Romans 8:28-9:24 and it's true meaning

Romans 8:28-9:24 and it's true meaning...

Part 1- 8:28-39

Many of you know that Calvinism and the Reformed understanding of salvation hinges on the book of Romans. I hope that if the book of Romans never existed then we could come to the same understanding with the other 65 books, but the fact of the matter is, there would be a significant difference in how many people come to the Reformed view of the scriptures.

Anyways, at the focal point of the book of Romans stands one chapter that has so much weight that exegetes have been arguing over it for centuries, and that chapter is Romans 9. When I was introduced to Calvinism, this was the chapter that tipped the scales for me, and I hope it will for many more.
Let's have a look:

Romans 8:28-9:24English Standard Version (ESV)

"28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

- We started in chapter 8 to give some context. Here we have the Golden Chain of Salvation. Foreknew, Predestined, Called Justified, Glorified. God's foreknowledge is based on his decree. This is a must if we are to avoid the error of God taking in knowledge passively. So Gods foreknowledge here is simply him decreeing our salvation. His predestination is him decreeing the means of that salvation. His calling is the irresistible means of delivering his grace. His justification is our being made right in his sight. And then glorification can either be our sharing in his glory now or after our death (there is much debate on that). But either way, we share in that glory.

God's Everlasting Love
"31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[b] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[c]"

-Follow the personal pronouns here. The use of the word "us" is tremendous here. It is used 4 times in vs 31-32 all to say God is gracious to his people. The Arminianistic believer is forced to say that the Golden Chain of Salvation in 28-30 applies to all people because salvation is provided for all people, regardless of whether or not they believe or not. They'll say, "yes, God does call all people!" But then they'll say, "no, he can't predestine all people, or justify or glorify them untill they answer that call." Which is why Dr. James White says that the only consistent Arminian is the open theist.
Who is the "us" though? Well, the "us" is explained in verse 33, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?" The elect of God is the "us" of verses 31-32. Then he says the only one who can charge the elect is God because it is only God who justifies. Then he asks, who can condemn? "Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
This verse is magnificent because it ties all of the preceding context into this one important fact that if verses 28-33 applies to you... If you are of the elect of God, then you are represented by the intercession of Christ before the Father. Christ only intercedes for those who have been foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and Glorified. Else he is interceding for someone who is not of the elect.

"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”" 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.""

-Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing is the answer that is given... Nothing can. This is speaking of our separation in life and at the moment of our death. When we are in Christ we stay in Christ. This is speaking of our preservation, perseverance, and eternal security in him. He wrapped up this wonderful passage with these words, "[nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

-So many great truths are revealed here about our salvation and the work of Christ on our behalf. My one fundamental point is this, none of this applies to the non-regenerate man... As much as the arminian tries to say, "we are all predestined" it cannot be true. Because if you are predestined, then you are also being interceded for at the throne of God. And if you never believe then there is a problem. Either you just got a free pass to heaven with no act of regeneration, or Christ is interceding for someone who is in Hell/Hades.

So that's it for the first part. Part 2 will be posting at around 8 am tomorrow.

Soli Deo Gloria!