A good place to start:
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.
A familiar passage! When was the last time
you stopped and meditated on this glorious passage? "
O, that's the
pastor's job to do so!, some retorted!
Let's study together.
Let us draw out some plain and obvious
observations:
1. God’s activities of foreknowing and
predestinating took place in eternity, i.e. before time.
2. Glorification shall translate the elect into the realm of eternity
- The resurrection and glorification mark the end of time.
3. The number acted upon by each activity of
God remains exactly the same throughout, not one more and not one less; the
pronoun “whom” embraces the exact same number throughout.
4. The object acted upon by each activity of
God is completely passive.
5. There is no room to insert any other
activities in between the activities stated.
Any questions on the above 5 statements?
Any further explanation needed?
Some questions for discussion:
1. State all the activities of God stated in
the two verses.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2. Explain briefly what each divine activity
involves and its effects.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
3. Are there some other activities of God in
salvation not mentioned?
a. If yes, what are they?
b. If not, why not?
4. Is there any place for the activities of man in the chain of activities? Why?
5. What is it to be conformed to the image of
God’s Son?
- When
will the elect be conformed to the image of God’s Son?
6. What do you think of being conformed to the image of God’s Son?
7. Would you prefer to be conformed to the image of someone else?
8. Will you be happy being conformed to the image of God’s Son?
9. If you don’t love the Son of God now,
would you be happy to be conformed to God’s Son?
-------
*A Brief Survey of God’s Elect from Eternity (before time) to Eternity (after time) – Part 2
Various terms used to describe God's people: the elect, children, sons, Christians, disciples, believers, followers, saints, brethren, body, household, etc...
Before the foundation of the world, God has chosen a people. They are God's elect. All others have been left to themselves or bypassed - as far as redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ are concerned. (I reject double predestination; I believe in election and preterition. Election does not necessarily require reprobation; those not elected were simply bypassed, with no injustice done to them whatsoever.)
Literally, God's elect people are EVERYWHERE, since they are redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Among God's elect: there are those have lived and died; others are still on earth, and still, others are yet to be born. The names of all these were written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
1. There are those already in paradise...
- God regenerated them at a certain point during their earthly lives.
- Many were never reached with the gospel ministry.
- Of those who were reached, some were converted; they were converted to vastly different degrees.
- There was Lot, and there was Abraham! There was king Saul, and there was David!
- There were those in far-flung countries, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Rev 5:9.
2. Among the elect of God on earth:
a. There are those who are still in their native state of deadness in trespasses and sin, just like any of the non-elect.
- These too, have been redeemed by Christ, legally justified by the blood of Christ.
- These are no less God's elect but they are NOT children yet because they have not yet been effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation; thus they are not yet born of God.
- Eternal salvation has not been applied to them personally.
- Among these, some have the gospel preached to them, and others have not. Being still devoid of spiritual life, the gospel ministry was of no benefit to them. (Penang's famous 'char koay teow' is of no value to a dead man whatsoever, no matter how many times it is sincerely offered to him by the most savvy cooks. I hope you get the point.)
- The elect who are still spiritually dead, not yet regenerated by God, would consider the gospel as foolishness, just as the non-elect would!
b. There are those whom God has regenerated, and given eternal life, without any human agency/instrumentality:
- These are born of God, and therefore they are children of God.
- Of these, some have not been reached with the gospel ministry. Others are incapable of being reached.
- These have not been brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel ministry, like the multitude of devout Jews who had come to Jerusalem to observe on the feast of Pentecost, and fearers of God like the Ethiopian eunuch, Cornelius, and Lydia,
- These are no less God’s children BUT they are NOT yet disciples, not Christian yet, because they have not been converted to Christ yet through the gospel ministry. They have not professed Christ.
- Others have been reached with the gospel. Of these, there are believers, and others are not believers yet.
- Of the believers, they are disciples to vastly varying degrees.
- See the parable of the sower... some are fruitful, others are fruitless!
- Some are careless in hearing the word of truth and make paupers of themselves.
- Others are careful in hearing the word of truth and prosper.
- Some are converted to a great degree, others resist conversion!
- There are wise virgins, there are foolish virgins.
- There are good disciples, and there are bad disciples.
- There are those who consistently enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way; others who consistently enter the wide gate and walk the broad way.
- Some hear and do, others hear and forget!
3. There are those still to be conceived and born...
- This is obvious enough unless the last elect has been conceived.
I hope this broad sketch helps.
Those who choose to repent and believe DO SO because they are ALREADY saved by God, i.e. regenerated and given eternal life. Only the spiritually alive (God's children, the elect that are born again) is able to exercise the choice to repent and believe, believing something that is already true - the good news of God has saved them. They believe what is ALREADY true; their believing DO NOT make their salvation come true. They believe what is ALREADY true. One is called to believe what is already true, not in order to make something untrue to come true through his believing.
Jesus Christ came to die and to save His people - not one more, and not one less. His people are those whom God has chosen and given to Jesus Christ. They belonged to Jesus Christ, and He came to save them, and them alone - as many as God has given to Him. "As many as" means "not one more and not one less."
John 17: 2 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
John 6: 37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day."
