Notes of Faith April 15, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8
July 7, 2002
“PANORAMA OF SALVATION”
Romans 8:29-30
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
In Romans 8:29-30 Paul continues the thought of verse 28 where he says we are called according to His purpose. He then gives a great panorama of that purpose:
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
Much explanation is needed here. This verse does not say that God foreknew my actions. It says He foreknew me, which is Step One in the redemption plan.
Nor does he say that God foreknew what I would do. It implies that He foreknew what He would do! Predestinated means that He predetermined our destination, which is not to salvation, but to Christ conformity. What a goal!
Everything that comes into our lives is designed to make us a little more like Jesus Christ, Who is the firstborn among many brethren. He is the firstborn from the dead in a glorified body. There will be many, many more in that glorified image. God is starting to work on us now in that respect.
Now comes the procession, the chain of salvation that links eternity past with eternity future:
. . . and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
In God’s eternal plan we are already glorified. He states it as if it has already happened – and in God’s mind – it has! Just as sure as we have been predestined, called and justified, we will be glorified.
What powerful verses we have here. God’s eternal purpose for His people, from start to finish, is outlined for us.
Beloved, read this over and over again until it sinks into your minds. And remember, God causes all things that come into our lives to work together for our good, which is to conform us into the image of His blessed Son. God bless.
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
Eph 1:4
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
Phil 3:8-11
I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
God chose you! Amazing grace…to think that with all of my issues and sin against Him, God still chose me (and you) to be conformed to His will, and makes us into the image of His Son, Jesus! Our highest focus in life should be to imitate Jesus. We must know Jesus, have intimate relationship with Him, become more and more like Him, and filled with the joy of the Lord, even through earthly suffering, look forward to the eternal life provided by Jesus, who is doing the work of completing our life in Him! May we “press on” toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, daily!
Pastor Dale