Brian writes:
Did God create in order to try and entertain Himself?
According to the scriptures, we are created in his image, meaning I would suppose, that our minds have some of the traits of his mind. We humans in our realm have aspirations about our future. We find pleasure in building our homes, decorating our homes and gardens, making things, taking a walk, communicating with one another, worshipping, smelling a rose, observing the beauty of gold, gems, animals, mountains, et al. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Now, multiply the pleasure, satisfaction, achievement, energy and all the rest that motivates, inspires and blesses us by a factor greater than our imaginations can fathom. That's how fulfilled God is sure to be as owner and manager of the entire universe.
Add to the above that God has countless creatures out there, some directly connected to his presence; some moving to and from his presence, fulling all the duties he chooses for them to do, et al.
He, being the majesty of the universe also receives worship and praise from all conforming intelligent creatures. There are hints in the Bible that even the lesser creatures as well as plants have some kind of worshipping energy connected with the creator of them.
Judging from the antics and appearance of animals as well as the fact that humans are created with humor and having the desire and ability to laugh, we know that God has a sense of humor. The Bible indicates such, including that God laughs.
Brian writes:
Why did God create Satan?
He not only created Satan, but he created all the fallen angels the beings many consider to be the demons of Satan of which the Bible speaks, both OT and NT. The OT refers to them as evil spirits. When he created all the angels, yes, he knew some would fall. But he knew also that most would not fall. He created them, like us, in that they had free will. With free will comes the ability to rebel an/or disobey. Thus, evil, but God always eventually uses the evil to effect ultimate good. He used the evil of Nazism to drive the European Jews to where he wanted them, back to Israel to prepare for the 2nd advent of Jesus, messiah and coming king for the kingdom of God on earth.
Brian writes:
Why did God create humans when He knows many will refuse to acknowledge His son's sacrifice, thus He created them in the knowledge that they are eternally damned?
Like the angels, God gave us free will, knowing some would reject salvation to be damned, according to Jesus and the apostles. (The demons/evil angels will be damned.) Like the angels, some will conform to and bless God. Christian who receive Jesus, i.e. his spirit which is the Holy Spirit, become born of God spiritually and become his
children who then can call and should call him "father." He takes great pleasure in the prayers of his children and wants fellowship with them/us. We in turn are blessed as we pray to God through Jesus/lord/messiah/intercessor/priest.
More later.
Gravity is God's glue that holds his universe together.
™ Version 4.2