Introduction: Exploring God’s Freedom

How free is God? This question invites deep philosophical and theological exploration, as it touches on the nature of divine omnipotence and the limits of God’s power. In this article, we will unpack these profound topics, addressing what God can and cannot do, and what it means to say that God is omnipotent. Additionally, we will explore the idea of whether God’s freedom has any limitations, and if so, what implications those have for understanding His nature.

Divine Omnipotence: What Can God Do?

At the core of the discussion is the concept of **divine omnipotence**. This is often defined as the ability of God to do anything that is logically possible. However, this definition requires nuance. God’s omnipotence does not mean that He can perform **logical contradictions**. For example, **God cannot create a married bachelor** or **make a square circle**. These are not genuine tasks but mere absurdities, combinations of words that have no real meaning.
When we consider God’s ability to act, His power is only limited by **logic**. An example of this would be the classic conundrum: “Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it?” This is another logical contradiction. God’s inability to do such things does not diminish His omnipotence; it simply reflects the nature of logic itself.

God’s Freedom in Creation

Another important aspect of God’s freedom lies in His **ability to create**. The **traditional Christian view** holds that creation was a **freely willed act** by God. This means that God was not compelled to create the universe—He could have chosen not to create anything at all. Philosophers express this idea by envisioning a possible world in which **only God exists**. In this scenario, there is no universe, no time, and no space—just God, existing alone. This is entirely conceivable and underscores the depth of God’s freedom.
Furthermore, God’s creative freedom is not limited to the creation of a single universe. **God could create multiple universes**, even an infinite number of them, if He so desired. The idea that this universe is the only possible universe is not a commitment of Christian theology. As an **infinite being**, God’s power to create is boundless.

Limits on God’s Freedom: Can God Sin?

While God’s power is vast, there are certain things even **God cannot do**. One key limitation is that **God cannot sin**. At first glance, this might seem like a moral rather than a logical limitation. However, it stems from the fact that **God is essentially good**. According to **St. Anselm**, God is the **greatest conceivable being**, and part of this greatness is **moral perfection**.
The notion that God cannot sin is rooted in **logical necessity**, not just moral preference. For God to sin would be a contradiction in terms, much like the idea of a married bachelor. **Moral imperfection** is incompatible with the concept of an **all-powerful, morally perfect being**. Therefore, God’s inability to sin does not undermine His omnipotence but rather confirms His perfect nature.

The Nature of Worship and Perfection

An important implication of God’s moral perfection is the **worthiness of worship**. A being who is powerful but morally flawed would not be deserving of worship. In the same way that we do not worship our **parents** for creating us, simply being our creator does not automatically merit worship. For **God** to be truly worthy of **worship**, He must embody the highest moral standards.
This leads to the understanding that **moral perfection** is intrinsic to God’s nature. If there were a being that was immensely powerful but morally imperfect, we could conceive of a greater being—one who is both powerful and morally perfect. Therefore, this morally flawed being would not be God, as God must be the **greatest conceivable being**, worthy of worship due to His perfection.

Middle Knowledge: Another Limit on God’s Freedom

Another fascinating limitation on God’s freedom arises from the concept of **middle knowledge**. This is the idea that **God knows all possible outcomes** of free decisions before they happen. **Middle knowledge** refers to the truth of **counterfactuals of freedom**—statements about what free creatures would choose in any given circumstance. These counterfactuals are **contingent truths**, meaning they depend on the free choices of individuals and are not necessary truths like mathematical facts.
What’s interesting about middle knowledge is that it implies God does not determine how individuals will act in any given situation. **God knows what you would do**, but He does not **force you** to make a particular choice. This means that **God is not free** to determine these choices, as they are contingent on your free will.
As a result, there are possible worlds that are **logically possible** but not **feasible** for God to create. These are worlds in which, given the free choices of individuals, certain outcomes are not possible. For example, there might not be a feasible world in which **everyone freely chooses to do the right thing**. This has significant implications for understanding **evil** in the world, as it suggests that God may have **no feasible option** to create a world without some degree of sin or imperfection.

Feasible Worlds and God’s Providence

Based on His middle knowledge, **God can choose** to create a world from the set of **feasible worlds**—worlds that align with the free choices of individuals and the broader purposes of His creation. Once God has **chosen** a feasible world to actualize, He allows it to unfold according to the free decisions of its inhabitants.
This concept of **feasible worlds** provides a logical framework for understanding **God’s providence** and His role in the presence of evil in the world. If there is no feasible world in which every person chooses to do good, then some amount of **sin and suffering** might be unavoidable, even in a world created by an omnipotent God.

Conclusion: God’s Freedom and Its Implications

In exploring the question of how free God is, we discover that God’s omnipotence, while vast, is shaped by logical consistency and moral perfection. **God cannot sin**, nor can He perform logically impossible tasks like creating a married bachelor. These limitations are not defects but rather reflect the **nature of God** as the **greatest conceivable being**.
God’s freedom to create multiple worlds or no world at all emphasizes His complete sovereignty. However, the concept of **middle knowledge** shows that even God’s freedom is shaped by the free choices of individuals. Ultimately, God’s choices in creating a world are influenced by His knowledge of what free creatures would do in different circumstances.
This understanding of God’s freedom and limitations offers a profound glimpse into the nature of divine omnipotence. For a deeper exploration of these ideas, you can watch the full discussion here: William Lane Craig – How Free is God?.