The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum What exactly was meant that death came about due to Adam and Eve's sin

Context is so important and that's why I have included v. 28 which determines the reason for vv. 29 and 30. Paul had been telling the Roman Christians that despite the corruption of the entire world which began when Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they are not to despair for the Spirit is working in them and interceding for them in their prayers to God who is bringing all things to their final purpose, which is primarily for His own glory and their personal good. In v. 28 Paul reminds them that to those who love God, i.e., those whom God has called (Grk the called), the elect all things work for good according to HIS purpose. Now, beginning in v. 29 Paul, by inspiration of the Spirit, reveals in more detail what that purpose consists in regard to His working all things for the believers' good.

1. Foreknew For whom, not "what" He foreknew indicates a) whom God had set His love upon and b) from all eternity.
- the word "know" [Grk: ginoskow; proginoskow] is not to be understood only as knowledge or prescience. For the Bible uses this term to mean much more, e.g., "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain,". It would be irrational, never mind illogical to interpret this text to mean that Adam knew things about Eve and consequently she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Adam intimately loved his wife and thus a child was born. Another example can be found in Matt 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt 7:23" Here are many other passages where "know" means not knowledge about, but rather loved, affection for, etc. (Gen 18:19; Jer 1:5; Jh 10:14,28; 2Tim 2:19; Ps 1:6; Amos 3:2; Hos 13:5; 1Cor 8:3; Gal 4:9; 1Jh 3:1; Rom 11:2).

2. Having "foreloved" a people out of Adam's fallen race, He/God, foreordained/predestined, i.e., God decreed; to make certain, to ordain the end, these individuals to be "conformed to the image of His Son". These chosen ones will be perfectly transformed to be like unto Christ, so that Christ who is their Head, will have all the preeminence over all creation both in this world and in the new world to come.

3. v. 30 And now Paul expands on this "purpose" of God by revealing how this glorious plan is going to work out, i.e, specifically for those who are beloved of God. This foreordination was from all eternity, being presently brought to pass and will continue to the end (telos). Thus the first step in His working in and for the saints is: "them He called". Again, it must be emphasized that words rarely have one meaning. Context is what will determine how they are understood. The question you asked before is re: calling. For this particular purpose let's say that "calling" in Scripture in regard to salvation has two distinct meanings: 1) The indiscriminate proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world. This we term the "outward calling" of all men to repentance and faith in the Lord Christ for the remission of sins and reconciliation to God. 2) The sovereign and effectual calling of the elect whereby the Holy Spirit, working in conjunction with the Word of God, regenerates a sinner thus recreating the once spiritually dead soul, bringing deep conviction of sin and the inability to do anything to rectify their guilt and corruption, and granting repentance and creating a saving faith in Christ within them. (cf. Eph 2:1-10; et al) We need only to go back to the first chapter of Romans and read Paul's salutation to grasp what this "calling" found in 9:30 is. "to all in Rome who are beloved of God, saints by virtue of having been called..." This the same construction "beloved" [known] by God and "called" to be saints. See here: The Call that Brings a Response.

4. And thus those whom God set His love and foreordained that they should be conformed to the image of Christ are effectually called through the working of the Spirit, they are infallibly justified, and finally infallibly ordained to be glorified, i.e., fully conformed to the image of Christ, which the Spirit works in them throughout their lives to that end, i.e., sanctification.