Romans 9, Predestination & Total Depravity

Listed below is everything that this text says concerning WHAT GOD DOES.

 

1) All things work together for good

2) He calls according to His purpose

3) He foreknew

4) He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son

5) So that He [the Son] would be the first-born among many brethren

6) These He predestined

7) He called

8) He justified

9) He glorified

 

God does all these things for…who? Those whom He has predestined? No, for THOSE WHO LOVE GOD. (Verse 28) The loving of God is not the thing predestined, but is the thing on which everything else is based. What is it that is foreknown and predestined? Being conformed to the image of the Son. Who is it that is foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son? Those who love God. The predestination and the foreknowledge are based on who it is that loves God. It does NOT say that those who love God have been predestined to love Him. It says that those who love Him have been predestined to be conformed. The loving of God is the causative thing, and the predestination follows from that.

 

The Calvinist is going to emphasize “…to those who love God AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” God does indeed have a purpose, and He does indeed call individuals according to that purpose. However, “called” or “bidden” is not causative, it is an invitation and presupposes a choice. The fact remains that those who are “called according to His purpose” is conjunctive with “those who love God.” What is His purpose? That those who love God and are called according to His purpose would be predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son so that the Son would be the first-born among many brethren.

 

Unnecessary comparisons: As James says: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial: for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12) God responds to our love of Him. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Which comes first? Consider 1 Cor 8:3: “…IF anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” Consider John 14:21b: “…he who loves Me (Jesus) will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to him.” And also verse 23, “ IF anyone loves Me, (Jesus) he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

 

Concerning all things working for good, here are several translations of that verse:

 

RSV: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him…”

NEB: “…and in everything, as we know, he co-operates for good with those who love God…”

JERUSALEM BIBLE: “We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with those who love Him…”

 

Notice that the working for good is synergistic, not divinely monergistic. It is a mutual relationship. God works WITH those who love Him, He CO-OPERATES WITH those who love God. The working for good ONLY happens to those who love God, and co-operate with Him. Man’s work and co-operation with God is necessary in order for the “all things work together for good” to happen. In order to receive the crown of life, one must love God, and persevere under trial.

 

Concerning the co-operation between man and God, the Revised Berkeley Version of John 3:21 (in the context of John 3:16 by the way) says, “But one who practices the truth wants light on it, so that it will be perfectly clear that he is WORKING IN UNION WITH GOD.” (Emphasis mine.)

 

NEXT: The Testimony of the Ante-Nicene Fathers