Open Theism

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Laish

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2016
1,666
449
83
58
#22
Did God know what it was to thirst and suffer bodily pain before He became flesh?
Well he created the abilities to sense these things down to the last neuron, or to she smallest subatomic partial . I think He has a idea
Blessings
Bill
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#23
Well he created the abilities to sense these things down to the last neuron, or to she smallest subatomic partial . I think He has a idea
Blessings
Bill
Hebrews tells us that He learned what it was like to be a man in bodily form.
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#24
Basically means God is limited is this backed up with scripture?
Never hear of 'open theism' .....must be a new-fangled word for man's "free will"

God is sovereign, always was always will be
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#27
I says He learned obedience
Ok was he ignorant of obedience?
Blessings
Bill
He gained knowledge of what it was like being fashioned in a human body. God never experienced thirst and hunger and pain. God acquired knowledge as He lived life here on earth. He can now be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We can go boldly before Him in our time of need.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
113
#28
Basically means God is limited is this backed up with scripture?
God has all the power that can be harnessed, and it is impossible for Him to attain more power for He already possesses it all, has all the knowledge that can be possessed, and even knows the very hairs on our heads, and knows every little physical matter particle no matter how small, has love that can get no greater, and His being is omnipresent, and He can get no bigger for He already is unending in His being.

God can get no greater than He already is, for He is an omnipresent Spirit and can get no larger, and an omnipotent Spirit and can get no stronger, and an omniscient Spirit and can get no more knowledge, for He has it all to the measure of the greatest it can be.

The man Christ Jesus, the personal human body of God was learning, and said the Father is greater than Me, but that is humanity.
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
1,481
695
113
#29
If there ever was a time that God did not know everything knowable, then He is not the God of the Bible. The Mormons via John Smith came up with doctrine that says God was once a man, and you too can be just like Him, sound familiar?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#31
Well it comes down to this . Did God create time ? I believe yes . That leads me to understand that he is outside of time.
Indeed. Time means nothing to God but a great deal to mankind.

With God a thousand years are as one day, and vice versa. So time -- in this dimension for God -- has existed for a little over six days.
 

Laish

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2016
1,666
449
83
58
#32
He gained knowledge of what it was like being fashioned in a human body. God never experienced thirst and hunger and pain. God acquired knowledge as He lived life here on earth. He can now be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We can go boldly before Him in our time of need.
Ok he gained knowledge? Let’s back track to Hebrews

Hebrews
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Look at context .
God knows all that is in man’s heart. It was not something that was grasped in His coming.
What Jesus did was for our benefit. So we could relate to what was done for us .
Please put aside that we can offer anything to God except gratitude and worship. Or that a almighty God can learn something from us .
Let’s get it strait God is God .
Blessings
Bill
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
#34
Ok he gained knowledge? Let’s back track to Hebrews

Hebrews
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Look at context .
God knows all that is in man’s heart. It was not something that was grasped in His coming.
What Jesus did was for our benefit. So we could relate to what was done for us .
Please put aside that we can offer anything to God except gratitude and worship. Or that a almighty God can learn something from us .
Let’s get it strait God is God .
Blessings
Bill
Yes, God knows what’s in a man’s heart. That’s knowledge to be known for God. God is perfect in knowledge. If it’s knowledge, He knows it. My question is, are all future decisions knowledge to be known? When does it become knowledge?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#35

ISAIAH 63
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
 

Laish

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2016
1,666
449
83
58
#36
Yes, God knows what’s in a man’s heart. That’s knowledge to be known for God. God is perfect in knowledge. If it’s knowledge, He knows it. My question is, are all future decisions knowledge to be known? When does it become knowledge?

Well lookup perfect
Perfect
adjective


  1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type:
  2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement:
  3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose:
  4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings:
  5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail
  6. thorough; complete;
  7. pure or unmixed:
  8. unqualified; absolute:
  9. expert; accomplished; proficient .
So we can agree that All of God’s attributes lack nothing ? Meaning perfect

So concerning His knowledge if it’s perfect it lacks nothing .

God doesn’t lack knowledge of today ,yesterday or tomorrow.

Blessings
Bill
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
#37
Basically means God is limited is this backed up with scripture?
The first sentence in the Bible states "In the begining God created the heavens and earth." the Bible also states "God knew the end from the beginning." The last statement is proven with the codes in the Torah. They give names of 20th century men with birth and death dates. It takes an omnipotent, omniscient, and several other omnis to do it. He caused the Bible to be written by authors while controlling what they wrote including unknownst to them there were hidden messages in the texts. These hidden messages prove the awesome power of God.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,786
2,957
113
#38
Is the term antrhropopathism the correct word for ascribing human characteristics and emotions to God? Might the term also be used to make Him appear limited in some way?

I think it is part of our human condition to want to completely know or understand things, including God. If that were possible, there would be no need for faith.
Anthropomorphism

More than 10 letters!!
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
#39
Ok he gained knowledge? Let’s back track to Hebrews

Hebrews
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Look at context .
God knows all that is in man’s heart. It was not something that was grasped in His coming.
What Jesus did was for our benefit. So we could relate to what was done for us .
Please put aside that we can offer anything to God except gratitude and worship. Or that a almighty God can learn something from us .
Let’s get it strait God is God .
Blessings
Bill
You have to take into consideration who you are dealing with my friend. He does not like the God of the bible, so he has to bend, shape and mold one into the image that deserves his praise and worship.

Here is his god------->
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,786
2,957
113
#40
Woe! So many people who want to limit God, and say he is not sovereign.

If God is not sovereign, not totally in control, he is not God! Period.

As for God not suffering, Jesus obviously did! And, lest you have forgotten, he is God.

I did a big research project last semester on the impassability of God. In the past, theologians believed he was incapable of feeling anything, including love. Maybe in the 3rd and 4th centuries.

But, theologians really began to explore the Bible, and found out, that in Jesus, God suffered. Even when Christ was alone and dying in the cross, the Father did not abandon the Son, but rather could not look upon sin. Since the sins of the entire world were upon Jesus, the Father turned away.

In the 1970's, Jurgen Moltmann wrote "The Crucified God," where he proposed that God suffered terribly. I think he went too far. Karl Barth believed if God suffered, then you took away Gidfreedom.

Much more to write, will confine tomorrow, when I am on my computer. It is too late to explain these things on a phone!