Questions For Believers Part 2

2001-5-29 10:18:00

UNCHANGEABLE GOD

QUESTION: Is God unchangeable?

ANSWER: The scriptures say: "I am the Lord, I change not." Mal. 3:6. With Him there "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

QUESTION: The scriptures also say: "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent." Num 23:19. This statement repeats in Samuel which says that God "will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man that He should repent. I Sam 15:29. But in this same chapter, God said: "It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king...And the Lord repented that He had made Saul king over Israel." I Sam. 15:ll&35. We are also told that Moses got God to repent (Ex 32:12-14) and He repented that He made man (Gen, 6;6) and He repented of thinking to destroy Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). How do you explain this contradiction in the Bible and this Bible teaching that God does change?

ANSWER: I'm sure that if we went back to the Hebrew here we would see that there is no contradiction.

QUESTION: But the Hebrew word telling us that God does not repent is the same as that telling us that He does. How do you explain that?

ANSWER: You're taking scriptures out of context. (This is a synonym to "You're twisting things." It's a way of saying: "I don't want to face the truth.")

QUESTION: Put them in context then. How do you explain it?

ANSWER: (He wants to change the subject.)

COMMENT: There is no way of denying that this is an obvious contradiction or mistake in the Bible. We have no way of knowing how it got there. It could have been corrupted by an early Jewish scribe, or it could have been human error on the part of the original writers. Another alternative is that God does change. After all, He fills the Universe and the Universe is in a constant state of change. Is it wrong to consider all alternatives when looking for the truth? Is it wrong to have our minds open as Jesus commanded? Do we want to believe only preconceived notions of God, or do we want to remain open to learning more about Him?

IS GOD ALL POWERFUL

QUESTION: Is God all powerful?

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: Is anything impossible with God?

ANSWER: The scriptures say no. Nothing is impossible.

QUESTION: Does this mean that God is able, without exception, to carry out His will?

ANSWER: Yes. Of course.

QUESTION: Will all men be saved, or just some of them?

ANSWER: Just those who accept the Lord.

QUESTION: Then there are some that will be in an unsaved condition for all eternity?

ANSWER : Yes.

QUESTION: But the scriptures say that God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." I Tim 2:4. God is called "The Saviour of ALL men." I Tim 4:10. God is "NOT WILLING that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9. Here we are told that it is the will of God that "all" men should be saved. Do you believe that God is powerful enough to fulfill His will in this matter?

ANSWER: God has offered salvation to all men, but we all have our freedom of choice. If men do not choose salvation there is nothing that can be done for them.

QUESTION: Do you mean that God is unable to fulfill His will because of man's freedom of choice?

ANSWER: He can do anything he wants to, but He has given us a plan and if we do not choose salvation, then we will not be saved.

QUESTION: But the scriptures say that God does want all men to be saved. Let me quote again. God "will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED." I Tim 2:4. Is God unable to fulfill his will because of the free agency of man?

ANSWER: But it is His will that if we do not obey Him we will not be saved.

QUESTION: Where does it say that?

ANSWER: In the Bible.

QUESTION: Where in the Bible?

ANSWER: I'm not sure. I know it is in there.

QUESTION: No, it is not in there. But it does say that it is the will of God that all men be saved. Now do you believe that God is able to accomplish His will in this matter? Please answer yes or no.

ANSWER: You are twisting things again. (Obviously, he doesn't want to face the truth concerning his beliefs.)

COMMENT: This person believes that God is all powerful in word, but not in deed. On one hand, he thinks God can fulfill His will, but when we read the will of God from the scriptures, he thinks God's hands are tied. If God is truly all powerful and it is His will that all men be saved, then in the end all people will be saved. It is as simple as that. The scriptures tell us that God's plan of salvation continues after death. (I Cor 15:19).

IS GOD ALL-KNOWING

QUESTION: Is God all-knowing?

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: Does God know before a person is born if he will be saved or damned?

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: Then why does God create people that He knows are going to be damned? Wouldn't it be better for Him to have just not made the damned to avoid all that suffering?

ANSWER: We have to come here to prove to ourselves that we can be saved.

QUESTION: Do the damned have to prove to themselves that they can be damned?

ANSWER: I guess so. I never thought of it.

QUESTION: If you were a creator, would you make something that wouldn't work just so you could say to it: "I made you and I knew even before I made you that you wouldn't work, but I just wanted to prove to you that you wouldn't work. Now because you don't work you are damned for all eternity." That sounds ridiculous doesn't it?

ANSWER: I'm sure God has His reasons we are not aware of.

QUESTION: But we are going by what you claim to be aware of and that is God is all knowing and that He knew who would be damned for eternity. Is there any rhyme or reason why He would create a soul He knew was going to be damned?

ANSWER: So we can appreciate being saved.

QUESTION: You mean you have to make sure there are others burning in Hell before you can enjoy Heaven?

ANSWER: It is God's plan.

QUESTION: If you knew your mother, father and children were burning in Hell for eternity while you were in Heaven, then would this make Heaven more enjoyable for you?

ANSWER: No. Of course not.

QUESTION: Then how does God's creation of souls that He knew will be damned add to your enjoyment of Heaven?

ANSWER: I guess it wouldn't really.

QUESTION: So why did God create souls He knew would be damned?

ANSWER: You've got me confused. You tell me.

COMMENT: The scriptures tell us that it is God's will that "All" be saved. As you can see, it would be ridiculous for a Creator to make souls He knew would be damned. What joy would a father have in a son that he knew from the beginning would be a failure? Why would God purposefully produce sorrow for Himself? God loves all His sons and daughters and is going to work with them all until they succeed in salvation just as you would with your children. After all, it is written: "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matt 7:9-11. Sooner or later, all men will want salvation. Why do Christians believe that when many ask for the fish of salvation that God will say: "It is too late, my son. Here, have the serpent of damnation." Jesus tried to correct this misconception, but who has heard Him?