We had a surprise birthday party for a friend. Everyone got to the party ahead of time, and at the appropriate moment we all shouted, “SURPRISE!” Our friend knew about none of this. But we all knew exactly what was going to happen. We had foreknowledge.
One of the things we learn about God in the Bible is that God knows ahead of time everything that is going to happen. He has foreknowledge of all things.
That is what Peter said in his sermon on the day of Pentecost with regard to the death of Christ. God had planned everything, so He knew ahead of time all that would transpire. The Apostles and others were surprised by the crucifixion. But not God! He knew exactly what the Jews and Romans would do with Jesus.
In Acts 2:23, Peter said concerning Jesus, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God…” Now the interesting thing about this statement is that God foreknew the events of the crucifixion because He had been involved in the planning of the event. Jesus was delivered by “the determinate counsel of God,” that is, the counsel that determined what was going to happen. God had foreknowledge of the event.
The word “foreknowledge” is the Greek word “prognosis”, which is a word we use, especially in medicine. The prognosis, is knowing ahead of time how the treatment will benefit the patient. The word literally means, “to know beforehand or in advance.” This means that the crucifixion did not take God by surprise. He wasn’t biting His nails in worry over the unfolding drama of Calvary. He was the Divine Conductor who had written the score and was now directing the symphony of redemption. It was God’s masterpiece of Divine love. Jesus was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God…”
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
Say — It is important to understand that God foreknew things because He planned them. That is why biblical prophecy is such a sure thing.