The Foreknowledge of God

    Rom 8:28 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.

I want to look at this question. Who is the "whom" that he (God) did foreknow? He not only knew him/them before, but predestinated a plan for him/them to be conformed to the image of his son and therefore be the firstborn among many brethren. What will be shown here is all the scripture which is found using these words and ultimately what the passage above tells us.

FOREKNOW

Gr. prog-in-os-ko; comes from 2 words, before and knowledge. (occurs 5 times)

    Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow...

    Rom 11:1 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.

    Acts 26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

    2 Pet 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

So we see this word in the sense of knowing someone, Israel, Paul, or some things, before the current time. It actually does not speak so much of knowledge of the future, but of knowledge possessed of or in the past.

But here is the most important example of prog-in-os-ko for our purposes.

    1Pet 1:18 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 before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Here the word is translated foreordained, but really foreknown is better. It clearly speaks of Christ who was known before, but manifested in these last times for us. This is the same as what is found in Rom 8:29; Jesus was foreknown and came down conformed to the image of the son.  In Jn 1:1-2 and in 1 Jn 1:1-3 we see the emphasis that The word was with God in the beginning; the Father knew the Word before anything was created. The ultimate foreknowledge. We also see in Heb 1:5 a particular day in which Jesus was begotten.

PREDESTINATE

Gr. pro-or-id-zo; from 2 words, before and to appoint or decree (occurs 6 times)

    Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. (Speaking to God)

Rom 8:29 and 8:30; see above

    1 Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

    Eph 1:5 …predestinated us unto the adoption of children…

    Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

This passage in Ephesians is very similar in character to Rom 8:28-30. It is the clearly predetermined plan to gather all together in Jesus. This predestination is clearly that all would be brought together in Christ.

We see that whom he knew before he also predetermined to a purpose, and part of that was to be conformed...

CONFORMED

Gr. soom-mor-fos; again from 2 words, union and form.

Only seen this way in Rom 8:29 and Phil 3:21

    Phil 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

From this we could get the idea that the conforming of Rom 8:29 is our being conformed to be like his glorious body, but that is not the context of Rom 8. If we add to our list of words the solo version of "form" we can see Jesus being conformed into the likeness of men.

Gr. mor-fay; form.

    Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

    Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

We see Jesus being in 2 forms; that of God and then being made into that of a servant in the likeness of men. He was determined to leave the form of God and be born into the form of men. The Word became the son of God through a miraculous birth, the promise much greater than Isaac. He was made in the likeness (Rom 8:3) of sinful man, the seed of David according to the flesh (Rom 1:3), so that he could condemn sin and then die and be resurrected so we could all be brought into the same fellowship with him, joining with him as one of his many brethren.

SO, who did God foreknow in Rom 8?

It is clear that Jesus, the Word, was the one who was foreknown. In addition it was determined before by the Father that he would be conformed to the likeness of his son for the expressed purpose of his being the firstborn among many brethren. This is the goal which God purposed before.

    Rom 8:30 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.

This can be read as (and/with the one predestinated, THEM he also called). This THEM is referring back to Rom 8:28, THEM who are called according to his purpose (or plan). The word translated Moreover is actually a particle or conjunction, often rendered as and in a form of continuance. So the sense is that He was foreknown, predestinated and "next" them he also called. This finishes the thought of 8:28.

Try reading it like this:

Rom 8:28 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,...(Christ is the firstborn among many brethren)... them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

The called have in them the righteousness and glory of Jesus, the ultimate statement of everything working together for good.

So in terms of God and his foreknowledge, we understand that it speaks of knowing what was before, not knowing what will happen in the future. God did not know me before, (He can know one from their mother's womb, Gal 1:15) but he knew the Word before and he predestined a plan that includes whosoever will!

Oppressing the Poor

Prov 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

The oppression of the poor was clearly prohibited in the kingdom of Israel. The Father made it clear that no one should oppress the poor or the stranger.

Ex 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Ex 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Dt 24:14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

This last passage in Deuteronomy hits particularly hard in the culture we live in today. Look at the number of people who rely on their paycheck to make it another day. How do the rulers oppress them? Tax burdens and fees and costs to move forward at all. How many have been a part of sin in oppressing the poor?

In the tenth psalm, a discussion of the evil of oppression and how the wicked does not know that God will require it of them is followed by this admonition:

Ps 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:

thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,

that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Amos and Micah also have a word from God about oppression in the latter days of the kingdom of Judah. Clearly oppressing the poor does not turn out well.

Amos 4:1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria,

which oppress the poor, which crush the needy,

which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.

2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness,

that, lo, the days shall come upon you,

that he will take you away with hooks,

and your posterity with fishhooks.

Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds!

when the morning is light, they practise it,

because it is in the power of their hand.

2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence;

and houses, and take them away:

so they oppress a man and his house,

even a man and his heritage.

Because of their rebellion, Jeremiah prophesied of the nation of Judah's coming destruction. One of the things he clearly pointed out was the oppression of the stranger and the poor, here noted as the fatherless and the widow. He called them to repent and return to right doing.

Jer 7:5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Jer 21:12 O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Ezekiel joins in to describe the conditions which got Israel to the point of captivity. First is the parable of the son and his father. A call to do right and a precursor to understanding that every man will be judged for his own iniquity. The iniquity here is the oppression of the poor, one who will not do it contrasted to one who does.

Ezek 18:14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, 16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, 17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Ezek 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Ezek 45:8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

Finally we hear the admonitions from God about amending the ways of the people of Judh and Israel as they move out of captivity and the chastisement of God.

Zech 7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying,

Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor;

and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment;

and I will be a swift witness

against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers,

and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages,

the widow, and the fatherless,

and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me,

saith the LORD of hosts.

6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

So how does this apply in the New Covenant? The oppression of the poor continues. Matt 18 gives an admonition to carefully consider how you treat the children of God and then talks about offenses. The whole chapter speaks of offences and the uncaring attitude that many have for the poor. It pays to read the whole chapter multiple times.

Matt 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

And lastly the call from James not to follow in the same manner of sin as Israel did.

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

So therefore hear the Lord God as he declares that we should not give ourselves to offense towards one of these little ones.

Peace on Earth?

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

When Jesus was born the heavenly host declared peace on earth. And this is true, Jesus brings peace with God and peace among all those who call upon his name. (Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us) But there is another statement made by Jesus which catches people by surprise.

Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

How is it that these are both true? The key is understanding the difference between the people of God and the people of this world. There are those who confess Jesus before men, and those who deny him.

Matt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Jesus tells us that persecution is to be expected.

Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

And this is the way of those who carry the gospel. But having this sentence, to be persecuted we bless and declare the way of peace which has been brought to us by Jesus.

1 Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Here is the passage which brings it all together:

John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We have Peace with God, and it is truly available to everyone who calls upon his name, but this world will refuse to believe and will persecute those who stand for righteousness.

Lastly, why do we see a lack of peace, even great division among those who claim to be walking in the way of Peace?

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

So walk in Peace with God, but do not be surprised when your good is evil spoken of, and you are persecuted for righteousness sake. Go out with joy and be led of peace (Isa 55:12) In all of the tribulation of this world we have peace, because God is for us and Jesus is our peace.

The Way of Peace

 Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The end of the prophetic utterance of Zacharias the Father of John the Baptist. He declares by the spirit of God the salvation which has come, and which his son would usher in. A prominent part of this is that the salvation to come would guide our feet in the way of peace.

This phrase, way of peace, comes from a particular passage in Isaiah.

Isa 59:8 The way of peace they know not;    and there is no judgment in their goings:

they have made them crooked paths:    whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

This verse is in the middle of God's declaration of the fault in Israel. How they have refused his ways. It begins with the following:

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;    neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,    and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,    and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,    your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

It ends with this declaration:

Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion,    and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

This contrasts clearly that there is a way of destruction, and a way of salvation. The way of peace will be shown to all those who put their trust in the salvation which God has provided. Zacharias is declaring that the way out of the place of condemnation has been made. Salvation is coming to guide us in the way of peace that we have not known.

This passage in Isaiah is also quoted in Romans. Paul declaring that every man needs the salvation which God provides.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This is the state of men without a redeemer. But praise be to God the conclusion of Paul's treatise on salvation is this:

Rom8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Peace is a wonderful path. Freedom from condemnation, relationship with the Father in heaven, and the ability to be a peacemaker. It is a path which is only found by wholly trusting in Jesus. It is a way that man cannot find on his own, we need a guide! Praise the Lord salvation has come, Jesus has shown us the way of peace and sent us the paraclete from heaven to guide us in peace. Oh how wonderful to know the love of God which declares to us that the way of peace is open unto us.

Notice that it is the presence of iniquity and sin which have prevented the salvation of God. Your iniquity. Your Sin! God declares. Praise the Lord that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin! The way of peace is found in that state of sinlessness before God. Zacharias had also declared in his prophecy that we should serve God-

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

The iniquity is removed and the sin purged and the way of no condemnation is available to us.

A few months after Zacharias' prophecy, at the birth of Jesus we see this scene:

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And 8 days after that this declaration:

Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Simeon declares that the salvation of God is here, and he can now depart in peace.

The way has come and He will declare and show Peace between God and man. This is the peace that we are declaring. God the Father has reconciled man unto himself, he has made peace between Jew and Gentile and he has redeemed all men who will put their trust in him.

Jesus declared peace:

Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.   (Woman at Simon's house)

Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.   (Woman with the issue of blood) Mark 5:34

These are similar to when he said to the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus is the way of salvation; reconciliation unto God. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. (Isa 1:18)

Jesus comes declaring the kingdom of God and that peace is at the center of it. In fact Paul defines the kingdom of God in contrast to earthly rituals.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In the opening most of Paul's epistles is this declaration:

Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:2; 1 Ti 1:2; 2 Ti 1:2; Tit 1:4; Phm 1:3

Peter John (Rev 1:4) and Jude (Jude 1:2) do as well:

1 Pet 1:2b Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Peace with God is an important aspect of this life in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

So be reconciled to God; trust in him alone. For he has made this way of peace, and will guide you in it. He has taken away iniquity and forgiven and destroyed sin and brought us into his way of the spirit wherein is no condemnation. Oh the glorious riches of the beauty of the salvation of God!