Why? God
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Jeff,
Welcome to Bible Bulletin Board. Sorry that it has taken me so long to answer your question.
Your question of why God creates a person whom He knows will reject Him and spend eternity in torment has been asked many times throughout history I think of the Book of Romans when Paul states that man could question God's "right" to create man and only save some. But God's answer would be, " I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Jeff, I understand your intent in asking the question, and believe that it is a question we all ask at some point in life after hearing the gospel message. I have settled it in my own heart with these thoughts:
1. Gods purpose in creating man was so man could bring God glory and praise. This was not selfish of God but is what He rightly deserves.. Glory and Praise for there is none like Him.
2. God created only two creatures with "freewills" that could be exercised against Him -- men and angels. God knew ahead of time that both creatures could rebel against Him. He could have decided not to create either men or angels, but then would have been denied His rightful Glory. By allowing each angel and man to make their "free choice" then He receives Great Glory and Praise. Even the ones who will refuse His will and spend eternity in the torment and agony of the "Lake of Fire," will someday give Him Glory (Philippians 2:9-11)
3 If all men would have rejected Christ and only one person would have been saved, would that one person wanted the "privilege" of enjoying the eternal bliss of the presence of God forever?
I would.
4. Creatures that were created with freewills and used them to reject God will add to God's Glory in that God will display His forever?
Creatures that were created with freewills and used them to reject God will add to God's Glory in that God will display His justice by sending them to torment for rejecting the perfect God. (Revelation 15:5-7). They were all given a valid offer of God's grace and because they refused it they rightly receive His wrath.
Jeff, I believe from the Scriptures that only a very small percentage of the human race will be saved. I personally would guess less than 1 % based upon world statistics as to the various percentages of men involved in religion. Most of the world claim no faith at all, and the majority of those that do, belong to false religions (Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Mormonism, etc.). Only a very few would claim to belong to Bible Believing Fellowships.
Hope these thoughts helped somewhat with your question.
A Sinner Saved by Grace.
Tony Capoccia