Double Predestination, Part 10

When Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” – Rom. 9:10-13

Often when Bible students think about how some are elected to salvation and others are not, they erroneously conclude that God looks into the future and sees who will believe in Jesus and on that basis, He chooses to elects them unto eternal life. Those who reject the gospel are simply not elected.

This foresight of God in looking into the future and seeing who believes on Jesus is called “foreknowledge.”

However, when the Bible mentions God’s foreknowledge, it has an altogether different meaning to what some proclaim.

For example, the “foreknowledge of God” is mentioned in the following passages:

Romans 8:29:  “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.”

Notice carefully the passage states, for “those whom” He foreknew, not for “what” He foreknew. This is critical. Whenever the word “foreknew” or “foreknowledge” is mentioned in the Bible, it always refers to people, not things or events.

To say that God looks into the future and “foresees” what people will do with Jesus and on that basis either elects or not elects is an “event” or an “action.”   The foreknowledge of God is not used to describe events, actions or human decisions.

Romans 11:2:  “God has not rejected His people WHOM He foreknew.”

Here it is again – God foreknows people, not events or human decisions.

1 Corinthians 8:3:  “but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.”

Although, the word “foreknown,” is not specifically used, a part of it is – “known.”  Notice again, it is people – specifically those who love God who are known by God.

1 Peter 1:1-2:  “Who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”

Not to be redundant, but “WHO are chosen,” is based on the foreknowledge of God. No events or decisions are mentioned.

1 Peter 1:20 – “For He (Christ) was foreknown before the foundation of the world.”

Notice that Jesus is said to be “foreknown.” Did God look into the future and see what Jesus would do and on that basis declared Him to be the Son of God?  LOL!  A thousand times no!

Acts 2:23 – “this man (Jesus), delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.”

Who was delivered over by the foreknowledge of God?  Jesus. Notice, nothing is said about the cross of Christ being in the foreknowledge of God, but the Christ of the cross. Also, used with the foreknowledge of God is the phrase, “predetermined plan of God.”

The cross of Christ was based on the “predetermined plan of God,” but the Christ of the cross was based on the “foreknowledge of God.” 

Now let me put this all together here:

The word “foreknowledge” in the Greek is prognosis.  Two words are in this word: “pro” – before, and “gnosis” – knowledge.  Therefore, the word “foreknowledge” means “to have advance knowledge” or “to know beforehand,” coming from the word, “foreknew.”

Now catch this: When Adam “knew” Eve, what was the result? She gave birth to a son (Gen. 4:1). When that term (“know”) is used in connection with God, it often signifies to regard with favor, denoting not mere cognition but an affection for the object in view. "I know you by name" (Ex. 33:17). "You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you" (Deut. 9:24). "Before I formed you in the belly I knew you" (Jer. 1:5). "They have made princes and I knew it not" (Hos. 8:4). "You only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2). In these passages knew signifies either loved or appointed.

In like manner, the word "know" is frequently used in the New Testament, in the same sense as in the Old Testament. "Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you" (Matt. 7:23). "I am the good shepherd and know My sheep and am known of Mine" (John 10:14). "If any man love God, the same is known of Him" (1 Cor. 8:3). "The Lord knows them that are His" (2 Tim. 2:19).

Therefore, it is not events or actions that God is said to foreknow, but people that He has chosen “to love beforehand” to place His divine favor upon. 

Conclusion:  The foreknowledge of God is not God looking into the future and seeing what man will do with Jesus Christ and on that basis electing or not electing him. It is God choosing beforehand to love and set His divine favor upon apart from any decision or work of the human will.

Now, let’s go back and read again the above passage.

When Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they (Jacob and Esau) were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved (i.e."known"), but Esau I hated" (i.e. "not known").

Election is based not on what anyone does – either good or bad, but it is based on the God who calls and chooses to love beforehand.

You say, “I don’t like that!” 

You know why you do not like this?  Because it strips away whatever control you might think you have, whatever decision you might think you did, and whatever power of the will you might think you possess.

Even in our present life the Bible teaches that “in Him (God) we live, and move and exist” (Acts 17:28).  Do you think that your very breathing is your own doing? Do you think that getting up in the morning and heading straight to the bathroom, washing up, going to work or exercise is your own doing? Did you have a say so in your own birth? 

In fact, look at two verses above: “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (v. 26). 

In other words, God is so in control that you and I were determined to exist at this particular time by God who also preordained our place of habitat. Since this is all true in the present, how much more will it be true in eternity past concerning God’s choice and election?

Here are two prime warnings for us:

First, don’t neglect your duty to pray for those who are lost and witness to them as God allows you to. God does His part, and He commands us to do ours.  Although God is the cause of all true salvation and conversion, He has ordained for us to be the “means” to bring about some of His set purposes.

Second, if you’re a Christian and you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).  Therefore, do not walk around with pride as if there is something special about you. 

Listen carefully, the decision of you becoming a Christian was God’s choice, not yours.  It is not nor ever shall be, “I found Him,” but “He found me!” 

It is and always shall be, “We love God, because He FIRST loved us” (1 John 4:19).

God did not choose me because He found something valuable in me; but because He chose me, I am valuable!