Elect according to the foreknowledge of God. 1 Peter 1:2

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OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#1
Just curious to find out how different people here understand this verse/phrase. What does it mean that we are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God?

It’s obvious that it means that Election is based on God’s foreknowledge, but there are different views as to what that means.

Discuss, if you please.
 

Truth7t7

Well-known member
May 19, 2020
7,685
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#2
Just curious to find out how different people here understand this verse/phrase. What does it mean that we are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God?

It’s obvious that it means that Election is based on God’s foreknowledge, but there are different views as to what that means.

Discuss, if you please.
God sees the beginning and the end.

The Christian Believers Are?

1.) Predestinated
2.) Called
3.) Justified
4.) Glorified

Romans 8:28-30KJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 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.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#3
“2 Elect (those who elect to favorably respond to the Call of the Holy Spirit, are the elect of God) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (refers to God seeing ahead that He would have to send a Saviour to redeem man from the Fall; all who accept the Saviour are the “elect”), through Sanctification of the Spirit (elected to be Sanctified by the Holy Spirit), unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ (pertains to the fact that the Holy Spirit Sanctifies us on the basis of the Finished Work of Christ, where our Faith must reside; as the Cross is everything concerning Salvation, it is also everything concerning Sanctification): Grace unto you, and Peace, be multiplied. (Both attributes come through the Cross, and will continue to multiply as long as our Faith is firmly anchored in the Cross of Christ.)” 1 Peter 1:2

JSM
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#4
“2 Elect (those who elect to favorably respond to the Call of the Holy Spirit, are the elect of God) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (refers to God seeing ahead that He would have to send a Saviour to redeem man from the Fall; all who accept the Saviour are the “elect”), through Sanctification of the Spirit (elected to be Sanctified by the Holy Spirit), unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ (pertains to the fact that the Holy Spirit Sanctifies us on the basis of the Finished Work of Christ, where our Faith must reside; as the Cross is everything concerning Salvation, it is also everything concerning Sanctification): Grace unto you, and Peace, be multiplied. (Both attributes come through the Cross, and will continue to multiply as long as our Faith is firmly anchored in the Cross of Christ.)” 1 Peter 1:2

JSM

Good post. interesting perspective on foreknowledge. Yet Romans 8 says that those He fore knew He predestinated. See post number 2. Meaning that God not only foreknown the way of salvation, He also foreknew the ones who will eventually be glorified.

Thank you for your post!
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#5
God sees the beginning and the end.

The Christian Believers Are?

1.) Predestinated
2.) Called
3.) Justified
4.) Glorified


Romans 8:28-30KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 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.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Amen. Golden chain of redemption cannot be broken. Thank you.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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#6
Here are a few notable opinions. Food for thought.

"The fact is that “foreknowledge” is never used in Scripture in connection with events or actions; instead, it always has reference to persons. It is persons God is said to “foreknow,” not the actions of those persons."​


"The foreknowledge spoken of (in Romans 8:29) is foreknowledge of persons, not events. The statement reads, “whom He foreknew…” You see this as well in Romans 11:2, speaking of His endearment to Israel: “God did not reject His people whom He foreknew.” Therefore we can deduce that foreknowledge as related to salvation is not just seeing a person’s conversion experience prior to election and therefore electing on the basis of the individual’s choice. It is a foreloving of persons."​

"The word foreknowledge is actually better understood as “thought of endearingly beforehand,” or “foreloved,” or “foreordained with forethought.”​

"[God’s foreknowledge is] the selective knowledge of God that makes one an object of God’s love; it is more than mere knowledge or cognition beforehand. The term focuses on God motivation to act, relating to persons rather than what the persons will or will not do."​

"In this context, God’s foreknowing is divinely purposed, foreknowing only those who would be effectually called in time to saving faith in Christ. When the New Testament speaks of God foreknowing, the object is always people rather than facts, and these people are always objects of His redemption."​

"The foreknowledge of God is based upon His decree, plan, or purpose which expresses His will, and not upon some foreseen act of positive volition on the part of man."​




 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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#7
Just curious to find out how different people here understand this verse/phrase. What does it mean that we are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God?

It’s obvious that it means that Election is based on God’s foreknowledge, but there are different views as to what that means.

Discuss, if you please.
God, by his foreknowledge, saw that none of mankind would seek him. He said that they have all gone back, they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is who God had to choose his elect from to be his adopted children, and had to give them a new spiritual life before they would accept him as God, and his Son as their savior.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
#8
Here are a few notable opinions. Food for thought.

"The fact is that “foreknowledge” is never used in Scripture in connection with events or actions; instead, it always has reference to persons. It is persons God is said to “foreknow,” not the actions of those persons."​


"The foreknowledge spoken of (in Romans 8:29) is foreknowledge of persons, not events. The statement reads, “whom He foreknew…” You see this as well in Romans 11:2, speaking of His endearment to Israel: “God did not reject His people whom He foreknew.” Therefore we can deduce that foreknowledge as related to salvation is not just seeing a person’s conversion experience prior to election and therefore electing on the basis of the individual’s choice. It is a foreloving of persons."​

"The word foreknowledge is actually better understood as “thought of endearingly beforehand,” or “foreloved,” or “foreordained with forethought.”​

"[God’s foreknowledge is] the selective knowledge of God that makes one an object of God’s love; it is more than mere knowledge or cognition beforehand. The term focuses on God motivation to act, relating to persons rather than what the persons will or will not do."​


"In this context, God’s foreknowing is divinely purposed, foreknowing only those who would be effectually called in time to saving faith in Christ. When the New Testament speaks of God foreknowing, the object is always people rather than facts, and these people are always objects of His redemption."​

"The foreknowledge of God is based upon His decree, plan, or purpose which expresses His will, and not upon some foreseen act of positive volition on the part of man."​




Good point that Foreknowledge, proginosko. in scripture, always refers to persons. I am still working out the rest in my own studies.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#9
God, by his foreknowledge, saw that none of mankind would seek him. He said that they have all gone back, they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is who God had to choose his elect from to be his adopted children, and had to give them a new spiritual life before they would accept him as God, and his Son as their savior.
This is a accurate description of the doctrines of Total depravity and monergism. I’m sure we can have some interesting discussions on these. Thank you for your post.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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#10
Good point that Foreknowledge, proginosko. in scripture, always refers to persons. I am still working out the rest in my own studies.
That's my understanding of it.

Perhaps those who take the "God has a crystal ball" approach may never have been the beneficiaries of an in depth study on the matter?
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
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#11
God, by his foreknowledge, saw that none of mankind would seek him. He said that they have all gone back, they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is who God had to choose his elect from to be his adopted children, and had to give them a new spiritual life before they would accept him as God, and his Son as their savior.
I think that the Bible thoroughly and resoundingly declares the same. Overwhelmingly so.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#12
That's my understanding of it.

Perhaps those who take the "God has a crystal ball" approach may never have been the beneficiaries of an in depth study on the matter?
I don’t think anyone holds a crystal ball approach. I think one view is that omniscience is an essential attribute of God, therefore He can know all things past present and future simply because He is God.

What I am certain of is this. God determined to allow some things, restrain other things, and directly cause yet other things as He works all things according to the good pleasure of His Will, as He governs His works, and as He guides history providentially towards the fulfillment of His Purpose and His Word.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
18,152
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#13
I don’t think anyone holds a crystal ball approach. I think one view is that omniscience is an essential attribute of God, therefore He can know all things past present and future simply because He is God.

What I am certain of is this. God determined to allow some things, restrain other things, and directly cause yet other things as He works all things according to the good pleasure of His Will, as He governs His works, and as He guides history providentially towards the fulfillment of His Purpose and His Word.
Yes many people definitely have a "God has a crystal ball" approach.
Omniscient yet impotent. A very common view in fact.

It stands diametrically opposed to the tenets of so-called Calvinism. For which it was invented in the first place.

Such a view is not supported anywhere in the Bible. Not even close.

As for the rest of your post........Yes definitely.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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#14
I don’t think anyone holds a crystal ball approach. I think one view is that omniscience is an essential attribute of God, therefore He can know all things past present and future simply because He is God.

What I am certain of is this. God determined to allow some things, restrain other things, and directly cause yet other things as He works all things according to the good pleasure of His Will, as He governs His works, and as He guides history providentially towards the fulfillment of His Purpose and His Word.
Good post.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#15
Yes many people definitely have a "God has a crystal ball" approach.
Omniscient yet impotent. A very common view in fact.

It stands diametrically opposed to the tenets of so-called Calvinism. For which it was invented in the first place.

Such a view is not supported anywhere in the Bible. Not even close.

As for the rest of your post........Yes definitely.
If they hold a view like open theism, I would definitely be opposed to something like that.

I don’t know of any view that would hold Omniscience and also make God impotent. Could you give a specific example?
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
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#16
Yes many people definitely have a "God has a crystal ball" approach.
Omniscient yet impotent. A very common view in fact.

It stands diametrically opposed to the tenets of so-called Calvinism. For which it was invented in the first place.

Such a view is not supported anywhere in the Bible. Not even close.

As for the rest of your post........Yes definitely.
What if we say that God being willing to endure the vessels fitted for wrath means that God Sovereignly allows people to reject the offer of Grace to their own destruction.

Would He not still be Sovereign and Omnipotent?
 

GraceAndTruth

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Sep 28, 2015
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#17
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foreknowledge. From proginosko; forethought -- foreknowledge.

1 Peter 1: 1-3
1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ (Peter’s greeting to the wanderers)….who are chosen 2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ nd be sprinkled withHis blood; May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according toHis great mercy has CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Reading further and not scripture picking, particularly not picking just the portion you like.
God’s foreknowledge is in many scripture and the meaning in the context is determined BY the context and not just looking up words in your Strong’s. I am not a Greek student but have learned that Greek words are translated correctly by using the context and surrounding words.

Roman 8:28-30 explains further the “foreknowledge” of God
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
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 within a large family
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

There is more to understanding the bible or certain words than quoting a partial scripture and thinking that says it all.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
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#18
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
foreknowledge. From proginosko; forethought -- foreknowledge.

1 Peter 1: 1-3
1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ (Peter’s greeting to the wanderers)….who are chosen 2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ nd be sprinkled withHis blood; May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according toHis great mercy has CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Reading further and not scripture picking, particularly not picking just the portion you like.
God’s foreknowledge is in many scripture and the meaning in the context is determined BY the context and not just looking up words in your Strong’s. I am not a Greek student but have learned that Greek words are translated correctly by using the context and surrounding words.

Roman 8:28-30 explains further the “foreknowledge” of God
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
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 within a large family
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

There is more to understanding the bible or certain words than quoting a partial scripture and thinking that says it all.
Of course. We merely used 1 Peter 1:1-2 as a springboard or starting point. Thank you for your reply

I use all the principles of the historical/grammatical method of Bible study.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#19
It is persons God is said to “foreknow,” not the actions of those persons."
To foreknow a person is to automatically foreknow his or her actions. Someone was trying to split hairs.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
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#20
God sees the beginning and the end.

The Christian Believers Are?

1.) Predestinated
2.) Called
3.) Justified
4.) Glorified

Romans 8:28-30KJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 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.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
We are conformed to his image at glorification.