THE GOLDEN CHAIN

ROMANS 8:28–39

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son

(Rom. 8:29).

Those who hold to the foreknowledge (prescience) view of predestination use Romans 8:29 to support their position. The verse says that those whom God “foreknew,” He predestined.… Then in verse 30, Paul writes: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” This list is called the Golden Chain of Redemption or, in theological terms, the order of salvation.

We must notice that no where does this text say that predestination is based on foreknowledge of man’s actions. This can be a reasonable inference, but it is not a necessary one. Neither does the text say that all who are foreknown are predestined, called, etc. However, if we do not assume that “all” is meant here, then we have some people being justified, declared innocent before God and covered by Christ’s righteousness, who will not be glorified. (Those who are called, some are justified. Those who are justified, some are glorified.) This is contrary to God’s Word, as we learned from John 6 concerning the perseverance of the saints.

Paul, therefore, teaches that all who are foreknown, are predestined, and all who are predestined are called. The call he is talking about is the internal call, which no man can resist (John 6). The order here is significant. Those whom God foreknows, He predestines to come to faith, to respond effectively to the inward call of the Gospel. God determines who will respond to this call. But the prescient view puts the calling before predestination and foreknowledge: it says that those who respond to the call, God foreknows and predestines. But God does not predestinate unknown people—obviously foreknowledge must be first. God knows whom He will predestinate. But what is involved in this foreknowledge? It is not God’s foreknowledge of what they will do, but His knowledge of people. God’s predestination includes an advanced knowledge of the objects of His predestinating grace. This is nothing less than the Reformation view of predestination. Romans 8:29, then, undermines the prescience view rather than supports it.

CORAM DEO

1 Samuel 4–6

Luke 12:35–59

Read Romans 8:28. Do you find it significant that one of the most comforting verses in Scripture precedes a passage dealing with the doctrine of predestination? Why do you think Paul thought it was comforting for you to know that God’s decree is the basis for your salvation? Find comfort in God’s love.

For further study: Ps. 139 • Isa. 42:5–9; 46:8–11 • Rom. 11:1–6 • 1 Peter 1:1–2

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