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For whom He foreknew, He also predestined -- Romans 8:29
We finished the last article by quoting Romans 8:29-30. This week we want to start by looking at a few of the keywords found in that verse. It says in verse 29, "For whom He foreknew He also predestined." Exactly what does the word foreknew mean? It is made up of two words, fore and knew. The word fore can mean: before in order, time, place, rank, or beforehand, reference Webster's Dictionary.
According to Thayer's Lexicon, foreknew can mean: to have knowledge beforehand, to foreknow. The word know means: "being acquainted with someone in a close relationship, to the point that you know their likes, dislikes, strength, weakness, anger, frustration, and feelings." Here is the definition I would give to the word foreknew in verse 29. To know someone beforehand, in a close intimate way, without the carnal connection. To know them before they came into existence.
Here is one example for us to consider. In Jeremiah 1:4, the Lord said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations."
As we consider this verse, can there be any doubt that God knew Jeremiah in a personal intimate way before he was born? He knew everything about him; even the food he would like to eat. Also, the pain and suffering he would go through as he was obedient to God.
In Psalm 139, King David makes it clear that God knew him before he was born. "For you have formed my inward parts; you have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Verse 16, "Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in your book were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Now we are also talking about predestination; David said God already had the days of his (David's) life planned for him to live and fulfill. Have you ever wondered why things happened in your life the way they did? Nothing just happens by chance or luck; there is someone orchestrating the events and happenings on this earth. His purpose is the magnifying of His glory and His righteous character so that all creation will praise and glorify Him.
Not only did God know His people, He also predestined His children unto eternal life. John 3:16 says, "That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The "whosoever" that believe in Him are the bride of Christ, the church, they are the called according to His purpose. They are the ones He foreknew and predestined to be conformed to the image of His son. He justified them and will also glorify them, that they may be in His presence in paradise.
According to Ephesians 1:6, He planned from before the foundation of the world that He would save a people for Himself that would be "to the praise of the glory of His grace." Verse 12 says, "that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." Verse 14 also says, "to the praise of His glory." These are some of the foundation stones that the local church should be built on today. When the modern church of today follows the teachings of Scripture, God's blessing will be on it. God's word is primarily about God and His glory, we are secondary. Contact the author at thoughtsonword@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.