I agree.  I do not know what Calvinism is.  Or many of the other categorizations.  What the Word states, that we are to accept.  If a person wrote or preached stuff on it, and all sorts of stuff on all sorts of topics in the Word, and thus those who adhere to his teachings are called by his name, that is not proper.  "cephas, Apollos, Paul", Calvin, etc..  So if a person believes one or two issues the same way that a famous person did, such as Calvin, how does that make such a person a "Calvinist"?  It does so only in those who are weak -- shall we cast lots for His garments also?

"For many are called, but few are chosen."
(Matthew 22:14)

larry2: I appreciate your input. 

If the foreknowledge of God is the catalyst for God’s “call” - and God’s “called” are justified and glorified - that would negate a universal call on every man.  That is clear.

In addition, it is true that one of the traditional views of predestination and foreknowledge is that God “looks down the corridor of time” to elect those who He sees will believe on Christ.  However, the problem with this view is that salvation would then be based on a person’s behavior - i.e. “works” - not based solely on God’s grace to choose whom He wills - Romans 9.  BLESSINGS.  Doc

Romans 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) 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.

Agreed that it starts with foreknowledge; so, let's start with foreknowledge.

Foreknowledge

1 Peter 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

It is very clearly stated that foreknowledge comes through sanctification of the Spirit. Whoever is sanctified through the Spirit is foreknown and Called.

But, the Elect saint is a foreknown (Called) Christian who obeys the truth having been sprinkled by the blood during sanctification. Obedience of truth engenders the glory of God; it is the onset of glorification. So, the difference between the Called (foreknown) and the Elect is that the former is only sanctified, but the later is both sanctified and obedient to the truth unto glorification.

Predestination

Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Such a Called (a foreknown) saint is predestinated  (destined to become or obtain a thing at a later time) to conform to the image of the Son. Your knowledge (from intimate relationship) of God mirrors your image of God: Obtaining the knowledge of God makes a saint in the image of God, according to Col. 3:10 – And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

Also, conforming to the Son’s image by obtaining and working out the knowledge of the Son is a thing of the glory of God, hence, a glorification.

So, a foreknown (Called) saint has a pre-ordained destiny to obtain the knowledge (image) of the Son. That makes the Son to become the firstborn (in order of importance) among many brethren, because His brethren a predestined to obtain His knowledge (image). The knowledge of God is the image God.

Verse 30

A saint who is pre-destined to obtain the knowledge (image) of the Son goes through a due process: 

• He starts out being Called (foreknown) through sanctification
  
• Then he is justified (judged with blessings occasioning faith and grace… such as salvation)
  
• Then he is glorified (judged with blessings occasioning the Spirit… such as eternal life, image of the Son, and light).
  

That puts conforming to the image (knowledge) of the Son, which is a glorification, ahead of the call and the justification of God. The sequence then becomes:
   

• The Call through sanctification of the Spirit – Foreknowledge;
  
• Justification through faith and grace – Salvation for example; and
  
• Glorification through knowledge of the Son - Image of the Son for example.
  

The God ordained destiny of whoever is sanctified (called) is to be made in the image (by obtaining knowledge) of the Son through due processes of the call, justification and glorification.

larry2: Yes, what a marvelous verse is 2Peter 3:9.  No doubt, it is one of the most frequently cited verses of scripture in this type of discussion. 

But as we ponder this verse, sometimes it’s CONTEXT isn’t taken into consideration. 

Because in it’s proper context, the very first thing that strikes us, is that it couldn’t possibly mean that Peter is stating that the Lord has no interest in the destruction of the wicked, because the whole emphasis of this passage - 2Peter 3:7 - is the future destruction of the world and the ungodly. 

Again, don’t forget the context.  Verse 6 is the FLOOD.  It would be pretty counterproductive to use the FLOOD as an comparative analogy that God doesn’t wish ANYONE to perish!

Now notice the transition in thought started by verse 8.  “BUT BELOVED…” (emphasis mine) reminding the “saved” that the Lord has not forgotten His promise toward US (emphasis mine) - that He is longsuffering toward US - that He is not willing that ANY OF US will perish.  It is obvious, as dictated by the context, that the words US and ANY are a reference to God’s people. 

I appreciate you brother.   BLESSINGS.  Doc

Hi Doc, thanks for appreciating my input.   Question though:  wasn't your discussion regarding salvation? The doctrine of salvation is very simple.  Why make it harder? 
 
 Yes we are called to be 'more than saved' we are called to grow in our faith and to take that faith and share it with others.
 Prov 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
I was always taught that the fruit of a Christian is another Christian.  Now, when we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Saviour we should be exhibiting and growing in the fruits of the Spirit - "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" Gal 5:23&23

 These fruits make us different or set apart from what the world observes all around them. 
And gives us the chance to share the faith "and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..."

And yes we are to establish ourselves in sound doctrine.  We are to know what we believe and to be ready to give an account of it.  I think we have to be careful we just don't acquire the 'knowledge' and heap it to ourselves, but  that the point of the knowledge is to better share it with the world who is in darkness.  To be a better 'light' to the world of darkness.  To be more attractive (spiritually speaking) to this world. 

  Oh that we would have more people in this world who would simply live their Christian faith so that people might notice the difference.  Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

 
As for me, that's what I need to work on.


Blessings,
HAH