Now, sanctification being the way to salvation, but not the cause of it, the apostle mentions not that here; though elsewhere he sufficiently shews, that none are now justified, nor can be hereafter glorified, that are not here sanctified and renewed. 3. Here is the element which distinguishes the act of foreknowledge from that of predestination, and because of which the former logically precedes the latter. But, if all people are thus "destined" by God to be Christians, why are not all saved? In his "weakness" or his strength he has shown us he is worthy. Paul's use of "foreordained" here and "called" in the following verse may not be restricted to mean that no others were foreordained or called. From the above considerations, and many others, it appears that the true meaning of Paul in this verse is that God predestined every man ever born to be a Christian, that such a destiny, or plan, was in God's original purpose before the world was, hence a pre-destiny, making Paul's word here (foreordained or predestined) to be exactly correct and appropriate. What ends has God in view in effecting this transformation? To get what Romans 8:29 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. Hence, that the celestial Father may in every way bear testimony to the authority and honor which he has conferred on his own Son, he will have all those whom he adopts to be the heirs of his kingdom, to be conformed to his example. Romans 8:29. A man can live against his destiny, as evidenced by the fact that so many do; but, despite human sin, the essential glory of man's true destiny is undeniable. 'According to Pauline doctrine (says Olshausen-and the testimony is remarkable from a Lutheran) there is a predestination of saints, in the proper sense of the words: that is, not that God knows beforehand that they will by their own decision be holy, but that he creates this very decision in them.'. “Faith cannot be the cause of foreknowledge, because foreknowledge is before predestination, and faith is the effect of predestination. As Jesus was glorified, so will we. At the day of judgment Jesus Christ will say to hypocrites, I never knew you, Matthew 7:23; that is to say, He never loved or acknowledged them, although He perfectly knew their characters and actions. In all cases it means foreknow. He comes upon these in chap. The predestination follows, and is grounded on the foreknowledge. 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. foreknown), i.e., fixed upon, chosen before the foundation of the world.’ I Peter 1:20; II Tim. Of course Satan will do his best to stay God’s decrees; but what shall become of anything that stands in the way of God’s decree? BibliographyEdwards, Justin. The second privilege we are partakers of, is in time, namely, effectual vocation: Whom he did predestinate, them he also called. This suiteth with God’s design of recovering man out of his lapsed estate, by setting up a pattern of holiness and happiness in our nature. In suffering they are conformed to Him who was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. They must endure tribulation, and fill up what is behind of His affection. This seems in a special manner to be here intended. (4) in what way such an event became certain is not determined by the use of this word. Regarding His nature, He was as to His divinity truly the firstborn, since He alone is the only-begotten the eternal Son of the Father. For this was the design of the decree. (b) In diligence: in the Father’s business. "Commentary on Romans 8:29". In that, everything else is included. It is said in John 17:22, “The glory which Thou hast given Me, I have given them.” This is grounded, first of all upon the forementioned union which believers have with Christ; as from thence they conform to Him in His sufferings, so also in His glory. 1765. The reason for God"s choice of the elect was not human merit ( Ephesians 1:4), or even the faith of the elect, but God"s love and purpose ( Romans 8:28; cf. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/romans-8.html. This doctrine of election is full of consolation, and is the true source of Christian assurance. 1832. Leave out for the present the perplexing question, “Am I one of the elect?” Our election must manifest itself by our growing conformity to Christ. DD. It is a universally attainable Ideal. As John wrote: Copyright StatementJames Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. As the words to know and foreknow are used in three different senses, applicable to the present passage, there is considerable diversity of opinion which should be preferred. For according to that teaching, God predestined people for salvation, regardless of how they would live or the choices they would make. “If you would build a monastery, and let us all live as Christian brethren together, it might be possible; but I have to mix with men that blaspheme; and my business is so trying to the temper. summorphos. A celebrated philosopher of antiquity, who was nearly contemporary with Christ, but who could have known nothing of what was going on in Judaea, and who, alas! Conformity in temper and conduct to the example of Christ, is the only sure evidence of being elected, and predestinated to eternal life. All the called of God are foreknown by Him, that is, they are the objects of His eternal love, and their calling comes from this free love. It is not faith God foreknew; he foreknew people. Without surrendering His essence (Godhood/Divine Nature), Christ took his place among the "creatures" (Philippians 2:5 ff), he shared with us the experience of living as a man (Hebrews 4:15), even to the point of sharing the experience of death. That would be ‘accepting’ them, but not ‘choosing’, as they would have chosen God rather than God would have chosen them). The other class of commentators (the Calvinists) reject the above view on two grounds. By what means is conformity to Christ promoted? Hence we see that this glorification of spirit, mind and body is the triumphant ultimatum of the redemptive scheme, thus verifying the original and eternal “purpose” of God to populate heaven with perfected and glorified human beings. The meaning of “foreknew” in Romans 8:29 God has always possessed perfect knowledge of all creatures and of all events. 2. Some place the emphasis upon ‘firstborn’; others upon ‘many brethren’; but because the end of the foreknowledge and foreordaining is the glory of Christ in His people, equal emphasis rests on both; nothing can separate the first-born and His many brethren. His brethren are elect in Him, Ephesians 1:4-6. Only Philippi, after frankly acknowledging this meaning, instantly adds, that the faith which God foresees He also creates; and so by this door a return is provided into the system of predestination which seemed to have been abandoned. ‘The people which he foreknew,’ i.e., loved or selected, Rom. He is ever at work to reproduce the moral image of Christ in them. 2. I do not read that the saints are predestinated to paradise, but to be conformed to the image of His dear Son, that He may be the first-born among many brethren. Since clearly not everybody believes in Christ as Savior and therefore is being transformed into His likeness. Although the term ‘foreknew’ is used seldom in the New Testament, it is altogether indefensible to ignore the meaning so frequently given to the word ‘know’ in the usage of Scripture; ‘foreknow’ merely adds the thought of ‘beforehand’ to the word ‘know’. 1871-8. For whom he did foreknow - The word used here προέγνω proegnōhas been the subject of almost endless disputes in regard to its meaning in this place. “Whom He did foreknow” does not refer to all creatures, although God does foreknow all creatures. "I remark here in passing," says Olshausen, "that according to Paul's doctrine, there is a praedestinatio sanctorum in the strict sense of the word; that is, that God does not foreknow those who by their own decision will become holy, but he himself creates that decision in them.