The concept of being "foreordained" is deeply rooted in the theological understanding of God's sovereignty and divine plan. It refers to the belief that God, in His omniscience and omnipotence, has predetermined certain events or outcomes according to His will and purpose. This doctrine is closely associated with predestination and election, which are significant themes in Christian theology.

Biblical Foundation

The term "foreordained" is often used interchangeably with "predestined" in biblical contexts. The Berean Standard Bible provides several passages that illuminate this concept:

1. Ephesians 1:4-5 : "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will."

This passage highlights the idea that God’s choice and predestination of believers occurred before the creation of the world. It emphasizes the purpose of being holy and blameless and the loving intention behind God’s plan for adoption through Jesus Christ.

2. Romans 8:29-30 : "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified."

Here, the Apostle Paul outlines a sequence of divine actions: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. This passage underscores the comprehensive nature of God’s foreordained plan for believers, culminating in their ultimate glorification.

3. 1 Peter 1:20 : "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake."

This verse refers to Jesus Christ, indicating that His role as the Redeemer was foreordained by God before the world began. It underscores the eternal nature of God’s redemptive plan, which was revealed in the fullness of time for the benefit of humanity.

Theological Implications

The doctrine of foreordination raises important theological questions about human free will, divine justice, and the nature of salvation. It affirms that God’s purposes are unchangeable and that His will is ultimately accomplished in history. This belief provides assurance to believers that their salvation is secure, as it is rooted in God’s eternal decree rather than human effort.

Historical Context

Throughout church history, the doctrine of foreordination has been a topic of significant debate and discussion. It was notably articulated by Augustine of Hippo in the early church and later by John Calvin during the Reformation. These theologians emphasized God’s sovereign choice in salvation, which became a cornerstone of Reformed theology.

Practical Application

For believers, the concept of being foreordained offers comfort and motivation. It assures them of their place in God’s eternal plan and encourages them to live lives that reflect their calling. Understanding that their salvation is part of a divine purpose can inspire Christians to pursue holiness and to trust in God’s providential care.

Conclusion

While the doctrine of foreordination is complex and sometimes controversial, it remains a vital aspect of Christian theology, emphasizing God’s ultimate authority and the assurance of His promises to those He has called according to His purpose.4287. prothesmia -- appointed beforehand
... Cognate: 4287 (from 4253 , "before" and 5087 , "to place") -- properly, what is
set (placed) beforehand, ie pre-appointed, foreordained (used only in Gal 4:2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4287.htm - 7k

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? ... Yet is it not self-evident that
if God foreknows all things, He has also foreordained all things? ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

Appendix 2 the Case of Adam
... Governor of the universe has eternally purposed, but also from the express declaration
of Scripture that Christ as a Lamb "verily was foreordained before the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the sovereignty of god/appendix 2 the case of.htm

Letter Xl to Thomas, Prior of Beverley
... Who are these? These are they whom He foreknew and foreordained to be conformed
to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xl to thomas prior.htm

Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works
... To understand this, think of how God foreordained His servants of old, Moses and
Joshua, Samuel and David, Peter and Paul, for the work He had for them, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/ix created in christ jesus.htm

Election is the Unchangeable Purpose of God, Whereby, Before the ...
... Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 7 election is the.htm

Ephesians i. 14-Nov
... "In whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the
purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will.". ...
/.../homily ii ephesians i 14-nov.htm

The Epistle to the Romans.
... Whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his
Son ... and whom he foreordained them he also called: and ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 92 the epistle to.htm

Election
... which I have just 3rd:Article: "By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his
glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/election.htm

The Westminster Standards in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
... The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will,
whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. ...
/.../ 99 the westminster standards.htm

Allegation 3 "The Predestination of the Stoics, and the Fatalism ...
... "therefore, we may also say that, when Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, he did that
which the hand and counsel of God foreordained to be done?" This, indeed ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/allegation 3 the predestination of.htm

Foreordained (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Foreordained (8 Occurrences). Acts 3:20 and he
may send Jesus Christ, who was foreordained for you, (DBY). ...
/f/foreordained.htm - 8k

Predestined (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Predestined (6 Occurrences). Acts 4:28 to do whatever
your hand and your council foreordained to happen. (See NAS RSV). ...
/p/predestined.htm - 8k

Plan (58 Occurrences)
... Acts 4:28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. (See
RSV). Acts 5:38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. ...
/p/plan.htm - 23k

Predestination
... It is possible to urge, and it has been urged, that the philosophical question-whether
all that occurs is foreordained-is not discussed and decided by Scripture ...
/p/predestination.htm - 26k

Foreknow (1 Occurrence)
... According to the Scriptural conception, God foreknows because He has foreordained
all things, and because in His providence He will certainly bring all to pass ...
/f/foreknow.htm - 36k

Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... According to the Scriptural conception, God foreknows because He has foreordained
all things, and because in His providence He will certainly bring all to pass ...
/f/foreknowledge.htm - 37k

Foreordain

/f/foreordain.htm - 9k

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)
... 2. Foreordained to Be a Traitor: Another view is that Judas was foreordained to
be the traitor: that Jesus was conscious from the first that He was to suffer ...
/i/iscariot.htm - 25k

Judas (42 Occurrences)
... 2. Foreordained to Be a Traitor: Another view is that Judas was foreordained to
be the traitor: that Jesus was conscious from the first that He was to suffer ...
/j/judas.htm - 45k

Ordained (70 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been
hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, (Root in WEB ...
/o/ordained.htm - 28k

What does it mean for something to be foreordained? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about predetermination? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about protection? | GotQuestions.org

Foreordained: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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