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Romans 8:29-30 Refuting Calvanism
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
These verses are amongst the most favourite of calvanist. A read of these two verses will make most people conclude that God predestined us, even against our free will.
But let’s examine free will. If we did not have free will then we would technically be programmed robots without a choice. God designed humans with a free will. We can determine if we will do ‘good’ or ‘evil’ so to speak. Given that, we do have the choice to repent and get right with God. This is how God is justified in condemning sinners to eternal hell because they had a choice/chance and they rejected it – they are responsible.
So if we do have a free will on the basis of getting right with God, then that means calvanism cannot be true. But how do we explain theses verses above. After studying this, I’ve concluded that Romans 8:29-30 is referring to the interceding spirit of God on those who would repent and believe. Let’s start. Firstly, ‘Foreknow’ means God foreknew who would repent, he also foreknew who would go to hell, but this is in the context of Christians. Rom8:29 - ‘Predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,’ this implies an action, a verb. So God performed an action on the behalf of those He knew would repent. Romans 8:26-27 implies this could mean the sending of the Holy Spirit to help guide those repentant believers. After all, if someone repented and did not have the spirit to guide him/her, how would they continue in the walk after God? Here are the verses that provide the context for Romans 8:29-30:
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
So we can see the context of Romans 8:29-30 is about the spirit making intercession to the saints. In other words, God knew before creation who would repent, and to those He knew would repent He acted in ordaining the guidance of the Holy Spirit so they would be preserved and not fall back into the world. Just remember, this does not mean we will have guaranteed salvation, we still have free will and can still reject God’s free gift.
If you are in doubt, do your own study – I’d encourage it. Please respond to this and tell me your views and what you think. I can go a lot further into scripture and theology in regard to this but I will keep it short. I hope to provoke discussion in regard to this heated portion of scripture.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
These verses are amongst the most favourite of calvanist. A read of these two verses will make most people conclude that God predestined us, even against our free will.
But let’s examine free will. If we did not have free will then we would technically be programmed robots without a choice. God designed humans with a free will. We can determine if we will do ‘good’ or ‘evil’ so to speak. Given that, we do have the choice to repent and get right with God. This is how God is justified in condemning sinners to eternal hell because they had a choice/chance and they rejected it – they are responsible.
So if we do have a free will on the basis of getting right with God, then that means calvanism cannot be true. But how do we explain theses verses above. After studying this, I’ve concluded that Romans 8:29-30 is referring to the interceding spirit of God on those who would repent and believe. Let’s start. Firstly, ‘Foreknow’ means God foreknew who would repent, he also foreknew who would go to hell, but this is in the context of Christians. Rom8:29 - ‘Predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,’ this implies an action, a verb. So God performed an action on the behalf of those He knew would repent. Romans 8:26-27 implies this could mean the sending of the Holy Spirit to help guide those repentant believers. After all, if someone repented and did not have the spirit to guide him/her, how would they continue in the walk after God? Here are the verses that provide the context for Romans 8:29-30:
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
So we can see the context of Romans 8:29-30 is about the spirit making intercession to the saints. In other words, God knew before creation who would repent, and to those He knew would repent He acted in ordaining the guidance of the Holy Spirit so they would be preserved and not fall back into the world. Just remember, this does not mean we will have guaranteed salvation, we still have free will and can still reject God’s free gift.
If you are in doubt, do your own study – I’d encourage it. Please respond to this and tell me your views and what you think. I can go a lot further into scripture and theology in regard to this but I will keep it short. I hope to provoke discussion in regard to this heated portion of scripture.
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