Called Ones According to His Purpose (Rom. 8:28-30)
“In considering this topic we cannot do better than follow carefully the Apostle's words and logical reasoning’s.
In the preceding verses (22,23) what is God's purpose in calling the New Creation--that they are called to receive a great blessing, and also to minister a blessing to others; namely, the groaning creation, who are travailing in pain together, waiting for the manifestation of these elect sons of God of the New Creation (Verses 21, 22) The Apostle then proceeds to show that everything is working favorably to this class which God is calling to the New Creation; that this is the meaning of present disappointments, trials, vexations, oppositions of the world, the flesh and the Adversary—that these experiences are designed to work in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and thus work out for us the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" to which we have been called, and to which we properly aspire.
The Apostle traces with us the Lord's providence's in connection with these called ones for whom all things are working favorably. We are not to think of our call except as in connection with, and under, our Elder Brother. None could precede him, for only by noting and following in his footsteps can we hope to become sharers of his glory. God's predestination that these brethren of Christ must all be copies of their Elder Brother, if they would be sharers in the New Creation, would leave us hopeless as respects any member of the human family attaining to that glory, did not our Lord elsewhere show us most distinctly his provision for us through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; that the weaknesses of the flesh, which we inherit and cannot fully control, are all covered by the merit of the Redeemer's sacrifice; so that the Lord can excuse us from being absolute copies of his Son in the flesh, and can accept us according to his predestination, if he finds us to be such copies in heart, in intention, in will--attesting our wills by such control of the flesh as may be possible to us, our Lord Jesus, by his "grace sufficient," covering our unintentional blemishes.
Continuing a description of this class of called ones thus predestinated, the Apostle says (Verse 30), "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified [honored]."
This passage is usually misunderstood, because readers generally get the impression that the Apostle is here tracing Christian experiences as is usual--as we have just traced them in the preceding chapter--where we considered how Christ is made unto us wisdom, justification, sanctification, and deliverance; but the Apostle is here taking an opposite view, and begins at the other end.
He here views the Church as finally completed as God's elect under Christ its Head--the Church, the "very elect," in glory. He traces backward the development of the Church, the New Creation.
He shows that none will reach the grand position of the glorious elect of God except those called [accepted] to it by God's grace; and these must previously have been justified; because God calls, or invites none but believers to run in the race for this great prize. And these justified ones must previously, before their justification, have been honored [NOT "glorified" as in the common version]--honored by God in having sent to them a knowledge of himself and of his dear Son--the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Honored in that they have received the call at all, “for no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God…” (Heb 5:4)
It is more of an honor than many have supposed, even to hear of the grace of God in the present time. As salvation is a gift of God to be thrown open to the world during the Millennial Age, it is a special honor to have a knowledge of the Lord's grace, and an opportunity of reconciliation with him in the present time, in advance of the world; for having been thus honored, and having thus the knowledge (belief) necessary to our justification through faith, that opens the door or opportunity to the second step (the privilege of making a full consecration and sacrifice of ourselves to the Lord, our reasonable service, Rom 12:1), which in turn leads on to sanctification (our being set-apart) in harmony with the call, and this again leading on through faithfulness to "the glory to be revealed in us," constituting us members of the "very elect" New Creation.” (F181-183)
“In considering this topic we cannot do better than follow carefully the Apostle's words and logical reasoning’s.
In the preceding verses (22,23) what is God's purpose in calling the New Creation--that they are called to receive a great blessing, and also to minister a blessing to others; namely, the groaning creation, who are travailing in pain together, waiting for the manifestation of these elect sons of God of the New Creation (Verses 21, 22) The Apostle then proceeds to show that everything is working favorably to this class which God is calling to the New Creation; that this is the meaning of present disappointments, trials, vexations, oppositions of the world, the flesh and the Adversary—that these experiences are designed to work in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and thus work out for us the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" to which we have been called, and to which we properly aspire.
The Apostle traces with us the Lord's providence's in connection with these called ones for whom all things are working favorably. We are not to think of our call except as in connection with, and under, our Elder Brother. None could precede him, for only by noting and following in his footsteps can we hope to become sharers of his glory. God's predestination that these brethren of Christ must all be copies of their Elder Brother, if they would be sharers in the New Creation, would leave us hopeless as respects any member of the human family attaining to that glory, did not our Lord elsewhere show us most distinctly his provision for us through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; that the weaknesses of the flesh, which we inherit and cannot fully control, are all covered by the merit of the Redeemer's sacrifice; so that the Lord can excuse us from being absolute copies of his Son in the flesh, and can accept us according to his predestination, if he finds us to be such copies in heart, in intention, in will--attesting our wills by such control of the flesh as may be possible to us, our Lord Jesus, by his "grace sufficient," covering our unintentional blemishes.
Continuing a description of this class of called ones thus predestinated, the Apostle says (Verse 30), "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified [honored]."
This passage is usually misunderstood, because readers generally get the impression that the Apostle is here tracing Christian experiences as is usual--as we have just traced them in the preceding chapter--where we considered how Christ is made unto us wisdom, justification, sanctification, and deliverance; but the Apostle is here taking an opposite view, and begins at the other end.
He here views the Church as finally completed as God's elect under Christ its Head--the Church, the "very elect," in glory. He traces backward the development of the Church, the New Creation.
He shows that none will reach the grand position of the glorious elect of God except those called [accepted] to it by God's grace; and these must previously have been justified; because God calls, or invites none but believers to run in the race for this great prize. And these justified ones must previously, before their justification, have been honored [NOT "glorified" as in the common version]--honored by God in having sent to them a knowledge of himself and of his dear Son--the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Honored in that they have received the call at all, “for no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God…” (Heb 5:4)
It is more of an honor than many have supposed, even to hear of the grace of God in the present time. As salvation is a gift of God to be thrown open to the world during the Millennial Age, it is a special honor to have a knowledge of the Lord's grace, and an opportunity of reconciliation with him in the present time, in advance of the world; for having been thus honored, and having thus the knowledge (belief) necessary to our justification through faith, that opens the door or opportunity to the second step (the privilege of making a full consecration and sacrifice of ourselves to the Lord, our reasonable service, Rom 12:1), which in turn leads on to sanctification (our being set-apart) in harmony with the call, and this again leading on through faithfulness to "the glory to be revealed in us," constituting us members of the "very elect" New Creation.” (F181-183)
