Foreknowledge and Predestination of the Elect
THE ORDER OF SALVATION Part 3 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. ”To Foreknow—(Progenosko) lit. to know beforehand. In the Scriptures, the matter of truly knowing a person includes the idea of loving them. Reymond defines to foreknow from God’s perspective as God setting “. . .His heart upon in covenantal love.” To foreknow is to fore love, to know one intimately. He means more than simple prescience—knowing of a simple act of faith beforehand. A conscious choice is made to love those
Matthew 7:21-23—”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Certainly, Jesus is not saying He never knew of them, that He didn’t know they existed, but He is saying, I never knew you like I knew my people, loving them before the creating
of the world.
1 Peter 1:1-2–Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, [2] who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Note the following translations of the Hebrew, yada—to know:
KJV—Amos 3:2–You only have I known of all the families of the earth. . .
NAS—Amos 3:2–You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth. . .
To Predestine—(Proorizo) lit. to determine beforehand. Those foreknown—fore loved by God, are those predestined. The predetermination of God is to conform them to the image of His Son Jesus. The choice of those predestined is not based on faith God foresees us expressing in the future, rather the determining factor for his choice is His love is His eternal love.
Romans 9:11-13—Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: [12] not by works but by him who calls she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” [13] Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
“Ephesians 1:4-6—For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– [6] to the praise of his gloriousgrace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Ephesans 1:1—In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
Application:
2 Peter 1:10—Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make
your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.
FAIRFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—Sunday School—the Order of Salvation Part 3
Pastor Mike Schuelke, February 2002
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