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. (Romans 8:29–30, KJV)
Called Before Time
Before we can get to Romans 8:30, Romans 8:29 is set before us. Foreknow in that verse means to know beforehand. Similarly, predestinate means to mark beforehand. So, this verse essentially says that anyone who God knew beforehand, he set them aside before time so that they would be image bearers of heaven. I don’t know about you, but that blows my mind. We often hear that God knew us in our mothers’ wombs (Jeremiah 1:5) and that he is the end and the beginning (Revelation 22:13), but to me this Scripture solidifies the magnitude of his love for us that he would place his hand on us before we made it Earth side to draw us back to him. What an intentional Savior.
The Progression to Glorification – Calling
We are left with Romans 8:30, which shows us how we move from predestination to glorification. We’ve already established the parameter that we must be foreknown before anything else. Then we are called. Called in this verse has many meanings, but the definition that seems most fitting says that we are invited or called by name. This speaks to intimacy and relationship with the Father. He already marked us, but now he knows us because as he chose us, we also chose him. And he has invited us to fellowship with him.
The Progression to Glorification – Justification
Once we are called, we are then justified. God makes us worthy of the calling he has placed on our life. He calls us righteous, he calls us pure and clean, and anything that is not like him, with loving correction, he helps us work on it. Because God is the only one that can call us in the capacity that he does, he is the only one that can mold us to fit the shape he’d like us to fit. This means no one can take away from us what God has freely given. God continues to perfect his work in us each day.
Glorification
Only after we’ve been foreknown, called, and justified are we then glorified. In this glorification we are held in honor, and our esteem is made known to others. We are trusted to listen to God and do what he says to do for the benefit of strengthening believers and converting new Christ-followers to join the fold.
It is an honor to be called by God and entrusted with his secrets. The process to glorification isn’t just for us but also to the benefit of the kingdom of God.
Featured photo by Ben White on Unsplash; in-text photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash
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