In our last visit we considered what Paul said in Romans 8 about man in his unsaved state. In spite of our sinful state God loves us enough to provide salvation for us. If we by faith invite Jesus Christ into our lives He will enter and His Spirit will indwell us from that point on, assuring us that we are secure in Him, with no condemnation hanging over us.
Romans 8:29-30 declares, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Foreknowledge includes not only knowing ahead of time, but also to foreordain something. Those foreordained are predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Those predestined are then called. This is not a call that might be rejected. When I preach the gospel I extend a call or an invitation. Those hearing it have the option of receiving or rejecting it.
The call Paul refers to is an effectual call. That is, it will get a positive response from the one called. I say this because Paul makes it clear, those called are justified. The only way to be justified is to respond positively to the good news of Jesus Christ. Since this is the process and outcome of being saved by God it would be wise to heed Paul’s challenge to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2nd Corinthians 13:5).
