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What does Romans 8:30 mean?
In the previous verse, Paul wrote that God predestined those who are now in Christ to be conformed to Christ's image. He made this choice about us before the world was formed (
Ephesians 1:4). God's purpose for our lives has ever and always been that we will become like Jesus. In some way, God both knew and chose those who would be saved, long before we even existed to make such a choice. The subtle details of what this means, and how God accomplished it, are part of a much larger debate. In the context of this specific passage, however, those debates are beside the point.
Now Paul writes that those God predestined for this purpose, He also called. Stated in reverse, God called every single person he predestined. As Paul uses the word in Romans, being "called" by God is about His breaking into our awareness of Him and drawing us toward Himself.
Next, God justified every single person He called. The first four chapters of Romans deal with the issues of God's justification. To be "justified" by God is to be made right with Him. We can never justify ourselves because of our sin, not even by following the law, since we can't keep the law (
Romans 3:10,
23). We can only be justified through faith in Christ (
Romans 5:1).
Finally, every person God justified, by faith in Christ, He then glorified. Paul writes this in the past tense, indicating that our glorification is as good as completed in God's eyes. However, Paul began this section in verses 18–19 by saying that all of creation is waiting for the children of God to be glorified. We are waiting for that, too, though our sure and confident hope is that it is coming in God's perfect timing.
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. - What is the meaning of Romans 8:30?
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Reference Eph 1:4 Before the foundation of the world God chose that believers would appear before him holy and blameless in love
This is not a reference to unconditional election.
Regarding Romans 8:30
Romans 8:27–30 (LEB) — 27 And the one who searches our hearts knows what the mindset of the Spirit is, because he intercedes on behalf of the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, these he also called, and those whom he called, these he also justified, and those whom he justified, these he also glorified.
It references saints God knew in past who loved God and were called for his purpose
Notice the Apostle’s use of the past tense in this verse. If Paul is intending to speak about the future salvation of every elect individual why would he use all these past tense verbs? Paul, when writing these words, had not yet been glorified, and his readers certainly had not been glorified yet, so why use the past tense of the word “glorified?” There is no reason to assume he has in mind the future glorification of all believers. LCF
See Romans 11:2 where Elijah is given as an example along with old testament saints who had not bowed a knee to Baal
Romans 11:1–4 (LEB) — 1 Therefore I say, God has
not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2
God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew! Or do you not know, in the passage about Elijah, what the scripture says—how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!” 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”
Those foreknow of God are those who were in a loving relationship with God
foreknow is to know previously
to be known of God
1 Corinthians 8:3 (LEB) — 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.
Galatians 4:9 (LEB) — 9 But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
indicates one is in a loving relationship with God
