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My question is ‘if God knows everything from Α to Ω, then why bother putting us on earth knowing our outcomes, wars, famine etc?’
Answer to Question 435
I think we should be very careful in what we ascribe to God’s providence. If we say that everything that happens to us is from God then we are in danger of falling into the beliefs of karma and predestination. If everything is predetermined by God then we have no need of free will. Someone who sins is not guilty because he was preordained to sin. Does God predetermine who will be saved and who will not be saved?
If our fate is already written for us then why would Christ say: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2); and again: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth”. (Luke 15:7) Christ did not say: “Do not repent for I will not accept you,” while to others who were predestined: “But you, repent! because I knew you beforehand”? But he did say: “Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Come, He says, all you who are burdened with many sins, to the One Who takes away the sin of the world; come all who thirst to the fountain which flows and never dies.
We cannot believe in predestination and at the same time believe that man has free will. The fact that the Kingdom of God is "taken by force" presupposes personal effort. God respects our own efforts but he also has foreknowledge which is something different from predestination. God knows all things past present and future, he knows beforehand who will accept him and who will deny him, but he doesn’t predetermine or compel anyone to act one way or the other. It is a synergy, a cooperation of two wills – God’s and man’s. It is not one's own efforts that will lead to the goal, because without grace, efforts produce little; nor does grace without effort bring what is sought, because grace acts in us and for us through our efforts. Both combine in a person to bring progress and carry him to the goal. God's foreknowledge is unfathomable, but it does not infringe on man's freedom. God foresees how a man will freely act and makes dispositions accordingly. Divine determination depends on the life of a man, and not his life upon the determination.
Same member If God as you say foresees how a man will freely act then isn’t that the same as knowing that mans’ outcome? Thank you for taking the time to explain as I’m finding it difficult to find the reasoning behind our existence
Reply God knows the outcome of every man but he doesn't predestine this outcome. We are free to choose our own outcome. Because God knows the outcome does that mean that we shouldn't continue living, that God should just place us where he foresees we should spend the rest of our lives in eternity? How can we justify that God is right if we have not been allowed to experience our lives by ourselves? If we do not have the right to live freely then we can accuse God of unfair practice
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