Eternity
Any event may be spoken of in past tense because God is eternal. He is Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8). He knows about everything even before time runs its course. As Tozer wrote, “[God] has already lived all our tomorrows.” From God’s perspective, “everything that will happen has already happened.”
Infinitude
God is boundless, but we must be faithful to revealed truths about God, including those warning against pursuing man-made ideas (see Col. 2:8, 1 Cor. 3:19-21, Act. 17:21-31). Knowledge of the infinite God increases by faithfully staying in Christ (Col. 1), not by following unrevealed, unverifiable teachings. In Christ, we receive access to fully know (1 Cor. 13:12) what we’ve only partially known.
Immutability
God becoming a man who became spirit actually confirms God’s immutability, revealing his eternal plan (Col 1:26-27) and God as he always has been – a loving, triune God. Jesus indicates this, shortly before his betrayal and arrest, by speaking of his oneness with the father and the “glory [they shared] before [creation].” (Joh 17:5,10,11)
Thad,
ReplyDelete1. Good logic, but the assignment was specifically asking for a response to the referenced verses. I would like to see you rework this paragraph, keeping your logic, but using the verses as a base. If you can answer according to scripture, you will not only be able to defend the truth, but make claims and challenges as well.
2. Good points. 1 Cor. 13:12 contains a promise of full revelation, no doubt, but also intimates a warning: that we are never crystal clear, even with disclosed truths. That being the case, how much more in danger are we in venturing out into speculation?
3. FYI quoting the verses about the two "becomings" may raise a few eyebrows. Theologians try to stay away from the "evolving God" concept (rightly so). Still, as you pointed out, the trinity existed before, during, and after the incarnation, essentially unchanged.
Revision:
ReplyDeleteEternity
From God’s eternal perspective, “everything that will happen has already happened.” (Tozer). He has seen all of time. Thus, the apostles spoke confidently about future events like glorification (Rom. 8:30), reigning with Christ, and God's triumph over Death and Hades (Rev. 20:4-15), not out of arrogance and speculation, but through revelation from God.
Thad,
ReplyDeleteOutstanding!
--John