The salvation of God (2)
[Romans 8:29-30]
Look at Romans 8:29 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” The conjunction “For” (ὅτι) connects with the previous verse, verse 28, and in my opinion, introduces verse 29 that explains verse 28 in more detail. In other words, the Apostle Paul explains in verse 29 more concretely about what he said in verse 28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” In other words, the Apostle Paul explains more specifically about verse 28 in verse 29 regarding his and the Roman church saints’ assurance that all things to work together for salvation (“good”) to those who love God [those who first loved them (1 Jn.4:19)], to those who are called according to His purpose.
The Apostle Paul is speaking of “those whom He foreknew” (Rom. 8:29), where “those whom God foreknew” means “those who love God” and those who are called according to His purpose (v. 28), and it refers to those whom God loved beforehand (ref. Amos 3:2). God is love (1 Jn. 4:8, 16). A loving God loves everyone he has made (common love). However, in Romans 8:29, those whom God loved beforehand are not speaking of such general love, but special love. That special love of God speaks of the love of salvation. And that special saving love of God is the love that He gave even His only begotten Son for our eternal life (Jn. 3:16). And this saving love of God toward us is not only before we were born, but also before the creation of all things (“before the foundation of the world”) (Eph. 1:4). This love of God “before the foundation of the world” is the love of God’s election. In Romans 8:30, the Apostle Paul refers to those who received the love of His election as “those whom He predestined.”
The Apostle Paul says that those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). Here, “image” means shape, and the original Greek meaning is ‘similar, like, resembling.’ In Matthew 22:15-21, the Pharisees, in order to trap Jesus, sent their disciples along with the Herodians to Jesus to inquire (vv. 15-16): “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (v. 17) At that time, Jesus knew they were testing Him with their cunning thoughts, He said, “Show me the coin used for the poll-tax” (vv. 18-19). And when they brought Him a denarius, Jesus asked, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” (vv. 19-20). They said to Him, “Caesar’s” (v. 21). In other words, they said that it is the image of the Roman emperor Caesar. In Romans 8:29, “the image of His Son” is not referring to the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was God and man who was in weakness on this earth for 33 years, but it speaks of the image of the glorious Lord who has risen and ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God. The purpose why the God of love loved us before the foundation of the world [“those whom God foreknew” (Rom. 8:29)] and foreordained [“predestined” (v. 29)] (Eph. 1:4-5) is to make us conform to the image of the Lord (Rom.8:29), who is the Son of God, who sits on the heavenly throne. Then when will we be conformed to the image of the Lord? When Jesus returns, we will be fully conformed to the image of the Lord who sits on the throne of heaven [(glorification) “glorified” (v. 30)]. Now the Holy Spirit is making us partly and progressively conformed to His image (sanctification).
The Apostle Paul says, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). The God of love loved us before the foundation of the world, chose us, and predestined us so that we may be conformed to the image of the Lord who is seated on the heavenly throne, the Son of God (v. 29). And its purpose is that He would be the firstborn among many brothers (v. 29). We need to think a bit about “many brothers” here. Jesus never referred to His disciples as “brothers” when he was on earth. But after Jesus rose from the tomb, He referred to them as “brothers.” Look at John 20:17 – “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ‘Disciple’ refers to the disciple in the relationship with the teacher, while “brother” refers to the family. Our relationship with Jesus as disciples of Jesus is that of disciples and brothers here and now on earth. But when Jesus returns and we are resurrected and transformed and enter the kingdom of heaven, we will become fully brothers. In other words, the relationship between us and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will be fulfilled in the afterlife (with the completion of salvation). After all, the Apostle Paul is teaching us that we will all be glorified (v. 30), that is, we will go to heaven. Another thing to consider is the word “firstborn” (v. 29). This word means 'the best'. Jesus is the best. Look at Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” By God's exclusive grace, God not only raised us who were dead in trespasses [spiritually dead because of sins (Korean Modern Bible)] with Christ, but also raised us up together and seated us together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5-6). The Bible says we are now sitting together in heaven in Christ Jesus. In this way, salvation will be certain.
The God of love has loved us since the creation of the world. That is why God chose us beforehand and gave us the grace of salvation. We are people who have been saved by God's exclusive grace. Therefore, we should give thanks to God for His saving grace and give Him praise and worship. In addition, we must overcome all present hardships with the assurance of salvation and hope in faith for the future glory. In particular, we should strive to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ while enjoying God's saving grace through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoying a partial life of the kingdom of heaven on this earth.