The Foreknown are Predestined
Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God, obviously, has foreknowledge of the elect. "Foreknew" is in the aorist tense, typically used of historic events, and is literally "to know beforehand". For example concerning prophecy of which Christians are aware Peter uses the same word writing, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand ..." 2Pet 3:17
Those who come to faith in Christ, of whom God foreknew, can have confidence that their fate is secure, being predestined. Predestination is not only about eternal security, for part of the whole salvation package is a destiny of being conformed to the image of Christ. For example concerning our resurrection Paul writes, "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." 1Cor 15:49 Likewise with regards to behavior and moral character he writes, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Col 3:8-10 Thus "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" 2Cor 3:18a And Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Col 1:15
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God, obviously, has foreknowledge of the elect. "Foreknew" is in the aorist tense, typically used of historic events, and is literally "to know beforehand". For example concerning prophecy of which Christians are aware Peter uses the same word writing, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand ..." 2Pet 3:17
Those who come to faith in Christ, of whom God foreknew, can have confidence that their fate is secure, being predestined. Predestination is not only about eternal security, for part of the whole salvation package is a destiny of being conformed to the image of Christ. For example concerning our resurrection Paul writes, "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." 1Cor 15:49 Likewise with regards to behavior and moral character he writes, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Col 3:8-10 Thus "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" 2Cor 3:18a And Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Col 1:15
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
