Conformed — Faith — Stylin' Granny Mama

We are working our way through Romans chapter 8. I know I have taken a long time to get through this passage, but it has been worth the plodding pace. There is so much in this chapter to chew on, so like our friend the cow, we will continue to ruminate on this a few verses at a time until we are done.

Today’s verse is one that has been included in what I like to call the predestination/freewill debate. I am no theologian, but I am a believer in a powerful and mysterious God, who can be beyond my human comprehension. In fact, I prefer it that way. He is beyond our complete comprehension and understanding. He gives us enough information to know His unchanging character, His complete and boundless love, His merciful forgiveness, and His long suffering patience. I do not need to know every single thing about Him, or completely understand his ways.

“8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

— Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB 1995)

I have always believed that the most important aspect of the Scriptures are the Gospels of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is pointing forward to the necessity of a Savior, and the New Testament is the fulfillment of the prophecies and the subsequent start of the church. I most definitely agree that all of Scripture is the inspired Word of God and all of it is important and we can learn from it, thus the reason I am spending so much time on these different passages, even the pieces that may not be easily explainable.

“29 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; ”

— Romans 8:29 (NASB 1995)

Let’s dive in to this verse phrase by phrase.

For those whom He foreknew…

It is no stretch of the imagination to understand that God is all knowing. We could read all the books in the world and still not have a fraction of the knowledge He has. That doesn’t mean He just knows everything about the universe and how it all stays in place and was put together, but he knows you and I.

I have been doing a personal study on Psalm 139, a passage I have long loved. I shared some thoughts on the first three verses on a Faith Inspiration post recently. (Click on the link to go directly to that post.) From that psalm we learn how much God knows us, and it isn’t just current knowledge, it is from the foundation of the world. To say “those whom He foreknew” makes perfect sense. He knew each and everyone of us from the beginning of time.

He also predestined…

This is where, for some people, things get sticky. There are basically two theological points of view that underly the predestination/freewill debate: Calvinism and Arminianism. I am choosing to not go into details on those two points of view. A good comparison of Biblical texts that are controversial between the two can be seen here. You can also look up each and see what their basic points are if you are not familiar with them.

However, let me make clear, God is the one who gives us knowledge and understanding. It is important to search things out ourselves and ask for God’s wisdom and direction when looking at different passages. I think things are pretty clear when it comes to sin, Christ’s role in atoning for our sin, and our need to believe in the work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection to have eternal life. Also, if a person leans one way or the other, does not mean they are not saved.

Remember, God is God. He is almighty. He is beyond our finite minds to understand. There is most certainly a way for Him to predestine something, and also give us freewill to choose. The key is to not get hung up on it.

…to become conformed to the image of His son…

I think the important point here is what follows the word predestined. What did God predestine us to do? To become conformed to the image of His son. Isn’t this what God wants for everyone? He wants all of us to accept His son as our savior, and be conformed to His likeness. He wants all of us to look like Jesus. Christ left us the Holy Spirit to make this possible.

You might be thinking, there is no way I can be perfect, but God knows that. The fact that we are still in our flesh means we will continue to struggle until the day He takes us home, but we do have the power and strength through Him to become more and more like Jesus.

…so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…

Jesus is not only our savior, but our brother. We become His brothers and sisters when we believe in Him and call God our Father. When Christ died for us and rose again He became the firstborn among all of us who believe, meaning we will all, like Him have eternal life and rise from the dead by the power and might of the Father above. Indeed, there will be many brothers and sisters because of our belief in the finished work of Christ, not what we believe about predestination or freewill.

Next month we will look into verse 30 and learn more about the process God uses to draw us to Himself, make us His own even though we are sinners and bring us to future glory.

I hope you will join me then.

I will be the first to acknowledge I am no Bible scholar. While I did graduate with a diploma from a Bible school (Moody Bible Institute) back in 1987 and have been the facilitator and recipient in many Bible studies over the years, of late I realize how very little I know about the words that God inspired men to write in His holy scriptures. Yes there are things that are pretty straight forward and easy to understand, but there are also many passages that leave us feeling dumber than a box of bricks. Today’s two verses from Romans chapter 8 are just those. Before I begin looking at them and mulling them over, I want you to know, I do not know, nor understand everything in the mind of God. Yes, I do have His Spirit, and His Spirit gives me much understanding, but I believe, until I am actually standing before Him in a glorified state, there will still be many mysteries too deep to plumb regarding this Almighty One we call God. Which is as it should be.

“29 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;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

— Romans 8:29-30 (NASB)

I want to handle these verses in a different way. I would like to define each of the terms before we actually approach trying to understand what it says. There are so many words in these two verses and I think we can easily get distracted or off track if we don’t know what each of the words means. I am going to give you a simple Webster’s Online Dictionary definition to start with and then if need be add more defining as we go along.

Foreknew - to have previous knowledge of: know beforehand especially by paranormal means or by revelation

Predestined - to destine, decree, determine, appoint, or settle beforehand

Conformed - to give the same shape, outline, or contour to : bring into harmony or accord

Image - exact likeness: a visual representation of something

Firstborn - first brought forth

Brethren - plural of brother: used chiefly in formal or solemn address or in referring to the members of a profession, society, or religious denomination

Called - to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office: to invite or command to meet: to rouse from sleep or summon to get up

Justified - (Used justify for definitions) to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable: to qualify (oneself) as a surety: to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation

Glorified - to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration: to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual condition

That is a lot of words and definitions. Now lets take each phrase and learn from it.

For those whom He foreknew…

The He mentioned in this verse is referring to God. Those whom He foreknew refers to all of us. An Almighty being, who created us is not limited by time, or space. Words that describe God like omnipotent mean He is all powerful. Omnipresent means He is everywhere present. Omniscient means He knows everything. Indeed, He knew us before we were a seed in our mothers’ wombs.

“13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.”

— Psalms 139:13-16 (NASB)

…He also predestined…

Many people get hung up on this word. There are those who believe the idea that God’s foreknowledge predetermines who will be saved and who will not, leaving out the idea of free will. There are others who believe so strongly in a free will that they can even lose their salvation. I am not going to get into a long, confusing debate on Calvinism vs. Arminianism. My belief is foreknowledge, predestination and free will all work together in a beautiful dance of sovereign love and salvation. God does know who will choose Him, but His decree is that all should come to repentance, not just those who won the lottery. In other words. His desire is that all be saved, but free will allows humanity to make a choice.

…to become conformed…

It is God’s desire that every single one of us conform, or take on the shape of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He decreed, or predestined that all of His created humanity do this, but that decree does not negate our ability to make the choice. Even the potter knows there are various types of clay and various types of vessels made from that clay. We are not all the same, but our responsibility is to be moldable in His hands.

…to the image of of His son…

The image to which we are to conform is that of Jesus Christ. We are not told to conform to the image of a famous football player or rock star. It is not suggested that we take on the image of a government leader or some other famous politician or philanthropist. God’s settlement beforehand was that we come into harmony with the Son.

“12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)

When we come face to face with Christ we will fully know what our image is meant to be.

…so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…

Jesus, who died and rose again for us, began a religious order now known by the name Christian or Christ Ones or Christ followers. He was the firstborn, meaning He was the first to rise again. When we accept Him as our Lord, we then become a part of His family or His order, if you like. We become a part of the many brethren. Obviously, those of us who are Christ followers know that this is no mere religious order. It is a relationship with a mighty, just and holy being.

I am going to finish these verses next week as we look at the second portion of this piece of Scripture. There is so much to digest and I want to be sure to take it slowly. I hope you are enjoying this look at Romans chapter 8. Until next week, keep laughing and keep looking up!

Mulling it Over - Romans 8:29

Conformed Brethren