Philip wrote:I agree with most of what K wrote above.
K: God knows all who would accept Him and could create just those people.
And/or, he could just wipe out those who will not accept Him, upon their reaching critical mass in their rejection (at whatever point they have ALL knowledge or answers they
personally, truly need, or could receive if they actually desired it, about God.
K: If God created just those people, then the choice of those who accepted God would only be a potentiality rather than actuality.
Well, as such saved persons would still, nonetheless, be making a choice to accept God, the reality that He foreknew it doesn't mean it wouldn't be an eventual
actuality.
Good points raised, and sure. I believe God created angelic beings more immediately in His presence. Few people it seems have also come into direct contact with God, but such was necessary for purposes of revelation (e.g., Moses, Paul).
These people and angels did not have very much freedom to accept or deny God who they were obstrusively placed in the presence of. If such were to deny God, their rebellion and consequences thereof ought to be immediate (there is little freedom to deny). If such were to accept God (as many angels apparently did), then their acceptance was based upon very little freedom since God and His glory was so in their face.
So as I see matters, a main intention for God's relationship with us, in this world, is different to that of angelic beings. God desires creatures who were largely (possibly maximally?) free to either accept or deny Him. The love between angels and God, and between us and God, therefore it seems would be qualitatively different.
As for snuffing us out, yes. When pondering why God allows evil, I am so angered by some evils I'm inclined to get all righteous and believe if God were good that He'd just cast us all down and/or snuff us all out. Isn't this what we believe God did to many angels who turned against God? Yet, God is very loving too, and patient, and wants us to choose Him and for His love to ultimately triumph over evil. Which gets back to some reasons behind our temporary world wherein we can reject or pursue and accept God, while God's love and patience can also be demonstrated. This gets me thinking that God allows and tolerates bad things in our world ultimately due to His own love for us (not because He doesn't care).
For, if it were not for God's love, then we all should be cast out or snuffed out of existence the moment an evil thought enters into our head. And, we all have had evil thoughts which means we all, all of us, first reject God. Yet, we further believe that due to God's love that He struggled with us to create another way we can accept via faith. So that we can choose God in an attainable way, and love can win out over His righteous judgement in which we ought to be snuffed out of existence.
The fact God tolerates evil, allows pain and suffering, has structured the world in such a way that we can experience to different degrees what life is like without Him shining like the Sun and protecting everyone, is ultimately because He wants us to understand love, freely choose Him and to love Him as unconditionally as possible. Such makes possible a certain type of love to be had, one based upon reciprocal freedom to express love back. Some would say a love uncoerced is even the most maximal form of love that can be had.
