Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… This passage has been the battleground of Calvinism and Arminianism. The best way to get a clear idea of such controverted passages, is to ignore the conflicting opinions that they have started, and study them in the light of common sense, the light of their context, the light of the general scope of biblical teaching, and in humble dependence upon the Spirit for help. If we look at these verses in this way we shall see nothing that is not found in connection with every other Divine operation. Any work which an intelligent being has accomplished — whether it be in husbandry, architecture, legislation, or science — always implies an executive agency, a presiding plan, and a previous knowledge on which the plan is based. These three things we have in the text concerning God, in the work of man's restoration. The result comes out of the agency; the agency comes out of the plan; the plan comes out of a previous knowledge. We infer — I. THAT MAN'S RESTORATION IS THE RESULT OF GOD'S AGENCY. God — 1. Calls — (1) By the admonitions of conscience; (2) By the events of history; (3) By the ministry of His word; (4) By the strivings of His Spirit. He calls sometimes through the thundering voice of law, and sometimes through the melting accents of love. 2. Justifies. Justification is a forensic term, but it does not convey forensic ideas. An accused person in the court of human judicature is justified when the verdict of "Not guilty" is returned; and he may be pronounced "Not guilty" on three different grounds — (1) Actual innocence. (2) Regretted accident. He might have committed the act, but contrary to wish. (3) Judicial ignorance, or failure on the part of the judge and jury to get at all the evidence. But no man, before God, could be pronounced "Not guilty" on any of these grounds. All that evangelical justification means is, that God treats the guilty as if they had never sinned — overlooking the past. 3. Glorifies. Man's body, intellect, character, and condition, are now inglorious. God will glorify the whole. "We shall be like Him." II. THAT GOD'S AGENCY IS GOVERNED BY A PLAN. Some beings act from instinct, impulse, habit; but God acts from plan. 1. What is this plan? It is to save men. (1) By assimilating them to the image of Christ. "He also did predestinate," etc.; that they should be governed by the same principles that govern Him; animated by His Spirit; consecrated to the same great cause for which He gave His life. (2) By subjugating them to the authority of Christ. "That He might be the first-born among many brethren!" 2. Now, Paul would have referred God's agency in any other department to an eternal plan. As a pious man, he would refer everything that was good to God; and as an intelligent man, he would refer everything to the plan of God. Had he been writing on agriculture, he would have traced every blade and flower and plant that grew to the predestination of God. But he was writing of man's salvation, and it was only to his purpose to refer it to predestination in connection with that. Predestination is not a dream of the schoolmen, or a dogma of Calvin, but an eternal law of the universe. III. THAT GOD'S PLAN IS FOUNDED ON A THOROUGH FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE SAVED. "Whom He did foreknow" does not refer to all creatures, although God does foreknow all creatures. Nor does it refer to mankind in general, although God does foreknow all that shall happen to all men. But it refers to those spoken of in the preceding verse, and the whole chapter, as loving Him, as being His sons, etc. Note, in relation to this foreknowledge — (1) That it does not interfere with the free agency of the good. A. might have such a thorough knowledge of B.'s temperament and tendencies, that he might predict with certainty that B. would, under certain circumstances, adopt a certain line of action; yet if B. knew not the knowledge of A., he could not by any possibility have any influence upon his conduct. The fact, in like manner, that God knows all about me, all that I shall ever do, has no necessary influence upon my line of action. The conduct of the Jews at the crucifixion of Christ is an illustration. (2) That it is a ground of security for the good. We often form plans from partial knowledge, and no sooner endeavour to carry them out than circumstances, never foreseen, baffle us; so that we are obliged to abandon our projects. But not so with God. His plan is based upon a thorough knowledge of all future contingencies. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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