But this is only a conditional logical necessity, no stronger than
saying, "If I choose to do x, then by logical necessity I choose to do x."
It does not answer the question of whether or not the actions are logically
(or even otherwise) necessary.
I do believe that God determines our actions, but for reasons of His
sovereignty and of the simplicity of believing in only one ultimate
determiner of everything (God, rather than God plus other free agents), and
not for reasons of God's foreknowledge. I don't think foreknowledge is any
more relevant than hindknowledge or any other kind of knowledge, since one
can know things that one does not determine.
On a previous message, I apologize for carelessly ascribing (Wed, 10
Dec 1997 12:06:28 -0700) to Chuck Noren what was actually written by Adrian
Teo on Wed, 10 Dec 1997 10:35:02 -0800, "I personally don't think that
foreknowledge is incompatible with free will, since God does not control our
choices, but only that he has knowledge of what those choices would be." I
apologize to Adrian for thus erroneously inducing Chuck to say that it was
ridiculous (when Chuck thought it was his own statement). It isn't
ridiculous (though it might have been ridiculous if one of us Calvinists had
actually said it), but I will still say that I think the last part of it is
wrong (though not merely for reasons of God's foreknowledge, so I do agree
that foreknowledge is not incompatible with free will).
Sincerely,
Don Page