1 Peter 1:2 KJV
[2] “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
You and I have no idea who will be saved. We understand through the Scriptures that it is God’s will for all men to be saved. That means that all men can be saved, if they repent and believe the Gospel. We wholeheartedly reject the false doctrine of Calvinism. No one becomes a Calvinist from reading the Bible. The only way to become a Calvinist is to read after other Calvinists. The Bible teaches a “whosoever will” gospel, not that some are elected to go to Heaven, and others are elected to go to Hell. When it comes to adoption, election, predestination, and foreknowledge, remember, whether it be Paul or Peter doing the writing, the message is to the saint and not the sinner. We can rejoice in these truths, but we get in trouble whenever we try to play the role of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is the Lord’s work, and we are to accept and proclaim it, but men get in trouble when they try to do God’s business. Many years ago, I heard a preacher say, “Where God is silent, you be silent.”
Peter is writing to believers and reminds them of the foreknowledge of God. Your salvation may have surprised many people, but it did not take God by surprise. God knows who will be saved. Note in this verse the work of the Father, ”elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” Secondly, note the work of the Spirit when he said, “through sanctification of the Spirit,” and then, the “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus.” All three members of the Godhead took part in our being born again. When it came to the plan of salvation, God the Father planned it, God the Son paid for it, and God the Spirit performed it in the hearts of men.
God does not take away man’s will just because He is all-knowing. A man must accept Christ as his Savior. He has the right to accept Him or reject Him. God will not force anyone to be saved against their will. As I read this verse, I think about how much love God has for His children. He knew everything about us before we were ever born. The fact that He would still love us and want to save us is a mystery that will take an eternity to reveal. I bless His name that His foreknowledge did not keep Him from loving me. Think about the fact that God knew everything about us before we were born, but He still loved us, and we can rest assured that He will always keep us!