(Rom 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
(Rom 8:29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.
(Rom 8:30) But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30, in fact the entire Chapter 8, is solely about saved people. These are believers "in Christ" who are indwelt and regenerated. The historical context is that believers are witnessing loved ones being butchered for their faith and Paul wants to console his audience and to encourage them to stay the course by explaining to them their standing with God and the glory that awaits them.
Notice that "Glorified" is past tense so it's a perspective of God from a future standpoint, looking back in time (past tense for God),
God foreknew (from His prespective, προέγνω) or foreknows (from our perspective) that believers (Paul's audience) are predestined to be conformed to the Image of Christ. A critical factor to note is that one is known (γνωσθέντες) by God only after one comes out of his former ways (Gal 4:9). That does not detract from God's omniscience. It means that we are now relationally known by God now that we are His adopted sons through Christ. This clearly shows that Rom 8:28-30 is about the guaranteed future of the believer ONLY, not about lost people being elected to glorification.
The calling is vocational as all Christians are Called by God (Eph 4:1, 2 Tim 1:9), and Paul even refers to them as the Called-Out ones (Rom 1:6). The Roman audience is already saved so Paul is not referring to a Gospel calling when he mentions "Called" in Rom 8:28-30. Paul exhorts them to walk worthy of the calling with which they are called by God. They do that through their God preordained good works, such as correctly teaching, preaching, and passing on the Word of God, for the purposes of spreading the Kingdom of God on Earth.
To be Justified is after one believes (Acts 13:39) which is the case here with all believers.
To be Glorified is the believer's Predestination to Adoption (Eph 1:5), to the Redemption of the Body (Rom 8:23).
(Rom 8:29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.
(Rom 8:30) But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 8:28-30, in fact the entire Chapter 8, is solely about saved people. These are believers "in Christ" who are indwelt and regenerated. The historical context is that believers are witnessing loved ones being butchered for their faith and Paul wants to console his audience and to encourage them to stay the course by explaining to them their standing with God and the glory that awaits them.
Notice that "Glorified" is past tense so it's a perspective of God from a future standpoint, looking back in time (past tense for God),
God foreknew (from His prespective, προέγνω) or foreknows (from our perspective) that believers (Paul's audience) are predestined to be conformed to the Image of Christ. A critical factor to note is that one is known (γνωσθέντες) by God only after one comes out of his former ways (Gal 4:9). That does not detract from God's omniscience. It means that we are now relationally known by God now that we are His adopted sons through Christ. This clearly shows that Rom 8:28-30 is about the guaranteed future of the believer ONLY, not about lost people being elected to glorification.
The calling is vocational as all Christians are Called by God (Eph 4:1, 2 Tim 1:9), and Paul even refers to them as the Called-Out ones (Rom 1:6). The Roman audience is already saved so Paul is not referring to a Gospel calling when he mentions "Called" in Rom 8:28-30. Paul exhorts them to walk worthy of the calling with which they are called by God. They do that through their God preordained good works, such as correctly teaching, preaching, and passing on the Word of God, for the purposes of spreading the Kingdom of God on Earth.
To be Justified is after one believes (Acts 13:39) which is the case here with all believers.
To be Glorified is the believer's Predestination to Adoption (Eph 1:5), to the Redemption of the Body (Rom 8:23).
