Grow as a Believer in Christ Jesus! What does this mean to us as a believer?
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.
Lets look at this verse that I found in Rom: 8-29.
O Holy Spirit I ask that you would reveal to us the food from this study so that we might grow in the Lord.
“For” This word “for gives us this word picture
1-That
2- Because
3-Since
That, because and since gives us a look into the predestined works of the Father when He set into motion the Good News. Our Salvation.
It is stated in verse 8 that all things work for the good to those who are called according to His purpose (the plan that He predestined to be in the beginning of the world.
Well let’s look at His purpose for us from the beginning of the world.
“Whom He foreknew”
This word whom denotes the persons that He is speaking about.
Who is it?
We find the answer in the next word.
“Foreknow”
This gives us this picture.
1-to have knowledge before hand
2- of those whom God elected to salvation.
Now before we get into the old predestined debate let us look at what the word of God tells us about this works that He accomplished before the foundation of the world.
Pure and simple.
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord this is what God predestined to happened.
“That whosoever” Is the answer to the “That Whom He Predestined”
The Whom that is referred to is all that have believed in His Son Christ Jesus. That the key word (Whosoever Believe) is self evident to all that seek the truth.
We try to make mountains out of the Word of God so that we cannot get over them. This is not the plan of God for us. The Holy Spirit has no problem revealing God’s truth to us when we seek and ask.
Ok now just what is it that God predestined for the Believer?
First we need to see what this word (Predestined) means to us.
1-To predetermine, decide beforehand
2- God decreeing from all of eternity past
3-To foreordain, appoint beforehand.
4-This is His Work of having predestined a plan-that is He made a plan for all who would only believe on His Son Christ Jesus.
Ok now just what was this plan once a person believed?
To be] conformed to the image of his Son,
Look at this truth for a second.
After we have become His Sons and daughters His predestined (His Plan for all His Children).
It is this.
That all things that happens to the believer will work together for the good.
What is this good plan that He predestined for us?
It is this and it was His plan since the beginning of the foundation of the world.
. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen (Predestined) us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Predestined)
How are we implicated in this great Plan (Predestine)?
It is this great truth to us.
[to be] conformed to the image of his Son,
To Be gives us a picture of an on going event that takes place in our lives while we are still here on earth It is an never ending event while we are still here. I might add it is called (Sanctification) and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to set us aside
“Sanctification” goes hand in hand with being conformed to the image of His Son (Christ Jesus).
With Being “Conformed” meaning this.
1-conformed to.
2- fashioned like unto .
3- having the same form as another, similar, conformed to
Notice something here It says conformed to the image of His Son. And not into his image. I think that we have our own image that needs to be conformed to His. In other word we are to reflect His image that has changed our image unto His. We are to keep our image but it must conform unto His.
“Image of His Son.”
1-The image of the Son of God, into which true Christians
are transformed, is likeness not only to the heavenly body,
but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind,
which Christ possesses.
It is unto His likeness that we are being conformed unto. This has been the plan of the Father since the foundation of the world.
In this plan it tells us that as we are conformed into His image so that we give him the honor of being the first born of many.
“That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
1Cr 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Cr 15:22 or as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Cr 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
‘The first born of many.brethren.”
1-first in time or place
2- in any succession of things or persons
3- first in rank
3- influence, honour
4- chief
5- principal
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
“Many Brethern”
1-All fellow believers that are united to another by the spiritual bond of affection who are called the brethern in Christ. When we are in Christ then we are called brethren.
2-Christians are brothers and sisters that have been exalted to the same heavenly place in Christ Jesus with Him being the Head over all things in heaven and earth.
Next we will start looking at ways we can and or to grow in Him.
Love
YBIC
John