The Attributes of God Steve Lawson
Trinity Bible Church, beginning August, 24, 2022
https://www.gracegems.org/77/tbc.htm
Lesson 15. The FOREKNOWLEDGE of God
Key Scripture: Romans 8:29-30
For those whom God foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son . . .
and those whom He predestined, He also called;
and those whom He called, He also justified;
and those whom He justified, He also glorified.All whom God foreknew, He also predestined.
All whom God predestined, He also effectually called.
All whom God effectually called, He also justified.
All whom God justified, He also glorified.
Explain what Paul means by the word FOREKNEW.
MESSAGE INTRODUCTION
The foreknowledge of God is an often misunderstood and maligned concept—and many assumptions about its meaning are unbiblical. In this lesson, Lawson corrects false notions of foreknowledge and examines what the Scriptures actually teach on the topic.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. When Christ speaks of telling certain individuals that He never knew them, He means ____.
a. He didn't condone their behavior
b. He had never seen them before
c. He did not know where they came from
d. He did not have an intimate relationship with them
2. Foreknowledge consists of God's looking down the tunnel of time to see how men will respond to His Son.
a. True
b. False
3. Choose the incorrect statement:
a. foreknowledge connotes a relationship and excludes knowledge
b. foreknowledge is closely related to foreordination
c. foreknowledge cannot change
d. God loved His people before the world began
LECTURE OUTLINE
I. Correcting misunderstandings of foreknowledge
A. God has never looked into the future and learned anything.
1. God is omniscient.
2. He never looks into the future and sees anything He has not already foreordained.
B. If all God does is look into the future to see what someone will do, then that's all that foreknowledge is.
Since all mankind is totally depraved, no one would repent if foreknowledge only entailed mere observation, and not God acting to bring about a state of affairs.
C. Foreknowledge does not mean mere foresight.
1. This is a gross misunderstanding of what the word foreknowledge means.
2. Romans 8:29 states, "those whom He foreknew;" not "what He foresaw."
3. Foreknowledge more accurately refers to God's previous choice to especially love certain people.
II. The Biblical meaning of foreknowledge
We must first establish the meaning of know in Scripture.
*Genesis 4:1 says, "Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived." This passage makes it clear that the word know in Scripture can mean a loving and intimate relationship. It does not always simply mean the knowledge of facts.
Genesis 4:25 "And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth"
Exodus 33:17 "And the LORD said to Moses: This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name."
Jeremiah 1:5, God said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."
Amos 3:2 says, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth." Here God is speaking of Israel. Know here means choosing to love in a very distinguishing way.
*Matthew 1:25 says, "He [Joseph] did not know her [Mary] until she had given birth." This refers again to the intimate relationship between a husband and wife.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:23, "I never knew you." God knows everything; clearly, He means here that He never knew them in a saving way.
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me." Jesus is speaking here of an intimate, personal, saving relationship.
John 10:27 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."
In his heart, every true Christian realizes that the only difference between him and the damned in Hell, is because of God's loving and sovereign choice of him before the foundation of the world.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:5-6 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Colossians 1:12-14 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Thessalonians 1:2,4 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. "For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you"
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in Heaven for you
Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!"
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Many people struggle with the idea that God foreknows/fore-loves certain individuals but not others. How can you show them that God's foreknowledge actually magnifies His character rather than diminishes His fairness and grace?
2. How can God's eternal foreknowledge encourage believers in times of trial or sorrow?
3. Have you known other Christians who don't adhere to the definition of foreknowledge presented in this lesson? Do they witness to unbelievers differently? Do they talk about the love of God differently?
QUOTATIONS
*HCSB: Those He foreknew refers to those whom God set His electing love upon in eternity past.
*Jim Elliff: The word foreknowledge is actually better understood as "fore-loved".
James Boice, in his comments on Romans 8:29, "those whom God foreknew." The verse does not say that God foreknew what certain of his creatures would do. It is not talking about human actions at all. On the contrary, it is speaking entirely of God and of what God does. Each of these five terms is like that: God foreknew, God predestined, God called, God justified, God glorified. Besides, the object of the divine foreknowledge is not the actions of certain people, but the people themselves. In this sense foreknew can only mean that God has fixed His special affection upon them.
Reformation Study Bible: Here it is persons, not facts or events, that God is said to foreknow. God does foresee events, but Paul's point is that God has of His own initiative chosen the objects of His saving love. "Know" implies intimate personal relationship, not merely awareness of facts and circumstances.
John Samson: Scripture reveals very clearly that, left to himself, man will always choose against Christ, because his nature is hostile God. Man is dead spiritually and needs his heart of stone to be removed and a heart of flesh put in, before he has any interest in seeking the God of the Bible. Apart from regeneration, man is the sworn enemy of the God of Scripture.
Arthur Pink: God did not elect any sinner because He foresaw that he would believe, for the simple but sufficient reason that no sinner ever believes until God gives him faith.
Arthur Pink: 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 whom God is said to "foreknow," not the actions of those persons. This removes the ground or cause of election from the creature, and places it in God's own sovereign will.
John Gill: Romans 8:29, "For those whom He foreknew"
This does not mean that God foreknows/fore-loves all men. If so, then all men would be predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, called by grace, justified and glorified.
Nor is this foreknowledge to be understood of any foresight of men's good works, holiness, or faith.
In this verse, foreknowledge pertains to the everlasting love of God to His own people and His delight in them. In this sense He knew them, He foreknew them from everlasting, affectionately loved them, and took infinite delight and pleasure in them. This foreknowledge is the foundation of their predestination and election, of their conformity to Christ, of their effectual calling, justification, and glorification.
N.B. Most evangelicals think that the Scriptural view of foreknowledge is that God in eternity past, looked forward through the "tunnel of time" to see which people, unassisted by God, will choose His Son. He then elects those whom He foresees will first choose Him. This theory is called CONDITIONAL ELECTION. There are several problems with this view:
1. The theory of "conditional election" is not found in Scripture.
2. Note that there is no reference in Romans 8:29 to faith as that which God allegedly foresees in men. It is not what God foreknows, but whom He foreknows.
3. "Conditional election" denies the total depravity of man, and assumes that sinful men are able and willing to believe in Christ apart from the regenerating grace of God—a notion that Paul vehemently denies:
Romans 3:10-18; Romans 8:7-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14;
Ephesians 2:1-3
4. "Conditional election" gives man something which he may boast about. If God chooses them on account of their foreseen faith, then would be deserving of some credit for their believing. Romans 11:5-6, "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." 1 Corinthians 15:10, "By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
5. "Conditional election" undermines the emphasis in Romans 8:28-38 on the sovereign work of God who foreknows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies. It is God alone who saves, from beginning to end!
Bonus question: Is salvation monergistic or synergistic?
Summary verses: Ephesians 1:3-8
And Can It Be! Charles Wesley
And can it be that I should gain1.
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
2. 'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me!'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee!My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee!
5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
'Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For, Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still refuse Thee,
Hast Thou not chosen me;
Thou from the sin that stained me,
Hast cleansed and set me free,
Of old Thou hast ordained me,
That I should live to Thee.
Twas sov'reign mercy called me,
And taught my op'ning mind;
The world had else enthralled me,
To heav'nly glories blind;
My heart owns none before Thee,
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.
Josiah Conder, 1789–1855
The Foreknowledge of God Don Fortner
Divine Foreknowledge Don Fortner
Foreknowledge Don Fortner