Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… I. IN RELATION TO MAN. What is the design of God in predestination? "Conformity to the image of His Son." To make a little Jesus Christ of a man — that is what God does. What God predestines to do for man is what man, left to himself, does not and never will wish for. No unconverted man, no lost soul, no devil wishes to be like Christ. To wish to be good is itself a kind of goodness, and to wish to be like Jesus Christ is in some degree to resemble Him. Observe — 1. There is nothing here about a predestination of men to eternal misery. Our text speaks of nothing but good for man. 2. Predestination has reference to character rather than condition. It is not a plan by which men are to be made happy hereafter irrespectively of their inward nature and disposition. 3. The predestination of God includes all the laws, processes, means, and instruments by which the result is secured, as adapted to the constitution of the mind, the will, and the affections, to be renewed and sanctified. In His providential dealings the plan of God includes not only the end, but the means. The man who only takes a part of God's plan might sit down in the corner of the field, and there reason, "If a crop of corn is to grow here, it will grow; therefore I will lie down and leave the matter to God." But the man who has a firmer faith in predestination will say, "If a crop of corn is to grow here, I must labour because labour is comprehended in God's scheme." Therefore the man who contents himself with saying, "If I am to be saved I shall be saved," is only half a believer in predestination. The thorough believer in it will "give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, and work out his own salvation, because it is God that worketh in him." 4. The only evidence of personal predestination is in the attainment of the end proclaimed — Conformity to Christ. You may hold the doctrine of election and yet be none of the elect. You may be a drunkard, etc., and that is no part of God's purpose. You may even reject the doctrine, and yet be yourself an exemplification of it — God's workmanship. II. IN RELATION TO GOD. 1. It is God who works salvation in those who are saved. It is not that we have nothing to do and are to abandon ourselves to the current of events, but that the first and efficient Author of our salvation is God. 2. What God works in time is the effect of His eternal purpose. As the act of election is the act of God, so it is not done without forethought and design. The whole universe is formed, and all its parts organised after the purpose of God, planned by infinite wisdom and regulated by infinite power. Now, if this be so in regard to the fall of a sparrow, the numbering of the hairs of our head, etc., how much more in the building of the spiritual kingdom and temple of God! If the framework of the scaffold has been so wisely formed, how much more the palace to which it is subordinate! What it was right for Him to do, it was right for Him to purpose to do. Conclusion: The Divine predestination — 1. Wears towards men only an aspect of love. Its sole object is to make men like Christ. 2. Respects the accomplishment of a work of grace, which without would never be accomplished at all. 3. The only satisfactory mark of our interest in it is our conformity to Christ. 4. In the experience of salvation let this doctrine have its proper place. There is predestination in the entire process. But the use of means comes before attainment of the end. The first appeal of God to us is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us begin with that. Leave out for the present the perplexing question, "Am I one of the elect?" Our election must manifest itself by our growing conformity to Christ. The purpose of God is to be read in the work of God. And if this evidence appear, let it humble and awaken gratitude in you. (P. Strutt.) Parallel Verses KJV: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. |
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