5th May, 2022.

BEWARE OF ANTI BIBLE PHILOSOPHIES Pt.6

Col2:8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

OPEN THEISM.

Some may wonder why we have to learn anti biblical philosophies. The bible says, "in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes"(2Cor 2:11). In order not to be outsmarted by the devil, we must be fully aware of his schemes. Today, the enemy has outwitted many believers through deception. The spirit of seduction has seduced them with wrong knowledge about God, bible and the Christian life. One of the demons at work this end time is known as the spirit of seduction: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons"( 1 Tim4:1). 2 Timothy 3:13 makes a frightening statement. It says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”. In the times we are living in, it should be obvious to any believer who is paying attention, that more and more people are being deceived in our churches and in life, generally through high sounding philosophical ideologies. Shouldn't we learn these things to avoid being lured into error? What makes some of these errors appealing sometimes is that it is coated with a little truth. This makes people swallow it hook line and sinker. Nothing is as dangerous as errors mixed with truth.

What is Open Theism all about? Open theists believe God's foreknowledge about the future is imperfect. According to this view, it is believed that if God knows the future perfectly, then it automatically mean man's action whether good or bad cannot be attributed to his free will or decision. That is the fore knowledge of God determines man's action, his decision or free will is not involved. Also, they hold on to scriptures or bible references where it was said that God "repented" or change His mind as a proof that the immutability of God is false. It So the Open Theist prefer to believe that God's knowledge of the future is imperfect so as to accommodate man's imperfections or freedom of decision. It is another way of saying "God doesn't know all things" and that He changes like shifting shadows. This theory undermines the sovereignty, omniscience and immutability of God. Unfortunately, open theists are mostly liberal evangelicals.

The bible is our final authority on matters of doctrine and that's the only book or reference material we can turn to. What does the bible have to say about this? “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him"(Psalm 115:3). God's sovereignty is unquestionable. He does as He pleases, but know that God is not arbitrary. Paul said, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”( Rom11:33). Whatever ideology attacks the sovereignty of God is an affront and lack of respect for Him. Man's failure in the scheme of things doesn't mean God programmed man to fail, it is man's choice to fail because God never created man to be a robot who can't decide for himself. In order for His plans to be fulfilled, God always plan a way out for such human failures ahead. That's why the bible calls Jesus "The lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world"( Rev13:8). Meaning that long before Adam fell, God already made provision for redemption. That's a wise God whom nothing meets/ catches unaware. Man's failure didn't in any way reduce his omniscience or sovereignty, it only reveals His wisdom. "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).