Another aspect of God’s character: He knows everything that has happened and will happen.

There has been a long debate about the “elect” with some saying that God determines who these are without them having any part in this. However, since we know that God wants all to be saved and that Jesus has died for all and that God works in the life of each person to draw them to Himself, why would he choose to save just a few and send the others to hell without a chance? That does not fit the character of God.

Others say it is entirely man’s doing and choice full independent of God.

But there is a third, biblical view, that God and people are both involved in the process. Here is the biblical evidence.

This revolves around two Greek words

prog’-no-sis  forethought: – foreknowledge. To  know ahead of time

prog-in-oce’-ko; to know beforehand, that is, foresee: – foreknow (ordain), know (before).

Some say that this word means  to ordain, to decree that something will happen. However, the Greek simply means to know ahead of time. For instance, if I serve my son a plate of cooked egg plant, I know for sure he will reject it. And I know that if I offer him ice cream, he will eat it with relish. I do not determine his actions, I simply know what choice he’s going to make because I know him well.

So God knows ahead of time who will choose to accept His offer of salvation and who will reject it. God loves partnership and wants us to join Him in what He is doing, beginning with salvation and then on into every area of life.

Here are some verses that emphasize God’s use of foreknowledge in His work.

2Pe 3:17  You therefore, beloved, KNOWING THIS BEFORE HAND, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

2

1Pe 1:20  “Jesus…was FOREKNOWN before the foundation of the world but  ^R23 was made manifest  ^R24 in the last times for the sake of you

1Pe 1:2  “saints…who have been chosen according to the FOREKNOWLEDGE of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood….”

Rom 8:29  For those God FOREKNEW he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

So the elect are those whom God knows are going to choose Him as their Savior and Lord. Simple, biblical, balanced. Always good  to draw theology from Scripture rather than bringing someone’s idea to Scripture and look for support.

Whom He foreknew…

Lately I’ve been moved to remind myself of the major Truths of salvation, and I will share several of those with you, that is verses that speak to each aspect of the subject.

The first one is that Jesus died for all: What a powerful testimony of God’s love, both for those who believe and those who won’t.
1Ti 4:10 … we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all [Greek: all, every, every one] people, especially of those who believe].
John 1:29 ESV The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Romans 5:18 ESV / Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV / For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV / …and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

1 John 2:2 ESV He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Ti 2:5,6 For R3 there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man N1 Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is R5 the testimony given R6 at the proper time. ESV

1 Timothy 4:10 ESV / For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [The Greek word for all, pas, means exactly that, as it says in Strong’s:
Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole: – all (manner of, means) alway (-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), X throughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

Hebrews 2:9 ESV / But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 John 4:14 ESV / And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world, [cosmos, all the world] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Thank you, Lord God, Lord Jesus for your great impeccable, immutable love upon which we can trust and rest

Praise you, Lord God, that in your gracious goodness, you unfailingly guide and direct, provide for and protect us. Praise you for the completeness of your character, the perfection of your personality, the graciousness of your goodness, and the firmness of your faithfulness.

Thank you that you lead us through difficulties, darkness and disappointments, using each to chasten, mature, deepen and develop us. You are wise beyond words, knowing exactly what is right, always doing what is best, and working out what is wonderful, no matter how it may appear to us.

I praise you, Lord, that whatever comes today, I can thank you for it. Confidence in you is never misplaced, praise is always appropriate, trust is always right.

To you now I lift my heart and soul in praise, for you are worthy of it in your perfect power, wonderful wisdom, lavish love, great goodness and flawless faith, in your strong sternness and touching tenderness. Every quality needed is there in the exact amount and in perfect balance: mercy triumphs over justice, forgiveness conquers condemnation, love covers a multitude of sins.

Today help  me to live in the light of these Truths and to love you by obeying you.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Christian, Part 3

A continuation of how one man keeps on and uses the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18

On the way home from work Walter sat quietly on the train looking out the window, polishing his sword by meditating on the passage he’d been memorizing. A billboard swept into view, featuring a semi-clad girl. Although Walter quickly looked away, he’d already been hit with a dart of lust and was taken down.

He immediately sprang up and pulled the dart out with confession: “Look at what I just thought, Lord. I agree with you that it is totally selfish, destructive, and caustic to my soul. It is pleasing to Satan and grievous to you. I repent and ask your forgiveness, especially for grieving you, you who love me so much.”

Then he went on the offensive and in the powerful name of Jesus withdrew any ground he’d given to the enemy in this attack, asking God to fill him again with the Spirit.

Just in case any more such attacks came on the way home, he kept his shield of faith up by thanking God for all that had happened during the day–and he decided not to stare out the window any more.

When he came in the door at home, the kids were arguing and his exasperated wife welcomed him with, “Well, I’m glad you’re finally home. See if you can do something with these three fighters!”

Walter skillfully got his shield up as the dart of anger flew at him, followed by one of self-justification. “I was hoping for a better reception and some peaceful interaction, Lord–but I thank you for the chance to fulfill the role you have for me in serving and protecting my wife, and of helping my 3 boys learn to follow you!” Both darts hit the shield and were extinguished.

But then the dragon of selfishness took a swipe at him and almost knocked the shield out of Walter’s hand. He quickly came around with his sword, “I praise you, Lord, that I can keep my eyes on you; I confess my desire to do my own thing here and have some ‘well deserved relaxation’ before supper, but as your disciple I’m called to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. I thank you for the chance to obey you in this moment.” This sent the dragon squealing in retreat.

Walter strode to the kids and scooped two of them up in his arms. “Hi Dad,” they shouted. “Can we go to the park for a while before supper?”

“Sure!” Walter replied. “Get you shoes and coats on.”

The three little bodies scurried to the hall while Walter went to the kitchen and gave his wife a hug. “Hard day, huh?”

“Sure was! I wish I had a quiet and easy life like yours!”

Walter smiled as he deftly raised up his shield with his left hand to quench the flaming arrow of competitiveness, wanting to tell her how hard his day had been. Resting his right hand on his sword, he thought, “If you only knew!” He kissed his wife gently and turned to take the kids to the park.

Picture from internet

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Christian, Part 1 The story of how one man keeps on and uses the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18

Walter ran up the last few steps and walked swiftly to the door. He didn’t want to be late for work and unnecessarily bring any negative attention to himself from the boss.

Suddenly he stopped. “Wait! I don’t have my helmet of salvation on! I’m looking for security from others and their opinions, not God.” He put on the helmet with a quick prayer, “Lord I confess I’m walking in the fear of men and repent! Help me to rest in you and your approval.”

He took a deep breath, opened the door and entered the office. Sure enough, there was the boss waiting for him; but instead of dread or a sinking feeling, Walter now had his helmet on and rested in the truth of who he was–a Child of God, a Prince whose real work was joining God in His great plans.

“Ah, Walter,” said the boss, towering over his diminutive employee. “How’s it going with the coding on that new project? It’s really important that we make our deadline on this one!”

Walter calmly adjusted his glasses and blinked up at his boss. “It’s going well. In fact, I’m ahead of schedule and have the whole thing mapped out. I should be done by the end of the week.”

“Great!” replied his boss, smiling. “Keep up the good work.” Walter nodded and headed to his cubical where he hung his coat over his chair and got down to work.

Walter was well into his coding when something caught his attention. At first, he thought maybe he’d imagined it, but no, there it was again: a movement in the back of his mind. He reached for his sword and shield and swung around just in time to face his foe, the dragon of jealousy.

The hot flames of the dragon’s breath swept over him, reminding him of how he’d been passed over for that promotion he’d wanted and a less experienced guy had gotten it–but Walter kept up his shield, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, warding off the flames, “Thank you, Lord, that I didn’t get that promotion because you have something better for me; thank you for your care and protection in all.”

He brought his sword up, slashing with skill at the dragon’s vulnerable areas: “You, Lord, are sovereign, and if getting that promotion had been good for me, you would have given it. I can praise you for not allowing me to have it, for your Word says, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’”

The dragon drew back and stumbled off into the brush. Walter leaned on his sword, panting. He wiped the soot from the dragon’s flames off his face, reminding himself, “My soul finds rest in God alone. He only is my rock and my salvation.”

More to come