I only have one thing to contribute for the discussion - namely, that the sense of "free will" is grounded in the sense of time passing - much like entropy (cars rust, people age) and counting (1,2,3, etc.)
Or to put it another way, in the absence of time there is no free will, no entropy, no change, no cause, no effect.
Space/time is part of the Creation. We mere mortals are denizens of it and our vision and mind is limited by it. But we should not presume our limitations apply to God. The Creator is not limited by His Creation.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. - John 12:27
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. - Romans 8:29-30
We ought always believe and trust the words of God because they are His.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. - John 12:48
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. - Matthew 22:29
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. - I Corinthians 1:24
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Corinthians 2:14
Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. John 8:43
The LORD is the immovable unchanging ROCK on which every human being stands (whether the human is prepared to acknowledge this or not is entirely beside the point). If the ROCK started "changing," or moving around, we no longer would have firm footing anywhere.
But our LORD tells us: "I change not," declaring the substance of His Truth, which suffices and more than suffices for every human need, in this mortal world and its spiritual beyond.
Of course, such an insight is "spiritually discerned." Its total opposite is reflected in the increasingly popular doctrine that there is no one central unifying Truth, but only a plethora of various opinions of Truth, all of equal value.
Making "man the measure" of Truth is a prescription for human personal and social disaster, wherein the center no longer holds; wherein the Beast continues its relentless slouching towards Babylon....
My, but we do live in interesting times, dearest sister in Christ!
Thank you so much for your outstanding essay/post!
AMEN!
I agree rather wholesale . . . with a caveat . . .
I suspect that we will discover that while it may be ‘technically possible’ for God to . . . operate his whole thing from His perspective outside of time . . .
I don’t think He does.
I believe His time frame is different . . . . as HE says . . . one day as a thousand of our years . . . or perhaps that as an analogy . . .
I think God enjoys the element of time and plays it like a piano as He does all aspects of His creation.
Certainly His ways ARE beyond our ways . . . His thoughts beyond ours . . . His foolishness greater than our wisdom . . .
And, it has not entered into the heart or mind of man the glories He HAS prepared for those WHO LOVE HIM.
Praise God.
AMEN, AG! Thank you for your wonderful post. I see we're even quoting the same scriptures. :)