Scaling Mt. Everest! Done Deal - August 5 Reading: Romans 8

Today's Reading

Background

We can potentially open a can of worms today, but I am going to stay away from that. In the blogging world, predestination is such a controversial topic and our text, Romans 8:29-30 talks about God's foreknowledge and sovereign choice. So, if I wanted to, I could open that debate and turn this devotional into a controversial theological treatise, but there's a great principle to be seen here that doesn't require us to wade into that minefield.

Yes, studying the topic of God's sovereignty matters and every believer should undertake that. I believe that the Bible teaches both God's foreordained choice and genuine human responsibility. We were chosen by God and we must also choose to place our faith in him. It is called an antinomy - two truths both taught in scripture that cannot be logically true in our human intelligence. The Trinity is an antinomy, as is the dual nature of Christ. The relationship of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man is an antinomy - defying human logic and only resolved in the logic of God whose "ways are higher than ours" and whose "thoughts are higher than ours."

The mistake many make is choosing between the options. We do not choose between the Oneness of God and his three persons. The Bible teaches both and we believe both. We do not choose between the humanity of Christ and his deity. Both are affirmed in scripture. I refuse to choose either the idea that God chose us before the world began or that we must choose to follow Jesus. Both are taught in the Bible and even though I don't understand how both can be true I realize that my job is to believe God's word even when I do not understand it.

Devotional - Done Deal

There are so many things that happen at our salvation. We are saved from the horrors caused by our sin. We are justified - made righteous before a Holy God. We are redeemed - purchased by the blood of Christ. We are forgiven, our sins washed away. We are adopted into the heavenly family. We are given the Baptism of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and seals us in Christ, guaranteeing our eternal inheritance. The list goes on and on.

Romans 8:29-30 mentions 5 of those key aspects of what God did. These verses are the fulfillment of the promise of verse 28. All things work for good because God foreknew us, predestined us, called us, justified us and glorified us.

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.

God accomplishes five purposes in our lives according to these verses.

• First, he "foreknew" us. This means more than simply knowing in advance. There's a Greek word that means that, used in the NT. This word means something more powerful. God's knowledge is more personal and intimate. God entered into a relationship with us even before time began. 
• Second, he "predestined" us. He marked out the boundaries of our lives before we were born; before our world was even created. What is that destiny he prepared for us? To be conformed to the image of Christ - to be like Jesus. 
• Third, he "called" us. By his Spirit, he invited us to turn from our sin and put our faith in Christ. 
• Fourth, he "justified" us. He declared us righteous through the blood of Christ. 
• Fifth, he "glorified" us. He seated us in the heavenly places with Christ, destined us for glory and determined to finish the work he began in us. 

There are two notable facts in these five great works.

• God is the subject of all the actions. Our salvation is a work of God. That is why it is secure and safe. It doesn't depend on me or my faithfulness but on God's power. Salvation is of God. We must believe. We must obey. But the work is God's. The power is God's. The will is God's. The initiative is God's. That's where it all begins. 
• All of the verbs are past tense. Done Deal! Of course, that makes sense with the first four verbs, especially the first two. They took place before creation. God's foreknowledge and predestination predate the foundation of this earth. And of course, our call and our justification are done deals, past acts that took place at the moment of our salvation. 

But think of the word glorify. Yes, the glory of God is a part of our lives today - We've been seated in the heavenlies and God's glorious power and presence are part of our lives daily. But being glorified speaks of a future work, one that will not take place until the day we see Jesus face to face - that moment verse 18 spoke of when our present sufferings will be over.

But in Paul's mind, that future event is such a done deal that he speaks of it in the past tense. It may not have happened yet in your life, but it was accomplished by a past event, the finished work of Christ on the cross. It's a guaranteed, historical reality, even if it hasn't taken place yet.

If you know Jesus, your place in glory is guaranteed. Your hope is secured by the work of God - it's a done deal. You must walk in obedience and in faith, but you may also rest in the truth that his work has covered your sin and settled your destiny.

Father, thank you for this amazing truth that your Son's work not only dealt with my sin but also settled my eternal destiny and guaranteed my place in glory. 

Think and Pray

Think through each of the five purposes of God and thank him for the work he has done, or will do in you.