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. 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. Romans 8:29-30

Some are willing to say that God has predetermined some things such as events and goals. But few confess the truth in Romans 8:29, 30. That truth is, God's predestination has to do with people, individuals! Paul writes, "WHOM he did predestinate." Young's Literal translation gives it, "because whom He did foreknow, He also did fore-appoint, conformed to the image of His Son." The "to be" is italicized meaning it was added by the King James translators. Actually, it reads, "whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate... conformed to the image of his son." Strong's defines "conformed" as "jointly formed." Think about it, this is not God's goal in predestination, it is His accomplished act! Conformed to His perfect, glorious Son, Jesus Christ in His life, death, resurrection and ascension! One with Him before God and one "in Him." All God's elect are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ as such. Furthermore, this is not only God's act but also the desire of those born of God: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" (Philippians 3:8-10) God has called His people by name in Christ, justified them through His blood and glorified them, that is, made manifest to them and this world that they are His, bringing them to believe the gospel wherein His righteousness is revealed. "Predestinated.... conformed.... to the image of His Son." God has made us totally conformed to Christ, saving us in such a way that only He can glory in it! Marked off before the world as His own in Christ! Explain it, no, just rejoice in such amazing grace and mercy!

Gary Shepard

This I know, if a man would have a subject that will never grow stale, and never wear out, let him preach Christ crucified. You need not go to philosophies, nor turn over the books in your libraries, to find out some novelty; the old story is more novel than the new. There is nothing so new as Christ. We may say of him, “Thou hast the dew of thy youth;” for Christ Jesus and his sacrifice exactly meet the common wants of our humanity.

C.H. Spurgeon 1865

LAW WORK?

It has almost become a mania in certain circles to insist that a ‘Law Work’ must be done in the un-regenerate to prepare them for salvation. It is being said by some that no one can receive salvation unless they first feel utterly miserable about their sin of breaking the Law of God. Some even go as far as to suggest that the unsaved make a list of their sins and grieve over them before they come to Christ. This teaching, it seems, is a reaction against the many false conversions characterized by the lack of repentance.

But is this the way to revival? I think not! Horatius Bonar says, “Few things are more dangerous to the anxious soul than the endeavours to get convictions, and terrors, and humiliations, as preliminaries to believing the gospel. They who would tell a sinner that the reason of his not finding peace is that he is not anxious enough, nor convicted enough, nor humble enough, are enemies to the cross of Christ.”

Of course it is true that Christ saves sinners and only sinners. The publican in Luke 18 approached God as though he himself was the worst of sinners. He literally cried out “God be a mercy seat to me THE sinner.“ So there is no argument here, Christ saves only sinners; he heals only the wounded and finds only the lost.

But here’s the question, does Christ require extensive preparation through the Law before we can come to Him? If He does, then we are saved by Christ plus our extensive preparation. If this is the case then Christ requires some manner of worthiness before He saves, the worthiness of preparation. Thus salvation, in this scheme of things, is no longer free and gracious, it is earned and deserved. In this scheme of things the gospel is no longer the power of God unto salvation. The new power of God unto salvation, in this theory, is now our preparation by the law and not Christ Crucified. But this is nonsense for holy and pure as the law is, it has not in its entire history produced one single case of salvation (Rom 3:19-20).

Miles McKee

The blood which Jesus shed for me,

When hanging on the tree;

Shall never lose its saving pow’r,

Through all eternity, Through all eternity.

When Christ for us was crucified,

The law was satisfied;

‘Tis by that bloody Sacrifice,

Our souls are justified, Our souls are justified.

‘Twas on the cross the Savior bled,

Our Lord and Cov’nant Head,

When hanging on that curs-ed tree,

He suffered in our stead, He suffered in our stead.

What wondrous, condescending grace,

That Christ would take our place;

And fully put the sins away

Of all His chosen race, Of all His chosen race.

Jim Byrd

(Tune: Majestic Sweetness CM)

No man ever did, or ever will feel himself to be a lost, miserable and hateful sinner, unless he be powerfully and supernaturally convinced by the Spirit of God.

John Newton

THERE IS A 'BUOYANCY' IN THE CROSS

Cling to the cross—though your sins rise up before you like mountains for their size; like the sands on the sea shore for their number; and glowing like scarlet and crimson, in color!

For no sins, however great, or however numerous—should tempt us to despond, or to let go of our hold on the cross—seeing the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from ALL sin. There is a 'buoyancy' in the cross—which will never let anyone sink, who clings to it! If our sins were as ponderous as the globe, or as numerous as all the particles of created matter—yet embracing the cross of Jesus—they are all forgiven, and forgiven forever! They are all blotted out—like the dark clouds, which obscured the sun for a little while on the summer's morning! They are all blotted out—like a stone cast from an angel's hand into the depths of ocean! They are all forgiven and forgotten forever! Cling to the cross!