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Minor Disregard of a Plain Fact,
Major Disaster to a Divine Order |
In his "A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith" Dr Robert L. Reymond discussed the "order of salvation" in Chapter 19, pg 703ff. (I read from the 1st edition)
He quoted Rom 8:28-30, and rightly interjected verse 30 with these emphases:
- [τούτους, toutous - the same group he predestinated, not another group or part of that group]
- [τούτους, toutous - the same group he called, not another group or part of that group]
- [τούτους, toutous - the same group he justified, not another group or part of that group].
I will insert the repeated emphases in verse 30 (I'm quoting from the KJB..
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them[τούτους, toutous - the same group he predestinated, not another group or part of that group] he also called: and whom he called, them [τούτους, toutous - the same group he called, not another group or part of that group] he also justified: and whom he justified, them [τούτους, toutous - the same group he justified, not another group or part of that group] he also glorified.
Then he went to great length to demonstrate and justify the LOGICAL order of effectual calling, justification, and glorification. All very good!!!
However, he failed ABYSMALLY to see the PLAIN and OBVIOUS implications of his own repeated observations above... that the object of all those divine activities is not only CO-EXTENSIVE but also the SAME and COMPLETE number of God's elect, i.e. as many as were foreknown and predestinated to eternal glory. All those divine activities apply equally to absolutely every elect of God, without any exception.
Failing to note this plain and obvious truth, the order of salvation he constructed in the rest of the whole chapter is full of self-contradictions and inconsistencies.
Breaking up that 5-link divine chain of the pure gold of Ophir, and adding all those other links of wood, hay and stubble is not only foolish, it also destroys that chain, and would cut off an untold number of those foreknown and predestinated from ever reaching their destined glorification!!! Those links added to the chain are plainly INCAPABLE the embracing the complete number elect of God. If a Calvinist doesn't see this plain point, then he has a bigger problem to deal with!
UNTIL the reformed and calvinistic theologians begin to distinguish clearly the eternal salvation by the monergistic activities of God from the DISTINCT temporal salvation through the obedience of God's children to God's will, they will forever be stuck in the mire of confusion and synergistic salvation.
Until they realize that there are FIVE DISTINCT aspects of salvation, they will always be plagued with confusion and contradiction.
Take a look at these short articles on the same subject:
Messing up Romans 8:29-30 and Ordo Salutis!
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2010/10/messing-up-romans-829-30-ordo-salutis.html
Some Plain Observations from Romans 8:29-30
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/09/some-plain-observations-from-romans-829.html
Romans 8.29-30: Save yourself from some lies
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2010/11/romans-829-30-save-yourself-from-some.html
