SEPTEMBER 17

ACCORDING TO FOREKNOWLEDGE

“Elect (chosen) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:2)

From the very moment that time began, and God’s purpose was thrust forth TO BECOME, God knew what the outcome would be, for it was secure in victory, and He RESTED in His knowledge, although He would continue to work until His plan was consummated. There are no unexpected developments, no surprise interjections by some other force, He knows all, He controls all, “working all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Eph. 1:11).

Of our Lord Jesus Christ it is written, ‘Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Pet. 1:20). He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8). Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2:23). When all of this part of HIS PLAN had been fulfilled, the sacrifice of Christ realized His life poured forth for mankind, then He was ready to return into His glory.

So also, this same foreknowledge is applied to us, “according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Eph. 1:4-5).

Dare we believe that in the mind of God, in His great purpose, according to His foreknowledge, we have been chosen to receive His grace, to be processed and transformed from the image of the earthy into the image of the heavenly? Such truth is in line with the revelation Paul received, that “Whom He did foreknow, He did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29). Yes, all that HE has purposed shall be fulfilled, even in us!

Ray Prinzing