"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. What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?"
Rom. 8:29-31
Have you ever heard the quote from Benjamin Franklin, called "For Want Of A Nail"?
Justified (Greek: εδικαιωσεν - dikaioo, to render just or innocent.)
After the call is made by God upon a man, that man is led to a saving belief in Jesus Christ. That man acknowledges his sinful nature, and repents of those sins; past, present, future. What happens when a man calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus?
Rom. 8:29-31
Have you ever heard the quote from Benjamin Franklin, called "For Want Of A Nail"?
For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for the want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for the want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail.
This is that calling. To be called forth.I just wanted to make the point that it can be rather amazing how one thing can lead into another, which leads into another.
Our study today focuses on just such a listing of interdependencies. As we start in verse twenty-nine and read through verse thirty, we have a list of things that apply to those who would become Christians. Let's take a look at that list:
Foreknow (Greek: προεγνω - proginosko, to know beforehand.)
So, we were known beforehand. Before what? Well, let's see if the Bible can shed some light on that:
Our study today focuses on just such a listing of interdependencies. As we start in verse twenty-nine and read through verse thirty, we have a list of things that apply to those who would become Christians. Let's take a look at that list:
- foreknow
- predestinate
- called
- justified
- glorified
Foreknow (Greek: προεγνω - proginosko, to know beforehand.)
So, we were known beforehand. Before what? Well, let's see if the Bible can shed some light on that:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
Jer. 1:5
Jer. 1:5
This was God talking to Jeremiah. He said to the prophet-to-be that He knew him before conception. God also lets Jeremiah know that He has already decided on the path that Jeremiah will follow throughout his life. So, it is safe to say that before time began (even if it's just the time of the individual person, although it is probably much, much earlier than that), God had foreknowledge of each person that was yet to be born, and had already set their life to fulfill His will. Sort of kills any notion that we have any kind of "free will" in the decisions of our life's path, don't you think?
Predestinate (Greek: προωρισεν - proorizo, to limit in advance, to predetermine, or to ordain.)
God has always been a selector of people. He chose the Israelites over all the other races. He chose Abram out of many. He chose Noah out of a world. He chose Jacob over Esau. He chose each and every one of us. And, in so doing, He established the limits and directions of our lives in advance of our even being alive. We see the harmony to this statement here:
Predestinate (Greek: προωρισεν - proorizo, to limit in advance, to predetermine, or to ordain.)
God has always been a selector of people. He chose the Israelites over all the other races. He chose Abram out of many. He chose Noah out of a world. He chose Jacob over Esau. He chose each and every one of us. And, in so doing, He established the limits and directions of our lives in advance of our even being alive. We see the harmony to this statement here:
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Eph. 1:5-6
Called (Greek: εκαλεσεν - kaleo, to bid or call forth.)
We know that our earlier readings have shown us that man in his unsaved state was filled with hatred towards God, until God gave him faith to believe. Once that faith was imparted to a man, there was an irresistible urge to call upon Jesus.
Eph. 1:5-6
And what was it that we were predestined for? To be made to fit into the pattern established by Jesus, so that He could be the firstborn among many brothers (and sisters.)
Called (Greek: εκαλεσεν - kaleo, to bid or call forth.)
We know that our earlier readings have shown us that man in his unsaved state was filled with hatred towards God, until God gave him faith to believe. Once that faith was imparted to a man, there was an irresistible urge to call upon Jesus.
Justified (Greek: εδικαιωσεν - dikaioo, to render just or innocent.)
After the call is made by God upon a man, that man is led to a saving belief in Jesus Christ. That man acknowledges his sinful nature, and repents of those sins; past, present, future. What happens when a man calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus?
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Rom. 10:13
Rom. 10:13
Calling upon Jesus for salvation is an act of faith. That faith is an act of grace by God to man; a gift freely given. The gift of gracious faith leads to belief in Jesus. Belief on Jesus results in the believer being rendered innocent of sins in the eyes of God. That man is justified.
Glorified (Greek: εδοξασεν - doxazo, magnified, full of honor, esteemed.)
Like we had discussed in a previous post, the man that is saved is adopted into the family of God as a child, a younger brother to Jesus Christ. That former sinner becomes an heir in same way as Jesus. By being related to Jesus in such a way, he gets to share in His glory. He inherits glorification.
So, in summary, those that He knew all about before they were conceived, He had already had made plans for. And Those that He had plans for, he called to Himself. Those that He called out, He made clean and innocent. Those that were made clean and innocent would be made heirs to honor and glory that belong to the first born of the family of God, Jesus Christ.
Seeing how God orchestrated each and every step that a Christian follows, knowing how God has planned every action and event in our lives, what is the very next thing Paul says in verse thirty-one?
Glorified (Greek: εδοξασεν - doxazo, magnified, full of honor, esteemed.)
Like we had discussed in a previous post, the man that is saved is adopted into the family of God as a child, a younger brother to Jesus Christ. That former sinner becomes an heir in same way as Jesus. By being related to Jesus in such a way, he gets to share in His glory. He inherits glorification.
So, in summary, those that He knew all about before they were conceived, He had already had made plans for. And Those that He had plans for, he called to Himself. Those that He called out, He made clean and innocent. Those that were made clean and innocent would be made heirs to honor and glory that belong to the first born of the family of God, Jesus Christ.
Seeing how God orchestrated each and every step that a Christian follows, knowing how God has planned every action and event in our lives, what is the very next thing Paul says in verse thirty-one?
"What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?"
This verse is absolutely amazing, incredible and infinite in it's value. When confronted with the whole design of how God brought us "from there to here", what words could we possibly say? It is almost beyond comprehension just how great a love God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit has for each of us. To do the things that He has done for us saps the strength of reason from our hearts and minds, leaving us with just awe and wonder. Yet, Paul gives us the most perfect, God-inspired answer to this revelation:
"If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?"
Truth is, if God has been (and continues to be) for us, nothing can ever hope to stand in any way against us. Not satan, not demons, not false christians, not friends, not family...not even our old fleshly selves. Or as Jesus said:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world."
1 John 4:4
John 16:33
And John confirms:
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world."
1 John 4:4
Be of good cheer! It won't be long until we all stand together with the biggest, happiest, most love-filled family ever created!
Next time, we see that our Father is bigger than their father....
Grace and Peace....
Next time, we see that our Father is bigger than their father....
Grace and Peace....
