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ÒWhom He did ForeknowÓ

Romans 8:29

 

Be sure you do not fail to observe that every verb in Romans 8:29 and 30 is in the past tense. The tense in the Greek is called Òaorist.Ó That is very important. The aorist tense of the Greek language indicates Òa past action without further limitation or implication.Ó In other words, the Holy Spirit is telling us here that everything described in these two verses was done, finished, accomplished in the eternal purpose of God.

      The first thing mentioned in Romans 8:29 is GodÕs foreknowledge of his elect from eternity. ― ÒWhom he did foreknow.Ó The word ÒforeknowÓ is  (proegno) from  (proginosko). The noun form of the verb translated ÒforeknowÓ is the word from which we get our word Òprognosis.Ó You know what a prognosis is. In the language of medicine, a doctor first makes a diagnosis of a patience illness. Then he gives a prognosis, telling what course the disease is likely to take.

      But with God, foreknowledge is much more than a prognosis! With God there are no unexplainable turns for the worse. And GodÕs foreknowledge is much more than prescience, or knowledge beforehand of what we would be or do.

      The counsel and decree and purpose of God did not depend upon what we would be, or do, or will. GodÕs purpose and the fulfillment of it is not the result of him foreknowing that we would believe on Christ. In the Bible foreknowledge means much, much more than knowledge beforehand.

      In the Word of God, GodÕs foreknowledge is not a foreknowledge of things, but of people. The Scriptures never speak of what God foreknew, but whom he foreknew. GodÕs foreknowledge is not to be confused with his omniscience. Omniscience is a divine attribute. Foreknowledge is a divine act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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