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How does God know what He knows?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by J.D., Jun 7, 2007.

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  1. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Man "knows" by learning. Learning comes by observation and information.

    God "knows" by what? How does He know what He knows?
     
    #1 J.D., Jun 7, 2007
  2. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    ...by being omniscient.


    There is no "how" in being omniscient.

     
    #2 Scarlett O., Jun 7, 2007
  3. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Because He's God and we're not.

    I'm not being smart alek, but it's kind of like the question, "who made God"?

    Our finite minds cannot possibly grasp every detail about God. Just ask Job. :)
     
    #3 Amy.G, Jun 7, 2007
  4. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

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    God knows because God decrees it.

    God knew there would be light before there was light, because God made the light.
    God knows for he created all things..not just in the "beginning", but to this day, all of life comes from God.

    God knows for He is in full control of life...

    And I do mean ful control of all things....

     
    #4 Jarthur001, Jun 7, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2007
  5. npetreley

    npetreley New Member

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    He has a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy AND a copy of the Encyclopedia Galactica. It's fortunate that He has the latter because the former isn't very accurate.
     
    #5 npetreley, Jun 7, 2007
  6. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    I been aiming to ask Him and haven't got around to it yet. :)
     
    #6 Brother Bob, Jun 7, 2007
  7. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Very good Scarlett. I agree with both responses.

    If God is "omniscient", as you say, then that means he knows everything, right? And that means he can not learn anything, right?

    Question: in light of the fact that God can not learn anything, what does this verse mean: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God"?

    What do you think of the relationship of God's knowledge to His decrees, as JArthur has mentioned?
     
    #7 J.D., Jun 7, 2007
  8. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    If he "remembers our sins no more," how is he omniscient?
     
    #8 Alcott, Jun 7, 2007
  9. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    very good!!
     
    #9 Brother Bob, Jun 7, 2007
  10. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    God can not literally forget something. He forgets in an accounting/legal sense. He removes the charges from the account.
     
    #10 J.D., Jun 7, 2007
  11. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Are you implying that God is not omniscient?
     
    #11 J.D., Jun 7, 2007
  12. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    Never, I just thought it was very interesting what he posted. I also doubt if you had thought of it.

    I also don't believe we have an answer for ever thing about God. Sometimes we need to say so.

    Romans 11:
    33: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
    34: For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

    Scripture?

    Maybe if He blots them out, it is as if they never happened at all, what do you think, then there would be nothing to remember?
     
    #12 Brother Bob, Jun 7, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2007
  13. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    I think you answered your own question, and you can probably find the reference for "blot out" as fast as I can. As I said before, God can not literally forget something. He "forgets" in the legal sense, not the epistimological sense.

    Good night sir.
     
    #13 J.D., Jun 7, 2007
  14. AAA

    AAA New Member

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    How does he swear to affirm a promise?

    By HIMSELF....

    This is not the answer that you were looking for, but HE knows what HE knows, because HE is GOD.......
     
    #14 AAA, Jun 7, 2007
  15. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Then it's not true that "he can do anything," as many people like to say.
     
    #15 Alcott, Jun 7, 2007
  16. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    God knows by thinking. He knows what he knows because everything originates in his own thoughts.

    He doesn't take in info. That would be learning. Rather, he puts out info.
     
    #16 russell55, Jun 8, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2007
  17. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Actually I like your answer, but I think that swearing by Himself speaks to his power, not his knowledge.

    But what you said "because He is God" is right on. This is one of those simple yet profound truths, and what I'm trying to get at in this thread is that most people miss the profundity of God's knowledge. We think that He thinks like we think, and it's not the case. He does not learn, he does not observe (in the sense of "seeing" something for the first time), and He is not informed (taught) of anything. What are the implications of this?
     
    #17 J.D., Jun 8, 2007
  18. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    God can do anything that He wants to do.
    The difference between Man and God is that God can and does act according to His Holy Nature and has the power to carry out His own decree. He can do whatsoever He pleases.
    Man on the other hand also acts according to his nature but his nature is sinful.
    Also, it must be noted that even with his sinful nature, man does not have the power to carry out all of his own desires.

    So, God knows what He knows because he is Omniscient, because He is God and as God He has ordained whatsoever comes to pass.

    Even the amount that man sins is ordained by God.
    Man can only sin to the point that God has ordained to allow man to sin.
     
    #18 Dale-c, Jun 8, 2007
  19. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    If God has said that something will happen and that He has a plan, then He must then have the power to back it up.
     
    #19 Dale-c, Jun 8, 2007
  20. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    That's right. There are things that God can not do. He can not not be God (double negative intended), and as a consequence, he can not do anything that makes Him less than "God". Like literally forget something. He can not determine to do something and then fail to do it. He can not fail in any way. He can not surrender His sovereignty. He can not learn. Just to name a few.
     
    #20 J.D., Jun 8, 2007
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