Note: “The Pew” for the next few weeks will be a series of Bible Chapters that are a good read in these times of turmoil and uncertainty.  God’s word can and does bring comfort and peace to both believers and those seeking such in their lives. Today is the first of those Chapters…jk

Romans 8: 29 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. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.(NIV)

Jack Wellman in his article, “Good Chapters to Read During Tough Times”, refers to these two verses in Romans 8 as the “golden thread or chain of salvation.” In verse 29-30 there are some words we need to understand and for us who might need a little help with theological expression let’s start there. For the biblical meaning of foreknew… I reference this…

https://www.gotquestions.org  “The foreknowledge of God is far more than His ability to “see the future”; His foreknowledge is a true “knowing” of what will come to pass, based on His free choice. He decrees what will come to pass. In other words, foreknowledge is not just intellectual; it is personal and relational.”

Predestination is a doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save1. It means that God has a purpose that is determined long before it is brought to pass, and he is able to accomplish it2. Predestination does not mean that God determines all our actions, but that he has predetermined that all who are in Christ would be conformed to the image of Christ and adopted as children of God

Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous. Justification is an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of that sinner’s faith in Christ. According to one theologian, “the root idea in justification is the declaration of God, the righteous judge, that the man who believes in Christ, sinful though he may be, is righteous—is viewed as being righteous, because in Christ he has come into a righteous relationship with God” (Ladd, G. E., A Theology of the New Testament, Eerdmans, 1974, p. 437).

Glorified…reveal the majesty and splendor of (God) by one’s actions

These verses simply say…It is God who has done these things, not us and deserves all the glory. We find in verse 30 the fact that our security is in Jesus Christ and the Father, also that Christ is God.

Looking at other verses in this chapter 8 verse 8:28 gives us a perspective on life. In verse 8:18 we are given a reason to endure the present. Romans 8;1 gives us a clear conscience and of course verses 8:29-30 explains to us who is responsible for our salvation.Paul wraps it up in verse 8:37, we are conquerors, overcomes…but in Christ only. One thing God has provided for us in Hard Times.

Life is Good    

 jk     

References…https://www.christianity.com , http://biblestudytools.com