The Purpose of God, part 2

The Divine Side of Salvation—
Reading: Eph 1:3-12, 3:1-11, 21
Rom 8:28-30

“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Introductory Thoughts

* Recall the Salvation Survey

* Well, whether you know it or not, and whether you accept it or not, if you answered that God gets all the credit for your salvation, you must believe in the Doctrine of Election

* Today, we continue look at one of the great questions and mysteries in the Bible, and one over which men have argued for centuries.

* The question is:

** Does God help sinners save themselves?

** Does God Save sinners with a little help from them?

** Does God provide a salvation machine which the sinner operates?

** Or, Does God Save Sinners?

* Before us, we see a group of people described two different ways. This is not two groups, it is one group described two different ways.

* Our text says that divine Providence is working all things in the universe out for the ultimate good of those who love God, the same people who are also described as those called according to His purpose.

** The First half of this description answers to one half of the argument over salvation, because it speaks to the absolute responsibility that men have to believe in Christ, to love God in Spirit and in Truth.

** The second half of this description answer to the other side of the argument over salvation, because it describes the saved as those who have been called by God according to His eternal purpose.

* God’s Grace, God’s salvation is free.

** Whosoever will, may come.

** All who will, may come

** Only those who will, may come


* God’s Grace, however, God’s salvation, is certain.

** God chose individual people by name, before the world was created

** God called people individually by name in His Time

** God saves His people individually, personally.

* To some, these teachings seem to contradict each other, but both doctrines are true, because both are taught in the Bible. We are not given the option of choosing one doctrine over another; we are not given the option of lamely excusing and explaining away God’s role in salvation.

* Recall the Trash Cans Illustration

The Truth is God Saves Sinners--

God—it is all of God

Saves—God does all the work in salvation

Sinners—The reason why "God Saves" is that lost people are lost, deaf, dead, blind, and haters of God and His ways.

* If anyone tells you they have a simple answer to the question of divine sovereignty in salvation, they are mistaken--it is complicated, it is not simple, and all oversimplification will do is confuse the issue.

* One cute story often heard: “The Lord voted for you, the Devil voted against you, and you get the deciding vote.” That cute story has about four heresies in it—

** One, that God operates a democracy

** Two, that the Devil has an equal vote with God on anything.

** Three, that you have an equal vote with God on anything.

** Four, that election has to do with you choosing, when in fact it has to do with God choosing.

* You may have heard it said that above the entrance to heaven is a sign saying "whosoever will," and that after you enter is a sign above the inside of the entrance which says "chosen from the foundation of the world."

** If that was the case, this verse would not be in the Bible. The fact is, that we are talking about this because the sign over the door to heaven says, in fact: Whosoever Will Let Him Drink of the Water of Life, and

Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World.

**Why is it even necessary to study this?

a. God told us about it in the scriptures

b. It shows the glory of God

c. It helps us appreciate our salvation, and is a cure to pride in the believer.

d. It teaches us the source of all true revival

Today, we look at three things from this last phrase of 8:28:

* The Purpose of God
* The Choice of God
* The Call of God


1. The Purpose of God—“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

a. God has an ultimate purpose in the universe. There is a goal, a reason, toward which all things are working

(1) Eph 1:3-12

(a) All things in the universe work together toward that purpose.

(b) That purpose involves the salvation of God’s people

(2) Eph 3:1-11, 21

(a) That purpose involves both the church and Israel.

(b) That purpose involves God’s Glory


b. This is a constant theme in the whole Bible.

Isa 14:26 "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations."

John 12:27 "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour."

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

Acts 4:28 "For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."


2. The Choice of God—Grace is Certain—“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

".....All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.....

Before the foundation of the world, God looked at the race which He knew would fall, and He chose to save for Himself a people.

a. Our calling to salvation is a part of the purpose of God.

2 Tim 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"

b. God Has a People—1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

c. God chose individual people, from eternity

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Eph 1:4 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,"


d. God Gave the Chosen Ones to Christ

"All that the Father giveth me.... "

(1) Those given receive eternal life

John 17:2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

(2) Individuals were given to the Son, not an indefinite class of people—the gift was real people.

John 17:6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

(3) The Gift was according to the Father’s Will.

John 6:39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

(4) Christ prayed for His people, not for the world.

John 17:9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

(5) The Father keeps those given

John 17:11 "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”


John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.


* God’s purpose is that He have a people, a remnant, a special people all His own, and to that end, God, in this life calls people to Himself.

3. The Call of God— “…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

a. Context

(1) God’s Providence—Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good

(2) Man’s Responsibility—the human side of salvation—Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

b. The Divine Side of Salvation—God’s people shall come.

to them who are the called according to his purpose."

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

(1) Remember, there is no “shaller” or “shallest.” God’s people shall come.

(2) There are no conditions, no whys or wherefores. God’s people shall come.

(3) There is no power in heaven or on Earth that can prevent this from happening. God’s people shall come.

(4) This is an agreement between the Father and the Son, and it will be honored—God’s people shall come.

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

Acts 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

c. How do God’s people come?

(1) They come by divine revelation—men and women come to Christ because God has revealed to them their need of salvation, and that the only way to that salvation is through the blood of Jesus.....

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

(2) They come by divine calling— There are two types of calling in the Bible:

(a) The outward call which goes to all who hear the Gospel and to all who see God's creation (Ps 19)

(b) And the inward call, what the puritans called "effectual calling," which is part of the mysterious working of God in calling out His people....

2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) our gospel –the Outward call. The means by which God works

(4) he called you— The Inward Call—God’s working, God’s attending the preaching with power.

(5) The Call to salvation is just like the call to the ministry.


1 Cor 1:1-2 "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

1 Cor 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

2 Tim 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"

1 Pet 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

(3) God’s People come willingly—

(a) It is not that God forces" anyone to come--the awakened, called, sinner WANTS to come.

(b) The drawing of individual people to Himself is one of God's great mysteries, and He does not share the intimate details of how He does it—He only tells us that He does it. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

Psa 110: 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power…”

Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."


(4) God’s People come in Faith—the doctrine of election does NOT teach that faith is unnecessary—the Bible is crystal clear that the man or woman who comes to God must come in faith, believing in the shed blood of Christ

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."


Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.


d. The Example of Paul—

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me…”

(1) Paul came by divine revelation-

(2) Paul came by divine calling--

(3) Paul came willingly--

(4) Paul came in Faith--

(5) Paul came for certain--

(6) Paul came in God's time

3. Election and Responsibility: The Two Concepts Unified

a. The Bible unifies the two concepts of Election and Human Responsibility without apology, and without explanation.

b. Examples

Mat 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

John 17:2 ""as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.


John 6:37-40 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

The Purpose of God, part 2
The Divine Side of Salvation—
Reading: Eph 1:3-12, 3:1-11, 21
Rom 8:28-30

“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Introductory Thoughts

* Recall the Salvation Survey

* Well, whether you know it or not, and whether you accept it or not, if you answered that God gets all the credit for your salvation, you must believe in the Doctrine of Election

* Today, we continue look at one of the great questions and mysteries in the Bible, and one over which men have argued for centuries.

* The question is:

** Does God help sinners save themselves?

** Does God Save sinners with a little help from them?

** Does God provide a salvation machine which the sinner operates?

** Or, Does God Save Sinners?

* Before us, we see a group of people described two different ways. This is not two groups, it is one group described two different ways.

* Our text says that divine Providence is working all things in the universe out for the ultimate good of those who love God, the same people who are also described as those called according to His purpose.

** The First half of this description answers to one half of the argument over salvation, because it speaks to the absolute responsibility that men have to believe in Christ, to love God in Spirit and in Truth.

** The second half of this description answer to the other side of the argument over salvation, because it describes the saved as those who have been called by God according to His eternal purpose.

* God’s Grace, God’s salvation is free.

** Whosoever will, may come.

** All who will, may come

** Only those who will, may come


* God’s Grace, however, God’s salvation, is certain.

** God chose individual people by name, before the world was created

** God called people individually by name in His Time

** God saves His people individually, personally.

* To some, these teachings seem to contradict each other, but both doctrines are true, because both are taught in the Bible. We are not given the option of choosing one doctrine over another; we are not given the option of lamely excusing and explaining away God’s role in salvation.

* Recall the Trash Cans Illustration

The Truth is God Saves Sinners--

God—it is all of God

Saves—God does all the work in salvation

Sinners—The reason why "God Saves" is that lost people are lost, deaf, dead, blind, and haters of God and His ways.

* If anyone tells you they have a simple answer to the question of divine sovereignty in salvation, they are mistaken--it is complicated, it is not simple, and all oversimplification will do is confuse the issue.

* One cute story often heard: “The Lord voted for you, the Devil voted against you, and you get the deciding vote.” That cute story has about four heresies in it—

** One, that God operates a democracy

** Two, that the Devil has an equal vote with God on anything.

** Three, that you have an equal vote with God on anything.

** Four, that election has to do with you choosing, when in fact it has to do with God choosing.

* You may have heard it said that above the entrance to heaven is a sign saying "whosoever will," and that after you enter is a sign above the inside of the entrance which says "chosen from the foundation of the world."

** If that was the case, this verse would not be in the Bible. The fact is, that we are talking about this because the sign over the door to heaven says, in fact: Whosoever Will Let Him Drink of the Water of Life, and

Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World.

**Why is it even necessary to study this?

a. God told us about it in the scriptures

b. It shows the glory of God

c. It helps us appreciate our salvation, and is a cure to pride in the believer.

d. It teaches us the source of all true revival

Today, we look at three things from this last phrase of 8:28:

* The Purpose of God
* The Choice of God
* The Call of God


1. The Purpose of God—“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

a. God has an ultimate purpose in the universe. There is a goal, a reason, toward which all things are working

(1) Eph 1:3-12

(a) All things in the universe work together toward that purpose.

(b) That purpose involves the salvation of God’s people

(2) Eph 3:1-11, 21

(a) That purpose involves both the church and Israel.

(b) That purpose involves God’s Glory


b. This is a constant theme in the whole Bible.

Isa 14:26 "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations."

John 12:27 "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour."

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

Acts 4:28 "For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."


2. The Choice of God—Grace is Certain—“…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

".....All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.....

Before the foundation of the world, God looked at the race which He knew would fall, and He chose to save for Himself a people.

a. Our calling to salvation is a part of the purpose of God.

2 Tim 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"

b. God Has a People—1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

c. God chose individual people, from eternity

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Eph 1:4 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,"


d. God Gave the Chosen Ones to Christ

"All that the Father giveth me.... "

(1) Those given receive eternal life

John 17:2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

(2) Individuals were given to the Son, not an indefinite class of people—the gift was real people.

John 17:6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

(3) The Gift was according to the Father’s Will.

John 6:39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

(4) Christ prayed for His people, not for the world.

John 17:9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

(5) The Father keeps those given

John 17:11 "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”


John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.


* God’s purpose is that He have a people, a remnant, a special people all His own, and to that end, God, in this life calls people to Himself.

3. The Call of God— “…to them who are the called according to his purpose."

a. Context

(1) God’s Providence—Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good

(2) Man’s Responsibility—the human side of salvation—Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

b. The Divine Side of Salvation—God’s people shall come.

to them who are the called according to his purpose."

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

(1) Remember, there is no “shaller” or “shallest.” God’s people shall come.

(2) There are no conditions, no whys or wherefores. God’s people shall come.

(3) There is no power in heaven or on Earth that can prevent this from happening. God’s people shall come.

(4) This is an agreement between the Father and the Son, and it will be honored—God’s people shall come.

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

Acts 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

c. How do God’s people come?

(1) They come by divine revelation—men and women come to Christ because God has revealed to them their need of salvation, and that the only way to that salvation is through the blood of Jesus.....

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

(2) They come by divine calling— There are two types of calling in the Bible:

(a) The outward call which goes to all who hear the Gospel and to all who see God's creation (Ps 19)

(b) And the inward call, what the puritans called "effectual calling," which is part of the mysterious working of God in calling out His people....

2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) our gospel –the Outward call. The means by which God works

(4) he called you— The Inward Call—God’s working, God’s attending the preaching with power.

(5) The Call to salvation is just like the call to the ministry.


1 Cor 1:1-2 "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

1 Cor 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

2 Tim 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 given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"

1 Pet 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

(3) God’s People come willingly—

(a) It is not that God forces" anyone to come--the awakened, called, sinner WANTS to come.

(b) The drawing of individual people to Himself is one of God's great mysteries, and He does not share the intimate details of how He does it—He only tells us that He does it. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."

Psa 110: 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power…”

Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."


(4) God’s People come in Faith—the doctrine of election does NOT teach that faith is unnecessary—the Bible is crystal clear that the man or woman who comes to God must come in faith, believing in the shed blood of Christ

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me..."


Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.


d. The Example of Paul—

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me…”

(1) Paul came by divine revelation-

(2) Paul came by divine calling--

(3) Paul came willingly--

(4) Paul came in Faith--

(5) Paul came for certain--

(6) Paul came in God's time

3. Election and Responsibility: The Two Concepts Unified

a. The Bible unifies the two concepts of Election and Human Responsibility without apology, and without explanation.

b. Examples

Mat 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

John 17:2 ""as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.


John 6:37-40 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."



How can it be that God gives us free agency to choose, but that He tells us we did not choose Him, but He chose us, that He loved us before we loved Him—how can this be? The Answer is: IT IS! The Bible in no place resolves the argument so that it makes any theologian totally happy. However, the comments of W.A. Criswell, a man who was a soul winner extraordinaire, seem appropriate here: (The Criswell Study Bible, page1334)

“Why is the doctrine of election present in the Scriptures?” Four distinct answers emerge from this passage: (1) As long as the doctrine of election is in the Bible, salvation must be the gift of God alone. Predestination framed in God’s foreknowledge assures us that salvation is from start to finish the work of God. (2) The doctrine of God’s elective purpose guarantees the perpetuity of salvation. Unthinkable is the idea that one of God’s elect could forfeit his salvation. Those whom he has justified He will glorify. So certain is that sequence that “glorified” is an aorist tense in Greek, meaning that glorification has already happened in the mind of God. How could God lose one of His elect? (3) The doctrine of election assures a peculiar providence which attends the way of every believer. If God’s heart is set on us in His elective purpose, we may be sure of His concern and providential intervention on our behalf. (4) Finally, the same personal providence is bound up in election extends through out the entire course of history. There is no runaway world. God’s hand is systematically guiding the age to its intended consummation.”