Romans 8:29-30 or How We Can Trust God at His Word

This is a re-blog from Transformed Theology, “A Critical Look at Romans 8:29-30” by Pastor Bob Hadley; Pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Pastor Bob succinctly shows how the Calvinistic reading of Romans 8 is out of bounds given the grammatical context of the passage; both the objects of the verbs and their tenses.

Romans 8:29-30 is perhaps the most Calvinistic passage of Scripture in the Bible. Here the Apostle Paul makes the following declaration: “29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (NKJV) The question of the hour is, what do these two verses mean? Is Paul speaking in salvific terms? Is he giving the world a glimpse into the mind of God as He reaches out to touch the hearts of sinners to make them part of His eternal family? The Calvinist says this is exactly what Paul is doing and this is exactly what these two verses are referring to.

In looking at the Greek,

“for those He knew beforehand, He indeed appointed beforehand (predestined) those to be fashioned in the image of His Son that He might be the first born among many brothers. Those He predestined He called by name, invited and those He called those He also justified and those He justified He also glorified.”

These verbs are all aorist active indicative tenses. They indicate that the action of the verb has already taken place with respect to the subject of the verb. Given the tense of the verb, it is clear at least grammatically speaking, this cannot refer to action that is yet to be taken. The Calvinist argument that glorification is so set in the mind of God that it is virtually already settled is not easily substantiated grammatically in this passage of Scripture. This will be highlighted in greater detail later. With this in mind, is there a contextual application that might better suit Paul’s statement?

Paul begins chapter 8 with these words, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-2 NKJV) It is clear that Paul is speaking if not to Christians, about Christians. In verse 4 he settles that question when he wrote, “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”(NKJV) He goes on to say “8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Rom 8:8-9 NKJV) “16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom 8:16-17 NKJV) Paul is establishing the foundation for their inclusion in the family of God.

Notice the phrase, “if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” This is an important phrase in the exegesis of this text. Paul has taken great lengths to identify the Roman Christians with the family of God; they are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. So, how are these Roman Christians to respond to the persecution they are facing? This present suffering will end in glorification. What about the tenses in this verse? If we “suffer” is a present active indicative which indicates that Paul is speaking of persecution they are currently experiencing and “that we may be glorified together” is aorist passive subjunctive; which carries with it an intended action that is yet to be completed. The subjunctive voice even with the aorist tense is an indication that there is no past time indicated by the aorist tense of the verb but anticipates some hypothetical event in the future. So Paul is indicating here that the present suffering the Roman Christians are going through will culminate in glory someday.

Paul says that the world itself is going through this futility and “the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Rom 8:21NKJV) Paul continues this concept as he argues the necessity of their present suffering: “23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Rom 8:23-25 NKJV) Notice Paul’s next statement, “we are not alone! We have the Holy Spirit helping us and praying on our behalf!” Notice Paul’s next statement: “27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom 8:27 NKJV)

Who would these Roman Christians think of when the apostle Paul spoke of “the saints?” It is at least fair to assume they might think of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They might think of David, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all Old Testament saints that God had used to bring Jesus into the world. It is clear that Paul did not think of himself in this category and was not including himself in this company. Notice Paul’s next statement: “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28-29 NKJV) “We know” is a very important statement here. How do these Roman Christians know that God works “all things out for good for those who love the Lord?” Because they had been taught the Old Testament and they knew that God had worked in the lives of those Old Testament saints and He had brought them through untold difficulties to glory!

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30 NKJV) Notice the conjunction, “for”’; it ties what is about to be said with what has just been said. We know what God has done for the Old Testament saints, those that He “already knew, He predestined, (aorist indicative, completed action) to be conformed to the image or likeness of His Son. They died long before Jesus was even born but they are still a part of the promises of God! God planned from the beginning to bring their salvation to completion in Christ Jesus. Moreover, those He predestined (aorist indicative, completed action) He justified (aorist indicative, completed action) and those He justified He glorified (aorist indicative, completed action). If Paul had any intended notion that he was speaking to the Roman Christians he would have used the same tense he used previously in verse 16, that being the aorist passive subjective. He did not do so because he was speaking here of the Old Testament saints who had already died but God had provided hope for.

Paul continues, “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31 NKJV) If God took care of the Old Testament saints, will He not do the same for us? Yes! “32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom 8:21-36 NKJV) Paul is not at all speaking of predestination of individuals to conversion: he is speaking to these Roman Christians who are suffering immense persecution and encouraging them to “keep the faith” for the God who brought the Old Testament saints to glory is going to bring them to glory!

Paul concludes chapter 8 with this great charge, “37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:37-39 NKJV)

Paul simply wanted the newly born again Christians in Rome to know that they were covered by the blood that covered the saints of old and the same God that brought them out of the immense persecutions they endured would bring them out of those they were enduring.

As Pastor Bob shows, Paul’s point is to encourage the believer as to how they can trust God’s promise that they will be vindicated from their present persecution by glorification. How can the Christian trust this promise? By looking at how God fulfilled that promise to the saints of old. Paul’s point is not to tell believers HOW they became believers as the Calvinist must render it ie. “The Golden Chain of Salvation”

697 thoughts on “Romans 8:29-30 or How We Can Trust God at His Word

  1. Thanks for your reply, but you still have not answered my question.
    Let me ask you something, I am new to this website. Why did my post/question show up as from “firequicklyeb1406462f”?

    Thompson, as well as everyone else, is getting what Paul was saying about predestination wrong.
    So my understanding is not similar to his. My understanding is based on what Paul said. It is something that you most likely have not heard. Would you be interested in knowing what Paul was saying?
    I’d love to explain it to you. It would be easier to explain it by phone, or with the video that I made, by apparently this site is adverse to video links.

    Signed
    J
    The J Harlen Bretz of Predestination

    1. br.d
      Well – for some reason – your posts are showing up as firequicklyeb1406462f
      And I can’t explain that!!!
      .
      On your statement about Kevin Thompson – and your claim is based on what Paul said – once again we are back to what I previously mentioned concerning what *INFORMS* your reading of the text.
      .
      You obviously see Kevin’s reading of the text as incorrect.
      .
      Personally – I don’t have any interest in arguing with you about it.
      .
      I would however wonder if you see yourself as the only person in the world who correctly understands the text?
      And if your understanding of the text is for the most part what is found in Calvinism – then it would be easy for me to understand that as Calvinism having affected your thinking – which is quite common today – since Calvinist authors constantly publish materials within the Christian marketplace which *COVERTLY* teach Calvinism without letting people know that is what they are being taught.
      .
      blessings!

    2. Hello! Big fan of the show and your books. I still have little problem with this view. Is it a problem to say, that those old testament saint that were faithful has been glorified, if glorification happens only at the end of ages, when we get our resurrection bodies. or can we say that saints that are with Christ already in intermediate state has been glorified. If not isn´t it a problem with this view?

      1. Hello Eero and welcome
        .
        Dr. Flowers – due to his schedule – is not able to be here to respond to posters
        .
        But if you are a face book user – you may readily find him there.
        .
        If you would permit me to make a comment on your question – I don’t see how it could be the case that any believer can be glorified prior to the resurrection – if what we mean by “glorified” is the Resurrection of the human body.
        .
        To my knowledge – the resurrection occurs once and only once – for all believers.
        .
        Remember the conversation between Jesus and Martha concerning Martha’s brother Lazarus
        .
        Martha said to Jesus: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
        .
        So Martha has the understanding – that the resurrection will occur on “the last day”
        I one would assume her understanding is that all of the saints who are faithful to God will rise on that day.
        .
        So if I understand your question correctly – I don’t see how any believer could rise prior to that day.
        .
        .
        Blessings!
        br.d

      2. Hello sir. Because of the Augustinian paradigm, people do not understand what Paul is saying. And because people do not understand what Paul is saying, they do not understand the meaning of the words “glorified”, “called”, and “justified”.

        Let me ask you, does the word “glorified” only have one meaning in the bible? Or can it mean more than one thing?
        Consider this verse:

        Hebrews 3:3  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (KJV)

        Jesus was counted worthy of more glory than Moses. If it is the case that Jesus was counted to be worthy of more glory that Moses, is it not the case that Moses was counted worthy of some degree of glory? And if he was counted to be worthy of some degree of glory, is it a stretch to say he was glorified? And that he was glorified by God?

        Moses is an Old Testament saint that was glorified. It has NOTHING to do with the resurrection, or a ‘glorified’ body.,

        Paul is talking about OT saints who are types of Christ. Those are the ones who were called, justified, and glorified.
        The reason those words called, justified, and glorified, are in the past tense is because those things already happened with people like Moses, David, Joseph, and Joshua, just to name a few.

      3. Hello J Harlen and welcome
        .
        Firstly – I should have mentioned to Eero
        The subject in this case is peripheral to the focus of S0T101 which is focused on the topic of the dangers of Calvinism.
        .
        I apologize for not doing that – but didn’t think this topic would go anywhere.
        .
        So I personally would not be involved in any serious deliberation over the subject of the scriptures use of the word “Glory”.
        .
        However – a brief cursive glance shows the word “Glory” is used in different senses and in different applications.
        .
        For example – in 2 Corinthians 3:7-11, Paul contrasts the “Glory” of the Old Covenant (the Mosaic law) with the “Glory” of the New Covenant (the gospel of Jesus Christ).
        .
        This is a different usage of the word “Glory” in which in other passages it is used to refer to a future “Physical Transformation” of a human body.
        .
        So we find verses in which the term “glory” refers to honor, esteem, and divine significance….. and in such case is a different usage of the word.
        .
        I will not belabor this topic any further however – because I view it as a deviation from SOT101s focus.
        .
        You’re welcome to make a final comment if you wish.
        And then we can consider your comment to be your closing comment on the subject.
        .
        Sincere thanks
        Blessings
        br.d

  2. Brd, yes I saw what Brian posted.

    Also I guess this site or an associated site assigned me that firefly screen name, But I am Jay. The J Harlen Bretz of Predestination.

    You apparently think I am a Calvinist despite my confession that I am not.
    I am new to this site, but I imagine that on this site people who disagree with you, Brian, Leighton, and others are like Kevin are usually Calvinists.

    That being the case, I can see why you are locked into that way of thinking. That is to say that because I have allowed the text to inform my mind when I read Romans 8:28-30, rather than the standard narratives, I must be a Calvinist.
    You are locked into a certain way of thinking that does not allow you to see me as not being a Calvinist. This in spite of not only my confession that I am not one, but also the fact that I have said NOTHING that would indicate that I am one.
    This is the same thing that has happened with the predestination spoken of in Romans 8. People are locked into a certain way of viewing those verses, which does not allow them to see those verses the way Paul intended.
    If you can understand that you have a wrong perception of me because of your prior experiences, you might be able to see that I am saying you could have a wrong view of Romans 8:28-30 because of “What *INFORMS* your mind while you are reading the text!”

    Actually, I’m not saying that you could have a wrong view, I’m saying that to do have a wrong view.
    And I’m I understand that me saying that may make you less likely to want to hear from me what Paul is saying, but, it would be wrong of me not to offer you another view.

    I know you said you do not want to argue about it, well, neither do I.
    What I want to do is to present you with what I say those verses mean. Not to argue with your view, just to present you with mine.

    That’s why I posted the link to the video I made. So people could check it out.
    I’m not a writer, (that’s why it’s taken a while to respond to your last post), so it would be easier to explain those verses over the phone. Or by watching the video, But this site does not allow video links.

    Are you willing to allow me to present to you a different view of Romans 8:28-30?

    1. Hi Jay
      .
      Yes – 99.9% of the people who post here are Calvinists.
      And the strategy of claiming they are not Calvinists is very common.
      So you can see from that – there is a degree of dishonesty that is justified within the social structure of Calvinism.
      And claiming they are not what they actually are is just the tip of the iceberg.
      .
      Jay:
      That is to say that because I have allowed the text to inform my mind when I read Romans 8:28-30, rather than the standard narratives, I must be a Calvinist.
      .
      br.d
      Too funny!
      Just like scripture informs the minds of those who believe the sun orbits around the earth is what scripture teaches! 😀
      .
      Jay:
      You are locked into a certain way of thinking that does not allow you to see me as not being a Calvinist
      .
      br.d
      This is commits the fallacy of hasty generalization.
      Which reveals the vulnerability fallacious thinking processes.
      Just because 99.9% of the people who come here – start off by claiming to NOT be Calvinist (which is interestingly what you did) does not make it the case that they all are.
      But it does show the probability of a lack of truthfulness
      .
      Jay
      This is the same thing that has happened with the predestination spoken of in Romans 8. People are locked into a certain way of viewing those verses, which does not allow them to see those verses the way
      .
      br.d
      AH!
      So we see you are a Calvinist after all!
      That is in fact is the essence of Calvinism!
      .
      The aspect of Calvinism which you are enunciating there – is called EXHAUSTIVE DIVINE DETERMINISM (EDD)
      And I seem to recall explaining that to you in our first conversation
      So now I find it interesting that you either did not connect those dots.
      And I also find it interesting that you claim to NOT be a Calvinist – and then go on to declare Calvinism’s foundational proposition.
      .
      SO LET US UN-PACKAGE THAT PROPOSITION:
      Accordingly – what informs the human brain is NOT TRUTH
      What informs the human brain is an infallible decree
      .
      A PERCEPTION cannot exist within your brain – unless that PERCEPTION was decreed
      Just like the Atheist – and the Jehovah’s Witness – and the Satanist – etc – You PERCEIVE what you PERCEIVE not because it is TRUE
      You PERCEIVE what you PERCEIVE because it was decreed
      .
      And that decree does not permit anything within creation to BE OTHER than that which was decreed
      Thus your brain is not granted the ability to PERCEIVE otherwise
      .
      In such case your PERCEPTIONS are not TRUTH-BASED
      They are DECREE-BASED
      .
      And just like the (Atheist, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, Satanist) etc brains – are not permitted to discern those PERCEPTIONS as FALSE
      Your brain is likewise not permitted to discern its PERCEPTIONS as FALSE
      .
      So in your Calvinist belief system – your brain is not granted the ability to discern TRUE from FALSE
      Because that would require a state of affairs in which the PERCEPTIONS in your brain were not PRE-Determined.
      .
      And that state of affairs does not exist in Calvinism because it would falsify Calvinism’s doctrine of decrees.
      .
      So per your own position – your brain is not granted the ability to discern TRUE from FALSE on any matter.
      .
      blessings!

    2. Jay,

      I’m gonna take a whack at this, and direct you to Romans 7:1, which states, in part:

      Roman 7:1
      …for I speak to them that know the law,

      Who knew the law?

      Romans 7:1
      Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

      Were Gentiles ever under the law?

      In essence, it’s setting the stage for discussing Romans 9-11, which is about the ultimate salvation of the Jews, and their healing from spiritual blindness.

      The purpose of the Book of Romans is to show the difference between LAW and Grace, Faith vs. Works. It is the Jews who transition from the law, to faith/grace. Gentiles never had the law to go through.

      Gentiles come to Jesus by faith. Jews can’t do that until they are first healed of their blindness. They are the topic of FOREKNEW. They are the topic of predestination. Their salvation through Jesus, once he heals them of their blindness, or what you might call, REGENERATION.

      Ed Chapman

  3. Jay,

    An addendum to my last:

    I’m sure that you’ve read the following SOMEWHERE here, as I do mention this a lot, and I’m sure that many here are sick of me saying it, because even they don’t buy into it, but…

    THE FOLLOWING IS THE JEWS ONLY, NOT GENTILES:

    Deuteronomy 29:4
    4 Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

    This is repeated in Romans 11:8

    Romans 11:8
    8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

    NOTE: THEM/THEY is the JEWS ONLY

    Now, for the GENTILES ONLY:

    Romans 15:21
    21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

    ——————————-

    Another Jew/Gentile difference is:

    JEWS ONLY:

    Romans 15:8
    8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

    Matthew 15:24
    But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

    NOW for the Gentiles:

    Paul Speaking:

    Romans 15:16
    16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

    THEREFORE:

    When you read the gospels, you should see that it is TO THE JEWS, not the Gentiles, regarding CHOSEN, etc.

    Those Jews were ALREADY FOLLOWERS OF GOD under the law of Moses.

    And Jesus is TRANSITIONING SOME OF THEM from THE LAW OF MOSES, to THE LAW OF CHRIST.

    Romans 11:5
    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

    Those are the JEWS ONLY who were ALLOWED to transition from THE LAW OF MOSES (WORKS) to THE LAW OF CHRIST (GRACE)…a REMNANT.

    AND HOW?

    John 9:39-41
    39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

    40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

    41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

    BOTTOM LINE:

    There is no regeneration needed for Gentiles…only for the Jews. They are the only Elect. They are blind, NOT JUDICIOUSLY. They are blind for a reason, and it’s NOT because of anything that they did, or didn’t do. But why?

    Gentiles are not elect, saved or not.

    So, your Romans 8 predestination is a discussion that began several chapters before, discussing Jews under the law of Moses (Works), vs. Jews under the law of Christ (Grace), vs. Gentiles that come to Jesus by faith, bypassing the law, just like Abraham, who bypassed the law (Romans 5:13).

    Oh, by the way, using Romans 5:13, those who died in the flood fell under that verse, as well. Let that “SINK” (no pun intended…well, OK, I lied…pun indeed intended!) in.

    Romans 4:8
    Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

    Romans 5:13
    (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

    Now, what was that about predestination that you wanted to discuss?

    Ed Chapman

    1. Hello Ed, let me start by asking, what are you taking a whack at?

      (“I’m gonna take a whack at this, and direct you to Romans 7:1”)
      Maybe you should take a whack at people calling a non Calvinist a Calvinist.

      “Now, what was that about predestination that you wanted to discuss?”
      I’m glad you asked….as long as you’re willing to allow me to explain what Paul is saying in Romans 8:28-30.
      In the same way that Brd is locked into seeing me and judging me as a Calvinist, without hearing the whole matter, (Proverbs 18:13), people are misunderstanding the predestination spoken of in Romans 8.
      Everyone is locked into their particular way of thinking about 8:29-30 just like Brd is locked into thinking that I am a Calvinist. He can only see me one way, and people can only see those verses in one way, which, unfortunately, is not scriptural.
      I just stopped by to try and give people a chance to hear what I have found.
      But since I am not much of a writer, I was hoping to have a conversation by video or phone that I could record and upload to Youtube so more people can know what Paul was saying.
      I’m just going to report, and you can decide, as a Berean at heart would do.
      If your question about predestination is, “What does the book say?”, I have an answer.

      The J Harlen Bretz of predestination.

      1. Jay,

        Well, dude, apparently, you can’t comprehend as to why I referenced Romans 7:1. It’s a conversation that didn’t stop through all of Romans 8, 9, 10, and 11. And what is the SUBJECT of Romans 7-11? Jews, and how PREDESTINATION refers to THEM ONLY, not you.

        Romans 7:1, Paul states, FOR I SPEAK TO THOSE WHO KNOW THE LAW.

        Or, you could say, FOR I SPEAK TO THOSE WHO ARE JEWS.

        Like it or not, you are a REFORMER, even though you are not a Calvinist. You do believe in ORIGINAL SIN, I’m sure of that. Therefore, you do believe in PREVENIENT GRACE, at the minimum.

        So, whatever you have to say about predestination, it has nothing to do with YOUR salvation at all. Just the Jews. So, even if you deny that you are a Calvinist…you talk like one.

        Especially since you want to disclose to the world of NON-CALVINISTS what predestination is all about.

        So, why don’t you quit p…..footing around, and get to it. TELL US.

        Ed Chapman

      2. “So, why don’t you quit p…..footing around, and get to it. TELL US.”
        You mean tell you in writing? As if I have not already done that!
        First of all, as evidenced by your reply, you are not able to understand what I write!
        Are you willing to have to have a conversation by phone or video?

  4. Jay,

    Believers are PREDESTINED to conform to the image of Jesus.

    That’s what the verse states. PERIOD.

    In Ephesians, Believers are predestined to inherit eternal life, being sons of God.

    That’s what the verse Ephesians 1:5, and 11 states.

    The believer is predestined. NO ONE is predestined to be believers.

    Ed Chapman

  5. Jay,

    Apparently, by your own admission, all of us are too stupid to understand what you have to say, whether in writing, or on the phone, or on a video conference. But, no, I don’t do any of those. I’m perfectly fine doing the keyboard thing online just like this.

    Ed

    1. Jay
      SOT101 is not a place where people come to read expressions of belligerence.
      We have been forced to delete posts of that nature in the past
      And we don’t appreciate being put in that position
      Please moderate your posts accordingly
      .
      blessings
      br.d

      1. I need to correct myself here
        From looking at the back-&-forth between you and Ed – it appears Ed’s leaned further than yours
        So I asked Ed moderate
        But we all must be mindful of this.
        .
        Thanks for our consideration
        br.d

  6. Jay,

    And as evidenced by your comments, we are just too stupid to comprehend what you are saying. So, no, I don’t do phone calls, or video conferences.

    Ed Chapman

  7. hi! Is the old testament saint view possible with they eyes on the moment of glorification. If want to say that Paul is talking about old testament saint that he foreknow in the past time of Israels history and are now glorified. I hold this view but started to questionin because doesnt glorification happen at the end of ages. So can we say that saint that are now with Christ are glorified in their intermidiate state and if not, isnt it a problem for this view?

    1. Hello Eero
      .
      Let me reach out to someone in Dr.Flower’s company and see if they have an answer for your question about an “intermediate” state.
      .
      Blessings
      br.d

    2. Welcome Eero! As BrD said, Leighton rarely visits his blog comments, but BrD is a good supervisor in his place. The verse clearly uses the past tense – “glorified”… So that means it was finished in some way for those being discussed in that verse, right?

      I think we see the same kind of idea when we see verses saying we are already saved, we are being saved and will be saved. Leighton thinks it is speaking about OT saints already in glory of heaven. I personally think it is about all saints since the cross who are positionally “seated” in Christ in heaven, and He is certainly glorified.

      Of course a fuller reality of our glorification happens when we are resurrected. I can’t wait!

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