“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified“
Romans 8:28–30
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Perhaps no other word provokes a stronger emotion in Christians than predestination. A quick survey of church history reveals numerous theological battles fought over the meaning of the word and its theological significance. The pastor-theologians who wrote the Westminster Confession of Faith were certainly wise in writing, “The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care.”1
Today we won’t discuss predestination and the numerous definitions and controversies that surround it, or insist on a certain framework of understanding what Paul means by this word. Rather, let us note that what Paul is speaking of when he says “predestination” is meant to be embraced with joy. The context of our passage demands it! “And we know that in all things,” Paul writes, “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He supports this by writing, “for those God foreknew he also predestined.” (emphasis mine) Thus, all things are unfolding to a joyful and good fulfillment. We will be “conformed to the image of his Son!”
Remember, in this letter to the Christians living in Rome, Paul has been discussing the hard-to-grasp idea that God is working in the Gentiles as well as in Israel. In their lifetime, the mystery of God’s redemption was demonstrated to be more vast and gracious than they had dreamed; yet this was what God had in mind—what He had predetermined—all along.
Verse 30, then, reveals to us the actions of grace, how it is that we are forever united to the Son: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Wherever we came from, whatever our background, when we are in Christ nothing can remove us from God’s work in our life. God’s gracious love is more vast than we can imagine or understand—and that is reason to rejoice.
1 Westminster Assembly. 1851. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What does it mean that God has planned this redemption from the beginning?
- How does this impact your view of God’s love and His work in your life and in your community?
Church Reading Plan: Ecclesiastes 5; 2 Timothy 1