Sermon Notes | The Assurance of Goodness and Glory | Romans 8:28-30

INTRODUCTION

Romans 8:18-30
"For I consider that the su erings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons
of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not wi ingly, but because of him who subjected
it, in hope that the creation itself wi be set ee om its bondage to corruption and obtain the
eedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been
groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we
ourselves, who have the rst uits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption
as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is
not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it
with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray
for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And
he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
saints according to the wi of God. And we know that for those who love God a things work
together for good, for those who are ca ed according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the
rstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also ca ed, and those whom
he ca ed he also justi ed, and those whom he justi ed he also glori ed."

Father, plant these words deep into our heart. Grant us understanding. Enlighten us.
Expand our vision of these things that we might be changed, and that You would receive
glory. We pray in Christ's Name. Amen

Romans 8:28-30
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed
to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the rst born among many brothers. And those
whom he predestined he also ca ed, and those whom he ca ed he also justi ed, and those whom
he justi ed he also glori ed."

And so we arrive at verse 28.

fr
fi
ll
ll
fi
fi
fi
fi
ll
ff
fr
ll
ll
ll
fr
ll
fr
fi
fi
ll
ll
fi
fi
ll
ll
 Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."

There is so much packed into this one verse alone, but to focus on all of that would
miss much, and be a betrayal of the intention of the Letter. Many systematic theologians
go here for doctrine, and in its place this is okay, but our aim is to focus on Paul's aim.
Paul's point was not to present a comprehensive doctrine on Providence and
predestination, though that is here, and is useful, but Paul's primary aim was to
'encourage believers', those living in the 'between' of the 'already and the not yet', those
su ering from sin, decay, and persecution.

Romans 8:31-39
"What then sha we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare his own Son but gave him up for us a , how wi he not also with him graciously give us
a things? Who sha bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justi es. Who is to
condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the
right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who sha separate us om the love of
Christ? Sha tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or
sword? As it is written,
'For your sake we are being ki ed a the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in a these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in a creation, wi be able to separate us om
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Therefore, there is, indeed, need for encouragement, and to that end, we remain
faithful to Paul's purpose and intent in the passage. And there is an abundance, a
wellspring of 'encouragement' here in this passage. We will consider it as a whole, using
verses 28-30 as our reference point.

I. THE ASSURANCE OF THE GOOD: (v. 28)

Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."

Paul writes, 'And we know'. We consider this against what we 'don't know', such as
that which we learned last week, 'that we don't know what to pray' ( thus causing prayer-
stopping anxiety). We don't know, but the Triune God does know, and He, the Holy
Spirit, works His Triune authority to help us in our prayer life. Let us note, the Word xes
on God! We are weak, but God is strong. We don't know, but God knows! Over and over
the Apostle Paul 'encourages' the Roman Christians, and us. We know God and His
work, and we know He is powerful. Therefore, we x our mind there, on God, on He
whom we know.
ll
ll
ll
ff
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
fi
ll
ll
fr
fi
fr
fi
 Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."

As we lie in the 'in between', the beginning and the end of awaiting 'glory', we do so
by the 'knowledge of God', for He has a 'plan and purpose', and He is Sovereign. Even as
Ancient Israel was directed towards God, so are we.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast
in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he
understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and
righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.'"

As in Israel through time, let us also boast that we know that 'He is the LORD who
practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness', for in these things He delights.

Colossians 1:9-10
"And so, om the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be
ed with the knowledge of his wi in a spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in
a manner worthy of the Lord, fu y pleasing to him: bearing uit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God."

Direct your prayers to this end then, that you be lled with the knowledge of Him,
'so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him… and increasing in
the knowledge of God,’ (Col. 1:10). Pray to know God. We live in light of what we know!
And we need to know what God's plan and purpose for the Cosmos are. This is Paul's
point. We live in the 'in between' but we know things about God and therefore we live by
them.

Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."

So, who are those who love God? It is not just believers. Many still 'claim' to love
God, even in this day and age, but for many this is a vague claim, for they love Him on
their own terms, and in their own way. And this is not really love for God. So how then
does God de ne love for Himself? How does He feel and say about love for Himself ?
What does that look like? We see His answer when He spoke to the newly delivered
people He rescued from Egypt. The LORD required them to respond rightfully, and
lawfully, to live by His commands. No more idols. No more bowing down to other gods.
He stated to them:
fi
ll
ll
ll
fr
fi
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
fr
fi
 Exodus 20:2-6
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
slavery. You sha have no other gods before me. You sha not make for yourself a carved image,
or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth, You sha not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the
fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who
love me and keep my commandments."

Yahweh states: "Keep My Commandments!" That is how you love Me!

The message is repeated again to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. Love God!

Deuteronomy 6:4-6
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one, You sha love the LORD your God
with a your heart and with a your soul and a your might. And these words that I command
you today sha be on your heart."

'Words on the heart' … The love of God is tied to the Words of God. There is no love
of God apart from the Words of God. Israel's love of God meant 'knowing His
Commands'. And there is no di erence from Old Testament times to Church times; we
must keep His Commands, and likewise the Words of Jesus. Jesus pointed this truth out.

John 14:15
"If you love me, you wi keep my commandments."

John 14:21
"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me
wi be loved by my Father, and I wi love him and manifest myself to him."

Those who love God and obey God, and keep His commandments, will be loved also,
states Jesus.

That is it! There is no rationalizing His commands, no forsaking His commands, no

twisting His commands. His commands are His Words, and His Words are His authority.
Let us not fall prey to the garden-old trap that says, 'Did God really say?' (as did the
serpent tempted in Genesis 3). No.

Those who love God keep the Commands of God! They long for God.

Psalm 42:1-2
"As a deer pants for owing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God."
ll
ll
ll
ll
fl
ll
ll
ll
ff
ll
ll
ll
ll
 Do you hear that yearning? It is not a horizontal yearning. No. It is a vertical
yearning. It is a yearning for God.

Psalm 63:1-2
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my esh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory."

This is the loving God, the longed for God, and the love for the things of God!

Psalm 119:97
"Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation a the day."

Psalm 45:6-7
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has
anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond
your companions…”

Do you love righteousness? Is your love like that of the Psalmist? Those who love
God hate the things that God hates.

Psalm 97:10
"O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them om the hand of the wicked."

Do not tolerate evil. Do not accommodate evil, or condescend to evil. Do not give
place to it, or rationalize it, or give a foothold to it. Love God, and hate evil! Love
righteousness, and hate evil. John states how necessary this is.

I John 1:5-10
"This is the message we have heard om him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him
is no darkness at a . If we say we have fe owship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie
and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fe owship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us om a sin. If we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us om a unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we
make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
fr
ll
ll
fl
fr
fr
ll
ll
fr
ll
ll
 I John 2:15
"Do not love the world or the things in the world, If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him."

Therefore, do not love the world, or anything in the world. In fact, you cannot love
God and love the world. You simply cannot. Why is this so? You cannot, because 'God is
a jealous God'. Love God, and hate the world. Love the things that God loves, and hate
the things He hates. No accommodating. No tolerance. And love God's people. Do you
love God's people? This is how we know. This is our assurance, if we have love for God's
people.

I John 3:14
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does
not love abides in death."

I John 4:7-8
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is om God, and whoever loves has been born of God
and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

To not love, is to not love God, for love is from God, and God is love. This is
foundational. We love because love comes from God, and God loved us rst.

I John 4:19
"We love because he rst loved us."

Loving the right way is impossible without God having loved us rst, and thus is the
key point: To love God one must be loved by God rst. It is connected. It has theological
weight. It de nes a speci c group of people, those 'called to His purpose'. And who are
then called? The justi ed; those of faith!

Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."

1. This verse of doctrine is so well known. It is 'truth' on so many levels. It does not say,
'some things' work together. No, it says 'all things', everything, nothing excluded, even
the bad things, all evil, my bad week. The Word states clearly, 'all things work together for
good'. His purposes are 'all good'. All things, good and evil, will work to 'the good'
because of the agency of God. Such is the doctrine of God's Providence. In this one verse
is 'God blessedness'. God is working, and 'all' circumstances, by and through Him, no
exceptions, are to bring about His purposes. By God's Providence every single thing in
our life is happening for His purposes to be made complete. God is using everything in
our life for His purpose, and His purposes are good!

The good purpose of Romans 8, that is 'the glory that is to be revealed to us', is
God's 'good' which is coming. It is what Creation is waiting for, and what we are 'waiting'
ll
fi
fi
fi
fi
fr
ll
fi
fi
fi
 for and are 'groaning' for. This is not the good of a clever or even a godly consultant. No,
it is the 'good' from and by God! This is 'good' that is 'unseen' now, yet it is 'good' that
has manifestations even now along the way. We don't always see this 'good' at the time,
but in hindsight we are able to see it. God gives us testimony to look back on and see
how He is working in our lives. It is the 'unseen' goodness, for God is at work in all
circumstances of each life. There is no 'non God' corner in our life. Nothing is too trivial,
nothing too evil, nothing too small for God's Providence.

Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

2. Verse 28 also states that 'all things' work together 'for good'. It does not say that 'all
things' will work out for our comfort, or convenience, our safety, or as we expect, or as we
would like, want or will. No. This verse states one blessed truth, that 'all things work
together 'for good'. All good, and all God. Good is not always what we think is good.
Good often hurts, and hurts a lot. Good is often not what we expect, or what we would
want. God's 'good' and God's will conform to His Son, to the image of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:27, 29
"And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for
the saints according to the wi of God. … For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers."

None of this can be true unless God is Sovereign. There is no other way. Chapters 9,
10 and 11 of Romans explores this truth further. God's plan and unfolding, the good and
bad, are seen from Ancient times, God working out the many details. We note Joseph,
who seemed doomed, having been ridiculed, sold, imprisoned, but Joseph understood it
di erently. He shares with his brothers that though they meant it for evil, God meant it
for good.

Genesis 50:20
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many
people should be kept alive, as they are today."

And Jeremiah speaks of Israel's exile, that when their seventy years of exile are
completed in Babylon, God still has plans for Israel. Just as He had plans for Joseph in
Egypt, God had a plan for Israel, both for the exile and for after.

Jeremiah 29:10
"For thus says the LORD; When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I wi visit you, and I
wi ful to you my promise and bring you back to this place."

Peter speaks of Jesus and how God arranged for His life here on earth by purpose
and plan.
ff
ll
fi
ll
ll
fi
ll
 Acts 2:23
"....this Jesus, delivered up according to the de nite plan and foreknowledge of God, you
cruci ed and ki ed by the hands of lawless men."

This was God working, through speci c intentions, and 'all for good'.

Acts 4:27-28
"... for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus whom you
anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do
whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place."

We re ect on God's work: His use of 'evil men' to bring about the cruci xion, His
use of 'evil brothers' to set Joseph in place to bring about salvation for Israel. We question
how the cry of 'Crucify Him' could possibly bring about redemption. Yet God had
worked out every last detail, and His plan and purpose made the way for His good
purposes. It was so for Israel. It was so for the Church. What of your circumstances, your
mourning, your sickness, your ill treatments, the corruption and evil surrounding you, the
wicked agendas facing you? 'All of it', 'all of these things' are being worked together for
the good of those who love God. This is 'the assurance of the good' as Sovereign God has
designed and predestined, for His purposes.

II. THE GLORY: (vv. 29-30)

Romans 8:29-30
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he
also ca ed, and those whom he ca ed he also justi ed, and those whom he justi ed he also
glori ed."

Theologians refer to these verses as the 'Golden Chain', a link of divine initiatives,
having divine inseparable connection, an observed detail between them, demonstrating
'eternal security': The thread linking that He 'foreknew' all the way to 'glory' for those
who love God. If you truly are in the chain, you will not be removed from it. Paul states
this in a rmation: He will hold us fast.

Philippians 1:6
"And I am sure of this that he who began a good work in you wi bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ."

Romans 8:29-30
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he
also ca ed, and those whom he ca ed he also justi ed, and those whom he justi ed he also
glori ed."
fi
fi
fi
ll
ll
ffi
fl
ll
fi
fi
ll
ll
fi
fi
fi
fi
ll
fi
fi
fi
 This is God working His plan, every part connected. This is the great decree of God.
It is 'the assurance of glory' from start to nish. What God speaks, God will bring to
pass. Yes, God will complete what He has begun. God initiated the plan. God carries out
the plan. God cuminates the plan. It is His work, not ours, and therefore there is no
concern. He 'foreknew' (v. 29), meaning that He knew beforehand.

1. 'Foreknew' is an Old Testament term meaning 'to know'. The implication from its
Hebrew word 'yada' is to suggest intimacy, as in husband and wife intimacy, coming
together and knowing each other.

Genesis 4:1
"Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 'I have gotten a man
with the help of the LORD'."

It was not about knowing facts and knowledge; it is about 'knowing someone'. Adam
knew his wife. It was a covenant relationship. And God knew you 'intimately' before you
could know Him. He knew you 'beforehand' in eternity past. Jeremiah writes of his own
intimate relationship with God, and the rst step of his being consecrated, for before his
birth, Jeremiah was appointed to be a prophet, before he was even conceived and knit in
his Mother's womb.

Jeremiah 1:4-5
"Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations'."

And therefore, we know that God has not rejected Israel, for God chose Israel to be
His in eternity past.

Romans 11:2
“God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of
Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?”

And therefore, Israel cannot be rejected, cannot lose their status. God 'foreknew'
Israel. Israel was chosen, and was 'intimately' set apart for God's purposes.

2. 'Foreknowledge' cannot be based on our future actions or else it would 'nullify' God's
grace. This stated implication is laid out plainly by one commentator.

"In His omniscience, God is certainly able to look to the end of history and beyond
and know in advance the minutest detail of the most insigni cant occurrence. So we
all say, 'Yes, of course, He can do that.' But did He? In salvation's case it is both
illogical and unbiblical to argue from that truth, that the LORD just looked ahead to
see who would believe and then chose that particular individual for salvation. If that
were true, salvation not only would begin with man's faith, but would make God
fi
fi
fi
 obligated to grant it. In such a scheme God's initiative would be eliminated and His
grace would be spoiled."

God initiated our salvation in 'eternity past'. He 'foreknew' us before we knew

anything. He 'foreknew' Jeremiah. He 'foreknew' Israel. And He 'foreknew' us. He set us
'apart' for Himself. He 'foreknew' us, He 'predestined' us, and bound us in His purposes
in a 'prior way'. Before we knew God, God called us and set us apart to be conformed to
His Son.

Romans 8:29
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers."

It does not say 'predestined' to salvation (although that is a necessary prerequisite of

Christ conformity). It does say that we are 'predestined' to His will and purposes.

Ephesians 1:11
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of
him who works a things according to the counsel of his wi ."

Ephesians 1:3-6
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for
adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his wi , to the
praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

But to focus in on our Romans 8 text, after God 'foreknew' you He purposed you to
be conformed to His Son. Yes salvation was required, but ultimately His purpose was
'slave transfer' so that you might become Christ-like, conformed to His image. This is
what you were 'predestined' for, to be Christ-like, so that you would live life as you ought.

Romans 8:29
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers."

This is a matter of 'identity'. It is family language; Christ the eldest brother, the
' rstborn' of all Creation.

Colossians 1:15, 18
"He is the image of the invisible God, the rstborn of a creation. … And he is the head of the
body, the church. He is the beginning, the rstborn om the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent."

Christ, the ' rstborn', is the ' rstfruit', the rst before us. He is Head of the Church.
Christ was rst in death, rst in resurrection, rst in a glori ed body.
fi
fi
ll
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fr
fi
fi
ll
ll
fi
ll
 Romans 8:23
"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the rst uits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

This was God's plan, from eternity past, Christ before us, and then we too; death
rst, and then resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:35-36, 40-57

"But someone wi ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' You
foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. … So is it with the resurrection
of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in weakness; it
is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural
body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, 'The rst man Adam became a living
being', the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is rst but the
natural, and then the spiritual.The rst man was om the earth, a man of dust; the second man
is om heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of
heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust,
we sha also bear the image of the man of heaven. I te you this, brothers; esh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I te you a
mystery. We sha not a sleep, but we sha a be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet wi sound, and the dead wi be raised imperishable,
and we sha be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal
body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal
puts on the immortality, then sha come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swa owed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

God created Adam and Eve in His image to worship and live for Him. But they
rebelled and separated themselves from God, and all after them. His image was marred.
God's plan was renovation and renewal. And God sent Christ. God's plan was to bring a
'remnant' of humanity back to restore through the 'elder brother'. Christ went rst. It
was Christ's conformity that is the implication of your salvation. It was/is an unstoppable
process.

Romans 8:30
"And those whom he predestined he also ca ed, and those whom he ca ed he also justi ed, and
those whom he justi ed he also glori ed."

Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God a things work together for good, for those who are
ca ed according to his purpose."
fi
fr
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
fi
ll
ll
fi
fi
ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
fr
ll
fi
fi
fr
ll
ll
fl
fi
fi
ll
fi
 God 'called', 'justi ed', and 'glori ed'. The idea is that the 'purposed' ones are the
'called' ones. He 'foreknew', 'predestined', and 'called'; this is not a general call. While
there is a general call, one that is not speci c, in Romans 10, the Romans 8 call is 'an
e ectual call', an inward call to the heart. To receive this call means that you were
'foreknown' and 'predestined' to be 'conformed' to the Son. This 'call' cannot be resisted.
It is part of God's 'plan'. He is not calling just anyone to Christ's 'conformity'. If God has
called the 'foreknown' and the 'predestined', it would make no sense to resist, for this is a
'holy calling'. It is speci c, not general, and it is a 'calling' given before the ages began.
This is God 'calling' His own; it is an 'e ectual call' to those whom the Father draws.

II Timothy 1:9
“[God], who saved us and ca ed us to a holy ca ing, not because of our works but because of his
own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

John 6:37
"A that the Father gives me wi come to me, and whoever comes to me I wi never cast out."

John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I wi raise him up on the
last day."

The Father 'draws' those whom He has 'called', but not all are 'called' and 'drawn'.
How do we reconcile this? Jesus said:

Matthew 22:14
"For many are ca ed, but few are chosen."

Many are 'called' generally. This is the heart of the Gospel. But few are 'chosen'; few
receive the 'e ectual call', few have been 'predestined'. This elective calling, this new
position in Christ, was previously covered in Romans 3, 4 and 5. It deals with
'justi cation' and new 'righteousness' in Christ.

Romans 3:22a, 24
"... the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for a who believe... and are justi ed
by his grace as a gi , through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

But before we were 'justi ed', we were 'pre-known' and 'called'. It is an unbreakable
link!

Romans 8:29
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the rstborn among many brothers."

Those He 'justi ed' He 'glori ed'. It is a process. 'Justi cation' is not the end. 'Glory'
is yet to be rewarded.
ff
ll
fi
ff
ll
ft
fi
fi
fi
fi
ll
ll
fi
fi
fi
ff
ll
fi
ll
fi
ll
ll
fi
 Romans 8:18
"For I consider that the su erings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory
that is to be revealed to us."

Romans 8:30
"And those whom he predestined he also ca ed, and those whom he ca ed he also justi ed, and
those whom he justi ed he also glori ed."

"He also glori ed." This is the completed action of the process. We note the past
tense of the statement. Why is this?

1. We are not yet glori ed in body, but if a Christian, the Holy Spirit is in you. You have a
'regenerated' heart and therefore a 'glori ed' soul.

2. He has decreed it to be so "in eternity come" and therefore it is done.

Psalm 2:7
"I wi te of the decree:
The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son;
today I have begotten you."

Therefore it is done, and will be done, joined together with other complete actions:
'foreknown', 'predestined', 'chosen', and 'justi ed'.

Salvation starts out and moves toward 'glory' building upon the image of the Creator,
continually being transformed into the image of Christ. This is 'glory' unfailing.

Colossians 3:9b-10
"... you have put o the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being
renewed in knowledge a er the image of its creator."

II Corinthians 3:18
"And we a , with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image om one degree of glory to another. For this comes om the Lord who is the Spirit."

One simple takeaway. The sin, the su ering, the groaning and grief, the hardship, and
persecution yet to come, etcetera, all the things that are yet to come, all are being worked
out for 'our glory' in Him. Therefore be encouraged in that because of, and in Christ. He
is our assurance.
ll
ll
ll
fr
ff
fi
fi
ft
fi
ff
fi
ll
fi
ff
fi
fr
ll
fi