What is Meant by "Called" in Romans 8:30?
Primitive Baptists are often incorrectly conjoined with Calvinists. As a result, I am often tasked with explaining how we differ. One approach to answering that question is to consider the ramifications of Paul’s testimony in the Roman epistle.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
I have heard many Calvinists teach that this passage is speaking of an unbreakable, golden chain of events that happen for all of God's elect. Primitive Baptists heartily agree with that statement. But there are some unavoidable logical ramifications that attend this good observation. Consider the following:
QUESTION: Do all of the events of Romans 8:30 (predestination, calling, justification, glorification) happen for all of God's sheep?
ANSWER: Yes. It is clear from the context of Paul’s remarks that these things shall come to pass for ALL of God’s elect family as they are fundamental aspects of their eternal salvation. Thus ALL of God’s elect family shall be “called” at some point between conception and death during their natural lives.
QUESTION: Does the explicit New Testament gospel message (I Corinthians 15:3-4) reach all of God's sheep?
ANSWER: No. The explicit New Testament gospel never reached Job, else he would not have asked, "How can a man be just with God?" (Job 9:2) Indeed this gospel is the very answer to that question. Neither did this gospel reach any of the Old Testament saints (Ephesians 3:5). Moreover, this gospel never reaches the infant dying in infancy, yet the bible's testimony is clear regarding the reality of saved infants. (II Samuel 12:23, I Kings 14:13, Jeremiah 31:15-17)
QUESTION: So if the “calling” of Romans 8:30 reaches all God's sheep, but the explicit New Testament gospel does NOT reach all God's sheep, can the explicit New Testament gospel be the “calling” referenced in Romans 8:30?
ANSWER: No. Clearly not.
The unavoidable force of that logic requires us to reject the commonly promoted idea that the “calling” of Romans 8:30 is the gospel call. So then, what is the "calling" of Romans 8:30? It is none other than immediate, Holy Spirit regeneration.
”Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25).
It is the life-giving fiat of God whereby he imparts the gift of eternal life to one of his chosen children. God's gift of eternal life is not confined to the domain of gospel distribution. Just as in the time of Seth, or Job, or any other Old Testament saint, from Rahab to Jeroboam's infant son, God grants eternal life to his children irrespective of the degree of gospel information he has seen fit to reveal to them. God imparts the gift of eternal life to his children apart from any help or instrumentality on the part of the gospel minister whatsoever.
That's an eye-opener for most, but it has theology-shaping ramifications on the nature and purpose of the gospel message for those who enter into it.
- Elder Daniel Samons