Light Brings Salt
Volume 2, Issue 7 February 15 , 2004
Dedicated to the
Systematic Exposition of the Word of God
The Purpose of God and our Destiny
In the last phrase
of Rom 8:28 Paul introduces us to this purpose he as gives us some further
information about those in context, the ones who love God that is to
those who are called according to (His) purpose. This phrase ensures that we realize the
positional aspect of
those in view; they are
Believers, ones who have responded to the Gospel i.e. they are the called (kletoj) and therefore are a part of
God's plan of Grace. God's means or
manner of calling people to Himself is what? Through the Gospel!
There's also a
qualifier found here in that we're called "according to (His) purpose" The word for purpose here (pro,qesij) means to have a pre-determined plan; a purpose; a resolve and it always has the idea in it of
intelligent design! There's also a
nuance of the word that means to display, to make an exhibition or presentation
of something.
Therefore we have
an emphasis on an active part of God's plan that is on display,
that is visible. Therefore its being observed
and has impact in time, that is through the life of the believer as the truth
is being lived out! [Eph 2:7]
How you as a
believer respond to the circumstances of life, CHP's are on
display, Not just before others, but
remember your being observed by angels also.
The real question
is, Are you utilizing the grace provisions given to
us? Or are you reacting and bouncing all
over the place and therefore becoming a casualty in life spiritually
speaking?
With verse 29 Paul
begins to describe who are the ones called according to
His purpose.
Here in a nutshell
is God's plan for the believer! Paul
traces here the majestic sweep of the God's plan which is designed to bring
many sons to glory! These verses expand
and explain for us what it means to be called according to His purpose.
Predestined says
the called according to His purpose, are the ones foreknown, and they have a
destiny that is to become conformed to the image of His Son. This is the announced destiny of all
believers, and its based on the work of God on behalf
of the one who believes in Christ for salvation.
Then vs:30 amplifies this by describing how they get to that point;
the called, the justified, and the glorified!
One thing that we
must keep in mind is that everything in these 2 verses is the work of God, not
one iota of effort from us! Therefore what is detailed for us is sure and secure.
The first important
word is "foreknew" proginwskw
basic meaning
is to know something ahead of time. This
word means much more than just advance knowledge/facts or
precognition. The "know" implies when used of God, an intimate
relationship; and what flows from it, His love, care, selection, protection of
His own! (John 10:14; Amos 3:2]
To be known of God is to have a
relationship with Him to have fellowship with Him, 1 Cor
8:3.
The next important
phrase here is predestined (to become) conformed to the image of His Son. This says we have a destiny in Christ. We
noted in Eph 1:5 where Paul says, he predestined us to adoption as sons through
Christ.
So what's the
emphasis of the word predestined? (proori,zw) The prefix pro- means before while the main verb ori,zw means to set boundaries, to establish limits; therefore to determine.
Examples of this use: Acts 17:26; Numb.
34:6f; Deu. 3:16-17; Josh 15:9-11
When you couple
this with the prefixed preposition pro - meaning before indicates that something has been
established, that boundaries have been set, something has already been determined. So what is Paul then
saying to us??
In love, God the
Father has designed a plan for the believer in Christ. He has established definite parameters in
which we are to live. It is God's
purpose for us to live within these defined parameters and to produce divine good,
which results from our increasingly becoming conformed to the image of His Son!
And its clearly in our best interests to live within them. We only find these parameters for life and
godliness defined in the Word! Its called His will.
We should note that
the use of this word is primarily of what God does for the saved, for
believers. [6 times] There is one exception,
and that is the use of the events leading up to and including the cross in Acts
4:28. Point in that context is that nothing
happened that God did not desire to have happen related to the cross work of
Christ.
What we are to be Predestined to is to be Conformed to the image of His
Son! What's involved or what does it
refer to?
This begins at salvation, the moment we believe in
Christ, are placed into union with
Christ and when His perfect righteousness is imputed to us, and we are
given Eternal life becoming Sons!
As we live our
lives after salvation and we grow and mature in the faith that is the process
of sanctification, the more time walking by the Spirit, the more fruit of the
Spirit we will produce, the more of the character of Christ will be reflected
in our life. This is becoming conformed
to the image of His
Son.
Never! Never! is this word used or does it teach or imply that people are
predestined, or as KJV, foreordained, to hell, to eternal judgment as some
teach.
Everything that this
word is used of, is defining for us as believers, is related to the spiritual
blessings that are ours in Christ!
It addresses the
purposes God has for the believer after salvation! A future that is set and secure!
Conformed to the
image of His Son!
This phrase
describes the goal or objective of the whole of the redemption plan of God.
Conformed (su,mmorfoj) speaks of the outer expression of the inner nature or character. What
is in view here is a likeness to Christ that is not just an external or a
superficial resemblance [form/appearance].
It signifies a whole set of characteristics or qualities that make
something what it is here the nature of Christ, the image or form is that of Christ.2
Therefore Conformed
to the image also includes becoming in our character what Christ is.
This does not mean we become deity.
When this becomes fully realized we will be
minus the sin nature and face to face in our resurrection body.
The preposition
prefixed to conformed sum- means together
with or in association with ties this all together. Its
with whom? Christ! It says there is a
vital connection, a relationship with Christ to be reflected in our life.
Do you remember
what the standard for maturity is? (Eph
4:13) Its Christ!
The maturing or
advancing believer increasingly reflects the character of Christ as he continues to
be filled with Christ and to walk by the Spirit. This results in the
fruit of the Spirit of Gal 5:22-23 which indicates the character of Christ
being reflected! Attitudes and thinking that
motivate right actions in life!
This being
associated with Christ is an important point that Paul makes in Romans 8. In
fact he makes four associations that we have with Christ are crucial to our
relationship with Him.
What we ultimately
will become, the image that we will bear, we have together with Him! His future then
is our future! The associations are
fellow-heirs, suffer with Him, and be glorified with Him. (Rom
The whole of the
Christian life is wrapped up in a relationship with Christ. Its
derived from Him. He is our life! So being conformed to the image of Christ
refers to all believers being made like Christ, having a resurrection body like
His, minus the sin nature.
It almost seems
redundant, at first glance, that Paul would add the word image, eikwn, since the idea of form or image is a part of being conformed but there is an additional nuance that it adds. The word is image eivkw,n which refers to a pattern or imprint, a derived likeness.
That indistinct
image we bore when we first became believers becomes progressively clearer as
we grow and mature as believers.
Paul next states
the ultimate purpose of our being conformed to the image of His Son is that it
glorifies Christ! It exalts Him "that He, [Christ,] might be the first-born among many
brethren."
The key word here
is first-born prwtotokoj
which when used of
Christ as here it is used metaphorically of first in rank, one having
pre-imminence, and the idea then is of having highest rank or position. He cannot be second to anyone or in anything.
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