Complete English translation
On the other hand, if man has a completely free will, does that mean that God's decrees and promises can cancel just because we disagree or choose to stay away from Him? Find the answer today.
Important Point 1: God who exists outside of space and time spacetime (Space and Time).
We live in a three-dimensional world—do you remember the school lesson about coordinates (x, y, z)? This is what is called Space.
However, there is one more dimension that determines our position, which is Time (for example: May 5, 2026, at 03.00 am).
Amazingly, these two elements appear in the creation narrative at the beginning of the Bible: Genesis 1:1 in the beginning = Time god created the heavens and the earth (Allah created the heaven and the earth) = Space now try to imagine Space as a box, and Time as the next series of boxes.
Space
Time
Our world in the picture of Space and Time god is transcendent, which means he is outside the 'box', so he is able to see all the events that happen in the space and time at the same time. la knows everything that happened from the beginning of creation until the end (new heaven & new earth - Revelation 21:1) god's knowledge of everything-the past, present, and future-is known as foreknowledge.
I know everything because I am transcendent, outside the dimensions of space and time.
So, from the point of view of the eternal God, is it difficult for Him to know who will be His children?
Of course not; everything has been clearly displayed in front of Him.
For God, the entire stage of creation is clearly visible from the beginning to the end. That's why, God knows who will respond to His love and believe that he loves the world so much, that he is willing to give His only Son for us.
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son..." - Romans 8:29 NKJV "Because, for whom He has known from the beginning, He also determined from the beginning to be like the image of His Son..." - AYT one amazing thing that we have to understand:
God not only knows what will happen, he also knows what can happen but in the end it doesn't happen.
What does it mean?
Let's take a look at the story in 1 Samuel 23:10-13.
At that time, David asked God if the people of Kehila would give it to Saul, and God replied, 'Yes.'
Hearing that answer, David immediately fled the city. Notice how amazing our God is. he knows exactly what will happen (David is handed over), although the event in the end never happened because David made the decision to leave.
God knows all scenarios and possibilities;
There is not a single thing—both real and still in the form of potential—that escapes His sight.
Important Point 2: Why is there a free will?
God is love. I miss sharing the beauty of this life with His creation and giving a mandate to humans to rule over Earth, so that humans can manage the world wisely together with Him. Then, does God know that humans will rebel by Satan's provocation? Of course, he knows, and all of this is within the scope of His grand plan.
However, the question arises: why doesn't God just "fence" human life so that it doesn't fall into sin? We can find the answer in the book of Job. Satan asked, "Did Job fear God for nothing?" (Job 1:9). The devil accuses that God has fenced Job's life so that it is natural that Job loves Him.
Without the freedom to choose—and without the "fence" removed—human love for God will never be tested. Reflect on this seriously, this is very important.
GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
God is the Supreme Ruler of the universe. Nature has no obligation to take responsibility for His decision to pour out twelve mercies and express His mercy. Romans 9:15 Because the Lord said to Moses: "Who will I have mercy on? I want to have mercy, and who will I be generous to? I want to be generous." Romans 9:19 Now you will say to me: "If so, what else is still to blame—His? For who opposes His will?"
FREE WILL
If God is fully sovereign and planning everything, why are you still blaming me? Isn't my current condition and everything my action just the implementation of the plan that He has set before? If God is absolutely sovereign, isn't my every action just the embodiment of His decree? If so, on what basis should I be punished? If I really have free will, does that mean that my choices have the power to cancel or reject the decisions that God has set?
Thread Analogy (Free Will) imagine that humans are like threads with various colors: there are red, green, yellow, blue, black, and white. God gives us free will. It means, we are the ones in control to determine what color is we want to show it in this life. Do we choose to be a loving "red thread," a "white thread" that is sincere, or instead choose to be a "black thread" that stays away from Him? God doesn't force our color; it's a choice. Each of us is free. This is where His omniscience lies: Although we who choose will be colored threads, what, but God already knows every thread perfectly. From the beginning, not a single color escaped from His sight.
His View
We choose our life path, but God knows what color thread we will be.
"But if you think it is not good to worship God, choose today who you will serve..." - Joshua 24:15 pharaoh was given three chances, but he chose to harden his heart - Exodus 8:15, 8:32, 9:34.
Embroidery Analogy (God's Sovereignty) humans do have the right to choose and take full responsibility for the choices.
His life—determining the color of the 'thread' whether it will be later. However, God's sovereignty is what determines where the thread will be placed in His great design.
As we learn from the story of David, he changed his life because of the decision to leave the city of Kehila. Everyone is given the free will to choose in life. However, God knows every result of every good decision that has been taken or not-along with all the possibilities of events that occur or that did not happen. Therefore, when God has determined or said, it must be carried out; because it is outside the dimension of space and time (transcendent). Did God know that Pharaoh would harden his heart? Of course. Nevertheless, the opportunity to respond is still given.
However, there is a time when God's patience reaches its limit; that's when God speaks and sets the hardness of the heart to be a real reality of judgment - Exodus 9:12, 10:1, 14:4.
Now with this new meaning, read the continuation of Romans 9, verses 17 to 24:
"Who are you, O people, that you argue with Allah? Can the one who is formed say to the one who forms it: 'Why did you form me like that?' Does the potter not have the right to his clay, to make from lumps that are with an object to be used for a noble purpose and another object to be used for an ordinary purpose? So, if to show His wrath and show His power, Allah put great patience towards things of wrath—He who has been prepared for destruction—in fact to express the wealth of His glory over the things of His mercy that have been prepared for glory, namely us, whom He has called not only from among the Jews, but also from among other nations."
A reality that feels heavy, isn't it? That God allows the existence of people who are objects of His wrath, so that the wealth of His glory is increasingly evident for those who are the object of His mercy. Imagine a white embroidery with a black background. The contrast that is created actually makes us able to appreciate the beauty of the pattern that is formed. On the contrary, what happens if all the threads are black? Or is everything white? Will there be a beautiful work there? Without darkness, we may never really understand what light is.
Imagine that you are waiting in line at the immigration counter of a country. From a distance, you see many people being denied entry and sent home.
ARTICLE_TEXT
Forced. However, when it is your turn, the officer immediately gives you a stamp and invites you to come in kindly.
Of course you will feel very relieved and grateful, don't you?
The existence of those who reject God, in the end, can still be used by God to express His majesty and glory.
Most Important Point: When God has determined, then it will become a reality.
After we get to know more deeply the extraordinary and fully sovereign person of God, in your opinion, when He seals us as His children, will the decision become an unshakable reality, or is it possible to be canceled just because of our refusal?
Ponder this deeply!
Conclusion: Certainty Behind His Sovereignty.
God does not only know what will happen; He also determines it, and His decree must be realized into reality.
God cannot possibly seal someone who in His knowledge (foreknowledge) will reject Him permanently.
The sealing itself is done by God because He has seen the end of our faith.
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God's declaration of the final result that you already know. In His sovereignty, the beginning and the end are one.
A real stretch. If He has started His work and sealed you, He will also be the one who will finish it until the end.