short thought on the sequence of salvation

I think God was intentional in the sequence He gave Paul for Ro 8.28-30; "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he (1) foreknew he also (2) predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also (3) called, and those whom he called he also (4) justified, and those whom he justified he also (5) glorified."

I was thinking about this in context of the Kingdom of God which is the Gospel (Mt 4.23; 9.32; 24.14; Mk 1.15). Clearly the Kingdom has affect all around us yet so many are oblivious to it's effect and Who is behind it. John records Jesus' words to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God." and again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

We cannot even recognize the Kingdom of God until after He makes us born again, i.e., turns our heart from stone to one that is now alive in Him. The Holy Spirit gives us new life in regeneration just as He did in creation (Ps 104.30). It is the Spirit of God that gives life (Jn 6:63; 2 Co. 3:6; Ac 10:44–47; Titus 3:5).

Praise God that He has taken the initiative to redeem us from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of wonderful Light. Now we must go and spread the Good News of that Kingdom through proclamation and demonstration.

Technorati Tags: Calvinism, Kingdom of God, soteriology