Part Three: "Salvation, A Deeper Look" (1 Peter 1:1-2)

Peter says, "To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" (1 Peter 1:1-2). In part two of our series, we defined "election" as, "To select, to choose out for oneself." We saw that the one who does the choosing and selecting is God. Peter says that these Christ followers "are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." What does this mean? Apostle Paul says "those whom He foreknew, He also predestined" (Romans 8:29). The Greek word translated "foreknowledge" means "To know beforehand." This word does not mean that God makes educated guesses about who He chooses, and it doesn't mean that God knows because He has to learn who will choose Him. God the Father knows because He has eternally determined His own knowledge of history. In other words, those whom God "foreknows" are those whom He has eternally thought up in His mind as His eternal children. These are the elect or chosen ones. According to Paul "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). The phrase "before the foundation of the world" speaks of the sovereign will of God of choosing some "in Christ" before creation, and independent of any human influence! God eternally thought of all who are elect as His children. In other words, God the Father eternally knows some, but not all as being "adopted as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself" (Ephesians 1:5). Some are foreknown as belonging to God, others are not. In Matthew 7:22-23, we read "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." The ones whom the Lord has never known are those the Lord has eternally thought of as not being chosen by Him! Some are foreknown as His, others are not! If you are a Christ follower, rejoice that God has chosen you! If you are not a Christ follower, why not call out to Jesus to save you. Paul said, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Your move. Be encouraged!