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Thank you so very much for your wonderful post, dear sister in Christ!

No. If we seek to perfectly reconcile all Scripture to our imperfect understanding then we might just as easily disregard the paradox that is at the core of our faith -- that Christ was both man and God. Since Scripture interprets Scripture we realize the greater truth -- God does not actually repent because He is perfect and all His judgments are perfect.

Of a truth, some have insisted that God must comply with the Law of Identity (Logic) and therefore they reject the Trinity and instead say that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are separate and distinct. And yet the Scriptures are very clear that they are One:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Romans 8:9

Likewise, as you have pointed out here, some have applied the Law of the Excluded Middle (Logic, either/or) to Jesus and rejected the revelation that He is both God and man.

And this dispute about God and His word - concerning whether/when or how He “repents” or changes His mind (e.g. extends mercy where He had extended judgment or vice versa) - is yet another example of man trying to fit God into his own mental box. Which is to say, this is man once again anthropomorphizing God into a small 'god' his puny, mortal mind can comprehend.

BTW - on various science threads over the years, the atheists and deists have often raised the exact same argument – the exact same verses.

From the deist’s point of view – everything is strongly determined. God wound it up in the beginning and here we are. He cannot change anything (including extending mercy after judgment or vice versa) - thus everything was determined from the beginning and therefore, because the Scriptures say that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16) and it cannot be true by their presupposition, then therefore they reject all of Scripture - including the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Again, this is man anthropomorphizing God (in this case with a science degree LOL!)

The atheists on the other hand point to the same passages raised here at post 4902 and say (paraphrased) “See, the scriptures aren’t even self-consistent. They are just a bunch of superstitious hooey imagined by ancient sheepherders with no training in logic or science.”

Likewise both atheists and deists reject miracles on principle - if they cannot observe it or reproduce it, then it couldn't have possibly happened. (snicker...)

But we Christians know that God revealed Himself in this way specifically so that man could not find Him by his own “wisdom:”

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent...

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – I Corinthians 1:19-25

So we Christians join our forebears in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11.)

By faith, we know that God is One in Three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

By faith, we know that Jesus is God enfleshed, that He was from the beginning, that everything was made by Him and for Him, that He resurrected and lives.

By faith, we know that God does not lie, that He does not change, that He will not leave us or forsake us, that He keeps every promise.

By faith, we know that God hears our prayers and answers us according to His own will, including extending mercy after judgment.

and so on.

And so those who live primarily by reason – whether atheist, deist or theologian – are likely to say our faith is a “cop-out.”

To them I say – that is the point. All of this is according to God’s will. Only believe. It really is that simple. And when you know the power of God personally - or when He appears to you which He will and at that time every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord ---- then you’ll understand.

For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. - Matthew 22:29

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: - Luke 24:25

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace [be] with thee. Amen. - I Timothy 6:20-21

Praise God!!!

Great post, A-G! I can only imagine the discussions you've had on the evo threads. People say the RF is a stormy place, but from what I've seen, the really contentious war is waged with the non-believers. My hat's off to you and anyone who takes up that battle.

But we Christians know that God revealed Himself in this way specifically so that man could not find Him by his own "wisdom"

Amen. A perfect plan.

"Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works...
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." -- Psalm 119:27;45

And right there is the paradox. "Make me do this...so that I will walk at liberty."

Some men would then deny this first reality, God's predestining will, thus denying the paradox when Scripture encourages us to recognize it and embrace it, by the will and strength of the Holy Spirit.

We are at liberty, we have been freed from the burden and shame of our sins because it was always God's plan from the beginning to redeem His children through the lamb slain from the foundation of the world...

"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." -- Isaiah 53:10-11

Every star numbered; every hair counted; every one of Christ's flock called by name.