Could Peter have done otherwise?

[Hammster]

That's common trait between a parent and child. Being one step ahead of what they're going to say, ask and do.

That doesn’t answer the question.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

He freely gives new hearts to men by which they freely love Him.

But what do you mean by "freely".

 

[ozso]

That doesn’t answer the question.

Sure it does. Like a parent Jesus foreknew what Peter would ask him and tell him and what Peter was going to do. Parents often tell their kids not to something ahead of time. Like "come straight home from school, don't stop off at the candy shop along the way". And the kid is amazed and or annoyed that his plan to stop off at the candy shop was anticipated and defeated before he even had a chance to execute it. So likewise Jesus knew what Peter was going to tell him in the same way he knew Peter would deny him.

 

[Hammster]

Sure it does. Like a parent Jesus foreknew what Peter would ask him and tell him and what Peter was going to do. Parents often tell their kids not to something ahead of time. Like "come straight home from school, don't stop off at the candy shop along the way". And the kid is amazed and or annoyed that his plan to stop off at the candy shop was anticipated and defeated before he even had a chance to execute it. So likewise Jesus knew what Peter was going to tell him in the same way he knew Peter would deny him.

How did Jesus foreknow?

 

[Hammster]

But what do you mean by "freely".

As He desires. He isn’t constrained.

 

[ozso]

How did Jesus foreknow?

The short answer is God is omniscient. But there's the more intimate aspect of the Lord knowing us. Knowing us better than we know ourselves.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

As He desires. He isn’t constrained.

That applies to both uses of freely as used in your post that says, "He freely gives new hearts to men by which they freely love Him."?

 

[Hammster]

The short answer is God is omniscient. But there's the more intimate aspect of the Lord knowing us. Knowing us better than we know ourselves.

Is it possible that the reason He knew is because it was orchestrated to happen this way?

 

[Hammster]

That applies to both uses of freely as used in your post that says, "He freely gives new hearts to men by which they freely love Him."?

Yes, with a new heart, we will desire to love God.

 

[ozso]

Is it possible that the reason He knew is because it was orchestrated to happen this way?

Yes. But that gets tricky. Because it suggests everything is preprogrammed. In which case our decisions are meaningless. Because we're not really making decisions, we're just following our preset programming. Which tends to make all of God's commandments pointless. All teaching as found in Proverbs et al meaningless.

 

[fhansen]

Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
— Matthew 26:33-35

Could Peter have stuck to his guns and shown Jesus that He was wrong?

No, Jesus’ foreknowledge would’ve been flawless. God already knows our choices and has His plans to put them to use.

 

[Hammster]

Yes. But that gets tricky. Because it suggests everything is preprogrammed. In which case our decisions are meaningless. Because we're not really making decisions, we're just following our preset programming. Which tends to make all of God's commandments pointless. All teaching as found in Proverbs et al meaningless.

That assumes that God would need to physically controls us like puppets.

 

[Hammster]

No, Jesus’ foreknowledge would’ve been flawless. God already knows our choices and has His plans to put them to use.

Did Jesus foreknow that He would accuse Peter?

 

[fhansen]

Did Jesus foreknow that He would accuse Peter?

Most likely. Either way, as a human Jesus knew what the Father enabled Him to know.

 

[Hammster]

Most likely. Either way, as a human Jesus knew what the Father enabled Him to know.

So the reason He called out Peter was because He knew His choice. But His calling out affected Peter.

 

[FireDragon76]

God foreknew Peter's denial, but that isn't the same as causing Peter's denial.

 

[fhansen]

So the reason He called out Peter was because He knew His choice. But His calling out affected Peter.

Affected him how?

 

[Hammster]

God foreknew Peter's denial, but that isn't the same as causing Peter's denial.

How did He know?

 

[Hammster]

Affected him how?

And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
— Matthew 26:75

 

[fhansen]

And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
— Matthew 26:75

Ok? Jesus, the Truth, nailed him with the truth. An inevitably convicting experience.