God, omnibenevolent or omnipotent and omniscient?

[GoldenKingGaze]

This is a given ... God is an absolute, no beginning, no end, unmovable, unknowable ... in whom we live, move, and have our being, and by whose grace and mercy we are even able to conceive that there is a God.

I believe there is no place God is not; that there has never been a time where God has not filled all things … according to the mind of God … my question stated a bit different is, By what did God measure the depth of sin by if it never existed? … before time, before the heavens, and the earth, before angels … before anything ... Christ was not crucified before the foundation of the world, but from the foundation of the world ...

I'd say God knew Satan in advance and it was conscious anticipation.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

In theodicies we consider God almighty and how evil still occurs. Can God really turn Satan's heart into repentance at any time He wants, or annihilate him?

Some suppose that God has a special purpose for evil we don't know yet. Or God makes some people for Hell, but that isn't good. Then one can look at the beginning of sin among the angels and, why could not God save them, or bring to a quick repentance, or know ahead of time not to create certain angels. Some say evil leads to an appreciation of the constant good, and prevents conceit and arrogance. But if God is omniscient and omnipotent, then He does not need evil for any purpose, outside or inside Himself. God needs Satan? Can God prevent us from free willing bad choices? Because of free will, I do not think He can.

Which gives, to some limit? Onmibenevolence, Omniscience, omnipotence?

I would pay any price to be able to say truthfully "All will be saved." But my reason retorts, "Without their will, or with it?" If I say "Without their will" I at once perceive a contradiction; how can the supreme voluntary act of self-surrender be involuntary If I say "With their will," my reason replies "How if they will not give in?"
C.S. Lewis

 

[Aseyesee]

I'd say God knew Satan in advance and it was conscious anticipation.

... knew it was in the end, going to be what came out of himself?

 

[com7fy8]

What do you think about God's omnipotence and our free will in regards to choice?

I'd say God knew Satan in advance and it was conscious anticipation.

Well . . . God did create Satan. So, He not only knew him, ahead of time, but He made him.

Now, about free choice. We did not freely choose to be created and be born in this evil world, into the situations that we were born into. So . . . no free will there.

"God resists the proud" > to me, this means God effectively resists evil people, howsoever God pleases. This is in James 4:6 and also in 1 Peter 5:5 > so, this limits any freedom that proud people might have.

You can look at what happened with Joseph, in Genesis 37-50. His evil brothers sold him into slavery and then Joseph was blessed by God to become ruler of Egypt, except for the Pharaoh who remained higher than Joseph. And God used Joseph to manage resources in order to save many people's lives. So, the evil of his brothers was used for not only good for Joseph, but for all-loving good. Again . . . things worked very differently than what those brothers were willing and doing.

Plus, we have Romans 8:28 >

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'" (Romans 8:28)

So, right while evil people are doing their "thing", God is using all for His all-loving good. Because God is all-loving.

This brings us to the character of God > God is all-loving, and from His character comes how God manages all things for His all-loving good. My opinion is that God, then, does not "choose" to do what is all-loving. He simply has character that is all-loving, so that He does what is all-loving. And, because He also is almighty, God does whatever He pleases.

Meanwhile, proud people "choose" and act from their prideful character. But their choosing is limited to how their character is. So, yes they make choices; however, how much control do they really have?

Those brothers of Joseph did have certain control; but it lasted and worked only in accordance with God's all-loving plan.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Well . . . God did create Satan. So, He not only knew him, ahead of time, but He made him.

Now, about free choice. We did not freely choose to be created and be born in this evil world, into the situations that we were born into. So . . . no free will there.

"God resists the proud" > to me, this means God effectively resists evil people, howsoever God pleases. This is in James 4:6 and also in 1 Peter 5:5 > so, this limits any freedom that proud people might have.

You can look at what happened with Joseph, in Genesis 37-50. His evil brothers sold him into slavery and then Joseph was blessed by God to become ruler of Egypt, except for the Pharaoh who remained higher than Joseph. And God used Joseph to manage resources in order to save many people's lives. So, the evil of his brothers was used for not only good for Joseph, but for all-loving good. Again . . . things worked very differently than what those brothers were willing and doing.

Plus, we have Romans 8:28 >

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'" (Romans 8:28)

So, right while evil people are doing their "thing", God is using all for His all-loving good. Because God is all-loving.

This brings us to the character of God > God is all-loving, and from His character comes how God manages all things for His all-loving good. My opinion is that God, then, does not "choose" to do what is all-loving. He simply has character that is all-loving, so that He does what is all-loving. And, because He also is almighty, God does whatever He pleases.

Meanwhile, proud people "choose" and act from their prideful character. But their choosing is limited to how their character is. So, yes they make choices; however, how much control do they really have?

Those brothers of Joseph did have certain control; but it lasted and worked only in accordance with God's all-loving plan.

The same argument could be made about why God created the tree of knowledge, knowing that humanity would fall into sin. I believe the simplest answer is that God wanted humanity to have a choice. Just imagine what would have happened if Adam and Eve had confessed their sin and asked for forgiveness. When God asked Adam if he had eaten from the forbidden tree, that was a decision-making opportunity. Adam was allowed to confess his sin and seek forgiveness. If he had done so, God would have demonstrated his glory and grace through forgiveness. But Adam and Eve chose not only to blame each other, but they also blamed God. Therefore, Adam and Eve chose God's wrath.

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

... knew it was in the end, going to be what came out of himself?

Evil didn't come out of God, He knew a perfectly good spirit would invent the absence of light.... but some others think God fore-installed evil.