Chosen to be Glorified

Romans 8:29 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.

Peter declares this same truth in his first epistle.

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

To foreknow means to know beforehand. Predestinate is to “limit in advance, determine before.” Because He is God, He knew everything that ever would happen before He ever created one thing. (That truth alone poses many questions that I can’t begin to discuss.) The fact is that He knew in advance every person’s response to Him—whether it would be in faith and obedience or rejection and disobedience. Those who fell into the category of faith and obedience were predestined to be likened to His Son Jesus. Conformed means to be “jointly formed, similar.” I think this is talking about being redeemed in a glorified body and restored in fellowship as was intended from the creation. Jesus’ obedience to His Father and resurrection from the dead made Him the “firstborn among many brethren.” Although the scripture states that there will be few in comparison to the potential who will find salvation…

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

…this verse assures us that from the human perspective, the Lord will have many brethren—people who choose salvation.

The word firstborn also positions Jesus in the privileged position among the heirs in the family. The scripture states that the firstborn is to be given a double portion of the inheritance; he is also to occupy the position of spiritual and legal leadership in the family.

Romans 8:30 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.

This verse uses a different Greek word for called than is used in verse 28; this word simply means “to call forth, to bid.” It makes me think of the Lord as He called each of His 12 disciples. Those who have been predestined are called, singled out for service, and are justified; they are declared innocent and righteous, which means that they are no longer under condemnation. Being declared righteous assures us of the position of glory discussed in verse 18.

I may be simple, but I truly think people try to make the whole concept of predestination much more complicated than it is. If you just take the scripture for what it says, it makes good sense. For God to sovereignly choose to give man a will of his own and the ability to make choices in no way detracts from the fact that everything about our salvation is a work He does in us. Even our faith is His gift, we just have to accept it. Forced love is not real love. Forced faith is not true faith (and I am sure many Muslims would admit to that truth).