PREDESTINED FOR CONFORMITY

PREDESTINED FOR CONFORMITY

Romans 8. 28 – 32

And (or furthermore) we know that all things work together for good to them (or for the good of them) that love God, to them who are the “called”, (or called) according (or in accordance) to his purpose, for whom he foreknow, (knew in advance) he also did predestinate (determined in advance) to be conformed (patterned) to the image of his son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, (whom he determined in advance) them he also called and whom he called, them he also justified (caused to be considered righteous) and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (present tense) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (having given us his son, he would not give us everything else too?)

KJV and Complete Jewish Bible

Vs 28 What are the ALL things, Paul is talking about?

The things that work together for the good of those who love God. The all that is presently available in Christ for us. Rom. 11.36, Eph. 3.17-19

Love God; to what extent, what is your love, how deep, how sincere, how real, how solid, how uncompromising?

Only you can answer this

To them who ARE the Called?

Called to what? We must understand what we are called to.

Many people use the term, “I was called, or felt the call to go into the ministry”

We are called to an express purpose and that is to be “CONFORMED” Changed, deviated from our present condition, lifestyle, to the image, likeness, internal (heart, soul, spirit and mind) and eternal representation of Christ.

Are we there yet?

Called to his purpose, greater than our present personal purpose.

Does this mean we are not to pursue a personal purpose in the world, vocation, job, etc?

No for as we pursue the heart of God, his intervention, guidance and will, will present itself. Then there may be choices we will have to make.

Vs 29 For whom he did foreknow (in advance)... does this mean we were/are already a part of God's future, his plan, his dream for us?

Predestined to become, (determined in the heart of God)> Conformed> to the image of his son> FIRST BORN AMONG MANY

Jesus was born of the “Spirit”, Jn 3 “Born from above” and so are we destined to be born from above, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus

“First born among many”

If we follow in his footsteps; is it in his actions pre-death, or in his actions after death?

Pre-death are the actions of Love, the heart of the Father revealed, Father demonstrated through the son. The Kingdom of God has come. Since the Kingdom of God was demonstrated through Jesus, this is where we must then aim for ourselves... Revelation = Much conformity.

If we become engrossed and only concentrating on our actions of death to self, we may become trapped into doing nothing but the act of continuously dying to self, and in these actions we miss the work of the Spirit that has been predetermined by God on our behalf.

But if we agree that Jesus died for us, then we must be dead! (dead to the things of the flesh, but we must agree with the word of God) NOW!

He was already ALIVE in the Spirit while he lived, then that must be the goal we seek and aim for ; Everything else in what we want to do or are doing is futile, empty, and a mashing and clashing of flesh against Spirit.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?

Am I dead, buried in unbelief, then something has to change?

And it has to be drastic...

Vs 30 Predestined, a great stumbling block to the church, a very simple word taken and stretched and often bringing with it confusion.

It was in God's heart from the beginning that mankind would follow after the representative of heaven, the true son Jesus. The only way that we can accomplish this is to embrace the things of the Spirit and have them engrossed into and with our spirit, given to us as a part of our triune being.

Vs 31 God is for us! What does it matter who is against us?

Too many people spend too much of their time worrying about the devil and his devises and miss living a more complete life in Christ. God is for us... yes... and gives us all the resources necessary to live a fulfilled life in the Spirit, through Christ who has done everything for us and has given us Holy Spirit as our counselor (adviser) and connection to heaven. We are not left alone.

Vs 32 Would God the Father, after giving us Jesus, in a complete act of unconditional love, in Christ, not also give us all things that are in Christ for our benefit? And as the rest of the chapter says, with a love that is inseparable?

But people get all in a panic and return to futility of doing works of goodness and righteousness, believing that their complete salvation is in these works, and not in the finished work of Christ. But that is not what the word of God expresses. "Not by works, but a gift..." EM

Yes we do the work of faith to show the world that the completeness of Christ is present in me and that the love of God is real and powerful. If we are truly born from above, we cannot help but to do the things of faith because within us is the fullness of God in and through Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be Christlike in the world. That is the beauty of having the ALL of Christ, for our conformity to be like him in every way possible.

Jesus, the first born among many brethren to complete and fulfill what is in the heart of God for us. That in us, for us, to us and to be shown to the world around us, that God exists for the sole purpose of exhibiting his power in ALL mankind in like manner to complete a feat of superior magnitude and genius by his Holy Spirit indwelling us.

Only God in three persons could have thought up such a superb plan and included us to be partakers. What an awesome God we have the explicit privilege of serving.