ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKOWLEDGE OF GOD 

             "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (1 Peter 1:2). There are two particular words in this verse I want to draw your attention to. The first is the word 'elect' which is translated from the Greek eklektos and is translated as 'elect' 16 times and as 'chosen' 7 times in the KJV. The word 'foreknowledge' is translated from prognosis and is only found twice in Scripture. The word elect describes one who is a favorite one, or chosen one. The word foreknowledge means simply to know beforehand without any reference to how long beforehand.  

            While I was in college majoring in Math and Physics, I would often have a problem that I could not find a way to solve. Often, I would leave that problem and work on the others and when I returned to it the answer would jump out at me. In the same way, there is a tendency that when someone puts a thought in your mind it takes root and it is often difficult to back up and get a fresh look at it. I believe this is what has happened in the interpretation of our study verse. Please back away from all you have heard and give special consideration to my presentation of what I believe the verse is really teaching.

            Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) was the first to present the idea that God chose all He wanted to be saved before the foundation of the world and predestinated them to be saved. No one accepted his teaching until John Calvin read his writings a thousand years later and began teaching the same thing. His followers became known as Calvinists. That name took on a bad connotation, so the adherents to these beliefs call themselves Reformed Theologists. Their foundational thoughts come from our key verse. They believe that God looked down through the ages of time to all the descendants of Adam and Eve and elected all He desired to save. Those He elected were given to Jesus and they would be the only ones who He would die for on the cross. Those he elected were predestinated to believe and be saved according to them. Those who were not elected could never be saved no matter how much they may desire to go to Heaven when they die. To them, God's foreknowledge was before the foundation of the world since He has all knowledge and has always known all things. While true, is that what this verse is really teaching?

            If the Reformed people are correct, then the elect chosen before the foundation of the world could never be in danger of dying and going to Hell. Therefore, could they ever be lost? If they were elected prior to their birth, then they would always be elected even before they make a profession of faith! Jesus said in Luke 18:7 that He hears the prayers of the elect. Does that mean He hears the prayers of those who will one day be saved before they make a profession of faith? Romans 8:33 tells us that God has justified the elect. Does that mean those elected by Him before the foundation of the world will already be justified before they accept Jesus Christ? The answers to these questions ought to be obvious! I have more questions for you to consider.

            Is there a difference in God knowing people as their Creator than Him knowing them as their Heavenly Father when they accept Jesus as their Savior? The Scriptures state "Cain knew his wife" (Genesis 4:17) and "Adam knew his wife again"(vs. 25). These men certainly 'knew' their wives before, but these verses refer to a very intimate relationship between them and their wives. God knew everyone from the foundation of the world, but He enters into a very intimate relationship when one of the lost sinners of Adam's race believes on Jesus Christ to be born again. Therefore, I believe people become the elect of God when He knows them through the blood of Calvary. They become the elect through the foreknowledge of God! You may wonder if there is Scripture to confirm what I believe. There is!

            Jesus told the false professors in Matthew 7:23, "I never knew you." It is obvious that Jesus knew all about them before the foundation of the world, but He never knew them as one of His own. Galatians 4:4-7 is a beautiful text telling how God sent His Son to redeem them that were under the Law so by being redeemed they could become the adopted sons of God. Then, in verse 9 he revealed "after that ye have known God, or rather are KNOWN OF GOD" (my emphasis). You knew who God was before you were saved, but you knew Him personally when you accepted His Son as your Savior! God knew you through creation before He knew you through Calvary. That is when you became one of His elect!

            The Reformed doctrine declares that those who were not elected will not be called to salvation, or even desire to be saved. The lost professors of Jesus day certainly did! Jesus Himself declared, "For many are called, but few are chosen (or elected)" (Matthew 22:14). What knowledge does God have of you?