Subject: Does God have free will? |
Bible Note: Yes, I understand. I don't think it is a question of tying His own hands, however. God's nature being immutably perfect, he will never desire to act any other way than according to that perfect nature. That's why we say "God can do anything" when we really mean that "God can and will accomplish His purposes." You are correct in that when God makes an unconditional covenant with his people, he is bound to it because it would violate his nature to do otherwise. I contend additionally that God WILL NOT desire to do otherwise, since that too would violate his nature. Of course, being omnipotent and omniscient, God already sees the end from the beginning. Therefore, when He makes His covenants, there are no conditions or extenuating circumstances in the future which take him by surprise. I believe that when God makes His covenants with humanity, it is not so much a case of "Let's make a deal" as much as it is "here is what I am going to do for you." Therefore, God is not putting Himself into a box that He will ever want to get Himself out of later. The only two things God cannot do are "not be God" and do what is impossible in logical sense. For example, God cannot make a square circle if by definition a circle is round. --Joe! |