Called According to His Purpose
Romans 8:27-39
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. [Romans 8:28]
This word “purpose” is prothesis in the Greek, pro, “before,” and thesis, “a place;” thus “from before, a setting forth in place.” It suggests a predestined plan, a prearranged intention, a deliberate design. “Our personal salvation was not only well planned but demonstrates God’s abiding faithfulness as He awaits the consummation of His great plan for the church.” [Hayford]
Our personal and corporate salvation as a church is God’s deliberate and advance plan. Verse 27 describes the Spirit interceding “according to the will of God,” which posits God’s Sovereignty. His will is prayed and exercised.
Verse 29 then reveals God’s sovereign plan in sanctification: “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.” [v.29, emphasis mine]
And then in verse 30 Paul described glorification: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” [v.30, emphasis mine]
This is a radical [and comforting] truth: We have been chosen before the foundations of the world to be justified, sanctified, and glorified.
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...” [Ephesians 1:4-5].
“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” [v.33] “Who is he who condemns?” [v.34] “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” [v.35] In answer to these [rhetorical] questions: No one! Paul articulates this even further in vv.37-39.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, or any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
