Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 4 Study # 7
February 26, 2008
Lincolnton, N.C.
(385)
1769 Translation:
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1901 ASV Translation:
29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- I. The Prelude: He Calls According to Purpose.
- A. The summons is "to" love: primarily to value the One designing the Plan; and, secondarily, to embrace the Plan.
- 1. The Planner, as Deity and Creator, has an absolute prerogative in all things: His "will" cannot legitimately be condemned by the non-deity, creatures, nor can it be overturned if they decide to act illegitimately.
- 2. The Plan will reveal the character of the Planner; but, even that does the objecting creature no good because the revelation will not overturn the "attitude" of any creature who already thinks he has a right to criticize God (Titus 1:15-16).
- 3. The Plan will include enough of the specifics to guarantee its success. There are enough different ways to produce the same end that an omniscient God can extend the ability to make choices and take action to creatures within the boundaries of "including enough specifics in the Plan to guarantee its success."
- B. The summons is "from" love: the Designer "loves" those He calls, so He has "planned" a final state that reveals love in every detail.
- 1. In Romans 9:11 Paul pointedly declares that "the purpose of God" stands "according to election" and "not of works", but "of Him that calleth".
- 2. In Romans 11:5 Paul declares that those who do not fall into apostasy are "a remnant according to the election of grace".
- 3. In Romans 4:16 Paul reveals why it has to be "by grace": that the promise might be sure. The problem of leaving the inheritance up to human performance is that it, by that, becomes a non-inheritance because of the failure of man to perform. The only way the inheritance can be inherited by men is by means of the grace of God exercises on their behalf.