Verse 30
Paul summarized the steps involved in our realization of God’s purpose: calling, justification, and glorification. Though glorification is yet future, the apostle spoke of it here as past. He could do so, not because it has already happened, but because it is so certain to take place that it is as good as having happened already (cf. Isaiah 53). Bruce suggested that perhaps Paul was imitating the Hebrew prophetic past tense in which a future event is spoken of as past because of the certainty of its coming (cf. Judges 1:14). [Note: Bruce, p. 168.] Probably Paul left sanctification out of this list because it is the one stage of our salvation in which human cooperation is essential. Paul listed only those things that God does by Himself to stress His sovereign working to bring the believer to His goal. [Note: On the apparent conflict between God’s sovereignty and human freedom, see Lewis, pp. 52-53.]
"The argument, when condensed, comes to this: that the very ones He foreknew, these, without the loss of one, He glorified." [Note: Stifler, p. 149.]
"Bridging the gap between predestination and justification by faith, God’s effectual call brings the elect to salvation. This effectual call consists of a divine summons to salvation along with illumination, through which the elect rightly perceive the gospel and inevitably trust in Jesus Christ." [Note: Robert A. Pyne, "The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conversion," Bibliotheca Sacra 150:598 (April-June 1993):218.]
"God’s intention, Paul emphasizes, is to bring to glory every person who has been justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Our assurance of ultimate victory rests on this promise of God to us." [Note: Moo, p. 536.]
Be the first to react on this!
