Today we are going to tackle the subject of "foreknowledge" and then answer two questions: What did God elect us to be? and What was His purpose in election?
Some Christians like to change Scripture to make it say what makes more sense to them. We call this eisegesis (inserting your opinion into the text instead of allowing the text to shape your opinion). This is a common problem when it comes to election, predestination, and the foreknowledge of God.
Maybe you've heard a preacher say something like, "God knew who was going to believe in Him and based on his foreknowledge, he elected those people who God knew would choose him."
This is how some preachers explain election. They do this so they can "protect" man's will from God's predestination, and are really saying that all God really does in election is confirm the decision of man. It's just another way people try to take the decision away from God. It's kind of silly when you really think about it. The most common verse used as a proof text for this idea is Romans 8:29.
Romans 8:29 says, "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Some say that because the word "foreknew" comes first in this list, that it must mean that God's foreknowledge comes first in the order of salvation. Well we know that is a terrible argument because Acts 2:23 turns it around and puts "the definite plan" of God before the word "foreknowledge in the order of words.
The idea isn't that God knew that some would believe and then chose them. This isn't about God knowing what a person would or wouldn't do, but rather that he knew them in a very intimate, personal, and relational way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that God doesn't know the future, but rather specifically understanding the context of Romans 8. God knows everything. The Greek word used for the word "foreknew" is proginosko. This word carries with it the idea of not only knowing something beforehand, but knowing relationally beforehand. It's an amazing concept! God knew you (not just knew things about you) before he created you. This blows my mind!
In other words, when this text says God foreknew, It means GOD KNEW YOU! He knew you like you know your wife or you know your kids, or your best friend before you existed. The meaning here is not about knowing facts, but really knowing people.
Here are a couple of other texts to help you understand the meaning here:
Gal. 4:9 says, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the word, whose slaves you want to be once more?"
1Cor. 8:3 says, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God."
Psalm 139 paints a perfect picture of how God knows his children.
What was God's purpose in election?
The text says that we were chosen that "we would be holy and blameless before him." We were chosen to be justified. We were chosen to be recipients of Christ's imputed righteousness. The Greek word for "blameless" is amomos which carries the idea of having no blemish whatsoever. Paul is talking specifically about our position in Christ. The purpose of election is for God's people to be declared righteous.
What did God elect us to be?
The text says, "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
Our great God elected us to be adopted into His family. We were chosen to be sons and daughters of the sovereign king of the universe.
Gal. 4:4-7 says, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Does it get any clearer than that?
Today, find joy, rest, and comfort in knowing that God chose to know you, God chose to justify you, and God chose to adopt you!
We serve an amazing God!
Be Edified!
Some Christians like to change Scripture to make it say what makes more sense to them. We call this eisegesis (inserting your opinion into the text instead of allowing the text to shape your opinion). This is a common problem when it comes to election, predestination, and the foreknowledge of God.
Maybe you've heard a preacher say something like, "God knew who was going to believe in Him and based on his foreknowledge, he elected those people who God knew would choose him."
This is how some preachers explain election. They do this so they can "protect" man's will from God's predestination, and are really saying that all God really does in election is confirm the decision of man. It's just another way people try to take the decision away from God. It's kind of silly when you really think about it. The most common verse used as a proof text for this idea is Romans 8:29.
Romans 8:29 says, "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Some say that because the word "foreknew" comes first in this list, that it must mean that God's foreknowledge comes first in the order of salvation. Well we know that is a terrible argument because Acts 2:23 turns it around and puts "the definite plan" of God before the word "foreknowledge in the order of words.
The idea isn't that God knew that some would believe and then chose them. This isn't about God knowing what a person would or wouldn't do, but rather that he knew them in a very intimate, personal, and relational way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that God doesn't know the future, but rather specifically understanding the context of Romans 8. God knows everything. The Greek word used for the word "foreknew" is proginosko. This word carries with it the idea of not only knowing something beforehand, but knowing relationally beforehand. It's an amazing concept! God knew you (not just knew things about you) before he created you. This blows my mind!
In other words, when this text says God foreknew, It means GOD KNEW YOU! He knew you like you know your wife or you know your kids, or your best friend before you existed. The meaning here is not about knowing facts, but really knowing people.
Here are a couple of other texts to help you understand the meaning here:
Gal. 4:9 says, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the word, whose slaves you want to be once more?"
1Cor. 8:3 says, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God."
Psalm 139 paints a perfect picture of how God knows his children.
What was God's purpose in election?
The text says that we were chosen that "we would be holy and blameless before him." We were chosen to be justified. We were chosen to be recipients of Christ's imputed righteousness. The Greek word for "blameless" is amomos which carries the idea of having no blemish whatsoever. Paul is talking specifically about our position in Christ. The purpose of election is for God's people to be declared righteous.
What did God elect us to be?
The text says, "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
Our great God elected us to be adopted into His family. We were chosen to be sons and daughters of the sovereign king of the universe.
Gal. 4:4-7 says, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Does it get any clearer than that?
Today, find joy, rest, and comfort in knowing that God chose to know you, God chose to justify you, and God chose to adopt you!
We serve an amazing God!
Be Edified!
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