“Elect [or chosen] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father...” (I Peter 1:2a)
This single phrase reveals so much.
Firstly, in context here, what did God foreknow about us? He knew we would make a choice to accept and follow Him, choosing to follow Him rather than follow sin.
So, God knew what we would choose, and therefore, on that basis, chose us, predestined us.
Look at the text again: “Elect [or chosen] ACCORDING TO the foreknowledge of God the Father…”
His predestining us is according to His foreknowledge.
It makes it easier to understand when we look at specific examples from Scripture.
Take, for example, God choosing Abraham.
In Abraham’s life God just appears on the scene and calls him, only him, and no one else.
Abraham has NOTHING to do with the calling, it was not his idea.
Now, God knew beforehand that Abraham would obey. This is indisputable.
And He approaches Abraham ACCORDING to this foreknowledge, or on the basis that He already knows Abraham’s decision.
He is not taking away Abraham’s freedom to choose, AND God is still in control, He is working His purpose and will, it’s not left to chance, or man’s plans or schemes.
God knowing what will happen, as amazing a fact as it is, beyond human comprehension, does not, by itself, explain God’s purpose and His power to declare the end from the beginning.
To say that predestination simply means God knows what will happen means God is not in control and is not working His purpose, and that can’t be right.
Ian Vincent 
April 29, 2017 at 11:59 am
Thanks Br for the clarity in this important subject of predestination especially through Abraham’ example
I read somewhere that there are many to whom The Gospel did not reach and they died, but God knows that if The Gospel had reached them, they would surely have believed so on judgement day, they would be spared of God’ wrath.
April 30, 2017 at 2:34 am
Thanks for your comment, brother.
Yes, over history there have been multitudes of Gentiles who died never hearing of Jesus, or even of the God of Abraham, or of anything in Scripture.
It’s not our business what God does with them, right?
We know He is entirely just in His dealings with mankind.
May 1, 2017 at 3:45 am
Of course Br God’ judgement is beyond what we can really understand as Paul puts it in Rom11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counsellor?
To walk uprightly through faith maintaining the right attitude towards Him is the only thing we can do in response to His great mercy towards us.