Introduction
Hello!!! 👋
Permit me to start this article by gushing over one of the Bible’s most important chapters to be penned. I’m talking right up there with Psalm 23 or Psalm 91.
The 8th chapter of the book of Romans is one of the most packed pieces of scripture. Each of the 39 verses, is full and pregnant, layered with revelation upon revelation. A keen reader could almost see the verses brimming, almost about to explode with profound thoughts.
It's almost criminal for me to rip out one verse to paint a far inferior image. Yet I ran the risk of going off on several tangents because as you’d see, there’s a lot to say about so few words. But I’m going to trust that, you will be kind enough to follow along and that the writing paints a coherent image.
With that said the verse again:
'For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.' - Romans 8:29
At a glance, several questions can be asked; “Those He foreknew...” Does that mean a selection was done in the past??? Predestination??? Is there free will when it comes to God and who can be a part of His Kingdom?
Well you get the idea… many many questions. Legitimate, granted, but for a moment let’s consider this statement:
Many sons and daughters were desired, so a system was designed to make this possible for human beings.
🤔🤔 Stay with me.
“For whom He foreknew”
Is there a selection process? Did it happen sometime in the past before we were born such that no new people can be added? Who are those whom God foreknew?
A quick scan of the entire chapter reveals several phrases Paul used to describe the “foreknew” people: “those who are in Christ”-vs 1, “we are the Children of God”-vs 16, “Sons of God” - vs 19, “the saints” - vs 27, “those who love God” vs 28 etc…
We can learn who Paul had in mind, by looking at the introduction to the letter to the Roman church: “To all who are in Rome,... “beloved of God”,... “called to be saints”
🤔🤔??
But why the word foreknew? Why use a word that seemed to suggest God knew about the people? To which I’d say briefly, since I stand the risk of digressing, two things can be true at the same time. That God knows at any point in time all who are His children, and that every person has the choice to become one or not.
This brings us to the next part…
“He also predestined..”
Predestined,… decided beforehand, designed in anticipation of a future event.
This idea of predestination is sometimes hard to swallow. One can infer that our individual choices don’t matter because after all only “some” people have been selected before we were born. But the truth is this: God having foreknowledge doesn’t remove the human ability to choose and to act based on those choices.
Let’s put this in perspective, predestination, especially in this context, has everything to do with a plan. A plan that follows the choices we make. When you get born again and accept Jesus as the Lord and Saviour a plan is introduced to you. A curriculum designed way before you got born again. To get you...
“...to be conformed to the Image of His Son…”
A system has been set by God for us His children that we should be conformed to the image of Jesus. In other words, God had designed that each of His children would grow appear and function like Jesus. So that any action or inaction we take, anything we do or say on earth would be exactly how Jesus would have done and said it, if He was in that circumstance.
So if anybody looks at us from the outside, the person would immediately say that you and I are acting like Jesus would, that we live as though God is our Father just as Jesus did.
A fair question is God why??? Why does God have a plan for those who are saved.., why does the plan involve being conformed to the image of Jesus? … this part of the verse answers resoundingly:
“That He might be the firstborn among many brethren”
At the risk of sounding blasphemous, God wanted more “Jesus’s”. God wanted more people who bear His image. This is very profound, that, our great God, author of life itself, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present one desires that His human creation reflects His divine nature and essence through their humanness.
To think that God has intentionally set this plan in motion from the very beginning is both truly humbling and wonderful.
So to conclude:
You and I have been placed in a system. A system God designed and still plays an active role in. A system designed to make us reflect God’s glory through our mere human flesh. Just as Jesus did during his time on earth.
This is too wonderful beyond our wildest dreams. And I invite you to unpack it all with me.
Cheers!!
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