Romans 8:29-30 : For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. This is one of the very difficult passages in the Roman letter. The terms and scope of the passage are not so difficult to understand, but commentators have difficulty in deciding to whom the language applies. Some have argued or assumed that the persons mentioned are the saints who arose when Jesus arose from the dead (Matthew 27:52-53). But that explanation seems farfetched. (1) It does not fit in with Paul's line of thought. He was showing what the gospel does for people, and not what became of certain Old Testament saints. To introduce them at this time would seem to have no point. (2) The record in Matthew does not say that the saints who arose ascended to heaven and were glorified. So far as we know, they may have died again. (3) Paul's language shows that all who were foreknown were also glorified; whereas Matthew tells us that many of the saints arose. Not all of them arose. This is further proved by the fact that Peter makes a point out of the fact that David had not been raised (Acts 2:29). There was a purpose in raising these saints. It helped to emphasize the claim that Jesus arose. If people of past ages, whom no one then living in Jerusalem knew, had been raised and had walked the streets of Jerusalem, they would have seemed to the people to be strangers who had come to Jerusalem to the Passover but if saints whom the people of Jerusalem had known, and whom they had known to be dead and buried, appeared on the streets of Jerusalem, it would have opened their eyes and prepared them to believe that Jesus also arose. (4) Romans 8:29-30 is a further development of the thought presented in Romans 8:28. Romans 8:28 refers to those who are called by the gospel, called according to God's purpose. Notice that Romans 8:29 begins with for, which shows that Romans 8:29-30 is closely connected with Romans 8:28, and that all three verses refer to the same class of people. The verses are directly connected with God's purpose, as expressed in Romans 8:28. The whole purpose of God with reference to the redemption of man through the gospel of Christ is viewed as completed, so as to show how all things do work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose. The plans and purposes of God which are certain of fulfillment are sometimes spoken of as fulfilled when the fulfillment is yet future. Before Isaac was born God said to Abraham: "The father of a multitude of nations have I made thee" (Genesis 17:5). "For whom he foreknew." To know (Greek, ginosko) a person is to approve him. God approved certain characters before they were actually called. Hence, there are certain conditions of heart that God approves even in those who have not yet become Christians. He approves the poor in spirit that is, those who feel their sinfulness and need of salvation, and, therefore, hunger and thirst after righteousness justification (Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:6). Such characters were foreordained, or appointed, to become conformed to the image of his Son. (This language shows that Paul was speaking of people under the gospel dispensation). Jesus guaranteed, or foreordained, that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled--that is, shall receive that for which they hunger and thirst. Such characters are the ones who are called, and no others. Jesus did not come to call the self-righteous, who do not realize their sinfulness and need of salvation. The called are those who have answered the gospel invitation, and not those to whom the call has merely been issued. Those who are actually called are justified--that is, forgiven and made righteous. And these are the ones who, in the final day of accounts, are glorified. These verses are not so difficult if we understand Paul as viewing the whole process of redemption through Christ. It is a sublime conception.