46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. (Luk 2:46 KJV)
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.(Mat 13:52 KJV)
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. (Act 23:6 KJV)
Symbols sometimes are premises in Talmudic dialogue, the respondent must infer the point made. For example, Rabbi Jesus (Jo 1:38) proved the resurrection of the body by citing Ex 3:6 I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob(Mark 12:36f). This at best proves only life after death, not the resurrection of the body UNLESS one deduces from the scene the impossibility of God not fulfilling His promises to these they would serve Him physically forever.
Jesus’ audience understood the implied premise:
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well. (Mar 12:26-28 KJV)
Compare:
'There is no section of the (written) Torah which does not imply the doctrine of the Resurrection, but we have not the capacity to expound it in this sense' (Sifre Deut. Section 306; 132a)
'Whence is the doctrine of the Resurrection derived from the Torah? As it is said, 'Ye shall give the Lord's heave-offering to Aaron the priest' (Num xviii. 28). But did Aaron live for ever to receive the offering? Is it not true he did not enter the land of Israel? Consequently the text teaches that he is to be restored to life (in the Hearafter) and will receive the heave-offering. Hence the Resurrection is deducible from the Torah (Sanh. 90b).
This and other examples can be in Abraham Cohen’s “Everyman’s Talmud” (Schocken Books, New York, 1995), -pp 358-359
While instructing Jews (Jas 1:1) on the “Law of Liberty” (1:25; 2:12), which is a salvation through faith by grace alone, and not by works of Mosaic Law, a disputer states James’ position, and his own economically:
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
Thou hast saving faith which according to your law of liberty, doesn’t require works, and I have faith that works of Mosaic Law can save.
Having stated both positions well, the “vain man” pounces on an apparent contradiction in James’ faith, apparently it cannot exist without works, therefore:
Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
“When you cite your works to prove you have saving faith, THEN you prove faith cannot exist without works and therefore prove my faith in works of Mosaic Law for salvation is correct.”
James' refutation is two fold:
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
a)Faith can exist without works, the demons have faith so real they tremble.
b)You believe your Orthodox faith saves? The Devils also have Orthodox faith---it didn’t save them, neither will it save you.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
With this proof in mind, will you agree faith without works of charity is dead, not a saving faith?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.(Jam 2:26-1 KJV)
James then analogizes Abraham and Rahab to living faith, similar to how works of love for God and man evidences its alive, so also the works of Abraham and Rahab justified (δικαιόω) calling them righteous.
God implanted faith is made perfect (Jas 2:22 τελειόω) when the works God ordained it do are actualized in our sphere (Eph 2:8-10) making the evidence its saving faith from God “sure” cp βέβαιος, 2 Pe 1:10) in the eyes of angels and men.
Now our target text, expecting the audience will see the connection, Paul says:
28 We know God interacts with everything in the best interests of those who love him, those called to implement his purpose.
29 Because he foreknew them, he also preplanned for them to conform to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 As for those he foresaw, he also called them; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What then is our response to these things? If God is on our side, what does it matter who is against us? (Rom 8:28-31 MIT WG MacDonald Idiomatic Translation of the New Testament, 2008)
Election is a fact in verse 28, not the subject. Paul is discussing all things working together for the elect’s good, and we know this is true BECAUSE (Ὅτι) God προέγνω καὶ προώρισεν the Elect, the two acts are cited as proof FOR the claim.
God did “Foreknow and (KAI) Predestine” those He had already elected, and this proves all things work together for their good.
The context has nothing to do with election per se, that’s why the non elect aren’t mentioned.
Its easy to see how predestination unto salvation is a benefit, but how did God's foreknowledge benefit us?
The context provides the clue:
33 Who can call into question God's chosen ones? God takes up for them.
34 Who would condemn us? Would Christ who died? Rather, he was raised, stationed at God's right, and also intercedes for us! (Rom 8:33-34 MIT)
Words injure…the allegation the elect aren't better than the Devil’s children would be a cut bleeding for all eternity, given survivors guilt.
Doubts about God’s justice, His impartiality, would be a plague killing our happiness.
Its impossible to predict what would develop from the delusion we didn't belong in God's Kingdom, that we really were no better than the Devil’s children who didn’t make it. Conceivably it could lead to another rebellion.
So God foreknows the elect in an alternate reality, where their free will was truly free, where the Devil never existed. And in that reality, none of the elect rebel against God like the Devil did, not one of them turn from loving God forever.
This proves God was not unjust saving them, and He was NOT showing partiality either, as He left the door open to the non elect and everyone of them had the opportunity to prove God’s foreknowledge wrong.
An analogy, suppose someone criticized the King’s choice of cars. The King has these cars in his fleet for his own reasons he won’t divulge to the critics. They are his, period. But to stop the criticism, he arranges a road test be done, to prove they are road worthy. The King didn’t reveal why he liked those cars---he likes them for his own good purpose and will, and NOT because of anything the cars themselves are or do, and its no one's business precisely why.
But he allows the test so his critics would know he didn’t choose cars that were unfit for the road. And if we stretch this analogy, the cars themselves needed to know, for their own peace of mind, lest they harbor some delusion they wrongly saved.
Then what is written, will be fulfilled:
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1Jo 3:8 KJV)
I am convinced not one child of God, not even a hair on their head, will be lost because of the devil's work. God will have utterly destroyed the works of the devil, and it will be (for us) as though the devil never been.
Amen, come LORD Jesus!
This is truly love before time.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (Rom 9:29 KJV)
It’s a sad commentary on us all, even many of those who love God, will succumb to the temptations of evil…and be eternally lost, if not for God’s mercy.
As the context in Rom 8 is not about election, reprobation is not implied.
Scripture is quite clear, the non elect can repent and live with God in peace. That was expressly stated by the LORD Jesus Christ, the Word of God:
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Gen 4:7 KJV)
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Mat 13:15 KJV)
If a non elect would repent in truth and believe, while yet far off, God would hasten to a meet on the road:
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
(Luk 15:18-24 KJV)
That's the kinda of God He is, Light (1 Jo 1:5) and Love (1 Jo 4:8).
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Rev 3:20-22 KJV)
END
Election clearly is separate from foreknowledge and predestination, for neither happened to the angels yet some of their number are elect also:
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. (1Ti 5:21 KJV)