118 – THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD-OMNISCIENCE

SEMESTER 2

118 – THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD-OMNISCIENCE

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY II LESSON # 18
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (OMNISCIENCE)

Read Ecc. 9:1-3 and Ps. 147:1-6.

INTRODUCTION:

1. None of God’s attributes is more unsearchable than knowledge.
2. Solomon speaks of man’s frustration, in spite of all that is before him.
3. In contrast, David speaks of God’s absolute knowledge.
4. The subject of infinite, divine knowledge is of great importance to saved and lost alike.

I. THE FACT THAT GOD KNOWS

1. Have you ever heard, “Do you think God knows-?” Yes.

III: Massillon eulogizing (Louis the 14th) said, “Only God is great.”
III: Luther said, Erasmus’ thoughts of God were too human.

2. The knowledge of God, when viewed as an attribute is called omnis­cience, it is of all things, persons and events at all times.
3. When it is revealed as an act, it is different as we shall show later.

i. Solomon’s opening statement is corroborated in I Cor. 8:2, I Cor. 1:20-21 and Luke 10:21.

4. But God knows all, (Ps. 139:1-6) to be wise we must become fools and trust revelation. (I Cor. 1:23-24, II Cor. 4:4-6)

II. HOW DOES GOD KNOW?

III: Consider how a baby knows to nurse and like phenome­non.

1. Likewise, perfect understanding of all things is part of God’s very nature.
2. God does not acquire knowledge, i.e., learn progressively.
3. His knowledge never increases or diminishes.

III: Paul’s question in Rom. 11:34.

III. WHAT GOD KNOWS

1. God knows Himself. We do not know ourselves.

III: “What would you do if?”

i. There is perfect intra-acquaintance within the Godhead.

2. God knows all His creation. (Ps. 147:4)

III: Not one sparrow shall fall.

3. God knows all human experience: thoughts, dispositions, words, etc.

III: Glass beehives.

i. Yet God’s knowledge of this mixes with omnipresence.

4. God knows all human deeds, i.e., as Cain, Achan and David. Note: Heb. 4:13.
5. God knows all the sorrows and trials of His people.

III: Israel in Egypt.
III: When Daniel knelt to pray.

6. God knows all events of all time as present. (Ps. 9:12)
7. But is it not mercy that we do not know, and that we can forget? (Phil. 3:13-14)

i. In a sense God also forgets.

IV. THE IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS FROM DIVINE OMNISCIENCE

1. Such thoughts produce godly people (not thoughts about godliness).

III: “Beholding as in a glass.” (II Cor. 3:8)

2. The wicked hate the truth of God’s omniscience.
3. As we think thereon our souls should be filled with adoring wonder.
4. It should fill us with holy fear and check the waywardness of our flesh. (Gen. 16:13)
5. It will produce humility and praise. (Rom. 11:33)
6. It should be an encouragement to prayer.

i. He knows what we need and how and when to give it.

7. It should be one of the greatest human motivations to repen­tance.

III: The careful hiding of David’s sin.