Rom 8:29 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.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The striking point in this passage is in verse thirty, 'them He also glorified'. That word glorified, is the Greek, as Thayer renders it, 'doxazō', in the following terms, concepts and meanings :
1) to think, suppose, be of opinion, 2) to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate
3) to honour, do honour to, hold in honour, 4) to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour, 4a) to impart glory to something, render it excellent, 4b) to make renowned, render illustrious, 4b1) to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged
And this is for them who are 'the called'! Only for them who are 'the called!'. No one else. There is exclusivity in God's calling. These, 'the called', are 'the called', according to HIS purpose. Not men's. Which means, not according to my purpose. And in the Ephesian epistle, we learn further that, we were 'predestinated according to the good pleasure of His will' (v 5). Further, verse 6 of the same epistle says that to the 'glory of His grace', we were made accepted in the beloved. This term, beloved, can either mean, the beloved elect and chosen people of God, or Christ Jesus Himself. Either way, we are 'accepted' by being 'made accepted' in Christ, because of His grace.
And so, for those who are 'the called', they 'know that all things work together for good!' No wonder the apostle Paul can then, a little further down, say, in Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, and all things work together for good for us who are 'the called'. No wonder the apostle says that we were glorified.
How does this translate into application? Right now, in my current realities, I have some areas where I can apply, as follows:
1) In making a decision for the church to go to after leaving Beacon. I am led to go to FGA KD because of the kind invitation by Pas Chu Soon. I see that indeed he has no problems with the doctrines of grace, or of reformed theology, or of Calvinism. I also see that he would probably use me in the area of bible study and training. I can gladly make this decision knowing that 'all things work together for good for those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose'.
2) In the area of finances, to work hard in my current secular-contexted job, as a lecturer and trainer, knowing that 'all things work together for good', and that I am 'more than a conqueror through Him that loved us'. The key is 'through Him', as also Phil 4:13 states that 'I can do ALL things THROUGH CHRIST who STRENGTHENS me'. I am not to be worried about pain or be engulfed with a sense of difficulty or hassle as I go about my duties and responsibilities, whether as a father, spouse, employee, church member and citizen. I am to do all things in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. As per Col 3:17, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.'
3) In the area of work, whether it be in marking scripts, or creating rubrics, or learning how to create rubrics, I still ought to do ALL things in the name of the LORD Jesus, doing ALL things THROUGH CHRIST, with the confidence that it is HE who strengthens me.
For a believer, all of life is under the LORDSHIP of CHRIST. Nothing is not. All are. And in such a state, we are in His rest, in Him, through faith, by grace, unto the glory of God alone.
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