Some quick thoughts while reading Romans 8:29-30.
Preliminary to understanding Romans 8:29-30 is to understand that God’s eternal purpose is very simple. God’s will is only one thing… “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:” (Ephesians 1:9-10)
God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, by His infinite wisdom, and by His foreknowledge of our turning to His "great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29) We are destined to be "conformed to the image" of “His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). The only begotten Son has become the first begotten “among many brethren.”
“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.” (Romans 8:30) He has called us and justified us by "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son" (1 John 1:7). But that is not His end goal for us, it is only the beginning… “them He also glorified.” “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4) One with the Son, we cannot die. For we are already "dead with Christ" (Romans 6:8). Death has no more power over us. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)
Our eternal sanctification is as good as finished in the eyes of our heavenly Father. When all hope was lost, when we were “alienated and enemies” (Colossians 1:21) of God. We “were by nature the children of wrath”(Ephesians 2:3)… “But God” – what an unexpected and remarkable phrase – “BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins… HATH quickened us together with Christ!” (Ephesians 2:5) This is how the Father views his Children: “And HATH raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus!” (Ephesians 2:6) Christ is “bringing many sons unto glory… For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them… BRETHREN.” (Hebrews 2:10-11)
