Total Depravity

Total depravity does not mean that man is as bad as he can possibly be. It means that man's depravity extends to the total man. Sin influences our mind, heart, and will-- the total man.

The degree in which man is a sinner:
1. Some say man is basically good but has learned bad habits.
2. Some say man is sick in sin.
3. Total depravity teaches that man is incapable of spiritual goodness. Man never does acts of righteousness, and can’t do it in and of himself in his unregenerate state.

As a result of Adam’s transgression, men are born in sin and are by nature spiritually dead. Therefore to become God’s children and enter His kingdom we must be born again.

NAS Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

NAS Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

NAS Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Because men are born in sin and are by nature spiritually dead, Jesus taught that man must be born again if they are going to enter God’s kingdom.

NAS John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

You can’t see or enter the kingdom of God until you’re first born again. To be born again means you have been given a regenerate heart, and are born from above. You can’t have saving faith or even want to repent until you have been born from above. Jesus says that being born of the Spirit is like the wind blowing. Can you cause the wind to blow? You can’t cause yourself to be born again either. Let me ask, did you chose to be born the first time?

NAS 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

As a result of the fall, men are blind and deaf to spiritual truth. Their minds are darkened by sin; their hearts are corrupt and evil. See Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 64:6, Mark 7:21-23, John 3:19, I Corinthians 2:14 - cannot understand, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:8, Romans 8:7-8 - are not able to submit to the law of God; cannot please God.

Before sinners are born into God’s kingdom through the regenerating power of the Spirit, they are children of the Devil and under his control; they are slaves to sin. See John 8:43-45, John 8:34-36, 2 Timothy 2:25-26-Repentance is a gift. 1 John 3:10-You are either a child of God or the Devil, 1John 5:19, Romans 6:20, Titus 3:3-6.

The reign of sin is universal. All men are under its power; none are righteous, not even one. See 1 Coronicles 6:36, Ps 130:3, Ps 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 64:6, James 3:2-8, 1 John 1:8-10, Romans 1:18-25, Romans 3:9-12.

NAS John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Verse 12 and 13 is all one sentence. Verse 13 clarifies the people who believed and received Him. The people who received and believe on Him are the ones who have been born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. The people who are born of God are the ones that believe on and receive Him (Christ).

A person will never choose God unless God changes his heart of stone. We are slaves to sin. Man does not have within himself the power or ability to choose God. Man does not have or want God until he is born from above. Remember being born is not something that a person can do themselves. You did not choose to be born. See 1 Peter 1:3-5, John 3:3-8.

Man left in his spiritually dead state is unable of himself to repent, to believe the gospel, or come to Christ. He has no power within himself to change his own nature or to prepare himself for salvation. See 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 6:63-65 No one can come to Jesus unless it has been granted him from the Father. John 6:37-40 All that the Father gives Jesus will come to him and Jesus will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44-Draw is the same Greek word as drag that is used in James 2:6. God makes the heart willing to come to him. God must act first in salvation. See Eph. 2:1-5, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:14, Acts 18:27, Phil 1:29, 2 Tim. 2:25-26, Eph 2:8-9 - Faith is a gift.

After we are regenerated, God gives us faith and repentance, gifts of His grace. Regeneration (being born again) is a monergistic work where God alone acts. After being quickened by the Holy Spirit, the regenerated man is enabled to do that which is good and willingly responds to God's effectual call, embraces the grace offered by God and exercises saving faith and repents. This is called a synergistic work where man and God act together.

Election

God has elected certain people from all eternity.

Total depravity leads us to see that salvation is a divine initiative. Since regeneration is a monergistic work, God is the sole author of salvation. This leads us to the question why does God regenerate some people's hearts but not others. This introduces the doctrine of Election. This doctrine causes great controversy and struggle with people because it strikes against the fallen heart's disposition. So let's look at this as objectively as possible.

We know that man likes to take credit for the things he has. The two doctrines of total depravity and election emphasize that salvation is totally of grace.

NAS Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Vs. 4 - Before the creation of the world, a pre-set destiny.
Vs. 7 - In accordance to the riches of His grace.
Vs. 9 - According to His kind intentions.
Vs. 11 – Predestined according to His plan and purpose. God has chosen certain people for salvation for all eternity.

NAS Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

In Romans 8:28-30 again we see predestination, combined with foreknowledge. Some people have latched onto this term “foreknowledge” in order to explain away the reformed doctrine of predestination. They say God foreknew certain works and then elected people to salvation, based on something they do, or believe in, in and of themselves. For example; God foresees that a person will believe or repent and then elects them on the basis of foreseen faith or repentance. There are two problems with this view.


First in Rom. 8:29 good works, faith, repentance and any other idea that could be set forth to merit salvation isn' t mentioned. The object of foreknowledge is the people, not their actions. God knows each individual. Since works are not mentioned, it is improper to add them or read them into the text.


Secondly, in this passage everyone who is foreknown is predestined to salvation. Therefore this is not a general foreknowledge of all mankind. In fact this is an unbreakable chain from foreknowledge to glorification. In Romans 8:29 foreknowledge also means foreloved. In verse 33 God justifies, not your works.

NAS 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

He called us not on the basis of works or foreseen works. Salvation is of the Lord!

NAS Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

The only ones who believe are those who have been appointed to eternal life. It's not based upon foreseen faith.

NAS John 6:44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Draw means drag, not woo or entice as some claim. Everyone who God draws is raised up on the last day.

NAS John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."

It can't be any plainer than that. No one can come to God unless it has been granted.

Particular Atonement

“Regarding Particular Atonement:
If it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has he been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood.” By: Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Both Arminians and Calvinists limit atonement yet the two views limit it in different ways. Arminians limit the effect of the atonement and Calvinists limit the scope. Arminians say Christ died for all, but secured salvation for none. They believe that Christ's atonement was a potential atonement only. Calvinists limit atonement in its scope. Christ died specifically for the elect. The atonement is not limited in its effectiveness, but is limited in its scope. Christ actually accomplished salvation for all whom he died for. The design is limited, but not its power. God has accomplished all that He purposed to in Christ's death.

Four points on the doctrine of Particular Atonement.

1. Scriptures that qualify those for whom Christ died:

NAS Matthew 1:21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

His people, not all people.

NAS Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Many, not all.

NAS Matthew 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

On behalf of many.

NAS John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 "He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. 13 "He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd. 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

For the sheep.

NAS John 10:26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.

He's not laying down his life for all because not all are his sheep.

NAS Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Not all people, He purchased the Church.

NAS Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

Not all people, He gave Himself up for the Church.

NAS Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

The men he died for, He made to be a kingdom and priests to our God. You can't say this about all.

2. Four headings under which Christ's work is organized:


• Propitiation;
NAS Romans 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

NAS Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

NAS 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This is not potential atonement; He appeased the wrath of God.


• Sacrifice;
NAS Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

NAS Hebrews 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Again not potential.

• Reconciliation;
NAS Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We've been reconciled to God, again not potential.

• Redemption;
NAS Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree "--

Christ accomplished, once again not a potential atonement.

3. Jesus' high priestly ministry includes His atonement and intercession for His people.

NAS John 17:6 "I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. 7 "Now they have come to know that everything Thou hast given Me is from Thee; 8 for the words which Thou gavest Me I have given to them; and they received them, and truly understood that I came forth from Thee, and they believed that Thou didst send Me. 9 "I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine;

Vs. 9 - If Jesus died for all why isn't he praying for all?

NAS Hebrews 7:25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

4. The Fathers' work in salvation is the election of a people to Himself. The Father then gives those people to the Son to redeem. The Holy Spirit applies the work of the Son through regeneration and all that follows it. The Fathers work is limited to a particular design. In other words, election and the Sons work is consistent with the fathers particular design.

Effectual Calling

The work of the Father and Son, election and redemption, do not complete the work of salvation. The work of Christ has to be applied to the elect. The work of applying salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. This is called the work of Effectual Calling or Efficacious Grace. The doctrine of Effectual Calling or Efficacious Grace means that the Holy Spirit effectively brings to salvation all the elect. When we learned earlier about human depravity we saw that God has to change a person's heart. This work of regeneration or being born again is the work of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is called effectual calling. What this means is that the Holy Spirit makes the external call of the gospel effective for salvation. Every choice flows from the heart. If the heart is evil, every choice will be evil by God's standards (Rom 3:10-18). After being born again the elect sinner can and will come to Christ. Let's look at some Scriptures:

NAS John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."

The Spirit gives life.

NAS Ezekiel 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

The Spirit changes the heart.

NAS Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

God makes you alive, you are not able on your own; the Holy Spirit changes your heart and makes you alive.

NAS John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

You were born of God, not of your own will. It says NOT of the will of man, but of God. God changes your heart.

NAS John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Vs.6 - Being born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit changes our hearts causing us to be born again.
Vs. 8 - You hear the wind blowing, you didn't choose for it to blow; you just know its blowing because you feel it or hear it.

NAS Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Renewing of the Holy Spirit, changes our hearts.

NAS 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

God causes us by the Holy Spirit to have a spiritually changed heart.

Let's look at some Scriptures that explain how the internal call of the Holy Spirit is always effectual for salvation. This is important because some say all are called and some resist the call.

NAS Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

All people whom God foreknew will be glorified.

NAS John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

All the elect will be raised to life on the last day.

NAS Galatians 1:15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,

Paul was set apart (called) to preach even though he persecuted the Church.

NAS 1 Corinthians 1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, 29 that no man should boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."

The gospel, is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Presenting the gospel is the external call of the gospel but it is the Holy Spirit that makes it effective in the hearts of the elect (the called). Verse 24 says: “but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Verses 30-31 summarize this idea: “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."” Salvation is God’s doing not ours. All glory and honor belong to God. We can’t boast about any part of our salvation because it’s by His doing not ours. God alone receives all the glory.

NAS 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

Called from all eternity.

NAS John 17:2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life.

He gives eternal life to all the Father has given to Him.

NAS Revelation 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Not all people are with Him because not all are called.

NAS 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

He called His elect, not all people.

NAS 2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Called us (Christians), not all people.

The Holy Spirit works with the external call of the gospel and through regeneration makes the external call effective. Everyone who is regenerated by the Holy Spirit believes and repents. Faith and repentance are the natural inclinations and dispositions of the regenerate heart.

The Perseverance of the Saints

The Perseverance of the Saints is an extension of what we have already seen. God's purpose of election is consummated in the final salvation of the elect. The doctrine of The Perseverance of the Saints states that God will sustain the elect with the result that they will persevere in the faith to the end. There are two sources of objections to this doctrine.

1. An antinomian (lawless) approach to the Christian life. Some people claim Christ, yet they live "like the devil" and have no concern to the means of grace and feel secure toward eternity. They say, 'I can't lose my salvation and since I'm saved by grace I can live however 1 want to!' They are deceiving themselves. This isn't the doctrine of the Perseverance of Believers in Jesus Christ.

2. False profession - Some people say they knew someone who lost their salvation.

NAS 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

While they were with them you couldn't tell them apart from the real believers.

NAS Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'

They went to church, prophesied, and cast our demons, yet God never knew them.

NAS Matthew 13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

There is one good soil that produces fruit; only one is truly saved. The other ones will leave (I John 2:19). The doctrine of The Perseverance of the Saints doesn't mean that everyone who makes a profession of faith is eternally secure. The doctrine does affirm that those who are truly saved will persevere to the end and not lose their salvation.

There are four points to the Perseverance of the Saints:

1. The immutability of the decree of election;

NAS Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

It is an unbreakable chain from foreknew to glorified.

NAS Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

Everlasting is forever.

NAS John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." 41 The Jews therefore were grumbling about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven." 42 And they were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, 'I have come down out of heaven '?" 43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

All the people that the Father gives to the Son come to Him and are raised to life on the last day.

NAS John 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Eternal is not eternal if you can lose it.

NAS John 10:26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one."

NAS John 17:2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life.

As I said before eternal is not eternal if you can lose it.

2. Effectiveness of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ.

NAS Hebrews 10:1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, But a body Thou hast prepared for Me; 6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast taken no pleasure. 7 "Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (In the roll of the book it is written of Me) To do Thy will, O God.'" 8 After saying above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast not desired, nor hast Thou taken pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Thy will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And upon their mind I will write them," He then says, 17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Christ accomplishes salvation for the elect.

NAS Hebrews 7:25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

He saves forever.

NAS Hebrews 9:12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Eternal inheritance for those who have been called.

NAS John 17:12 "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Jesus guarded them and kept them from perishing.

NAS Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ intercedes for His own and nothing can separate them from His love.

NAS Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

He is our propitiation; wrath has been taken away.

NAS Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Future tense, shall be saved from the wrath of God.

3. Abiding of the Spirit and seed of God in us:

NAS John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.

NAS Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

NAS 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Caused us to be born again, to obtain all inheritance which is imperishable and we are protected by the power of God.

NAS 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

NAS Colossians 1:21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Assumed to be true; first class conditional statement like when Satan asks Jesus if He was the Son of God; it's assumed to be true.

4. The nature of the Covenant of Grace:

NAS Jeremiah 32:40 "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

NAS Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

Eternal covenant.