Divine
Foreknowledge
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren." Romans 8:29
God's
foreknowledge is much, much more than a prior knowledge of what people will or
will not do and be. Certainly, the Lord God does know from eternity all things
about all people because he is omniscient - He knows all things. Nothing is
hidden from God. Nothing takes him by surprise. God never learned anything. He
just knows. He is omniscient. But God's omniscience must never be confused with
his foreknowledge. Omniscience is an attribute of God. Foreknowledge is an act
of God.
GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE IS OF PERSONS,
NOT THINGS.
Paul does not say, "What he did foreknow," but "Whom he did foreknow!" God's foreknowledge of his elect
is his everlasting love for them (Jer. 31:3). God knows his elect from eternity
as he knows no one else (Matt. 7:23). He knew us in Christ with love and
affection, took infinite pleasure and delight in us (Pro. 8:31), and found
satisfaction with us (Eph. 1:6). God's foreknowledge is his special,
distinguishing love for his own elect from eternity!
GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE IMPLIES HIS
ETERNAL ELECTION AND OWNERSHIP OF HIS PEOPLE. We are "elect
according to the foreknowledge of God" (I Pet. 1:2). When the
Scriptures speak of God's knowledge of anything or anyone in a special,
distinctly gracious way, the implication is that of God’s ownership and
approval (Psa. 1:6; John 10:14). So those whom God foreknew he owned as his
people before the world began.
GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE CERTAINLY
INVOLVES HIS FOREORDINATION OF HIS ELECT UNTO SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN
CHRIST. It
includes both determination and control. In fact, the word translated "foreknowledge” in I Peter 1:2 is
translated "foreordained"
in I Peter 1:20 (See Acts 2:23). As it relates to his purpose of grace, God's
foreknowledge is his determination from eternity to save his elect. It is not
God knowing what we would be, but what he would do (Acts 15:18).
GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE IS THE
INFALLIBLE SECURITY OF HIS ELECT (II Tim. 2:19). Think of it - If you are a child of
God by faith in Christ, you were known of God from eternity, one of those
"whom he did foreknow!" God
almighty, in amazing love and infinite grace, determined to save you before the
world was made! This is God’s foreknowledge - He loved you, owned you as his
own, foreordained you, and secured you before the foundation of the world!
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #743
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net