The Foreknowledge Of God

The Foreknowledge Of God. Points to consider.  God bless you. 

Ron Smith Jr.

Originally posted on May 12th

Updated on May 23rd.

ENJOY 👍

There are two predominant views of foreknowledge or foreknew in western theological circles today.

One view is the Calvinist view which teaches that God preselected people “Before the foundation of the world” who would be saved by God’s divine council.

The other view is that God looked through the corridors of time and saw the people who would believe in Jesus Christ and predestined those people for salvation. 

The second view is the classical Armenian view and I think it’s important to point out that before this doctrine of Salvation or Soteriology was developed, he was a Calvinist and disagreed with Calvin that God preordained some people to be saved and others to be lost with no regard to what the person did or did not do.

It’s quite possible that his view of Pre Determinism still contained some Calvinist baggage.  

Both views share the same presupposition that God predestined those who would be saved...just in 2 different ways.

I would like to present an alternative view of foreknowledge that should be considered as well.

For the record......I used to agree with the Classical Armenian view until I started to read these passages that God put on my heart.

The main passage that both of these views use to defend their positions is Romans 8:28-30 which says “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” Proginosko 

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.”

If you look at Romans 8:29....the word foreknew is the Greek word “Proginosko” which means to know beforehand according to Strong’s Bible Concordance.

Let’s consider how the word Proginosko is used the other 4 times in God’s Word to hopefully gain a deeper understanding of how this word is used in God’s Word.

Acts 26:5 

Paul appears before King Agrippa

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Romans 11:2 

Paul referring to Old Testament believers 

11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he “foreknew” Proginosko used 

Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

1 Peter 1:20

Peter speaking how God the Father “knew beforehand” that Jesus Christ would be crucified for the sins of the world.

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was “foreordained” Proginosko used

before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

2 Peter 3:17

Peter referring to New Testament believers and reminding them how they know how God deals with disobedience.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye “know” Proginosko 

these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

When you look at how the word Proginosko is used in the Bible you can tell that it refers to people who already had personal knowledge of the different situations dealt with in the passages.

Not some unknown knowledge that we are not aware of yet.

Finally I would like you to consider these passages where it takes an intimate knowledge and relationship between God and the Believer at the time of conversion to be known by God.

that did not exist before the sinner came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:1-9 

4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 Howbeit then, “Before Salvation” when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, “After Salvation” after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Ephesians 2:10-14

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

1 Corinthians 8:3

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

I would encourage you to consider this third option and weigh it against the other two prevailing views that exist today and feel free to share your thoughts with me.

As believers “In Christ” we serve God who is active in our lives and loves us in Real Time.

No matter what mistakes we make along the way....He is right there to help us in our weakness as we go through our life here on Earth as we eagerly wait for God to take us HOME 🙏🙏🙏

That’s what I call a Sovereign God!!!!