During my 25 years in nominal American Churches I remember hearing one promise from God's Word more than any others. Please, open your Bibles to Romans 8:28 and follow along with me.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
I've probably heard 300+ sermons that reference this one promise of God, but NOT ONE Arminian Free-will "church" will preach it in context of either the chapter or the book. So let's look a little further: does the Word of God say that God will work out everything for good for everyone? Are things in Hell working out well for damned sinners?! Is Hitler snuggled up tight in a soft bed in Heaven tonight?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. So it is not a Universal promise for all, but only for a select - only for those whom He has called according to His purpose? I don't remember being taught that in the Catholic/Church of Christ. Does God's Holy and inerrant Word say more on the subject? For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brothers. WOW, that sounds just like those crazy Reformers John Calvin and Martin Luther! Does God's Word continue...tell me more. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. So everyone whom God Predestined gets Called and Justified (Biblical word for Saved) and all those whom He Justifies gets to be Glorified in Heaven? That's Unbelievable! Why didn't anyone ever tell me? Its like He's had all this planned from the Beginning!
(This is where you should turn to Ephesians and read chapter 1 - to the Glory of God!)
Well surely that's all there can't be more right? But wait! what if my sin keeps dragging me down won't Satan gain the upper hand in even 1 case and that Elect sinner will have to go to hell? Nope; What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all(us here is speaking of the Elect, Predestined, Called and Justified), how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's Elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.
So Arminian Pastors- you who don't believe in any of this Calvinism (with its Election, Predestination, and Limited Calling) don't steal our promise - that is the promise to the Elect, Predestined or Called. If your not one of these - that promise is not for you! Amen.
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