For Those Whom God Foreknew

Introduction:

<Isa 41:22-23>: “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods”.

<Luke 23:32-38> You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely…

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Most commonly misunderstood view about Foreknowledge:

God knew from eternal past (foreknew) what is going to happen or who is going to believe in Him, so he chose (predestined) based upon that knowledge.

Why is this view erroneous?

1) God has never look into the future and learn anything

2) No one will choose God if HE is only seeing things that might happen

3) Foreknowledge means much more than foresight

<Ro 8:29>:  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Fore-knew

1) Know (Greek: “Ginosko”) – To know in a personal, intimate and physical way.

2) Fore – Pre or beforehand

<Gen 4:1> Adam “Yada” Eve

* Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. (NIV)

* Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. (NLT)

* And Adam knew (Hebrew: Yada) Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain. (KJV)

* K-N-O-W – To love in the most intimate way

<Gen 4:25> And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth. (KJV)

<Amos 3:2> “You only have I chosen (Or Known) of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”

<Mat 1:24-25>: When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not (In other translation: It says: Joseph kept her a virgin), until she had given birth to a son. (ESV)

<Mat 7:21-23>: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

* <John 10:14,27>: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…

* <John 10:27>: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”.

* <Acts 2:23>: this Man (Jesus), delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

* As <Eph 1:4-5> says: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

* <Ro 8:29-30>: Those he foreknew, he also predestined. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

* <Rev 4:10-11> the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Reflection
1) By what was taught, have you know God and been known by God? Evidences?
2) Do you believe God already foreknew and predestined you to be saved in Christ, not because of the decision that God know that you will make eventually?
3) How would knowing this truth benefit your life?