Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Ro.8:29-30).
Many sincere Christians believe that this passage is speaking of people being predestined to salvation. However, when we look at the following passage we can see that the "called" are believers (them that love God) and it is those who are already believers and are already saved who are predestined:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. " (Ro.8:28-29).
The key to the teaching of this passage depends on an understanding of the meaning of the Greek word translated "for" found at the beginning of verse twenty-nine. The word is a conjuction which ties the two verses together, and the word means "the reason why anything is said to be or be done..it is added to a speaker's words to show what ground he gives for his opinion."
Here is another translation which makes the meaning even more clear:
"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters" (Ro.8:28-29; NET).
At Romans 8:29 Paul tells us why he says that "all things work together for good" for the saved, those he describes as the called: "because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son."
The reason why "all things work together for good" in regard to the saved is because the saved are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son. That will happen when the Lord descends from heaven and the saved will put on bodies just like his glorious body:
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. " (Phil.3:20-21).
The following verse is also speaking of the same destiny of those who are already saved:
"having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph.1:5).
That is the same "adoption" that is in regard to the redemption of the body:
"Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body" (Ro.8:23).
The redemption of our body" is referring to what will happen at the rapture when believers will put on glorious bodies just like the body of the Lord Jesus. The following verse is also referring to the same exact thing:
"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph.1:11).
Just two verses later we learn more about this inheritance" to which the saved of this present dispensation have been ordained:
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph.1:13-14).
The redemption of the purchased possession will happen on the day of redemption and the purchased possession is our new, glorious body:
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption...the redemption of our body" (Eph.4:30; Ro.8:23).
So we can understand that the verses which use the word "predestinate" in regard to a person's destiny are not speaking of anyone being predestinated to salvation but instead are in regard to those who are already saved putting on bodies like the glorious body of the Lord Jesus at the rapture.
Now let us look at the following verse and see if what is said is consistent with the idea that it is those who are already saved who are predestined to put on glorious bodies like the body of the Lord Jesus:
"Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Ro.8:30).
The Scriptures do reveal that the predestined (those saved) are called by the gospel. They also reveal that those already saved are justified and that those who are already saved are glorified. That happens when the LORD "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:6) and now the life of the Christian "is hidden with Christ" (Col.3:3).
Therefore, nothing that is said at Romans 8:30 contradicts the idea that when all of the verses which speak of people being "predestined" it is those already saved who are are predestined to put on glorious bodies just like the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
