Wednesday, April 24th, 2024.
For the “always Reformed,” seeing the word predestinate in the Bible signals the elect to pick up Calvin’s Institutes and prepare their defense of the eternal decree of God to choose some to be saved.
This has happened so many times that wherever the word occurs, it is hard for students to see anything else in its immediate context but Calvin’s election unto salvation, even when it is not there.
A good example of this is Romans 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.”
This destination ordained before (predestination) is not God’s secret unconditional election of the saved and lost.
This passage is not even speaking of salvation.
The verse identifies the destination of the saints as being “conformed to the image of his Son.” This speaks to our sanctified union with Christ in life and death, suffering and glory, after salvation. This aligns with the greater context.
Lest you think my interpretation is biased by my less-than-Reformed non-Calvinist predisposition, hear John Calvin on this passage:
“But that readers may better understand the Apostle’s meaning, it may be well to repeat what I have already said, – that the word [predestinate] does not refer to election, but to that purpose or decree of God by which he has ordained that the cross is to be borne by his people;…” – Calvin’s Complete Commentary, Romans 8:30
I agree with John Calvin in the quotes above. God did not predestinate Calvin’s election in Romans 8:29-30.
In this passage, God’s predestination does not refer to His eternal decree to choose who will be saved or lost, but to God’s purpose for saints to be conformed to the image of Christ.
For your edification,
Justin “conforming the Reformed” Johnson