By Audrey Bauman

Romans 8: 29 – 30  (NLT)

²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

Before I start writing, I’m going to post other translations of this verse.   Depending on the translation, another word is used for ‘chosen’ and that is the word that you will find if you are looking for opinions on this topic – ‘predestined or predestination’

Romans 8:29-30    (NASB)

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified”.

Romans 8:29-30    (NIV)

“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”.

Briefly I'll mention an interpretation of those verses that I don't agree with. Some theologians say this verse says that God chooses some people and not others. The idea of a loving God choosing some and not others doesn’t sit well with me.  If God has already chosen who He wants, then why do we have to spread the gospel to those around us?  Why would the Apostle Paul and the other disciples face persecution, jail time, hardships galore, and death because they were spreading the good news to their world?   

Today you will read the explanations of these verses from two theologians who explain it much better than I ever could. I copied these explanations from biblegate.com.

Warren Wiersbe

“The believer never need faint in times of suffering and trial because he knows that God is at work in the world (Rom. 8:28), and that He has a perfect plan (Rom. 8:29). God has two purposes in that plan: our good and His glory. Ultimately, He will make us like Jesus Christ. Best of all, God’s plan is going to succeed. It started in eternity past when He chose us in Christ (Eph. 1:4-5). He predetermined that one day we would be like His Son. Predestination applies only to saved people. Nowhere are we taught that God predestines people to be eternally condemned. If they are condemned, it is because of their refusal to trust Christ (John 3:18-21). Those whom He chose, He called (see 2 Thess. 2:13-14); when they responded to His call, He justified them, and He also glorified them. This means that the believer has already been glorified in Christ (John 17:22); the revelation of this glory awaits the coming of the Lord (Rom. 8:21-23).”

(BE Bible Study Series by Warren Wiersbe)

From the Asbury Bible Commentary:

“Romans 8: 29 – 30 brings the presentation of God's provision of salvation to the climax. This salvation was planned by God before the foundation of the world (“ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight”.   Eph 1:4). He has a specific purpose and design that he will follow through. Therefore, we know and are confident that the ultimate goal of salvation, our final glorification, will be achieved (vv. 28-30).

The word predestined (prohorizō) occurs in vv. 29-30. This has been misinterpreted to mean that God arbitrarily determined in advance certain individuals to be saved. This, however, is not the meaning of the word. This word occurs six times in the NT: Ac 4:28; Ro 8:29, 30; 1Co 2:7; and Eph 1:5, 11. In all other occurrences, the context indicates clearly that it has to do with the plan, the design, the condition of some event, or salvation. … Those who participate in salvation are those who love God. They are called according to God's purpose (prothesis, v. 28). In the entire NT when purpose (prothesis) is used of God, it has to do with the plan, the design, or the condition of some event, never with certain persons. God's purpose regarding salvation is that all be saved and none be lost (“who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”1Ti 2:4;  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” Tit 2:11;  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”. 2Pe 3:9). The call is the invitation addressed by God to all human beings. It is inclusive, not exclusive.

In v. 29 the object of ‘predestine’ is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. In v. 30 the object seems to be certain persons. These persons, however, are those whom God foreknew, not those arbitrarily chosen by God. Foreknowledge does not cause them to have faith, but rather their faith causes God to foreknow. My knowing does not cause you to do something. But your doing causes me to know. In the same way, God's knowledge does not cause us to do something, but our doing causes God to know. Since, however, God is not bound by time, he can know before we do it.” 

Asbury Bible Commentary

Jesus tells me that I have a job to do while I'm alive on earth. Jesus gave a command to His disciples just before His ascension into Heaven - "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1: 7 - 8 (NASB)

That is quite a challenge. We don't know who will respond to the news of Jesus' death and resurrection and a life guided by the Holy Spirit. I'm go grateful that God has given each of us the Holy Spirit to help us in that challenge. So ... am I ready to talk to people about my faith? Are you?

Our song for today is Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns.