God Calls

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

            Paul points out at the beginning of this passage something that is not self-evident in any other god that makes Christianity unique and that is God works all things together for good for His people. Paul shows how this is not good for everyone and the good is not specified but it is good that is considered good by God and for God for those that are called according to His purpose. The next part of the passage Paul is summarizing what he has already referenced earlier in this chapter—coming to God takes the foreknowledge and predestination of God to happen. People do not just come out of their own slavery and sin; they must be rescued by God. Paul outlines here to that the rescue comes by God conforming us to the image of Jesus and adopting us. At the end of the passage, Paul shows how all of the verbs in this sentence are things that have happened and what Paul is doing here is even more subtle than that because he is actually showing how this is something that has happened, is happening, and will happen. So, when looking at those who He glorified, He is still glorifying and will glorify them in the future. It is something in the English language that is hard to grasp. Paul is showing that for all those who are called these processes have happened but are also ongoing and complete all at the same time. Paul is painting a holistic experience started by God, continued by God, and finished by God.

            As Christians this is our security in Christ. It is the toughest thing to live in a world that is opposed to the way we live and the standards by which we live, but this shows how we are not alone. God has already done all of the work. God is working for good those that are called by Him; we know that whatever is happening in our lives, as long as we are children of God, we know it will be for good. It is important to specify this good might not feel good in the moment. It might be hard and make us, as we have seen in the last passage, groan for our home but it is still good because it is what God wants and what He desires from us. At the same time here, we have a hope that is past just having good in our lives. It is also a hope for transformation, that we are being transformed by God into what He wants us to be, and this is happening no matter what because God wills it. Here, we have four steps for Christians. We are first predestined which is God determining our final outcome. With this, however, it is important to note how, even though God knows the eventual outcome, we are still told to strive for Him to run the race because that is still our duty to God. After predestination comes the calling. He will not just predetermine something. God will also then call that person to Him and He will continue that work by then justifying them and He will complete the work by glorifying them. It is important to note here that the work is already done, there is nothing else we as Christians need to strive for. Here in our American society, we are looking for the next thing to do but God is calling us to a place where we realize He has done all the work. We need to recognize that and boldly go about what He wills for our lives, knowing it is working for the good of God.             As for non-Christians, this shows something that flies in the face of what you might have been told. This follows on in the passage as Paul mentions how those who do not know God do not want to know Him. Here we see the supernatural power of God working the will of humans to what He wants. God is calling you. He already has the plan in place for your eventual salvation. The call is simple, come now to Him because He works all things for good and God is the ultimate good. Align yourself with Him through His son Jesus who was the firstborn Christian. Understand that He is the narrow path that must be walked to come to God and be a child of God but know you do not have to change your way of living or to “fix” yourself because God has a plan to justify and glorify you. Just come and call upon His name, join in the best adventure you will ever take.