A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 56 Chapter 8:29 – 30

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 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.”
1. There are four most important words in this verse we need to define.

a. “For whom he did foreknow…” this word means - to know beforehand or ordain – Some will say “God looked into the future and saw who would believe and chose them, however this is a gross misunderstanding of this word. First, God is already in future by being “I Am” He has no future to look into, Secondly, it tells us that God –knew beforehand that is before the world was created whom He wanted to be His children, He selected them. This is the only true way to define this word because it also means to – ordain – appoint – which means – to set a person to a position by a choosing. 2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

b. “…he also did predestinate…” This word means - to limit in advance or to predetermine – While the word “predestinate” does have the meaning – foreknow – it cannot here because it would make no sense to say “For whom he did foreknow, he also did foreknow…” The word “predestinate” comes from two Greek words – pro – which means afore and - hor-id'-zo – which means to mark out, limit, ordain, or appoint. Meaning God before the world was created marked out those He ordained to be in the image of his Son or those who would be saved.

c. “…to be conformed to…” This word means - jointly formed, that is, (figuratively) similar: or fashioned like unto. The image of His Son which means one must be saved to be in the “image of His Son. So God by salvation jointly formed us to be similar or fashioned like unto Jesus Christ through salvation, which means He predetermined us to be.

d. “…image of his Son…” The word “image” means – likeness, representation, or resemblance, - of His Son, how can this be possible without salvation, therefore God foreknew us and predestinated us to be saved.

2. Acts 4:28 “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” All things were foreordained before the world and only come known as God will permits them. This is known as the hidden will of God or God’s mystery being revealed as He makes them known.
3. 1 Corinthians 2:7 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” How could God ordain glory for us if He wasn’t sure who would be saved, why if none were saved.
1. Verse 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.”
1. There are also four very important words in this verse not counting “predestinate” because we looked at it in verse 29.

a. Moreover - This word means – but, and, or now – however most agree here it means “and” because the word and means it is the continual expression from verse 28. This is important because it links verses 29 and 30 together which tells us predestination is still the main thought.

b. “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called…” in order to have the true context of this passage it should read this way using verses 29 and 30 together. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…And (or Moreover) whom he did predestinate, them he also called…” See why the word “moreover” is important! It is them that He per-determined to be His children or His elect He called.

c. “…and whom he called, them he also justified…” He called those that He predestinated before the foundation of the world to be “…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” verse 29. the word called here is not the general call but the chosen as found in Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Here the call is general but the chosen are the ones predestinated and call in verse 30. God will never call them that are not predestinated or elected before the foundation of the world. This also explains Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led (or called) by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. How can God be so sure they will come? Because He predestinated them to accept this call.

d. “…and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” The word justified means - regard as just or innocent – only those who are predestinated, and called will ever be justified or regarded as just or innocent. Let us remember what God said in Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” So now we see that we were predestined, called, and justified by His grace.

e. “…them he also glorified.” The word “glorified” means - to render glorious – I believe this word is a future word and brings us back to verse 29 “…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Remember the word “conformed” means - jointly formed – I believe this word glorified is the final step of that “conformed to the image of His Son” which will be when we receive our glorified bodies fashioned like unto His. At this point we will truly be conformed to the likeness of His Son and only at this point and it is at this point that salvation will be complete and that is absolutely complete. So this is truly a future word being likened to a word already present and is to God as every thing is present as the name “I Am” describes.

f. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14.) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

g. Add this; (past) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” + (Present) “them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:” = (future) “them he also glorified” or conformed to the image of his Son. The math of the Sovereignty of God gets no more simple to add.