Romans 8:29-30 The order of Gods gracious acts in salvation.

NAB Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Order in Romans 8:29-30: 1)Foreknowledge 2)Predestination 3)Calling 4)Justification 5)Glorification. Note that calling is not first. It is mentioned in v.28, but vv.29-30 put it in its proper order, after foreknowledge. Besides the five steps listed here in Romans, the Bible mentions two others: Election and Purpose. We can put all seven steps in order partly by their order in Rom 8:29-30, partly by other scriptures. Determining the order is often based on the Greek preposition kata, often translated as according to. These imply a before and after relationship and often a cause and effect relationship. In many places, Bible says A is according to B. If we say, They installed the equipment according to the instructions, the instructions exist before the installation and control what happens during the installation. If we say They left at 10 oclock, according to schedule, the schedule comes first. If we say The judge sentenced the driver to prison for six months according to new drunk driving regulations, the regulations were passed before the sentencing. 1. Foreknowledge NAB 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. NAB Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Unlike most of the following points, the Bible does not tell us that Gods foreknowledge is according to something else. Like English, biblical Greek did not use different verbs for knowing facts and knowing people. (Contrast Spanish saber and conocer; Greek does not make this distinction.) Foreknowledge means foreknowledge! It does not mean cause or arrange beforehand. The root word in Greek is proginokso (#4267) pro = before ginosko = know.
Louw-Nida Lexicon: 05350 pro,gnwsij ewj f (a) have foreknowledge 28.6 (b) what is known beforehand 28.20 28.6 proginw,skw ; pro,gnwsij , ewj f ; proora,w: to know about something prior to some temporal reference point, for example, to know about an event before it happens - 'to know beforehand, to know already, to have foreknowledge.' proginw,skw : proginw,skonte,j me a;nwqen , eva.n qe,lwsi marturei/n 'they have already known me beforehand, if they are willing to testify' Ac 26.5; proegnwsme,nou me.n pro. katabolh/j ko,smou 'known already before the world was made' 1 Pe 1.20. It is also possible to understand proginw,skw in 1 Pe 1.20 as meaning 'chosen beforehand' (see 30.100). pro,gnwsij : tou/ton th|/ w`risme,nh| boulh|/ kai. prognw,sei tou/ qeou/ e;kdoton 'God, in his own will and foreknowledge, had already decided that this one would be handed over to (you)' Ac 2.23. proora,w : proi?dw.n evla,lhsen peri. th/j avnasta,sewj tou/ Cristou/ 'knowing ahead of time, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ' Ac 2.31. 28.20 pro,gnwsij , ewj f: (derivative of proginw,skw 'to know beforehand,' 28.6) that which is known ahead of time or before a particular temporal reference - 'foreknowledge, what is known beforehand.' evklektoi/j ... kata. pro,gnwsin qeou/ patro,j 'to those who have been chosen ... according to what God the Father had known beforehand' 1 Pe 1.1-2.

Foreknowledge does NOT mean foreordination, choice, will, decision, etc. The clear meaning of the words in the foreknowledge word group can be seen in: NAB 2 Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand [verb], be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, NAB Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge [noun] of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. In 1 Peter 1:20, attempts are made to interpret the verb foreknown as chosen (NIV) or destined ((N)RSV) or foreordained (NKJV). Even is this dubious interpretation is correct, it does not change the meaning of the verb elsewhere. In 1 Peter 1:1-2, no major version consulted attempts to translate the noun foreknowledge in any other way, except the (N)RSV which wrenches the entire structure into who have been chosen and destined by God. This is clearly a paraphrase far removed from the Greek. All uses of the foreknowledge word group: Acts 2:23 Acts 26:5 Rom. 8:29 Rom. 11:2 1 Pet. 1:2 1 Pet. 1:20 2 Pet. 3:17

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2. Election or choice Election is according to foreknowledge: NAB 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Election is not according to works: NAB Romans 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, Election is according to and by grace: NAB Romans 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 3. Purpose or plan (prosthesis) NAB Romans 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, Purpose is according to election or choice: Gods purpose according to His choice Purpose not based on works: not because of works Greek prosthesis means arrangement, plan, a setting forth. The word is also used of the consecrated bread (showbread, bread of the Presence) because it is set forth in front of God. Calvinism claims Gods purpose or plan comes before His foreknowledge and His choice and is, in fact, an arbitrary decision to save certain people. In Calvinism, Gods purpose or will comes first, then He chooses and predestines people in accordance with His purpose. In contrast, the Bible never makes Gods purpose or plan the first step in the process of salvation. Gods purpose or plan is plainly stated to be based on His election, and election is explicitly stated to be based on foreknowledge. Gods heart or desire is clearly stated in 2 Peter 3:9: NAB 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. If Election was based on solely on Gods own will, desire or choice, everyone would be elected and saved! But that is clearly not the case. False argument (Calvinist last ditch): if election were based on foreknowledge of human choice, then salvation would be based on works. Works = works of law, keeping Gods commandment. Being willing to beg for Gods forgiveness is NOT keeping the works of the Law; its what you do when you have NOT kept the Law! 4. Predestination Predestination is according to Gods purpose or plan: NAB Ephesians 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Predestination is according to Gods will: NAB Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention [lit. good pleasure] of His will, Gods good pleasure was saving sinnerssaving you! Predestination guarantees everyone who can be saved, will be saved: NAB Acts 17:26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 5. Calling NAB Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NAB 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

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Calling is according to Gods purpose or plan: called according to His purpose; but according to His own purpose Calling is not according to our works: not according to our works Calling is according to Gods grace: but according to His owngrace It may be helpful to distinguish a general and an effectual (effective) calling: NAB Romans 8:28 those who are called according to His purpose. NAB Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

6. Justification NAB Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. NAB Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, NAB Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Justification is not according to our works: if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God Justification through faith: having been justified by faith Justification is by grace: being justified as a gift by His grace 7. Glorification NAB Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. The five verbs in Romans 8:29-30foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorifiedare all present perfect. From the viewpoint of God, who lives in eternity, all of these steps are already completed! Application: Love: Gods predestination is not cold, callus, arbitrary or capricious. God loves everyone alike, with agape unconditional love. Election is to ensure as many as can possibly be saved will be saved, without violating anyones free will. NAB John 3:16 "For God so loved [agape] the world [cosmos], that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Security: God loved you before He made the universe and set up in advance the conditions you would need to be saved. Once saved, always saved! NAB Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Encouragement: There are some people who will believe, so we should participate in Gods great commission by witnessing with confidence that God is drawing some people to Himself. NAB 2 Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

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