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e have discovered that scripture teaches that man has the responsibility
to choose Jesus Christ and God chooses people to be saved too! We both
choose. But how does this work? How can we explain this mystery or paradox?
Some have suggested that Romans 8:28-30 provides the answer.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (NASB) Rom. 8:28-30 The passage states that God predestinated those whom He foreknew. Therefore,
one proposed solution to our paradox says that God looked ahead into
the future to see who would accept Him as Lord and Savior if
given a chance. Those whom He foreknew would believe in Jesus Christ
are the ones that God elected, chose, selected, or appointed to be saved.
That is, He predestinated them to have eternal life. This appears to
solve the problem, but unfortunately the passage and the rest of scripture
do not support this view.
First Problem. First, the Greek word for “foreknew” means
more than just looking ahead into history. The word “foreknew” is
a good initial translation of the Greek word PROGINOSKO, but it is missing
an important shade of meaning. The Greek lexicon of Louw and Nida provides
this definition,
“. . . to know about something prior to some temporal reference point, for example, to know about an event before it happens . . . It is also possible to understand PROGINOSKO . . . as meaning “chosen beforehand.” [1] Colin Brown agrees and provides this definition,
“. . . to know beforehand or in advance, choose beforehand . . .” [2] So we see that PROGINOSKO means more than advanced knowledge. It includes
a secondary sense of selection.
Second Problem. The second reason this
view is incorrect is found in the Greek grammar. The words “foreknew” and “predestined” are
connected by the Greek word KAI. Our English Bibles
do not translate the Greek word KAI which means “and.” According
to the Greek Granville Sharp rule, any time two nouns of the same case
are connected by KAI the words refer to the same thing if the definite
article appears before the first noun and not the second.[3] This
means that “foreknew” and “predestined” refer
to the same thing. God’s act of foreknowledge was also an act of
predestinating people to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. They
go together.
Third Problem. Ephesians 2:8-9 creates
another problem since the passage tells us that God gives faith as a
gift. Since Romans 3:10-11 says that no one seeks after God without His
help and if faith is a gift that comes from God, how can we believe on
our own?
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASB) Eph. 2:8-9 The answer is that no one can believe on his or her own. We do not choose
to have faith. Faith is given to us. It is given by God. Since that is
true, then why would God look ahead to see if one would believe when
that faith comes from God in the first place?
Summary. God did not look into the future
to see who would accept Jesus if given a chance. Romans 8:28-30
does not teach that. The passage teaches that God looked ahead and selected
those whom He desired. His foreknowledge was part of the act of choosing.
Acts 2:37-38 and Acts 2:46-47 capture this truth perfectly.
The first passage reveals that men choose God.
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NASB) Acts 2:37-38 This was the result of God’s decision before the foundation of
the world. God had chosen and men responded. At the end of the chapter
we read this,
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (NASB) Acts 2:46-47 And then later in Acts 13 we read,
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (NASB) Acts. 13:48 Scripture is clear that God chose and man must choose,
References:
 2. Colin Brown. Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Regency Reference Library. Grand Rapids, MI. vol. 1, p. 693. 3. Dana and Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. MacMillian. p. 147.
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