knowledge of everything that presently is.
Psalm 139:1-4: "You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely."
God has full knowledge of everything that is presently happening;' and by understanding what our brain patterns mean, can anticipate our words before we speak them.
Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
God has full knowledge of everything that presently is.
1 John 3:20: "...for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."
1 John 3:17-20 God has full knowledge of everything that presently is in our hearts.
When we are loving in deed and in trut,h we know that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before Him; for whenever our own hearts condemn us as not loving in deed and in truth, we should realise that God is greater that our hearts, and so also knows all things in our hearts. Therefore He knows with even greater clarity that we are not loving in deed and in truth.
These texts do only refer to certain things that God knows. They do not assert a blanket divine knowledge of every imaginable thing. Maybe you have other verses that say he knows all the future.
To say that God is NOT ALL knowing is to say He is NO longe God.
The Bible gives us several clues that this is true about God. For instance, in Isaiah 46:9-10 , God says, "9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 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:" This clearly tells us that God declares what will happen in the future from the very beginning. He knows the entire story of the universe, from start to finish, because He is beyond time.
Declaring: (Hebrew: maggiyd, meaning "to declare, announce, show, tell") This word emphasizes God's open and authoritative communication. He doesn't hide his plans but openly declares them.
The end from the beginning: (Hebrew: acharith merishon, meaning "the end from the beginning") This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience (all-knowing nature). He knows not only the present but also the future and the past.
Ancient times: (Hebrew: mekadmonim, meaning "from ancient times, of old") This phrase highlights the eternal nature of God's knowledge. He has always known the future, even before time began.
Things not yet done: (Hebrew: od lo ne'esot, meaning "not yet done") This emphasizes that the future events God is declaring haven't happened yet, but they are certain to occur according to his plan.
Psalm 139:16, where David says to God, "16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Before David was even born, God knew every day of his life. This isn't just about God knowing someone's lifespan; it's about knowing every detail of every day—past, present, and future—for every person.
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Here, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon, assuring them that He has a sovereign plan for their welfare, including their future.
While these verses point towards God's knowledge and control over the future, they don't necessarily negate our free will. The Bible also emphasizes human responsibility for our choices (Deuteronomy 30:19). The Bible portrays God as existing outside of time, with a complete understanding of the past, present, and future. He has a plan and purpose for humanity, but the way it unfolds requires human choices and actions.
The Bible gives us several clues that this is true about God. For instance, in Isaiah 46:9-10 , God says, "9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 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:" This clearly tells us that God declares what will happen in the future from the very beginning. He knows the entire story of the universe, from start to finish, because He is beyond time.
Declaring: (Hebrew: maggiyd, meaning "to declare, announce, show, tell") This word emphasizes God's open and authoritative communication. He doesn't hide his plans but openly declares them.
The end from the beginning: (Hebrew: acharith merishon, meaning "the end from the beginning") This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience (all-knowing nature). He knows not only the present but also the future and the past.
Ancient times: (Hebrew: mekadmonim, meaning "from ancient times, of old") This phrase highlights the eternal nature of God's knowledge. He has always known the future, even before time began.
Things not yet done: (Hebrew: od lo ne'esot, meaning "not yet done") This emphasizes that the future events God is declaring haven't happened yet, but they are certain to occur according to his plan.
Psalm 139:16, where David says to God, "16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Before David was even born, God knew every day of his life. This isn't just about God knowing someone's lifespan; it's about knowing every detail of every day—past, present, and future—for every person.
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Here, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon, assuring them that He has a sovereign plan for their welfare, including their future.
While these verses point towards God's knowledge and control over the future, they don't necessarily negate our free will. The Bible also emphasizes human responsibility for our choices (Deuteronomy 30:19). The Bible portrays God as existing outside of time, with a complete understanding of the past, present, and future. He has a plan and purpose for humanity, but the way it unfolds requires human choices and actions.
Absolutely correct brother-thank you for taking time to read-since we all have plenty of time-to redeem the time-
Ephesians 5:16, which states, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil"
This verse emphasizes the importance of making the most of our time wisely and being diligent in our actions. It encourages living purposefully and aligning our activities with God's will to have a positive impact
The concept of redeeming time is about using our time on earth effectively, understanding its value as a gift from God, and focusing on eternal pursuits rather than frivolous endeavors.
Johann.
Ephesians 5:16, which states, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil"
This verse emphasizes the importance of making the most of our time wisely and being diligent in our actions. It encourages living purposefully and aligning our activities with God's will to have a positive impact
The concept of redeeming time is about using our time on earth effectively, understanding its value as a gift from God, and focusing on eternal pursuits rather than frivolous endeavors.
Johann.
Praise God
It all comes from knowing who we are, what we are to be and what we are to do. These truths are to be found in the doctrines of predestination and election, I call them the crown jewels.
Everybody wants to be like Jesus. This is what we are predestined and elected to be, like Jesus "predestined and chosen to be conformed to the image of the Son of God."
Everybody wants to tell about Jesus. This is what God chose us to do before all worlds began "to be a people for the praise of God's glorious grace"
Hallelujah, this is for men and women alike.
It all comes from knowing who we are, what we are to be and what we are to do. These truths are to be found in the doctrines of predestination and election, I call them the crown jewels.
Everybody wants to be like Jesus. This is what we are predestined and elected to be, like Jesus "predestined and chosen to be conformed to the image of the Son of God."
Everybody wants to tell about Jesus. This is what God chose us to do before all worlds began "to be a people for the praise of God's glorious grace"
Hallelujah, this is for men and women alike.
It all comes from one stagnant pool, the salvation by works, the fight against eternal security and now Open theology.
It comes from jettisoning the predestination/election doctrines of the bible and substituting them with the doctrine of freewill.
It's a foothold the devil has got in the church, a beach head from where he operates and expands his ghastly work, sowing doubt and unbelief. Robbing folks of their identity with Christ and assurance.
They are not even sure that they are saved.
It comes from jettisoning the predestination/election doctrines of the bible and substituting them with the doctrine of freewill.
It's a foothold the devil has got in the church, a beach head from where he operates and expands his ghastly work, sowing doubt and unbelief. Robbing folks of their identity with Christ and assurance.
They are not even sure that they are saved.
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Bishops are promoting the idea of
sacramental sodomy let them be anathema
repent
and to the rest of you I have no doubt
that some of you will consider me a
bigot or a transfer or a homophobe but I
am neither of those things none of those
things I'm simply a follower of Christ a
Christian and we are naturally
counter-cultural
liberals were truly diverse and tolerant
they would Embrace us just as they
Embrace everyone else and that not right
now I'm just wrapping up and the point
has been made but the growing
christophobic attitude around this
public debate and the Ugly level of
hypocrisy is that we really see people
hold Muslims and people of other faiths
to the same expectations that they hold
Christians do who is calling except my
good friend here for Islam to embrace
gay marriage who is calling for the
Quran to be updated to Modern societal
norms
it is the same
mind your language it is the same
patreonizing attitude of people
of other treat other faiths patronize
off the face while being intolerant
towards Christians at the same time it's
a shame but in the words of saint
athanasius of Alexandria if the world is
against the truth
then I am against the world thank you
very much
Timestamp 20:21-round about there-looks like you can teach me a thing or two brother @Evmur
Johann.
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It's GOOD news for the nonelect.
Paul basis his doctrines upon how God dealt with the saints of the OT, Abraham
God knew him, predestined him, chose him, called him and justified him. To what?
To be the instrument of BLESSING in the earth. That the families of the earth would bless themselves in Abraham. We are predestined and called to be a city set upon the hill, to exclude everybody ? NO! not to exclude anybody but that the poor, the bruised, the lost and weary, the hungry might espy us on the hill as a beacon of hope and succour.
Abraham was predestined and chosen ... does that mean nobody else was saved? Lot was saved, all those who rode with Abraham were saved. We have no record of how many were saved through Abraham. How any in Egypt when they saw God's miracles?
Predestination is not unto salvation per se. Others can be saved.
Paul basis his doctrines upon how God dealt with the saints of the OT, Abraham
God knew him, predestined him, chose him, called him and justified him. To what?
To be the instrument of BLESSING in the earth. That the families of the earth would bless themselves in Abraham. We are predestined and called to be a city set upon the hill, to exclude everybody ? NO! not to exclude anybody but that the poor, the bruised, the lost and weary, the hungry might espy us on the hill as a beacon of hope and succour.
Abraham was predestined and chosen ... does that mean nobody else was saved? Lot was saved, all those who rode with Abraham were saved. We have no record of how many were saved through Abraham. How any in Egypt when they saw God's miracles?
Predestination is not unto salvation per se. Others can be saved.
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progressive sanctification
“That gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works”;1 often simply called sanctification.
Scripture used to support the idea of prevenient grace:
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).
From The London Baptist Confession, 1689:
Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
1. They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14)
2. This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 7:18, 23; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11)
3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them. (Romans 7:23; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1)
From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 607:
Sanctification in its most commonly recognized aspect is understood in ethical terms. The letters of Paul are replete with instructions on how we are to live. That we can obey God is due to the Spirit’s work within us, transforming us into his image (Ephesians 4:24; Col. 3:10). The dynamic of union with Christ is expressed in the life experience of believers. Christ has risen, never again to die. So we, in union with him are no longer subject to the domain of sin and death, and so grow “more and more” (WCF, 13.1) in conformity to Christ by the Spirit through the means God has provided: the ministry of the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer (WSC, 88),
Agree @Evmur?
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There are questions and then there are questions-no offense.
effectual call
A work of the Holy Spirit in which sinners are convicted of their sin and drawn to Christ in such a way that they are persuaded to embrace him in saving faith; “the work of God’s Spirit whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills, He persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.”1 Also called internal call or effective call.
From scripture:
…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23 ESV).
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30 ESV)
effectual call
A work of the Holy Spirit in which sinners are convicted of their sin and drawn to Christ in such a way that they are persuaded to embrace him in saving faith; “the work of God’s Spirit whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills, He persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.”1 Also called internal call or effective call.
From scripture:
…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23 ESV).
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30 ESV)
I have posted about this, it has to be a different topic really. I will say that evangelicals down the centuries have got eternal destinies all wrong, since the days of the Catholic Fathers.
IF you believe in the Rapture, IF you believe in the 1, 000 year reign of Christ on earth then those righteous sheep in Matt. 25 cannot possibly be the church. We are not told what their inheritance is,
There is to be a New Earth ....
IF you believe in the Rapture, IF you believe in the 1, 000 year reign of Christ on earth then those righteous sheep in Matt. 25 cannot possibly be the church. We are not told what their inheritance is,
There is to be a New Earth ....