Romans 8
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and [b]these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.[/b]
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Whom He “foreknew” He “predestined” to what destination? To become conformed to the image of His Son!
God first foreknows the future – the choices of mankind given God’s sovereign decision from eternity past to give free will to created beings – including Lucifer.
Some Christian’s man-made-tradition supposes that God does not "foreknow ALL" just the "arbitrarily select few" - but THAT IS NEVER the definition of "FOREKNOW" in all of scripture!! In numerous places the Bible shows that God foreknows not only the wicked deeds of mankind – but also who it is that will do them!
Some have argued "Whom He predestined THESE are the ones He then foreknew" - But that is not what scripture says here.!
As Rippon said regarding predestination "God's decree or "definite plan is the basis of His foreknowledge" .
1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey[/b] Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.[/quote]
Here Peter tells us that we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God[/b] and that we have specifically been “Chosen to Obey” Jesus Christ. We are also told that obedience is done by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the saints.
By contrast Calvinism tries to imagine that God turns OFF foreknowledge – Rather He First “SELECTS” or “Predestines” based on arbitrary selection (called unconditional election) then turns foreknowledge back on to SEE how it all works out.
But the text says that FIRST comes foreknowledge of the future. Foreknowledge of those who will choose life and then God determines that their DESTINY will be to be become conformed to the image of His Son in obedience and in glorification at the 2nd coming. The Bible never says “Some do not obey because they were not predestined to obey” neither does it say “some are not sanctified because they were not predestined to be sanctified” neither does it say “some are not foreknown because they were not predestined to be foreknown” – yet THESE are the arguments of Calvinism today!
1John 2
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.[/b]
4 The one who says, "" I have come to know Him,'' and [b]does not keep His commandments, is a liar[/b], and the truth is not in him;
5 but whoever keeps His word[/b], in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.[/b]
Clearly the Bible delcares that God’s purpose is that we obey – and He declares of those who do not obey – “They rejected God’s Purpose for themselves”.
Luke 7
30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
31 "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?
32 "They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'
33 "For John the baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'
34 "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
35 "Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
Matt 23
37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
38 "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!
39 "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'"
The Bible never argues the Calvinist point “They refused Me just as I directed them to” or “They refused my will for them because I did not predestine them to accept it”
