(30) Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called. Those whom he had thus fore-ordained to be conformed to the image of his Son in moral character, in suffering, and in future glory, he effectually calls, i. e. leads by the external invitation of the gospel, and by the efficacious operation of his grace, to the end to which they are destined. That the calling here spoken of is not the mere external call of the gospel, is evi- dent both from the usage of the word, and from the necessity of the case ; see 1 Cor. 1 : 9, " God is faithful by whom ye were called to the fellow- ship of his Son," i. e. effectually brought into union with him. This use of the word, thus common in the New Testament, is obviously necessary here, because the apostle is speaking of a call which is peculiar to those who are finally saved. Whom he calls he justifies and glorifies; see also verse 28.
Whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. The past tense here used may express the idea of frequency. Whom he calls, he is wont to justify; and whom he is wont to justify, he is accustomed to glorify. So that the meaning is the same as though the present tense had been used, ' Whom he calls, he jus- tifies,' &c. ; see James 1: 11. 1 Pet. 1 : 24, where the same tense is rendered as the present, " The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away." Or the past is employed, because Paul is speaking of that God, who sees the end from the beginning, and in whose decree and purpose all future events are comprehended and fixed ; so that in predes- tinating us, he at the same time, in effect, called, justified, and glorified us, as all these were included in his purpose.
The justification here spoken of, is doubtless that of which the apos- tle has been speaking throughout the epistle, the regarding and treat- ing sinners as just, for the sake of the righteousness of Christ. The blessings of grace are never separated from each other. Election, call- ing, justification, and salvation are indissolubly united ; and, therefore, he who has clear evidence of his being called, has the same evidence of his election and final salvation. This is the very idea the apostle means to present for the consolation and encouragement of believers. They have no cause for despondency if the children of God, and called according to his purpose, because nothing can prevent their final salvation.
(31) What shall we say to these things? That is, what is the infer- ence from all that has hitherto been said 1 If God he for us, if he has de- livered us from the law of sin and death, if he has renewed us by his Spirit which dwells within us, if he recognises us as his children and his heirs, and has predestinated us to holiness and glory, who can he against us? If God's love has led to all the good just specified, what have we to fear for the future 1 He who spared not his own Son will freely give us all things. This verse shows clearly what has been the apostle's object from the beginning of the chapter. He wished to demonstrate that to those who accede to the plan of salvation which he taught, i. e. to those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no ground of apprehension; their final