“28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
In the previous devotional, we discussed verses 26-27 which tells us that God knows the hearts of His people and has sent His Spirit to help us. Today’s verses tell us that the Father not only knows our hearts, He not only knows exactly what we need, He is also gracious enough to give it to us. God is actively working all things out for the good of those who are saved in Christ. It’s appropriate to use this verse when a fellow Christian is going through trials in this life. We can comfort them, reminding them that even in the midst of suffering, God is working all things together for our good. We can often see the silver lining in the midst of a trial. Perhaps, sometimes, we may not even be able to see the beneficial outcomes of trials in this life, but we can still be comforted by knowing that we are working out our sanctification through faith and obedience. This is all true, but this verse goes further. This verse not only speaks of the good the Father is doing for us in this world. This verse also speaks of how the Father is actively working towards our glorification in the new heaven, which will certainly be for our good! In this life, on this Earth, there will be suffering, sin, death, injustice, etc. We can see God working out His plan in all of this, but we also must remember that God is working to glorify us in the new heaven, thereby ultimately glorifying himself.
How is it that those who are foreknown and predestined by the Father will be conformed to the image of His Son? (v. 29)
“What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality.” — 1 Corinthians 15:50-53
In order for those who are saved in Christ to be allowed into the kingdom of God, a transformation must take place. This transformation can only be completed by Jesus the Christ. We must become like Him. We must shed our sinful, corruptible body and be clothed with a new incorruptible, immortal body. This new body will be in the likeness of Christ’s body. We will be made like Jesus the Son. This transformation cannot take place via our own power, but only by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ His Son.
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.” — Philippians 3:20-21
“Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.” — 1 John 3:2-3
How are we, and God, simultaneously glorified through this process? From foreknowledge and predestination, to calling and justification, and ending with glorification, God is orchestrating His immensely immaculate plan to bring us along with Him as He ultimately glorifies Himself. God is subsequently glorified through this process of our salvation, sanctification, and glorification. The story of humanity’s redemption in the gospel story is the single greatest tool for reflecting the glory of God. What other reason would He have for saving sinners? What other reason would He have for sacrificing His only Son, if not ultimately for His own glory?