God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 3

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

We were learning the summary of God’s salvific plan from Romans 8:30 in the past few days. The first part of the insight says, “And those He (God) predestined, He also called”. We have seen briefly about God’s predestination or choice in salvation and eternal life in the last two sessions. 

There are mainly ‘four chains’ in the summary of God’s salvation plan, as we read above. They are predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. When we look from the point of eternity past and look down the timeline of the eternal plan of salvation, these are the four main ‘mountain tops’ we can easily see and recognize. However, it is also true that the Bible gives valleys or time gaps between these main mountain tops. The time gap between each chain or mountain tops could be longer or shorter, as we understand.

For Example, predestination or God’s choice of people who would inherit His salvation was made before the creation of this world, as several Bible passages inform us. (Jeremiah 1:5, Mal 1:2-3, Acts 13:48, Ephesians 3:9 and 11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Romans 11:7, Titus 1:1, and several others. However, the calling occurs in the appointed times of our lives on this earth. 

When it comes to the next chain, the calling, the Bible says it comes in various ways. Of course, God can directly intervene in people’s lives if he wants to in any means he chooses to. Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, God has the power and authority to do it. I heard people in certain countries saw dreams about the calling of Jesus Christ and, as a result, searched through the websites and understood the Gospel, as was the case of Cornelius in Acts 10. 

However, generally, as the Bible suggests, He aims to call people to His salvation and eternal life by sharing/preaching God’s Word by an evangelist, Bible teacher, or missionary. Other ways are the sharing of the good news of salvation by ordinary believers, personal Bible readings. These days, media, radio, the world wide web, and online services get God’s invitation for salvation to people worldwide. These channels of new communication methods would be most useful and effective in the future to hear God’s calling and invitation. 

Indeed, God’s calling includes an explanation of the Gospel or good news. The basic tenants of the Gospel would be a presentation of Jesus as God’s only savior/messiah who died, buried, and rose again to reconcile people with Holy God, the promise of forgiveness of sins and shortcomings because Christ died and rose again for their sins, the promise of eternal life and a call for genuine and sincere repentance of sins and trust in the name of Jesus for salvation and eternal life. When a person welcomes and believes Jesus as his or her savior and Lord and pray to save him or her, he or she would be saved from their sins by blotting out (or canceling) their sins forever and giving eternal life. Forgiveness and granting of eternal life happen at the moment of the professed faith in Jesus Christ. The well-known John 3:16 promises, God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

Several Bible verses connect predestination with a divine calling. However, one such marvelous passages are 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. It says, “Brethren, loved by the Lord because God has ‘chosen you for salvation from the beginning’ through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this ‘He called you through our Gospel,’ that you may gain the glory of Lord Jesus Christ.” 

In the next session, we will see two types of calling and then move into Justification. 

Beloved, I explained the ingredients of the Gospel briefly and the calling God sends for to get saved and possess eternal life. 

Would you come to Jesus today? As a token or sealing of your acceptance of the message, you can pray after me and become a child of God right now.

“Father in heaven, I come to Jesus and believe you sent Him for my sins. He died, buried, and rose again to save me and grant me eternal life in heaven with You at the time of my death. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins as I call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”