What does it mean to be saved? For years the standard teaching of the church regarding salvation has focused almost exclusively on justification or forgiveness of sins. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines to justify as:
to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation.
Justification – Imputed Righteousness
Paul in the book of Romans does a masterful job unpacking justification. However, in Romans chapter 8, the tone switches from a focus on justification, alone, in a truly breathtaking way. While he celebrates justification, he also takes salvation way past it. Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) says:
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Called, Justified, Co-Glorified
Romans 8:29-30 in The Passion Translation elaborates God’s plan:
29 For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us[aa] from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.
30 Having determined our destiny ahead of time, he called us to himself and transferred his perfect righteousness to everyone he called. And those who possess his perfect righteousness he co-glorified with his Son!
From these passages, we can see a progressive and linear unfolding of God’s plan:
First, we were known and pre-destined before we were born.
Then, we were called to God, Himself.
We were then justified by the transference of His perfect righteousness.
This all leads to us being co-glorified with Christ.
Thus, we can see that it is glorification which is the end goal. Justification is crucial, but it is not the end – it is the means to the end.
Justification as a Means to Glorification
Another way to say this is that we are saved from sin and death as the means towards the ends of salvation, which is glorification. The ends of salvation is about union with Christ, and being conformed to the image of Christ. It involves being children in the family/house of God, relating in Christ to God the Father in the power of Holy Spirit. Because it is all about family, salvation is not a commodity or a state of being. It is all about relationship with God (and one another) and becoming what are (being glorified). The first 8 chapters in Romans are really about what we are saved from (sin and death), but in Romans 8, the discussion is about what are we saved to (to be glorified and operating in God’s family).
Foreknowledge vs. Pre-Destination
One area that I should take some time out to clarify from Romans 8:29 – 30 is the issue of foreknowledge. Foreknowledge is not the same thing as determinism or predestination. That is to say, being known before the foundation of the world is not the same as being “in or out” of the family of God in a causal fashion. Predeterminism is a Calvinistic teaching, that actually has much more to do with Plato than it does with Christ. And predeterminism is very toxic. In this perspective, and the filter it creates, people are either chosen for heaven (in) or chosen for hell (out). God is outside of time (timeless). He is emotionless (impassable). And He is rigidly unchanging (immutable). A god like that is truly hellish, and not one who seeks relationship with humanity. Calvinism distorts the character of God and creates a god who one we truly would be afraid of, even if He is called love.
Clearing Distortions about Who God is
However, God works with us in a relational way first. He truly is above time (timeless). However, He also sometimes enters time to engage with His kids relationally. You can see this in Genesis 18:20-22 (KJV) when the Lord said:
20 …Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Here we see that God is so relational, He puts aside timelessness time to interact with His kids. We also see that God is not impassible and hard, but is full of emotion. After all He is Love (1 John 4:18,16). We can grieve His heart (Ephesians 4:30) and He is full of joy over His kids (Proverbs 8:30). As for the 3rd Calvinistic point, that God does not change, it is His nature doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). But in relationship with us, He is vulnerable to us in changing His mind (i.e. Moses changing God’s mind to wipe out the rebellious Israelites). Understanding God’s heart and the way He engages with humanity especially in a fallen state paints a truly lovely picture of Who God really is!
In the Family Looking Like Jesus
Going back to Romans 8:29 – 30 from this new perspective, we can see that justification was necessary for us to be co-glorified alongside our Elder Brother. As He is so are we right now in this world (1 John 4:17). Because of this we are right in the middle of the Family relationship that the Father shares with the Son and Holy Spirit. Because we are in Christ we participate with the Love relationship the Trinity has with One Another. We are in The Family and we are also one with one another. John 17: 20 – 26 discusses the gorgeous oneness of the Trinity and with one another. This is so exquisite I will take some time in the next blog, to delve in more properly. In the meantime, take some time to revel in glorification with Christ as an intrinsic part of salvation. I’d love to hear what God is sharing with you!
Love,
Catherine
