And let us not even bother with the argument that God did not want automatons and so He had no alternative but to create us to be capable of profound evil in order for us to be capable of genuine love. Is God not free? Is God not bound by His very nature to be without sin, without blemish? No one seems to claim that God is not free because He is unable to sin, yet the most popular refuge in this argument is that God had to create man with the capacity for sin so that he would be free to love Him. Moreover, those who advance this argument are left with a very difficult problem: When God fully realizes His kingdom on earth and all those who have opposed Him are removed from His presence forever, there will no longer be any sin. In that day, when sin is banished from God's presence forever, will we suddenly become automatons who incapable of genuine love? Or, for all eternity, will God permit the potential of sin to remain so that we can be truly 'free'? Of course not. There is an implicit belief, then, that it is possible for humans to be free and yet not sin, nor have the capacity to sin, at least in this eternal state. Moreover, love and obedience to God is not invalidated by this lack of choice. If it is possible in eternity, then there is no reason to claim that it would have been impossible for God to create beings capable of genuine love while incapable of sin.
[part 3/4]
2 comments:
You're getting a real persuasive argument going! :)
Sorry, I can't tell for sure: is that an instance of irony, sarcasm, mockery, or genuine agreement?
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