“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21).
First Peter 1:20 says that Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world. The Amplified Bible says, “…He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world.”
This means that even before the beginning in Genesis, God had appointed Jesus to shed His blood for our sins. Just because God knows about something, doesn’t mean He causes it to happen. God did not cause Satan to rebel. God did not cause man to sin. God knew Lucifer would rise up and take one third of the heavenly host with him. And He knew that man would sin in the Garden of Eden. God knows everything that happens before it happens, but that doesn’t mean He is the cause or that what happens is His will.
We may not understand why certain things happen because our minds are not as big as the mind of God. We have limited thinking. God knew He was going to send Jesus to shed His blood on the cross and redeem man. He knew that even before man sinned, but He didn’t cause man to sin. There is a big difference between looking down through the corridors of time and knowing something and being the cause of it.
So this is not meant to be interpreted as though God predestined man to sin. God, in His omniscience, saw ahead and as it states in verse 20, “He [Jesus] indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”
Jesus was foreordained to shed His blood, and now Peter says, it has been made manifest. That means what was foreordained has happened as God said it would. We have been redeemed from sin.
First Peter 1:21 says, “Who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory….”
Why was Jesus given glory? Verse 21 continues to say, ” …so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Because of the glory He received, we can have our faith and hope in God. Our hope and faith is our belief of what is coming and what we already have. They allow us to have a firm foundation of belief because of what Jesus did.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.