6. The foreknowledge of God is also absolute. How the foreknowledge of God is to be reconciled with man's free agency and accountability is indeed to men in the world a dark problem, but the in Scriptures both are clearly taught, and faith accepts what reason cannot reconcile. Some of the churches have denied man's moral freedom. Others maintain that God in the exercise of His ominscience, like His omnipotence, abstains from knowing what His creatures will do under certain given circumstances. But the foreknowledge of God itself, unrevealed to men, does not impose nor even hint to me any course of conduct whatever; it in no degree affects His liberty of action. Man neither sins nor follows holiness, as the result of God's foreknowledge; so nothwithstanding God's foreknowledge, he has made man in His image, a free moral being.
7. God is infinitely wise, always knows what is best, always adopts means which will best accomplish his purposes. That is wisdom; for wisdom is the art of turning to best account our knowledge. Both in creation and providence God's wisdom is seen. His wisdom and His works everywhere confirm each other as being of God. no higher wisdom has ever been seen or known than God's wisdom in the plan of human redemption. it solves the problem of God's justice in justifying the believer in Jesus Christ.
8. The perfect goodness of God is seen in the benevolence which embraces all mankind and provides for their welfare. His merciful dealings with men declare His goodness; it is also seen in his unmerited favor, drawing man to salvation and in the use of so many means to this end, also in the abundant provision which He has made for man's present and eternal happiness. |
