#002 How Can We Have Free Will If God Knows the Future? - Jimmy Akin
Sep 23, 2024
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Dive into the intriguing relationship between divine foreknowledge and human free will. It tackles common misconceptions that challenge the idea of choice when faced with God's omniscience. A biblical analysis reveals how God's awareness of our future actions doesn't negate our ability to make decisions. This thought-provoking discussion encourages listeners to reevaluate faith, knowledge, and the nature of free will.
God's omniscience allows Him to understand future choices without negating human free will, as knowledge does not dictate action.
The distinction between God's foreknowledge and human behavioral choices illustrates a relationship that transcends temporal limitations and comprehension.
Deep dives
Understanding God's Foreknowledge
Classical theism posits that God is omniscient, which means He knows everything, including future events. However, the terms related to foreknowledge appear sparingly in the Bible, necessitating careful interpretation of these passages. The few instances highlight a distinction between God's knowledge of events and a more profound understanding of His relationship with humanity. For example, when Jesus' crucifixion is described as being according to God's foreknowledge, it raises questions about whether this refers solely to intellectual awareness or to God's choice regarding that event.
God's Relationship with Time
God exists outside of time, a concept not thoroughly understood by biblical authors. Their descriptions often anthropomorphize God, portraying Him in human-like terms, which can lead to misunderstandings of His nature. As Christians evolved in their understanding of God, they recognized that God’s changelessness implies an eternal existence beyond linear time. Consequently, when God is said to know future events, it's essential to understand that all points of time are equally present to Him, enabling Him to see the past, present, and future simultaneously.
The Implications for Free Will
The belief that God's knowledge of future actions denies free will is a common misconception. Because God observes all time equally, His awareness of what an individual will freely choose does not impose any compulsion on that choice. The analogy of witnessing someone read a book emphasizes that knowing an action does not equate to controlling it; individuals maintain their ability to act independently. Thus, God's foreknowledge does not interfere with human free will; it merely denotes His complete understanding of choices made across time.
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Understanding God's Foreknowledge and Human Free Will
Here Jimmy Akin explores how God’s foreknowledge works. Many people believe that if God knows our future actions, then we lack free will, but this is a misconception.
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