Whom God Foreknew, He Predestined
Romans 8:29-30
Introduction
This morning I am going to share on the 2 verses in Romans 8 that can be very controversial if not handled properly
Remember 2 weeks ago, we looked at vs 28 and saw that in all things God works out in our lives according to His purpose
Well what is His purpose? Is the same for me as for Tommy? Or Jack? Or Heather?
Let’s look and see if God’s purpose is revealed in the verses of Romans 8:29-30
Romans 8:29-30 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Pray
In looking at these verses we must first realize that…
1. God Foreknows
What does God foreknow? EVERYTHING!
There is never anything that catches Him off-guard
• He never says “Didn’t see that coming” or “Hindsight is 20/20”
Why? Because He knows everything before it ever begins or ends
He knows the beginning and the ending of it all
The word here “foreknow” means “to have knowledge beforehand”
So in looking at this part of the verse, we have to say that God foreknows ALL
So, He foreknew…before the foundation of the world…who would be saved CAN I GET A WITNESS?
Isa 42:9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Expound
Trans: Secondly, not only does God Foreknow but…
2. He Predestined Us to Be Conformed
The word “predestined” in the Greek is “prarezo” which means “to predetermine, or decide beforehand”
God not only knows everything ahead of time but He is able to predetermine or decide beforehand what happens
What is God saying in this passage that God has predestined?
He predestined those that would receive His Son to be conformed to His Image
In other words, the longer we walk with God, the more we should begin to look like Jesus!
God’s main desire and purpose for our lives is to conform us to the image of His Son
Why? Because He is preparing us for our future…to be seated in the heavens and to reign with Him
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Trans: Not only did God predestine us but…
3. He Called, Justified, and Glorified
Those that God has predestined that would be saved…He called
God chose you and He chose me…we did not choose Him until He called us into His Kingdom
Mark 13:20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
John 15:16, 19 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit; If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Romans 1:6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
So we see that God has called those that are His…He chose them; predestined them to be conformed to the image of Christ
It says He also justified those that He called
That word “justified” means that we are treated as righteous because of Christ
We are only righteous because of what Christ did…He justified us to God through His shed blood...just as if we had never sinned
Justification comes by way of faith…believing what Jesus did to make us in a right standing with God
Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
And those that He justified He also glorified
That word “glorified” means “to clothe in splendor or to make something of tremendous value or to give honor to”
God has clothed us in His splendor; scripture says we are the apple of His eye
He gives us the same honor as He has given to His Son Jesus…to one day be seated in the heavens with Him
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
You do not yet see the glorified Jimmy yet because I am not yet in my glorified state.
That is a future experience that you and I will have in our resurrected bodies
In our glorified state, God will finally complete the work He began in you and me
Phil 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
When He says “until” He tells us at that time it will be complete…we will be glorified in Him.
Conclusion
At the beginning I ask if God’s purpose is the same for Heather, Tommy, or Jack and I would say ABSOLUTELY YES!
Because those whom he has called…he has predestined to be conformed to the Image of His Son
That we may declare His wonderful praises to all that are around us
God’s main purpose for your life and my life is to conform us to the image of His son…to be more Christ-like with every passing day
So my question is…are you being conformed? Are you allowing God to do His work to conform you to His Son?
What is it that helps us to be conformed…It is His Word and through His word God will transform and conform you to be like His Son Jesus
Pray
