The Golden Chain of Salvation
By: Curtis B. Miller

If you have ever had any dealings with a Calvinist you are probably familiar with the phrase "The Golden Chain of Salvation," supposedly found in Romans 8:29-30. I must admit, the first time Romans 8:29-30 was shown to me I was puzzled and speechless. I then spent days at a time in commentaries trying to find the answer I was looking for; but found that all said this passage proved predestination to salvation. But what I found, after much prayer and Bible study, is that my view of this passage had been perverted by the Calvinistic doctrine found in the commentaries and works by famous Calvinists I had been reading. Instead of using Scripture to interpret Scripture, I was using commentaries in its place.

My intent is to show what the Scripture says about Romans 8:30 with as little bias as possible. I am not going to cover Romans 8:29 which refers to foreknowledge. I have no argument that God knows who will be saved in the end. But foreknowledge does not constitute predestination. What I intend to show is that the predestination, calling, justification, and glorification ALL are products of salvation and not split 50/50.

Rom 8:30 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.

Four things are spoken of here:
1 . Predestination
2 . Calling
3 . Justification
4 . Glorification

As I said before, the Calvinist (and the like) will say that predestination and the calling happen before salvation and then justification and glorification happen after salvation. At first, it looks as though they are right. Why is that?

Here's a riddle:
A man leave's home and runs a little ways and turns left, he then runs a little further and turns left again, he runs even further and makes another left. He then runs home and when he gets there he finds two masked men there.

Who are the masked men?

Now, living in America and being brainwashed by the television you would probably say the masked men were robbers breaking into the house. Wrong. The story you've just read is about a baseball game. The two masked men are the umpire and catcher, and "home" is home base. The truth was hidden by "common knowledge."

The same holds true for Romans 8:30. It has been drilled in that predestination is always to salvation and this hinders the Bible student from seeing the light which comes from the word of God (Ps 119:105).

The error of Predestination occurs when you take verses (Mainly in the New Testament) that are speaking of Christians in the Body of Christ and applying them to the so-called 'elect', who have not yet been saved. Never in the New Testament is any unsaved man called "elect" or "chosen."

Now, I could go through and simply show you verses in the Bible against predestination to salvation such as Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Romans 5:6; Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29; Isaiah 53:6; John 4:42; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 4:4; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:13; Romans 11:32; etc., but that wouldn't explain the verses the Calvinist (and the like) use as proof for their false doctrine. The best way to defeat heresy is to take it head on; that is, use their proofs against them.

2 Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

These are a few of the favorites of the Calvinist. What those who teach predestination before salvation do with verses such as these is hang on to a few words and phrases without considering the context and the rest of the verse. These verses, for example, such men would hang onto " before the world began " (2 Timothy 1:9), " chosen us before the foundation of the world " (Ephesians 1:4), " Having predestinated us " (Ephesians 1:5) and " being predestinated own will ." These phrases alone could convince anyone of predestination to salvation. But, I could also quote to you Amos 4:4 (" Come to Bethel and transgress ") and convince you that God wanted his people to commit fornication. What Calvinist fail to see, and to mention, is that his purpose and grace was given to us " IN CHRIST JESUS before the world began " (2 Timothy 1:9) and hath chosen us " IN HIM before the foundation of the world " (Ephesians 1:4) and we are predestinated " unto the adoption of children " (Ephesians 1:5), not salvation. As for Ephesians 1:11, notice the " In whom " stuck into the beginning of the verse referring you back to Jesus Christ. No man is predestinated or chosen outside of Jesus Christ. The predestination is not referring to salvation but rather " an inheritance ."

2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Again the Calvinist takes the phrase " from the beginning chosen you to salvation " and completely leaves out the rest of the verse. Paul says you are " chosen...to salvation THROUGH sanctification...AND BELIEF of the truth ." The "election" here is conditioned on belief. It is not something that is "Sovereignly" done by God.

Another thing the Calvinist do is assume that " from the beginning " is referring to the beginning of the world. " From the beginning " is not referring to the beginning of the world but rather the beginning of the gospel (Phil 4:15; 1 John 2:24; 1 John 3:11; 2 John 1:5-6.) Not only that, but " FROM the beginning " is not " BEFORE the beginning ."

1 Pe 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.

Again the Calvinist "chooses" " Elect according to the foreknowledge of God " and leaves out " through sanctification of the Spirit ."

Rom 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.

Here the Calvinists take " predestinate " and forget that " to be conformed to the image of his Son " is a reference to the glorification of Romans 8:30. Again, " predestinate " is not a reference to salvation, but rather a reference to something that happens after salvation.

Closing up on predestination we find that the three instances where it shows up in Scripture it is a reference to being " conformed to the image of his Son " (Romans 8:29), which is a future event for the born again believer (Romans 8:17, 23; Phil 3:21); an " inheritance ," (Ephesians 1:11) which is also a future event (Romans 8:17) and " the adoption " as a child of God (Ephesians 1:5), which is a future event according to Romans 8:23 (Even though we are presently called sons of God (1 John 3:2) our adoption is not complete until the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23)). Never in Scripture is a man predestinated to salvation. The reason the born again child of God is called " elect " is because the one he is being put into (1 Corinthians 12:13) is " elect " and " chosen ":

1 Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

And also:
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Now you can see that:
1 . Predestination happens after salvation (Eph 1:4-5; Eph 1:10-11; 2 Thess 2:13;)
2 . Justification happens after salvation (Acts 13:39; Rom 3:24; Rom 3:28; Rom 5:1; Rom 5:9; Gal 2:16).
3 . Glorification happens after salvation (1 Cor 14:42-58; Phil 3:21;1 Thess 4:16-18; Rom 6:1-5).

But the Calvinist (or the like) will say that (to prove salvation by predestination) "the calling" referred to in Romans 8:30 is that of a sinner to salvation. But what does the context say?

Now I know that there is a calling unto salvation (Gal1:6; 2 Thess 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9) but there is also a calling to:
1 . The apostleship (Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1; Matt 4:21)
2 . Fellowship (1 Cor 1:9)
3 . Liberty (Gal 5:13)
4 . Peace (1 Cor 7:15)
5 . A Personal Walk with Jesus Christ(1 Cor 7:17-20,24)
6 . Holiness/Be Saints (1 Thess 4:7; 1 Cor 1:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16)(Saint is also known as holy one, because of Christ (Acts 13:35; Acts 3:14; Acts 2:27; Luke 4:34))
7 . Be a Blessing (1 Peter 3:9)
8 . Suffer (1 Peter 2:20-21)

So which is verse 30 speaking of? I've given you nine choices (including the call to salvation). Eight out of nine happen after salvation. Why should we automatically presume that the calling is referring to salvation; because some Calvinistic Scholar said so? The fact is Calvinism inches itself into the mind of the reader (of this text) only if the reader has previously been exposed to this heresy. Calvinist assume that "predestinate" is automatically referring to salvation; so why not do the same with "called"? Answer: Because predestination happens after salvation. The Calvinist uses circular reasoning: Proving the calling is a reference to salvation by using predestination and proving the predestination is a reference to salvation by the calling.

2 Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

2 Timothy 1:9 and Jude 1:1 shows us, without a doubt, that calling can come after salvation (but so did the eight passages listed above) and sanctification. But that still doesn't explain what "called" is referring to in verse 30. Let's go back through the context to verse 28.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Paul let's us know here that "them that love God" are "the called," so, they're saved. So what? Well, let's read on,

Rom 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.

"For" here means "because." So all things work together for good for the saved because they are predestinated to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

" to them who are the called according to his purpose ." What is his purpose? Firstly, this purpose is purposed " IN CHRIST " (Eph 3:11; 2 Tim 1:9). The purpose is for the believer " to be conformed to the image of his son " (Romans 8:28); to " gather together in one all things in Christ " and to " obtain an inheritance " (Ephesians 1:10-11); and to make " known by the church the manifold wisdom of God " (Ephesians 3:10-11).

Let's consider for a moment that the call in verse 30 is to salvation. What does that do to the passage?

Aren't all men called to salvation? Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it , he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Is every man that is called justified and glorified? No. You must accept the calling to be justified and glorified. But this verse, if the calling is that to salvation, says all men are justified. As you can see, this is nonsense.

So what is "called" in Romans 8:30? The call is probably the call to suffering found in 1 Peter 2:20-21.

"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" ( 1 Peter 2:20-21 )

This is supported by Romans 8:16-21 where the suffering is mentioned right along with the glorification:

Romans 8:16-17 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Regardless, the Bible makes it perfectly clear that the call is not referring to salvation. You've got eight other callings (that I have found) to choose from. Take your pick.