Faith without religion.
Election and Foreknowledge in 1 Peter
In a recent teaching session, we delved into the profound themes presented in 1 Peter 1:1-2, exploring the concept of election and its implications. The discussion began with an examination of the geographical context, noting how Peter addressed the “strangers scattered” across regions like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. This set the stage for a deeper exploration of the biblical principle of election, a theme that Peter introduces early in his epistle.
The Greek term “EKLECTOS,” meaning selected or chosen, was central to our discussion. We explored how election manifests in various forms throughout scripture, from individuals like Abraham and David to nations such as Israel. The conversation also touched on the election of individuals to eternal life, as highlighted in passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 and Ephesians 1:4.
A key point of debate was whether Peter referred to himself or the scattered believers as the elect. While commentators often suggest the latter, the grammatical nuances in Greek leave room for interpretation. Regardless, the focus remained on the overarching biblical truth of God’s election, which is described as being according to His foreknowledge.
The concept of foreknowledge, or “prognosis” in Greek, was examined in detail. We considered how God’s foreknowledge might influence His election, suggesting that it is purposeful and based on His understanding of future events and choices. This led to a discussion on the implications of being “conformed to the image of His Son,” as mentioned in Romans 8:29, and the idea of believers being joint heirs with Christ.
Finally, the teaching emphasized the transformative journey of the elect, marked by the sanctification of the Spirit, obedience, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Peter’s salutation, “Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied,” was highlighted as a reminder of the abundant grace and peace offered by God through Christ, underscoring the unity and rest found in Him. This exploration of election and foreknowledge invites believers to reflect on their place in God’s divine plan and the peace that comes from being part of His chosen people.
Teaching Script:
Welcome
Prayer
Singing
Silence
Alright chapter one verse one
Ist Peter Introduction – Part II
June 21st 2015
Meat
1st Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Last week we talked about these places and how they chronologically extended out from the Euphrates river in Babylon from where Peter was writing – first Pontus, then Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.
Peter continues . . .
2 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.
Now, Peter, right off the bat points to a principle that cannot be denied when it comes to God and His work among men – election.
The commentators I appealed to all believed that Peter was speaking of the people Peter was writing to as being the elect but I have always read this as Peter speaking of Himself.
The Greek does NOT let us in one which it is through the grammar.
I think it alludes to Peter himself because the epistle starts off with, “Peter (comma) an apostle . . .
But the others think he is speaking to those he is writing to because he says:
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout . . .
Because he says “to the strangers scattered last most believe when he adds, “elect” it is speaking of them being elected and not Peter.
Whatever the case we are introduced to the biblical fact of election.
In the Greek the word is EKLECTOS and it means selected or chosen and the Scripture speaks of election in a number of ways.
(1st ) there is the election of individuals to office or to honor or privilege, like Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, and Solomon – and, it appears that there were those who were elected by God to places of infamy or ignobility, like Judas.
Jesus said in John 13:18 before all his chosen disciples:
“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
All these individuals were chosen or selected or elected by God for the positions they held.
Because the individual apostles were all elected or chosen I tend to think Peter is speaking of himself here. So that’s the election of individuals to doing certain things.
Questions pop up about why God elected certain individuals to do certain things.
Some suggest that it is because He does and the election has nothing to do with the individuals involved (as God is not a respector of persons) but its by His good will and pleasure David was elected and led to be and do the things He was lead to do.
In other words David did not choose to play the flute to calm Saul’s heart or He did not choose to be a shepherd of sheep and learn the skill of the sling while employed there – God orchestrated all of it – and since God did create David in the first place He certainly could have encoded David with the need to pick up a musical instrument (and do all the other things David did) in order to possess the skills he possessed.
We’ll talk more about the election of individuals in a minute.
Scripture also speak of the election of nations to special privileges.
Speaking of the Nation of Israel Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 7:6
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
The passage certainly speaks of God choosing them to be a special people unto Himself, ABOVE all the people that are upon the face of the earth, but because He has chose them above all others does this means they would BE above all others?
I suppose it depends on what we are talking about.
Paul, speaking of his brethren the House of Israel wrote in Romans 9:3-5
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth –
the adoption,
and the glory,
and the covenants,
and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
and the promises;
whose are the fathers,
and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all.
Amidst all of these things which certainly came forth from or out of the House of Israel –
The law
The prophets
The Old Testament
The temple rituals
The Priesthood
Even the Messiah
We also know that in terms of being His chosen people of faith there was a fail, and they killed the Messiah who rejected Him.
Were they driven to this by genetic encoding or spiritual dearth (in other words by the puppeteering of God) or did they arrive at this state based on their own propensities and God simply capitalized on what He knew they would do rather than forcing them to do what they did?
Finally, in terms of scripture, we cannot get around the fact that there is an election of individuals to eternal life.
(2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14 says it plainly)
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The word chosen here, however, is different that the word elected that Peter uses in the second verse of His epistle.
This word here means preferred.
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning (preferred) you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:4 says:
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:
Now, admitting that God does choose and elect (meaning He actually elects and prefers) certain people to do and be certain things we have to wonder on what grounds.
Some suggest that He does it without any grounds at all, citing scripture that refers to Him doing things (including electing) according to His own good pleasure.
Ephesians chapter one are the biggie passages that support this thinking.
Now, some read these passages and see them saying that in and through His elections, which is all done according to His good will and choice, God does what He is going to do but that the end results, from where we stand, seem sort of bleak.
Let me read the passages used in Ephesians that support this view. Note that the use of the word “US” here refers to believers exclusively.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us (elected) in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.”
From these passages we have to admit, without question, that God elects, and He does it according to His good pleasure and not based on anything we have done to earn the election.
I admit to this completely because scripture admits to it completely.
The question we have to ask is what is the Good Pleasure He speaks of here? What is the purpose OF His election He does because He wants to do it?
Does it have meaning? Does His electing us play a role in His over-all plan? And are we elected (again, solely because He choses to elect us) based off a larger picture or objective He has?
I believe He alludes to these things in the context of these passages.
Let me read them again. Now listen closely:
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
So we are presented with some facts.
God does elect and choose.
He does the electing according to His Good Pleasure.
We have to ask, “Is His Good pleasure evil or good?” I’s say Good.
Is His Good Pleasure fair or injust?
I’d say fair.
Is His good pleasure purposeful or without reason or aim?
I’d say purposeful.
And by and through His election based on His good pleasures we (those who believe on Him) have been predestined, . . .
LISTEN
“according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will, that we should he the praise of His glory WHO FIRST trusted in Christ.”
Now, admitted to the biblical stance of His election, we cannot say we were elected due to anything good in us.
But can we even suggest a reason why He elected some or what basis He did not elect others?
Peter suggests it for us – ready? Verse 2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, (through sanctification of the Spirit), unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . . etc, etc.
The word for foreknowledge here in the Greek is prognosis.
Ever hear of a prognosticator?
Prog Ginosko –
To know beforehand is what the Greek word means – to know before anything ever happens.
So either Peter or the scattered believers were elect according to God knowing beforehand what would be, what would occur, who would do what, what people would choose to say or do or believe.
Now I am starting to understand.
Up to this point we tend to teach that God has elected or chosen individuals to lead or hold office, nations to be His own, and individuals to life eternal based on NOTHING but His sovereign will to choose or elect them.
But Peter tells us that He has elected them based on his prognostication – on his knowledge of things before they ever happen.
To what end?
Borrowing from the words of Ephesians 1:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
God is known in scripture as “the Author of the plan of salvation,” and as having chosen his people to life, and given them to his Son to redeem and save.
Jesus says in John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
I would suggest that these have been elected due to the “foreknowledge of God,” and not due to some capricious willy nilly choosing on His part.
In my estimation this makes His election purposeful and pointed and having a reason rather than just being His Good Pleasure.
So let’s now talk about the foreknowledge of God.
Those who have been LDS will recognize Jeremiah 1:5 which says:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Luke says of John the Baptist and his effectiveness:
Luke 1:15-16 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Paul said in Galatians 1:15-16
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”
I used to read this as Paul saying when he was separated from his mother’s womb (meaning when he was born) but the Greek translations seems to unitedly say this means even while he was still IN his mothers womb.
Romans 8 also touches on the point of foreknowledge, predestination and election, saying:
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Romans 11:2 admits that “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”
The obviousness of God knowing all things before they were or happened is hard to refute. The question is WHAT did He foreknow about them?
I mean take Romans 11:2 again, which says that, “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”
Are passage like this (and passages that speak of His foreknowledge) saying ONLY that God fore knew us, or are they implying that God knew before that we would be His, or that we would choose Christ, or that He had predestined us to choosing Christ? It’s debatable.
But as limited as my views are I would suggest that God, knowing all things, created all of us in His image and that means with the capacity and the ability to choose light or dark – because without the capacity we could not be in His image.
And giving all rational human beings this capacity I would suggest that God foreknew who would by faith receive His open invitation to His son. And in foreknowing them He elected or chose or selected them to be the first fruits of all of His creations.
Some say He predestined – I can but this – but His predestination was predicated on His foreknowledge – again, of what – of who would receive His Son and who would not.
The passage in Romans 8:29, you may recall from our study of it, includes a word that is subject to all sorts of debate.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Let me tell you the Greek word used here (proginosko) has been debated endlessly.
The literal meaning of the word cannot be a matter of dispute. It simply means to know beforehand; to be acquainted with future events.
But whether the word here means simply to know that certain persons would become Christians OR to ordain and constitute them to be Christians is the subject of endless controversy.
What we can say about the word CONTEXTUALLY is it does not have a reference to all people because all are not neither have all been “conformed to the image of his Son.”
It has reference, therefore, only to those who would become Christians in this life and who would be saved – from hell and to eternal life.
The passage literally tells us – LISTEN AGAIN –
29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
This is a radical passage folks if there ever was one. It literally tells us that those whom God foreknew (to either be true followers of His Son or those He foreknew to elect to be followers of His Son) He also predestinated to BE conformed to the image of His Son that His Son might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren.
Don’t let my LDS background frighten you but this passage literally tells us that according to God’s foreknowledge He predestined some to (listen) be conformed to the image of His Son.
“What does this mean?” He tells us.
“That His Son may be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Earlier in this same chapter Paul said:
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Verse 29 tells us that Christ would be the first born among many brethren.
Verse 17 says that if we are children then we are joint heirs with Him (if we suffer with Him).
Of course the LDS stance is a person becomes a joint heir with Christ by and through complicity to temple rites and rituals, obedience to LDS laws and commandments, etc.
This is absolutely contrary to the biblical description of what it means to suffer with Him but nevertheless the point cannot be lost – those who are His brethren (of whom He is the first-fruits) are His because
God knew it before it ever happened.
God elected them to be this.
And those He elected would be conformed to the image of His Son.
They are His children
First fruits of all His creations.
In some way it was foreseen by God that they would believe and be saved.
There is nothing, therefore, in regard to them that is contingent, or subject to doubt in the Divine Mind, since it was certainly foreknown.
In this we can say that those who He foreknew were always and forever going to be His.
Logically, to know something the thing has to be certain. We can’t foreknow something that is uncertain.
So truly, those who are His will always be His and He knew this from the foundation of the world.
I would suggest, however, that this does NOT mean that there are those who one some point or another cannot be His but walk from it.
Of course He would know this too – but what He would know is person X once was His but chose to walk away.
We love to say, “then they never were his,” but I would think God could say, I knew you wouldn’t last but your were mine for a time.”
Here’s the deal – the passages that deal with election do not affirm why, or how, or on what grounds God foreknew that some of the human family would be saved or why it was His good pleasure to choose or elect them.
These passages simply teach that God knew them; that his eye was fixed on them; that he regarded them as to be conformed to his Son; and that, thus knowing them, he designated them to eternal life.
2 “Elect,” Peter says, “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.
“Through sanctification of the Spirit.”
Again, whether this is speaking of Peter or the scattered audience to whom He writes the concepts remain the same –
They are “the elect”
“According to the foreknowledge of God”
“Through the sanctification of the Spirit.”
The Greek reads better, “by the sanctification of the Spirit.”
Meaning it was by this influence or agency.
So we don’t get ahead of ourselves why don’t we read the whole passage and break it down:
Elect (covered that)
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father(covered that)
through
1 sanctification of the Spirit,
2 unto obedience and
3 sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
And the salutation: “Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
The order of these things confuse me and all I can say is Peter, speaking to believers who are elect, is working in reverse in his attempt to describe them.
In other words the last thing that was happening in the lives of the elect was
The sanctification of the Spirit
And before this there was obedience (to the laws of faith and love) and before this even, the elect were “sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Working it forward, the elect were “chosen or elected by the foreknowledge of God Father,”
They were sprinkled by the blood of Christ, they began to follow Him obediently in faith and love, and were sanctified by the Spirit.
So again, with Peter working backward with those scattered who are the elect, He says:
2 “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Long story short, the elect become His elect, amidst their citizenship in this fallen world, through
The shed blood of Christ (Peter writes sprinkling referring to the High Priest sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat) which, with clean hearts enables us to obey Him (Peter writes “unto obedience”) through the sanctification of the Spirit.
The idea seems to be that we become in fact the chosen or elect of God by a work of the Spirit on our hearts making us holy.
We obviously weren’t this way from birth unlike Christ.
And he finalizes all this with His salutation, saying:
“Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
The line, “be multiplied” here means exactly this – let Grace and peace abound toward you, multiply over and over, surround you, bless you.
This morning in Milk we noted that the first word Jesus said to the apostles after His resurrection was “peace be unto you.”
They were all gathered in a room out of fear of the Jews. The door to the room was shut.
So Jesus appears in their midst and greets them with “peace.”
The Greek word is I RAY NAY and it is believed to have come from the root word I ROW which means . . . “to join, be one, rest.”
When Jesus said, “Peace be unto you,” he was telling them to “to be at rest, at peace, to be one or whole to join together.”
These are some of the meanings of IRAYNAY. And for the Christian they are deeply meaningful.
Acts 10: 36 tells us that the apostles went throughout the house of Israel “preaching peace.” Preaching IRAYNAY. Preaching rest, unity, joining back together.
How much of an importance does “peace” play in the New Testament?
Let me put it this way:
Every single book of the New Testament appeals to the word but even more impressive, every book – except Hebrews, 1st John, and James employs the Word in its salutation – typically in the first verse (here in Peter in the second):
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul says over and over and over again
Grace AND Peace FROM God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The implication in the greeting from the apostles is that God the Father and His Son are now constantly offering grace and peace to all.
Grace first – His unmerited gift -followed immediately by peace – IRAYNAY – rest, joining together, oneness, wholeness.
And so it is with Peter as well –
1st Grace unto you, and peace.
Questions comments?
