TibiasDad
Active Member
I wonder if you are capable of your own thinking…About Foreknowledge:
Ephesians 1:4 says, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world". Men often go to great lengths and contrive explanations as to why the doctrine of unconditional election cannot be true. They will twist and turn its meaning into a form which is more palatable to the fleshly mind, by misusing scriptural terminology, in essence denying that such a doctrine is true except in a very limited sense. The most common explanation of election by those who despise the thought of a sovereign, electing GOD, is to cast it at the feet of GOD's foreknowledge. The two chief verses which are generally used in this so called explanation are found in 1 Peter 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, " and Romans 8:29; "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son. " No one can deny that election is according to the foreknowledge of GOD for the scripture plainly says as much. The scripture says"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." We know that HE is omniscient and omnipresent so it is a rather elementary truth that HE knows the things that will occur before they transpire. Those who wish to explain away GOD's sovereign choice of an elect people, set forth HIS foreknowledge as a simple act of the omniscience of GOD looking down through time to find out what would occur; as if the world was wound up like a big toy and then let loose to run whatever course it may take. Their concept denies the very truth of the fact that GOD is an absolute Sovereign. GOD does not look through time to see future events so that HE might be aware of what is going to occur. Rather the LORD plainly says, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." GOD is not a reactionary. HE is a sovereign predestinator of all events. "I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." HE knows the end from the beginning because HE declares what will take place and leaves nothing to blind chance or fate. Even the minutest of details are in the hands of this Sovereign; whether it be the results of a game of dice. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD." or the number of hairs on a mans head. GOD's choice of an elect people is truly based on HIS foreknowledge because HE decreed all things to come to pass exactly as HE desired them. The "determinate counsel and foreknowledge" of GOD are inseparable truths. Where you find one you will always find the other. GOD knows beforehand what will occur because HE marks out what will occur and no one can overturn it. The LORD JESUS CHRIST came into the world for a specific purpose, which was to “save his people from their sins." In order for HIM to save HIS people, HE had to have a people. HE died a substitutionary death for them. In order for HIM to die a sinner's death it was necessary for HIM to be taken by wicked men and slain according to the purpose of GOD as HE revealed in the Prophets, that it would be done. On the day of Pentecost Peter preached the glorious truth of the predestination of every event which brought JESUS CHRIST to die in our stead and take upon HIMSELF our sin. GOD is never bound to use any sort of means in any thing that HE undertakes to do, but HE has revealed very plainly in this matter that HE used the wickedness of these Jewish zealots to deliver HIS only begotten SON up to be slain. HE directed and used the wickedness of Judas to betray HIM into the hands of those who would drive the nails in HIS feet and hands. Every hammer blow and every lash of the whip along with the hands which would hold those instruments of torture, was determined before the foundation of the world by HIM who loved HIS people with an everlasting love. "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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.””Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts.”
Piece by Mike Mcinnis https://media-cloud.sermonaudio.com/text/81721213753709.pdf
Doug
