To Correspondents

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 15, 1874

To Correspondents.

“Does God know the end from the beginning of all things?” This question is asked by several correspondents, more especially with reference to its bearing upon the creation of man. Did God know when he created man that he would fall? We prefer to think that he did not. He is able to foreknow, or to see the end from the beginning, in everything which he chooses; but that he has done so in some things, as revealed in the prophecies, does not prove he chooses, or is obliged, to do so in all things; and if at any subsequent point in man’s history he chooses to look forward to the end, it would not follow that he did so from the beginning. It would seem to us more in harmony with a correct idea of his omnipotence, and his infinite resources, to suppose that he would permit the enemy, so long as he worked at all, to carry forward unseen his efforts, in any way he might be able, and then give to the universe a greater proof of his own supremacy, by showing himself able to meet, without previous provision, any emergency which that work of the enemy might occasion.

S. M. Ross : It does not appear that the texts to which you are referred, Zech. 13 : 8, 9, Rom. 11 : 4–6 ; Gal. 2 :16 ; 1 John 3 :9, prove the foreordained salvation of any particular individual. We believe that a certain class are elected to be saved ; but it is left with us to say whether we will belong to that class or not. We cannot be justified by the works of the law ; because we have broken it ; and a broken law never justifies. At the same time we cannot be justified unless we endeavor to keep the law ; for if we expect pardon through Christ while living in willful transgression, we make him the minister of sin. C. S.