ALL TO WHOM GOD’S ISSUES HIS IMPERATIVE CALL BECOME SAVED

© 2020 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

“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.  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.” (Romans 8:29-30)

In the previous article, we saw that every link in this unbreakable chain is inseparable from the others. Anyone “foreknown,” in this chain’s first link, ends up glorified, as described in its final link.  We discovered that all whom God foreknew [proginosko] with eternal elective choice, “He also did predestinate.”  We next discover that God calls everyone He predestinates.  The call, described here, is always an imperative, successful call, which cannot ultimately be refused.  The one called in this manner always ends up saved.  How do we know this?.  The Bible says so right here!

“… and whom he called, them he also justified :…” (Romans 8:30)

Everyone called with this call is justified.  This means that God ultimately declares them righteous (for that’s what “justified” means).  God never declares an unsaved person “righteous.”  This means that all those He calls, in this special way, must come to Him, and receive salvation.  They are, consequently, declared righteous (i.e. justified).  Conversely, those, who never receive justification, from Christ, could never have been called in this imperative manner.  If they had been, they, too, would have been saved and justified!

“But,” you might ask:  “Doesn’t God command everyone to repent?”  Certainly He does.  Paul explained this to the idol worshippers and philosophers on Mars Hill.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30)

However, this command to all mankind falls on dead, deaf ears.  But God’s imperative call, based on His sovereign foreknowing choice and predestination, never fails to victoriously rescue the one called.  All receiving this imperative call are justified!

Persecutor Saul vehemently kicked “against the pricks” of Christ’s righteous command for all to repent. (Acts 26:14)  But God said of Saul, to whom He had just issued His imperative call,

“… he is a chosen vessel unto me, …” (Acts 9:15)

The Holy Spirit of Christ breathed life into Saul’s dead heart.  Saul, the persecutor, became Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ!  He was justified and glorified!

This imperative call of God’s sovereign, unbreakable chain is a call that no one, including Saul, could ultimately refuse!

Is the Holy Spirit of Christ, the only Savior, calling you to repent and trust Christ Jesus, the Lord?  If you call upon Him He’ll save you!

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

 

See God’s Unbreakable Chain of Election for other articles on this subject

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