"To those He knew beforehand would believe, He predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son" (MTV-Modern Twisted Version) ;-)

As Pilgrim already pointed out, to foreknow in Rom.8:29 & 1Pet.1:2 is to forelove. Such a personal, intimate knowing includes ordaining (see 1Pet.1:20; Acts 2:23).

Notice Rom.8:29 says "those" or "whom" or "those whom" He foreknew... Not "what" or "whether they would believe" etc. The Greek does not allow for the latter.

If we hypothetically say that "foreknow" means God knowing beforehand whether a person will believe, we run into a couple of problems:

1. No one would be predestinated because He would find everyone in unbelief. There are numoerous passages that support this (Eph.2:1-5; Col.2:13; Rom.3:10-12; 1Cor.2:14), but Ps. 14:2-3; 53:2-3 speaks more speficially to this. Look at what God finds when He "looks upon the children of me."

2. Setting aside number 1 for the sake of argument, if God's foreknowing was who would believe and who wouldn't, it is still settled before the foundations of the world. There are still problems with that for sure, as Pilgrim has already pointed out. But nevertheless, in that false understanding, it is still them that God predestinated, called, justified and glorified. Those that He knew wouldn't believe (in that hypothetical yet false view) would not be predestinated, called, justified and glorified.

You also run into problems with the word foreknow meaning God knowing beforehand who would believe and who wouldn't (proginosko and prognosis in the Greek) in Acts 2:23; Rom.11:2; 1Pet.1:20.

About four years ago, I had the priviledge of doing a lecture on "God's forknowing" at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's ARTS Ministry. If you are interested, you can listen to that lecture from our church website at www.gracefellowshipmh.org.

Thank you, I hope this helps in some way to benefit Kathy and those struggling with this, and brings glory to God.

Bret

Brother Bret Lovitz