Musing – What did God mean by “Foreknew” and “Predestined”?

Hebraic Musing – What did God mean by “Foreknew” and “Predestined”?

Have you encountered people who throw up their hands and say “What’s the difference?  God already knows”?  What did God mean when He had Paul write Romans 8:29-30?  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”  NIV

The meaning of this passage is debated within the Christian community. Does it say that God predestines some but not all people to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, implying that some are not chosen, called, justified, etc. but that others are?   That sounds unjustly unfair, doesn’t it?

Apart from the Greek, consider that God loves all of us, believer and non-believer alike.  Recall John 3:16 for example.  Therefore it’s difficult to argue that God foreknew and predestined a select group of people whom He loves.  

It is obvious both from the Bible and from personal observation that not everyone turns to God through Christ Jesus. This fuels the first interpretation, that God chooses some but not others to be saved.  However, that interpretation contradicts other Biblical passages which indicate that anyone who comes to Him will be received John 6:37 “…and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”  Those same passages complement the interpretation that God foreknew everyone, not just some.

The Greek uses the accusative pronoun (denoting the direct object of the action of a verb) ‘those’ (οὓς, hoos) as the subject of an equative infinitive verb (εἶναι, aynai).  This verb, part of the ‘to be’ set, appears later in the passage but is not translated as such. But it’s there in the Greek. What is meant in the Greek? 

It means that ‘predestination’ in this passage refers not to a selection of some people, but to the outcome for any who turn to God. (You might want to read that sentence again!)  The predestination refers to what God will do for those who turn to Him; it does not refer to His choosing some but not others. All are free to turn to God; and those who do so will be conformed to the likeness of His Son. This will happen sooner or later depending on the degree to which those who turn to God yield to His sanctifying work during their lifetimes here.  Ultimately all who are truly saved will be conformed, whether here or as we stand before the King.

This understanding clearly contradicts the Calvinistic view that God chooses some for salvation and condemns others. But the understanding that predestination refers to outcomes, not to a selection of people, more correctly represents what Paul is saying.  God turns no one away who will come to Him. On the other hand, some say that of those who freely come to Him, God foreknew that they would make that decision. No one can say that is wrong!  But it’s too great a stretch for that idea to become a basis for selective salvation.  Remember a fundamental truth – “[Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

Points to ponder

God gave all of us the Power to Choose.  Would He take it away?

Parents sometimes foresee some of the consequences of their child’s choices;
does God in His infinite wisdom foresee ALL the future consequences
of His children’s bad and as-well-as their good choices?

“God is not willing that any should perish” 2 Peter 3:9    Thank you Lord!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                               May 23, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Excerpted from Kurt Johnson’s Greek Insight - EXACTLY WHAT IS PREDESTINED?  April 27, 2017