The Golden Chain Of Romans 8

All my books can be read online free at wayneodonnell.com. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt. 10:8). This booklet is included in and comprises one section of my book Physical and Spiritual Salvation: Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, the Messianic Kingdom, & Ezekiel’s Temple in Ezekiel 40-48, Matthew, Romans, & 1 John. Like most books and passages in the Bible, the topic is given in the first few verses. “The Gospel [good news] of God,” Rom. 1:1. More specifically the “salvation” (Rom. 1:18) God provided us. The main proposition of Romans is that all who have been justified, are being sanctified, and will be glorified - guaranteed, because of the way in which they were justified by having been joined in union with Messiah and thus sharing without fail in both forgiveness through his death and the power of his resurrection life. “We were buried with him by [union] into [his] death, so that ... we will also walk in [his] newness of [resurrection] life,” Rom. 6:4. “The gospel ... is the power of God to [all of] salvation [justification, sanctification, and glorification] to every one that believes ..., because therein is revealed the righteousness of God [justification],” Rom. 1:16-17. Our sanctification and glorification are guaranteed because of our justification. The salvation God provided to us in Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew, which means ‘salvation’), is also comprised of both spiritual and physical parts. Justification and sanctification are spiritual; but glorification, like also resurrection, is physical. God’s workings with Israel are also in the physical realm. “Israelites; to whom pertains the [national] adoption, and the [shekinah] glory, and the [Abrahamic, Land, Davidic, and New] covenants, and the giving of the [Mosaic] law, and the [temple] service of God, and the promises [throughout the Old Testament]; ... and of whom as concerning the flesh Messiah came,” Rom. 9:4-5. The realm where genealogies matter. “I ... am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin,” Rom. 11:1. So much misinterpretation of scripture, like that of Reformed Theology, is due to their felt need to leave the principle of literal interpretation of scripture because of their failure to differentiate between things like personal spiritual salvation and national physical salvation. Spiritual Salvation: “Having been justified by faith [past spiritual event of justification], we have had our access ... into this grace wherein we stand [present spiritual process of sanctification];” Physical Salvation: “and rejoice in hope of the glory of God [future physical event of glorification],” Romans 5:1-2.

This theological classic is organized as follows: To the Christian Reader I. Of the Body of Scripture, and Theology II. Of God, and the Nature of God III. Of the Life of God IV. Of God’s Glory, and Blessedness V. Concerning the Persons of the Godhead VI. Of God’s Works, and His Decree VII. Of Predestination and Creation VIII. Of Angels IX. Of Man, and the Estate of Innocency X. Of Sin, and the Fall of Angels XI. Of Mans Fall and Disobedience XII. Of Original Sin XIII. Of Actual Sin XIV. Of the Common Punishment of Sin XV. Of Election, and of Jesus Christ the Foundation Thereof XVI. Of the Union of the Two Natures in Christ XVII. Of the Distinction of Both Natures XVIII. Of Christs Nativity and Office XIX. Concerning the Outward Means of Executing the Decree of Election, and of the Decalogue XX. Of the First Commandment XXI. Of the Second Commandment XXII. Of the Third Commandment XXIII. Of the Fourth Commandment XXIV. Of the Fifth Commandment XXV. Concerning the Sixth Commandment XXVI. Of the Seventh Commandment XXVII. Of the Eighth Commandment XXVIII. Concerning the Ninth Commandment XXIX. Of the Tenth Commandment XXX. Of the Use of the Law XXXI. Of the Covenant of Grace XXXII. Of the Sacraments XXXIII. Of Baptism XXXIV. Of the Lords Supper XXXV. Of the Degrees of Executing God’s Decree of Election XXXVI. Concerning the First Degree of the Declaration of God’s Love XXXVII. Concerning the Second Degree of the Declaration of God’s Love XXXVIII. Concerning the Third Degree of the Declaration of God’s Love XXXIX. Of Repentance and the Fruits Thereof XL. Of Christian Warfare XLI. Of the First Assault XLII. Of the Second Assault XLIII. Of the Third Assault XLIV. Of the Patient Bearing of the Cross XLV. Of the Calling Upon God XLVI. Of Christian Apology, and Martyrdom XLVII. Of Edification, and Almes Among the Faithful XLVIII. Of the Fourth Degree, of the Declaration of God’s Love: And of the Estate of the Elect After This Life XLIX. Of the Estate of the Elect at the Last Day of Judgement L. Of the Estate of the Elect After Judgement LI. Concerning the Order of the Causes of Salvation, According to the Doctrine of the Church of Rome LII. Concerning the Decree of Reprobation LIII. Concerning the Execution of the Decree of Reprobation LIV. Concerning a New Devised Doctrine of Predestination, Taught by Some New and Late Divines LV. Of the State and Condition of the Reprobates When They Are Dead LVI. Of the Condemnation of the Reprobates at the Last Judgement LVII. Of the Estate of the Reprobates in Hell LVIII. Of the Application of Predestination

What Do the Five Points of Calvinism Really Mean? Many have heard of Reformed theology, but may not be certain what it is. Some references to it have been positive, some negative. It appears to be important, and they'd like to know more about it. But they want a full, understandable explanation, not a simplistic one. What Is Reformed Theology? is an accessible introduction to beliefs that have been immensely influential in the evangelical church. In this insightful book, R. C. Sproul walks readers through the foundations of the Reformed doctrine and explains how the Reformed belief is centered on God, based on God's Word, and committed to faith in Jesus Christ. Sproul explains the five points of Reformed theology and makes plain the reality of God's amazing grace.

All my books can be read online for free at wayneodonnell.com. Mt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” This booklet is included in and comprises of one section of my book "Predestination is to Glory not to Faith: Anti-Calvinism & Reformed Theology; Pro-Certainty of Sanctification & Glorification; In Romans 8, Romans 9, & John 6. The ‘Golden Chain’ of Romans 8:28-30 includes 1) foreknowledge, 2) predestination, 3) calling, 4) justification, and 5) glorification. Paul intentionally omits faith from this sequence because predestination is to glorification and sanctification, not to faith. Paying attention to this detail alters Calvinism’s TULIP. T (Total Depravity) doesn’t include an inability to believe the gospel. Election is not U (Unconditional) since God elects all whom he has known forever in the eternal Messiah, who entered into union with him through justification by unpredestined faith. I (Irresistible Grace) is after justification, for sanctification and glorification. L (Limited Atonement) is unbiblical. And, P (Perseverance of the Saints) is confirmed in the strongest possible way, to the extent it’s synonymous with eternal security and the certainty of glorification. All Reformed theologians teach predestination to faith, which includes faith in a sequence the Bible doesn’t include it in.The Bible says we’re predestined to glory, but it doesn’t say we’re predestined to faith, as Calvinism teaches. The differences between the language of the Bible and the language of Calvinism indicate the doctrinal errors of Calvinism. I rejoice in biblical, non-Calvinistic predestination, to glory, not to faith! Biblical predestination is about the certainty of God’s completion of our salvation through sanctification and glorification. Predestination shouldn’t be a word that conjures up images of Calvinistic horrors of reprobation in the minds of those who haven’t been indoctrinated to focus on the good fortunes of the elect. Instead, predestination should be a word that gives great joy, because it underlies the Biblical doctrine of the certainty of our future glorification! Rom. 5:3, “Having been justified by faith, we ... rejoice in [the sure and certain] hope of [sharing in] the glory of God!” My hope is that this book won’t only be a defense against Calvinism and its harms, and rescue some born-again Calvinists from Calvinism; but also that this consideration of the topic of predestination will give all readers a better understanding of the justification, sanctification, and glorification that comprise our gracious salvation, and this knowledge will also make us more fruitful. Jn. 15:7-8, “If ... my words abide in you, ... herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.”

We are accustomed to thinking of the gospel solely as the means by which we enter the kingdom of God. While it is true that believing the gospel results in our justification and eternal life, the gospel also has consequences for the entire Christian life from start to finish.

Where does evil come from? If there is a sovereign creator God, as Christian faith holds, is this God ultimately responsible for evil? Does God's sovereignty mean that God causes each instance of sin and suffering? How do Satan, his demons and hell fit into God's providential oversight of all creation and history? How does God interact with human intention and action? If people act freely, does God know in particular every human decision before the choice is made? In this important book Gregory A. Boyd mounts a thorough response to these ages-old questions, which remain both crucial and contentious, both practical and complex. In this work Boyd defends his scripturally grounded trinitarian warfare theodicy (presented in God at War) with rigorous philosophical reflection and insights from human experience and scientific discovery. Critiquing the classical Calvinist solution to the problem of evil, he advocates an alternative understanding of the sovereignty of the trinitarian God and of the reality of Satan that sheds light on our fallen human condition. While all may not agree with Boyd's conclusions, Satan and the Problem of Evil promises to advance the church's discussion of these critical issues.

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.