"For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified." Romans 8:29-30
No, I am not talking about the heretical movie and book series "Left Behind" that has deceived millions of people. No I am not talking about "No Child Left Behind" , the Government's education program. I am talking about God's grace in saving His people, the elect. These were the people that the Father chose, in Christ, before the foundation of the world. God's sovereign election and predestination are very basic biblical doctrines. Many preachers would have us believe that election and predestination are very deep theology and should be reserved for those who hold a PhD in theology. Some consider these doctrines a theological skeleton to keep in the closet. Well, in the above text these doctrines are fundamental in the process of salvation.
In the salvation of God's people He brings each person in the group of the elect to the next step of each process of God's salvation. Notice that not one is left behind as each process is named. The text starts with foreknowledge and mentions "WHOM" was foreknown (or loved beforehand). The text goes on and not it brings along the same whole group to the next process with none left behind. It then goes to Predestination, then Calling, then Justification and finally Glorification. Every step of the way the exact number of people, the elect, brought to the next step with none left behind.
Why are none left behind in this Trinitarian process? God has engaged every attribute of His character to ensure that salvation will be accomplished. God's eternal decree is backed by His obvious attributes such as sovereignty, wisdom, power, holiness, etc. His Covenant is wrapped up in truth and promises that are backed by His faithfulness. Christ is the Great and Faithful High Priest who fulfilled the Law with all the strict and inflexible justice involved. Christ successfully satisfied God and appeased His wrath against the sin of God;s elect that was imputed to Christ. As Christ exclaimed, "IT IS FINISHED!" the work was complete and righteousness merited by Christ. The Holy Spirit takes the gospel of grace and in power brings spiritual life to the spiritually dead elect sinner by imputing righteousness, regenerating and giving both faith and repentance to them. He indwells the believer and causes them to persevere in the faith.
The ground of the whole process falls on the shoulders of the Lord Jesus. God saw fit to put Christ out front as Preeminent in salvation. He was responsible not only for the elect He represented by even more importantly to glorify the Father. "Yet it pleased Jehovah to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should put forth His soul as a guilt-offering. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul. He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify for many; and He shall bear their iniquities." Isaiah 53:10-11 (MKJV)
This process in miniature is found in John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will in no way cast out." What God Almighty starts He finishes. To say that any would be left behind is to say the LORD is a failure, which would be blasphemy.
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