Foreknowledge is a New Testament word. It is not a description of an attribute of God in the four thousand years of the Old Testament. This word appears first in Romans 11 in the context of God's people, Israel, with whom he had a long two thousand year covenant relationship, beginning with the fathers of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and continuing with the 12 tribes of Israel. This was a close and intimate relationship, Israel even picturing in type the wife of Jehovah God, Abraham and Sarah being the express visible image of this relationship. This is the only family or people with whom God had such a personal relationship and in the NT scriptures where this word foreknowledge, foreknow, or foreordained you can believe the context will point to this people. or a member of this family.
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Let's begin at Rom 10 so we can keep it brief. what does Rom 10:1 say? Let me quote it.
Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Are there any doubters? The context is Israel, which at the time of the writing of this letter had a national identity. Just for the sake of Perspective, Romans was written from Corinth when Paul was there as recorded in Acts 18. So, all the history from Acts 1 to acts 18 was under the bridge when this statement was made. Paul knew by now that Israel as a whole had rejected Jesus Christ. They year was 58 AD when he wrote this and his following complaint against Israel was absolutely true and he knew it. Here is what his complaint is.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Paul received 195 stripes across his back from his own people for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them and at this time several of those stripes had already been delivered.
What is that righteousness they have not submitted to? Here is the answer;
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
He accused them of continuing in the works of the Law of Moses as self righteousness and rejecting Jesus Christ who should have been received by them by faith.
He goes on to say that by simple faith in his finished work of redemption they could be saved.
Now, there is a lot to be said but II am skipping ahead to make my point about foreknow concerning these people Israel.
Since they rejected Christ as the people of God, he opened the door of faith to gentiles because they refuse to come in. This was in AD 40, and so Israel watched God save gentiles for 18 years before this letter was written. Gentiles, who had never had any covenant promises from God. (you should read 2 Cor 3 now)
And so these verses will make more sense knowing these few things. Let me quote them to you. Remember, the apostles and prophets had preached this gospel now for 28 years with little success. Read the m with me;
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Offensive statement removed per mod
Consider the same prophecy of Jesus Christ.
Lu 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Offending statement removed per mod.
Let's begin at Rom 10 so we can keep it brief. what does Rom 10:1 say? Let me quote it.
Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Are there any doubters? The context is Israel, which at the time of the writing of this letter had a national identity. Just for the sake of Perspective, Romans was written from Corinth when Paul was there as recorded in Acts 18. So, all the history from Acts 1 to acts 18 was under the bridge when this statement was made. Paul knew by now that Israel as a whole had rejected Jesus Christ. They year was 58 AD when he wrote this and his following complaint against Israel was absolutely true and he knew it. Here is what his complaint is.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Paul received 195 stripes across his back from his own people for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them and at this time several of those stripes had already been delivered.
What is that righteousness they have not submitted to? Here is the answer;
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
He accused them of continuing in the works of the Law of Moses as self righteousness and rejecting Jesus Christ who should have been received by them by faith.
He goes on to say that by simple faith in his finished work of redemption they could be saved.
Now, there is a lot to be said but II am skipping ahead to make my point about foreknow concerning these people Israel.
Since they rejected Christ as the people of God, he opened the door of faith to gentiles because they refuse to come in. This was in AD 40, and so Israel watched God save gentiles for 18 years before this letter was written. Gentiles, who had never had any covenant promises from God. (you should read 2 Cor 3 now)
And so these verses will make more sense knowing these few things. Let me quote them to you. Remember, the apostles and prophets had preached this gospel now for 28 years with little success. Read the m with me;
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Offensive statement removed per mod
Consider the same prophecy of Jesus Christ.
Lu 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
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