Applying the great truths of Scripture

2 Peter 1:2-7
2 Corinthians 3:3-5


God's eternally sovereign choice of certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son. What is meant by "foreknowledge"? A.W. Pink answers in part "when used in connection with God, it often signifies to regard with more favor, denoting not mere cognition but an affection for the object in view"


This is merely an umbrella view of God’s Foreknowledge so with that in mind, take some time and look up the following passages.




Notice out how each passage shows God regarding with favor

OT: Ex 33:17; Duet 9:24; Jer 1:5; Hos 8:4; Amo 3:2
NT: I Cor 13.12,Matt 7.23; Jn 10.4; II Tim 2.19


1.The Foreknowledge of God should: Serve as a comfort; Rom 8.28
-God has always acted for the good of those whom he called.
Ex: look back into past days before creation, God foreknew and predestined his people to be conformed to the image of His Son;
Ex: look at the recent past you will find that God called and justified his people, the same people He had predestined;
Ex: now look toward the future when Christ returns you see that God has determined to give perfect, glorified bodies, to these who believe in Christ. Rom 6.5

Now think about our present circumstances? Do we respond to them as Paul eludes to his experiences in Rom 8.33-37.


2. The Foreknowledge of God should: Serve as a reason to praise God; Eph 1.5-6; I Thess. 1.2-4
- the reason Paul can give thanks to God for those believers was he knew God is ultimately responsible for their salvation and has in fact chosen them to be saved.
I Thess. 2.13; Paul is delighting and praising God for these believers, because he knew that their salvation was ultimately due to God's choice of them. When understood biblically the doctrine of election does increase praise for salvation and diminishes any pride that thought we were due the credit.

3. The Foreknowledge of God should: Serve as an encouragement to evangelism; II Tim 2.8-10
- we see from what Paul understood about God choosing some people to be saved, and he sees this as an encouragement to preach the gospel, even in the face of suffering, he was also confident that God's electing of some would render Paul some success for his evangelism, therefore he was also bold.


I pray that this would serve us not nessasarly to be merely an academic approach, although it’s highly important to be knowledgeable of the Attributes of God and to view them as a whole not separating one from the other; which is impossible. Let us apply these great truths unto obedience as we walk even as Christ walked, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

I've often heard the phrase that "most of the reformed communities in our country would go to great lengths i.e. drive across the plains or across the country to try to convert others to a reformed view of God and not even cross the street to share the gospel.” This rings with great conviction in my life as I ponder the times I have been guilty of this charge. Let us all the more be diligent to share Christ!