I truly believe that the last message on the first link of the redemption process – “foreknowledge” was a blessing you. In continuity, lets remind ourselves on the verses we are meditating, Romans 8:28-30, And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

     The second link, is that of predestination, pre-destinate. What is the meaning of the second link, what is the meaning of pre-destinate? Foreknow, is proginosko. Pre-destinate is prohorizo. Pro, horizo. What is pro ? Beforehand, horizo, sounds like? Horizon. Now, what is a horizon? Horizon is the line that separates the sky from the sea, because the horizon is the furthest boundary your human eye can see. That’s why it is horizon. It refers to a boundary, it refers to a limit, it refers to a demarcation, it refers to a destination.

     So, putting this word together, pro- horizo, what does it mean? It means, predestination is what God determines for us before time. You say, what is the difference between foreknowledge and predestinate. Foreknowledge refers to the who, pre-destinate refers to the where. The who and the where, the people and the purpose. So, God chooses for Himself before time, a race of people He would save, a number of people He would save, He knows. Words such as the fullness of Gentiles and so on, He knows those who are His.

     And for these people, He now pre-destinate, He pro-horizo a destination for them, a destiny for them and you know what is the destiny? Where would you end, where would you arrive? The Bible tells us, He pre-destinate us to be conformed to the image of His Son. So, this is amazing, God chooses those who would be His and He predetermine that they will be like His Son. So, these are the two links that begins in heaven.

     Now, let me move on to the third link. The third link here is that of call and here, the chain now dips down into Earth. What begins in eternity now intersects with time, what is in the mind of God now comes into your life. He foreknows, He pre-destinates, now, He calls.

     He calls, and the calling here is a bridge between the first two and the last two, it is the connecting point, it is where it intersects in your life. The call of God here, as mentioned in part 1, is not a call that is made by man. It is not a general call. It is a specific, internal effectual call by the Spirit of God. We know that because it is applied later on, that these called are those that will be justified and those who will be glorified. So, it is an effectual call, the call of God.

     It is as if I may put it this way, like how Jesus called with a loud voice or shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” Now, before Jesus shouted, maybe they would have been other men who shout, (in a squeaky voice) Lazarus come forth. They shout until their voice is hoarse, but you know what, Lazarus would still be lying in his grave. Why? It was a general call without the power of God. But when Jesus Himself called, “Lazarus, come forth!” Lazarus came alive.

     The calling of God here is one that is attended with great power. Man is dead in his sins and until the Spirit of God comes to breathe life, there would be no salvation. But the call of God is where, the effectual working in the heart begins.

     You see, the Bible tells us, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He’s got to be given new life and that new life comes not from himself, but from the Spirit of the living God.

     Again, the Bible says that, it is God, He quickens us, brings us alive. You see, the plan of salvation is drawn out in eternity by the Father, secured for us all by the Son on the cross, 2000 years ago and applied by the blessed Holy Spirit to you today. He quickens us and I think this is a fulfilment, clearly of the new covenant, promised in Scriptures, Ezekiel 36:26 where God says “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”.

     It’s a powerful calling of God. It is a powerful, decisive move by the Holy Spirit to take away your stony heart and to give you a heart of flesh. It is so powerful, it overcomes your unwillingness.

     You see, God doesn’t force us or coerce us to salvation. He makes us willing, He overcomes our unwillingness, it is God who works in us, both to will and to do His good pleasure. That’s the call of God. How does God call you today, practically? We know it is the call of the Spirit, the mighty moving of the Spirit of God in all hearts, but how does He calls you today? The Bible says, this is how He calls you. In Romans 10:13, 14 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

     God calls you today, by the preaching of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. And I believe, in a time such as this, the Spirit of God can take His Living Word and call you to life. He uses the preaching of His eternal word. 2Thess 2:13,14 ……God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, it is the Gospel, the Word of God that is applied by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that calls a man to come. The chain comes onto earth, intersects with time, arrives at your life.

     Let’s move on, the fourth link of this chain is that they would also be justified. This is the bulk of the teachings of the book of Romans in chapters, 1-5 and I think, it would have been rather familiar to you. But in order for God to pre-destinate you to glory, you must be justified because no sinner can stand in the sight of God. So there must be justification, to pronounce you sinless, guiltless, righteous, perfect, that’s what it means. How do you get to that stage, can I earn my way there, can I work my way to be a sinless, perfect, righteous, guilt-free man. No, you can’t, it has to be given to you, it has to be imputed to you, it has to be credited to you and God does it for you.

     He gives you the righteousness of Christ, He gives you the sinlessness of Christ, He gives it all to you. And when God gives it to you, do you know, potentially, there could be a scandal throughout the universe for all times, because, all of eternity would then say “God, how could You do that, they are sinners, how could You just close Your eyes and give them Your righteousness?”

     To prevent that scandal for all eternity, God poured out His eternal wrath onto His own Son, Jesus Christ, that He might be righteous who justifies us. A price is to be paid and so, Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us. For us, so that we who are sinners will be found to be righteous in Him. Tremendous justification, the work of God in His own Son.

     In the final part of the message, we will see about the glorification process. Till then, be assured you are safe in arms of Jesus. God Bless You!