Whom God Foreknew, He Predestined

Whom God Foreknew, He Predestined
Romans 8:29-30

Introduction

This morning I am going to share on the 2 verses in Romans 8 that can be very controversial if not handled properly

Remember 2 weeks ago, we looked at vs 28 and saw that in all things God works out in our lives according to His purpose

Well what is His purpose? Is the same for me as for Tommy? Or Jack? Or Heather?

Let’s look and see if God’s purpose is revealed in the verses of Romans 8:29-30

Romans 8:29-30 29 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. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Pray

In looking at these verses we must first realize that…

1. God Foreknows

What does God foreknow? EVERYTHING!

There is never anything that catches Him off-guard
• He never says “Didn’t see that coming” or “Hindsight is 20/20”

Why? Because He knows everything before it ever begins or ends

He knows the beginning and the ending of it all

The word here “foreknow” means “to have knowledge beforehand”

So in looking at this part of the verse, we have to say that God foreknows ALL

So, He foreknew…before the foundation of the world…who would be saved CAN I GET A WITNESS?

Isa 42:9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Expound

Trans: Secondly, not only does God Foreknow but…

2. He Predestined Us to Be Conformed

The word “predestined” in the Greek is “prarezo” which means “to predetermine, or decide beforehand”

God not only knows everything ahead of time but He is able to predetermine or decide beforehand what happens

What is God saying in this passage that God has predestined?

He predestined those that would receive His Son to be conformed to His Image

In other words, the longer we walk with God, the more we should begin to look like Jesus!

God’s main desire and purpose for our lives is to conform us to the image of His Son

Why? Because He is preparing us for our future…to be seated in the heavens and to reign with Him

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Trans: Not only did God predestine us but…

3. He Called, Justified, and Glorified

Those that God has predestined that would be saved…He called

God chose you and He chose me…we did not choose Him until He called us into His Kingdom

Mark 13:20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

John 15:16, 19 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit; If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

Romans 1:6 And you also are among those Gentiles who