The picture above shows two distinct and separate chains... the one on top represents eternal salvation, and the other represents temporal salvation.
Keep them apart, you have pure monergism - eternal salvation by divine free grace alone.
Mix them together, and you get pure synergism... divine grace PLUS human works.
Initially posted here on June 27, 2012
Romans 8:29 ¶ "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."
Question: why is there no mention of
regeneration, sanctification, adoption, gospel preaching, hearing, faith and
repentance, etc, etc... some of the MANY links that the Calvinists and
Arminians alike insist must be added onto the five-link chain, and that such
are necessary for eternal salvation?
Tell us if you can stick to the subject.
Thanks
---------
Bill Taylor
I believe that regeneration, sanctification,
and adoption are effected by His call (hence it is often stated as an effectual
calling.) Gospel preaching, hearing, faith, and repentance are timely benefits
of God's eternal work. They are not part of the chain but are
"pulled" by the chain with its five links of God's foreknowledge,
predestination, calling, justification, and glorification.
Robert E Griffin
Foolish error to believe one verse or one passage about our eternal salvation is "comprehensive" or covers every point.
Some passages just say "faith". Or
just say "repent". Does that mean that this one thing totally
summarizes salvation? Of course not.
We put ALL the Word's teaching together and
come up with the truth. To suck just one word/verse/passage and make a whole
doctrinal position from it is foolish.
End up like Catholics and false views on Mary
or Cruisematics and false views on the Spirit. Can't do it. Have to put the
revealed Word together to get the truth!
Sing F Lau
Effectual call:
Effectual call:
"Those whom God hath predestined unto
life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,(1)
by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by
nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ..." 1689.10.1
Calling an elect out of his native state of
sin and death to that of grace and salvation requires these sovereign
activities of the TRIUNE God: justification, regeneration, adoption, and
bestowing the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in the elect effectually called.
Calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and
salvation NECESSARILY requires ALL those divine activities...
Once effectually call to grace and salvation in
Jesus Christ, he is PERFECTLY fitted for eternal glory.... absolutely NOTHING
more is needed... THAT IS, for eternal salvation.
It was purposed by God, accomplished by
Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit... it is finished... it is complete...
He also glorified!
Bill Taylor
This verse is perfectly in the context of the
fulness of Romans 8, and does indeed perfectly describe the surety of our
eternal salvation.
Sing F Lau
Wise Robert E Griffin, try squeezing one or two links of your choice into the 5-link chain of Romans 8:29-30 all you can. Go, give it a real gooooood try.
If you can't, don't speak the way you do.
Robert E Griffin
Get a grip Sing. You seem to have missed the
simple fact that NOT ALL of God's teaching on salvation fit into one-two verses.
Read the WHOLE NT to understand salvation,
not a verse from Romans.
Johnny Davis
I agree with you, Sing, but I will answer your question. THEY say, that you have to take the bible as a whole, not one scripture alone, and the combination of scriptures, reveal the REQUIREMENT of salvation. And, THEY claim that every word in scripture, applies to them, in exactly the same way, as to the people it was written, even if in a different time and place, with no thought to context. And THEY say, that THEY have the only truth, THEY are going to heaven, THEY are the only Christians, and all others are going to hell.
I agree with you, Sing, but I will answer your question. THEY say, that you have to take the bible as a whole, not one scripture alone, and the combination of scriptures, reveal the REQUIREMENT of salvation. And, THEY claim that every word in scripture, applies to them, in exactly the same way, as to the people it was written, even if in a different time and place, with no thought to context. And THEY say, that THEY have the only truth, THEY are going to heaven, THEY are the only Christians, and all others are going to hell.
Personally, I
cannot figure how any reasonable, truth seeking person, can view scripture that
way. Some say THEY are ungodly. I say, THEY sin, just as me, and as believers,
THEY are saved, just like me. THEY are forgiven. THEY are Christians, as well.
Let me know, if I agree with you, because my words in English, are not
understood. Nothing I say, is in disagreement.
Sing F Lau
Wise Robert E Griffin, tell us what is still
lacking in God's free and sovereign activities for the ETERNAL SALVATION of
those predestinated, Rom 8:29-30. If there is anything lacking, it would be VERY
EASY for you to point out. So, do us a favor... state what is lacking.
I fear you have not come to grip with the
distinction between ETERNAL SALVATION by God's free grace alone (as in Rom
8:29-30) and TEMPORAL SALVATION which requires many cooperative/responsive
activities of God's children.
Go, find that handle, and see if you can grip
it!
Sing F Lau
The old-school Baptists summarized the truth
in this manner:
"1. Those whom God hath predestined unto
life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,(1)
by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by
nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ..." (1689.10)
1. Those whom God effectually calleth, He
also freely justifieth,(1) (1689.11)
1. All those that are justified, God
vouchsafed, in and for the sake of His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers
of the grace of adoption (1689.12)
1. They who are united to Christ, effectually
called, and regenerated... (1689.13)
The above is the first statement from
1689.11-14... stating the truth that effectual call out of the native state of
sin and death to grace and salvation involves justification, regeneration and
adoption - SIMULTANEOUSLY, but in that logical order.
The effectual call ONCE for all sanctified or separated the elect from the state of sin and death to that of grace and
eternal life. Theologians term this as the 'definitive sanctification' in
distinction from the ongoing practical sanctification throughout life on earth.
Romans 5:18 tells us that justification is the justification of life in contrast to the condemnation of death. Here it is...
"Therefore as by the offence of one
judgment came upon all men to condemnation [of death]; even so by the
righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION OF
LIFE."
Justification necessarily involves
regeneration unto life because justification is the application of Christ's righteousness
to an elect, thus giving divine warrant for the Holy Spirit to impart eternal
life, based on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Regeneration of eternal life
necessarily involves the adoption of the regenerated into God's family.
Sing F Lau
All these divine activities - foreknowing,
predestinating, effectual calling, justifying and glorifying - ENCOMPASS all
that are necessary for the eternal salvation of God's elect.
The extent to which this is understood
indicates the extent to which salvation by free grace alone is truly
understood.
All those who crave to add a few more links
to the 5-link chain betray their ignorance and rejection of the doctrine of
salvation by God's grace alone!
