{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1051007.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1051007.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1051007.htm","text":"Chapter 23.\u2014Those Who are Called According to the Purpose Alone are Predestinated.\nFor this reason the apostle, when he had said, \u201cWe know that to those who love God He workp. 481 eth all things together for good,\u201d\u2014knowing that some love God, and do not continue in that good way unto the end,\u2014immediately added, \u201cto them who are the called according to His purpose.\u201d 3322 For these in their love for God continue even to the end; and they who for a season wander from the way return, that they may continue unto the end what they had begun to be in good. Showing, however, what it is to be called according to His purpose, he presently added what I have already quoted above, \u201cBecause whom He did before foreknow, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called,\u201d to wit, according to His purpose; \u201cand whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.\u201d 3323 All those things are already done: He foreknew, He predestinated, He called, He justified; because both all are already foreknown and predestinated, and many are already called and justified; but that which he placed at the end, \u201cthem He also glorified\u201d (if, indeed, that glory is here to be understood of which the same apostle says, \u201cWhen Christ your life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory\u201d 3324 ), this is not yet accomplished. Although, also, those two things\u2014that is, He called, and He justified\u2014have not been effected in all of whom they are said,\u2014for still, even until the end of the world, there remain many to be called and justified,\u2014nevertheless, He used verbs of the past tense, even concerning things future, as if God had already arranged from eternity that they should come to pass. For this reason, also, the prophet Isaiah says concerning Him, \u201cWho has made the things that shall be.\u201d 3325 Whosoever, therefore, in God\u2019s most providential ordering, are foreknown, predestinated, called, justified, glorified,\u2014I say not, even although not yet born again, but even although not yet born at all, are already children of God, and absolutely cannot perish. These truly come to Christ, because they come in such wise as He Himself says, \u201cAll that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will not cast out;\u201d 3326 and a little after He says, \u201cThis is the will of the Father who hath sent me, that of all that He hath given me I shall lose nothing.\u201d 3327 From Him, therefore, is given also perseverance in good even to the end; for it is not given save to those who shall not perish, since they who do not persevere shall perish.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on Reb...","type":"page"}