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NASB | Romans 8:30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity]. |
Subject: Are those He called always chosen? |
Bible Note: Joe, I believe unless the Holy Spirit changes a person they are still unsaved no matter what. I believe that emotional responses that are generated by emotionally charged stories have little lasting effect. We all have probably heard the story of the bridge keeper and his son, where he is forced to make the decision between crushing his son in the gears of the bridge or having the train fall from the raised bridge. To me this story plies on the emotions of man and has little to do with actual salvation. I have seen people rush to altars after this story has been told in what I consider an emotional response to salvation not spiritual. I know in my own life as a young boy 12-14 ish I was at summer camp ran by the EUB church. They had a evangelist that presented a very emotional altar call. I rushed to the altar broken hearted and weeping. However after the emotions died nothing else had changed. It wasn’t until 14 years later I was reading an AWFUL book “Angels on Assignment” that I knew it was time to get real with God. I prayed a real simple prayer of “yes God”. From that point on I can trace the changes that have taken place in my life. I was no longer the same person. Many would say I was saved at 14 and that God had his hand on me all that time. If God was with me those 14 or so years I can testify God is not easily embarrassed. The things I did and saw now embarrass me! Others would say it wasn’t until later when yielded my life to God did salvation truly come to me. Funny thing is through it all I knew Jesus was the Son of God, that he had died for my sins. That was just a fact to me for as long as I can remember. And the one thing I would never do, not matter what, was use God’s name in vain. Joe and Tim you tell me when did I get saved? Was it when I believed in Jesus as the Son of God and who died for my sins age at time –5 years. Or was it at camp that one summer when I went to the altar and emotional responded and wept for my soul age 12-14. Or was it when I said yes to God age 30? I pose this question because I don’t think you can answer. Why because I believe salvation is a process that occurs, it requires action from the believer and action from the God. If God hadn’t sent His Spirit into me I would still be lost, if I hadn’t yielded my will to God I would still be lost. If God hadn’t sought me I would still be lost and if I hadn’t sought God I would still be lost. Which came first my desire for God or God’s desire for me. Obviously His desire for me so we would have to say God started the process. When was it completed when I believed in Jesus? When I wept? When I yielded? I believe when I yielded. Seems it took two. God and me. |