Romans 8:29, 30 (Wuest translation)
‘Whom he fore-ordained He also marked beforehand – conformed ones to the derived image of His Son – resulting in Him being the firstborn among many brothers, moreover whom He marked out He also called. And whom He called these He also justified. Moreover whom He justified, He also glorified.’
Foreknow – ‘proginosko’ (7X in NT Greek) – previous knowledge baed on circumstances; determinate counsel – based on the word ‘boule’ that means ‘ a council convened for administering affairs of government’; predetermined course of action that would best meet the circumstances they had to face’.
i.e. God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost met together in council and decided the Lamb would be the best sacrifice for the sins of mankind. They pre-determined the place and event: ‘horizo’ – to mark out the boundaries and limits and to appoint a place.
I Peter 1:20 says the Lamb was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world to suffer for our sins once and for all. God acquits those who believe in Jesus and clothes them with glory. He completed His divine counsel and purpose through Christ.
Israel was not a nation but became one when God chose them as part of the fulfilment of His plan of redemption of the world. They rejected Christ to make place for a new nation of faith including all gentiles that choose to believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Sinners who turn to Christ for salvation now become chosen ones. This is God’s pre-determined plan called predestination. So it is not pre-election before someone is born, but God’s pre-science: foreknowledge of how this plan would work!
Conformed – ‘summorphao’ – morphed into the image of His Son – to render like – an inner change reflecting an outward expression. He sanctifies believers and they become like Him, always approaching but never equal. Eph 1:5 – ‘proorizo’ to mark out boundaries and set special limitations – salvation is fore-ordained to everyone that believes in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
– A monarch’s head on a coin
– A reflection in water
– An image in a stone statue
– A child is the image of the father or mother
This is how Christ is glorified in us: when we reflect His glory. When we lay hands on the sick in His Name and they recover He is glorified in us. We are set apart for His great purpose.
Those whom He called He also justified – took away our guilt and punishment and let us go uncondemned because He took our punishment upon Himself. He bestowed righteousness upon us because we put our faith in Him.
Glorified – transformed lives, eventually resurrected bodies at His return.
Therefore we know all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) Every circumstance is planned to perfect us and to conform us to His image so that His glory can be manifested in and through us in the earth. At the same time He glorifies us by using us and manifesting His glory through us. It is one glory in all. It is the glory of God.