A Study in Romans 8:28-30 5 Words for the Christian Life
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
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5 Words for the Christian Life
Foreknew, Predestined &
Called
Read Romans 8:28-30. What are some of the things that are difficult to understand or that stand out to you?
This passage in Romans has often been called the golden chain of salvation. It is little wonder why given the list here of the great things that God has done for us as believers in him. Despite the beauty of Paul’s writing, this passage is also the cause of some of the most heated theological debates. This is primarily due to three words – foreknew, predestined and called. These words raise questions about a doctrine which as Michael Bird puts it is ‘one of the most controversial and heated’ theological areas. In simple terms the doctrine of predestination is concerned with the basis that people are chosen for salvation. The doctrine is easy to oppose when it is taken from the Biblical context. Because of this it is important that we examine what the Bible has to say.
Before beginning any discussion on predestination, it is important to realise that we may bring our own preconceptions. What might be some of yours?
Issues regarding predestination primarily revolve around two different doctrinal position. First, Calvinism believes that salvation is entirely based upon the sovereignty of God. It rightly understands that people are predisposed to evil and are unable to choose that which is good. Given this, salvation is bestowed on people by God’s will and is unable to be refused. Thus this position is able to emphasise that salvation is by the grace of God alone. Some of the significant problems that are raised by this viewpoint are how Jesus could die for the sins of the whole world when
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5 Words for the Christian Life salvation is not given to all, and if God choose some to be saved what happens to the other people.
How do you understand the challenges to Calvinist view and how could you resolve them?
The second position is called Arminianism. This position agrees that all people are evil but, based on God’s knowledge of who would respond to his offer of salvation, he gives them a special gift of grace. This emphasises the role of human choice in salvation and seeks to make sense of Jesus universal work on the cross. The significant challenge with this position is that in emphasising human choice it seems to suggest that salvation requires a combination of grace and work (in making the decision).
How do you reconcile the challenges to the Arminian view?
Which of the two positions do you lean toward? Why?
In order to make sense of these varying viewpoints, we need to look at how the words work out in the context of the passage. The key word in the passage is ‘foreknowledge’. It does not mean to know in advance but rather to know relationally. The word is synonymous with fore-loved. In other words it suggests that God has chooses those whom he will show his love to for salvation. The word therefore seems to lean toward a Calvinist understanding. However it is important to remember the context that Paul is writing in. Verse 28 makes it clear that Paul is directly speaking to those who are saved in Christ. I do not believe that he is trying to enter into a debate about how salvation works or who may be saved. So Paul’s statement is not about who but for what purpose. He is giving those who are saved an incredible assurance of who they are in Christ. What is clear is those who are saved are in a living relationship with God and are predestined and called to become like Jesus in the world in which they live.
How does Paul’s framing foreknowledge, predestine and calling in terms of Christ likeness help to inform the theological arguments that exist?
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5 Words for the Christian Life
So what do we make of the Calvinist-Aminian debate? As I write this, off to my right there is a door. On the outside it says ‘entry’ but as I look across at it now, it says ‘exit’. Which of these labels is right? Is it an entry or an exit? It depends on perspective. I think that this is true when it comes to the doctrine of predestination. From our perspective we enter into salvation through a door marked ‘choice’ but when we look back we can see that it is also marked ‘chosen’. Paul is not trying to make a case for either but to show that the destination is to be like Christ.
It is most likely that Paul’s expectation of being transformed into the image of Christ is eschatological. How does, Paul linking this to foreknowledge and predestination, give you an assurance that God never gives up on you? How can this help you to pray for people you know who don’t know him?
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5 Words for the Christian Life
Justified
Read Romans 8:28-30. What are some of the things that are difficult to understand or that stand out to you?
Whenever we look at one passage from the Bible, it is important to remember that it is part of a bigger picture. That is to say that when Paul wrote Romans 8:28- 30 it is a continuation of the ideas which have gone before in the book. From a practical standpoint this means that to get the most out of Bible reading, it needs to be done by reading whole books. This is especially the case when it comes to the term justified. Here Paul simply lists it as one of the things that God does for us as believers. He is able to do this because of his extensive unpacking of the word in chapter 5.
Read Romans 5. In your own words, what is Paul talking about when he uses the term justified?
An all-time classic movie scene is when Tom Cruise’s character is questioning Jack Nicholas in A Few Good Men . Of course it is so memorable because of the line ‘you can’t handle the truth.’ This is the scene that we are supposed to be transported to when Paul says that believers are justified. Justification is a legal word and so when Paul uses the term he is expecting us to enter into an imaginary court room. He has set the scenario up well in chapters 1-4 by arguing for the utter sinfulness of humanity, which even though it began with Adam, is so pervasive that all have been infected. By contrast he has also shown the complete righteousness of God and humanity’s inability to ever live up to God’s standard. The result is punishment. This judgement is necessary after all a judge who acquits the guilty is in fact being unrighteous. Biblically justification and righteousness share the same root word. This shows the intrinsic relationship between the two
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5 Words for the Christian Life concepts. Although for many the word righteousness probably conjures up ideas regarding correct behaviour, the Biblical use of the word lends itself to the fulfilment of living according to a relationship. Thus righteousness is living accordingly in a Godly relationship. The question is whether we can ever truly live like this? Paul’s answer is yes and no. Earlier Paul has made it clear that we cannot, yet now he clearly states that we are. Notice that it is not us who justify ourselves but God.
Romans 3:23 says that we have all sinned and deserve death. How do you resolve the fact that God is righteous but has also justified us?
Integral to our Christian belief is the concept of the atonement. This literally asks what it would take for us to be restored with God. In the atonement we understand that Jesus as the Son of God is righteous and in his death willingly bore the punishment of God for sinful humanity. That in itself though does not simply justify us. We still face the insurmountable problem of righteous living. This is where the doctrine of justification has two variations. Firstly there is a belief in ‘imparted righteousness’. This means that justification is continuously at work in our lives as it creates us for the righteous life. This is done through sanctification. In other words, without denying the Holy Spirit’s role, this is one’s own righteousness. The second view, is of ‘imputed righteous’. This is the belief that through Jesus our unrighteousness is removed and Christ’s righteousness is put on instead. So when God looks at us, he sees only the righteousness of Jesus. It is important to realise here that this view does not make sanctification irrelevant, but understands it as a separate process.
Which of the two understandings of righteousness do you see as being correct? Why?
Finally, we must ask the questions of whether this really matters. Our answer must be yes because this is what God has done for us. This is our story. According to the view of imputed righteousness, we are already justified through Jesus Christ. In other words the verdict is in. Even when we sin God sees Christ’s righteousness. What assurance this should give us to know that our relationship with God is concrete because of Jesus. We do not need to fear that God will cut us off when we fail him. We can simply trust in his continuing work in our lives.
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5 Words for the Christian Life
In our ever changing world, how does knowing that justification is based on Jesus rather than our own work help you to be able to trust in the faithfulness of God? What are some of the ways that you can share this with others?
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5 Words for the Christian Life
Glorified
Read Romans 8:16-19. What are some of the things that are difficult to understand or that stand out to you?
Paul’s final word for what God has done for believers is ‘glorified’. This may seem a strange word especially as ‘humility’ is something we are supposed to exhibit as followers of Christ. None-the-less glorification is something that Paul is led to include. In one way the idea of glorification is a really neat way for him to end his summery of faith. He begins in eternity past with God’s foreknowledge and now with glorification finishes in eternity future. In doing this he demonstrates the sheer scope of the sovereignty of God. He is in control at all times both past and future, and even now, in working all things for good. Paul’s conclusion of the glorification of believers is not just dropped into verse 30. Instead it seems to resound from the start of this section of Romans. Significantly for Paul our glorification is not really about us. Rather he makes it clear that it is about glorifying Jesus. His reasoning is simple, we are glorified because we are heirs with Christ, and we are glorified to bring glory to God.
We all have the in-built ability to think of ourselves first. How does it feel to realise that glorification is ultimately not about us?
The first question that we must ask is what it means to be glorified. Paul does not give explicit details on his meaning here, but verse 19 gives a clue. It seems that central to the hope of all of creation is a glorified humanity. This may sound strange but in order to understand we need to go back to the beginning. Genesis has two things to teach about the origins of humanity. First, humans were the prize of all creation and second, they were created in God’s image. Through sin humanity has been tainted but through Christ believers are being brought back to this original glory. Ultimately this is not something that we presently experience
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5 Words for the Christian Life but we look forward with hope for when Jesus will return. Glorification, then, is an eschatological expectation that God will restore his followers to a stage that is without the effects of sin.
How has this understanding of glorification helped you to understand Paul’s use of the term in Romans 8:31? Is there anything that does not seem to fit?
As we have seen glorification is generally understood as being a future event. This is particularly true when we look at our own experience. Although we may have come into a saving relationship with God, we do not feel like we have been glorified. We are still prone to sinfulness and unrighteous living. Even though we may now have some understanding of what God intended in creation, it is different from the world we live in. If our experience tells us one thing, it is that glorification is something that we are waiting for. Paul does not use the term in this way. The tense that he adopts is usually understood as being past tense. This is strange. Is he trying to say that we should be experiencing glorification now? I do not believe that this is the point he is making. The fact that he points to creation waiting and groaning shows that he is expecting a future event. Instead Paul is making a theological point. He is so certain of glorification that he can talk about it as a past event. In speaking of glorification in the past tense Paul is echoing his words in Philippians 1:6 – ‘I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.’
How does Paul’s certainty in glorification show you the faithfulness of God? How does this affect your daily life?
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5 Words for the Christian Life
So What Now?
Read Romans 8:31-39. What are some of the things that are difficult to understand or that stand out to you?
Has Paul had a point to what he has written in vv.28-30 or has he simply gotten carried away in what God has done for believers? It may seem like he temporarily left the argument that he has been making in his praise of God until we get to v. 31. Now he calls for a response from his readers.
As you read vv. 31-39, what is the response that you have? How does this seem to echo what Paul is writing?
The passage can be divided fairly easily into two sections. The first vv. 31-34 emphasises the efficacy of what God has done for us. In other words, Paul takes the truth that God has foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified believers and begins to develop these concepts. Firstly believers can have confidence in God’s work on their behalf because of the great cost – that of sacrificing Jesus (v.32). If some were tempted to question the purpose of all of this, Paul’s pre-emptive answer is justification. God gave Jesus and God is the one who justifies (v. 33). We live in a world of broken promises, disappointments and quick fixes that don’t work – how can we be sure that Jesus’ work was effective? If it was not could our salvation be at risk? Could God simply change his mind? Could justification have a use by date? As if to answer these types of questions, Paul unpacks the work of Jesus in four ways to assure Christians. 1. Our unrighteousness is removed in Jesus. It is Jesus, and not us, who died upon the cross carrying our guilt and condemnation. 2. Jesus’ sacrificial death is shown to be effective because he was raised back to life and promises to do likewise for those who follow him.
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5 Words for the Christian Life
3. Jesus was lifted to the right hand of God and as such holds all things in his power. Further this shows the eternal nature of his sacrifice. 4. Jesus is interceding for believers before God. His work on our behalf is not finished but goes on. In other words, we can be sure that God is faithful because we are not simply abandoned to our own devices once we are justified, but Jesus continues to act for us.
In what ways does this help you to have assurance in God’s salvation? How does this contrast to some of the things that you may have heard about salvation? How can your life reflect your assurance of salvation?
The second part of the passage, from vv. 35-39, has more of a poetic flow to it. Paul is a realist. He does not want believers to confuse the great benefits that they have in Christ with a comfortable life. Salvation is assured but that doesn’t make things easy. The context of Romans makes this clear. Verses 16-18 reveal the reality of the suffering that Paul writes into. Suffering for believing in Jesus is a personal thing for Paul as is seen in his list in 2 Cor. 11:24-28. Yet in all of these things God has not abandoned him. I can imagine him thinking about Stephen as he writes. The story in Acts 7 recalls the first Christian martyr at whose death Paul is not merely present but supporting. Stephen’s vision of Jesus at the right hand of God must have reminded Paul that in spite of suffering and death Jesus is present with the believer. It is a paradox that death may seem to conquer Christians, but as Paul states, through Jesus death has been overcome. Finally in verse 38 Paul brings his summation of life in Jesus Christ. The eloquence of this passage almost calls the reader to continue in ever-increasing wonderment at the scope of the faithfulness of God. His love for his people cannot be separated by anything whether it be mortality, spiritual powers, time, space or environment. In all circumstances God is with the believer working on their behalf according to his good purpose.
Are you aware of God’s love in your everyday life? Is God’s love simply theoretical or do you experience it? What would it take for you to know his love to a greater extent? What would your life look like?
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5 Words for the Christian Life
Glossary
Arminianism The doctrine that understands election in terms of God’s foreknowledge of who would respond to his offer of salvation. Total depravity of humanity Conditional election based on God’s foreknowledge Unlimited atonement – God died for all people Resistible Grace Loss of salvation is a possibility
Atonement Literally “at one with”. The atonement is the required sacrifice to bring people into a relationship with God.
Calvinism The doctrine that understand predestination and election in terms of God’s sovereign choice. It follows the TULIP acronym. T – Total depravity of humanity U – Unconditional election L – Limited atonement I – Irresistible grace P – Perseverance
Double The Calvinist belief that God determines those Predestination who he will save and those that he will condemn.
Election The process through which God determines those who will be saved.
Eschatology The study of the end times especially concerning Christ’s return.
Free will 1. According to Arminianism free will through grace for people to either choose or reject the gospel of Jesus. 2. In Calvinism, free will is only present in believers since unbelievers are only able to choose evil and not good.
Glorification The belief that believers will be elevated to the fullness of Christ spiritually and physically when Jesus returns.
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5 Words for the Christian Life
Imparted The belief that the Christian is given Righteousness righteousness to which they work at throughout their life.
Imputed The belief that the Christian’s unrighteousness Righteousness is removed and replaced by the righteousness of Jesus.
Justification The restoration of an individual to a state of righteousness.
Sanctification The process whereby believers are made more like Christ in their words and actions.
Single The Calvinist belief that God only predestines Predestination people for salvation.
Universalism 1. The belief that all people will eventually be given salvation. 2. The belief that Jesus’ work on the cross was for all people. (this is the understanding used in this series)
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