Romans 8:28-30:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 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. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Here we are, up to v30.
"Predestined" - chosen by God. He has determined our future, and if we are his people it is because he chose to save us before time began (Ephesians 1:4-5). What an awesome God! He did not choose us because of anything we have done or will do, he did not choose us because there was anything good in us. He chose us entirely for his glory and he chose to love us. We hated him, we rejected him, and we all deserve hell. Everyone sins and God is holy and perfect. He is the opposite of sin and therefore sin is a personal attack on his character. Yet he chose to love us, he chose to save us. How has he saved us? Jesus. He sent Jesus, who is God, and Jesus came and died for us so that we can live. 1 John 4:10 has been popping up everywhere for me lately and it fits in well right here - "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Jesus came and died for us, to turn away God's wrath which we deserved for our sin. He took that wrath, the punishment we deserved so that everyone who turns to him by repentance and faith can be saved. Repentance = being sorry for sin and changing, faith = complete trust in God and Jesus as the only way to be saved. What an awesome God! Turn to him if you havent! If you have questions then ask people! Write a comment or email me! No question is too stupid if it's a genuine question!
"He also called". So God chose to save us, then he called us to be saved. He didn't just decide to save us and then leave us, no he chose us then he followed it through by calling us to him. God doesn't just choose for us to choose him, No he chooses us and then actively saves us - we have no part in it, we don't deserve any of the praise for it! It was all God! "Those he called he also justified". He didn't just choose to save us and then do it, but he made it right for him to save us. God is just and therefore he has to punish sin. We all sin (Romans 3 goes through that) and we all deserve God's wrath for it. How can God save us justly? Well as I said before, he sent Jesus to take our sin, so that we are forgiven and 'justified'. Jesus took our place and our guilt has been removed - thats what justification is: it's "Just as if i'd never sinned". "And those he justified he also glorified". he doesn't only choose to save us and go through with it for no reason. We aren;t just saved here on earth - he also glorified us. He will bring all his people into heaven and we will be with God eternally - that's the whole point. He has forgiven us and he will bring us into his presence eternally. Heaven is where God is - we will be entirely satisfied in him there and we will praise him eternally and he will be glorified by us. It will be awesome. How do we know God will do this? Well, back to Jesus - he didn't just die, he rose again. He paid for our sins in full and therefore was no longer condemned to death, so he rose again and he has gone to heaven to prepare a place for his people - John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." He has done all the other stuff, we can trust him completely to bring it all to completion and save us in heaven.
Our sins forgiven, we will be made entirely pure in heaven. Adopted as God's children, co-heirs with Christ, united with him and with all other Christians. What more glorious thing could there be? What else could we want? This is love! God is awesome! And we don;t have to fear - God has predestined it. Every genuine Christian is chosen by God and will be saved and bought to heaven eternally. If God has done the other three things for us, he will certainly do the last! He does not forsake his people (Hebrews 13:5), he does not forget us. Trust him! Praise him! "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
God Bless!
Nat.
Here we are, up to v30.
"Predestined" - chosen by God. He has determined our future, and if we are his people it is because he chose to save us before time began (Ephesians 1:4-5). What an awesome God! He did not choose us because of anything we have done or will do, he did not choose us because there was anything good in us. He chose us entirely for his glory and he chose to love us. We hated him, we rejected him, and we all deserve hell. Everyone sins and God is holy and perfect. He is the opposite of sin and therefore sin is a personal attack on his character. Yet he chose to love us, he chose to save us. How has he saved us? Jesus. He sent Jesus, who is God, and Jesus came and died for us so that we can live. 1 John 4:10 has been popping up everywhere for me lately and it fits in well right here - "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Jesus came and died for us, to turn away God's wrath which we deserved for our sin. He took that wrath, the punishment we deserved so that everyone who turns to him by repentance and faith can be saved. Repentance = being sorry for sin and changing, faith = complete trust in God and Jesus as the only way to be saved. What an awesome God! Turn to him if you havent! If you have questions then ask people! Write a comment or email me! No question is too stupid if it's a genuine question!
"He also called". So God chose to save us, then he called us to be saved. He didn't just decide to save us and then leave us, no he chose us then he followed it through by calling us to him. God doesn't just choose for us to choose him, No he chooses us and then actively saves us - we have no part in it, we don't deserve any of the praise for it! It was all God! "Those he called he also justified". He didn't just choose to save us and then do it, but he made it right for him to save us. God is just and therefore he has to punish sin. We all sin (Romans 3 goes through that) and we all deserve God's wrath for it. How can God save us justly? Well as I said before, he sent Jesus to take our sin, so that we are forgiven and 'justified'. Jesus took our place and our guilt has been removed - thats what justification is: it's "Just as if i'd never sinned". "And those he justified he also glorified". he doesn't only choose to save us and go through with it for no reason. We aren;t just saved here on earth - he also glorified us. He will bring all his people into heaven and we will be with God eternally - that's the whole point. He has forgiven us and he will bring us into his presence eternally. Heaven is where God is - we will be entirely satisfied in him there and we will praise him eternally and he will be glorified by us. It will be awesome. How do we know God will do this? Well, back to Jesus - he didn't just die, he rose again. He paid for our sins in full and therefore was no longer condemned to death, so he rose again and he has gone to heaven to prepare a place for his people - John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." He has done all the other stuff, we can trust him completely to bring it all to completion and save us in heaven.
Our sins forgiven, we will be made entirely pure in heaven. Adopted as God's children, co-heirs with Christ, united with him and with all other Christians. What more glorious thing could there be? What else could we want? This is love! God is awesome! And we don;t have to fear - God has predestined it. Every genuine Christian is chosen by God and will be saved and bought to heaven eternally. If God has done the other three things for us, he will certainly do the last! He does not forsake his people (Hebrews 13:5), he does not forget us. Trust him! Praise him! "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
God Bless!
Nat.
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