26. Predestination (phase 3)

.... Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12 to ‘work out our own salvation with fear and trembling’ which shows that our salvation has begun, but also portrays it in a progressive light, ending in an ultimate consummation. But in what sense is salvation progressive? The answer is found in Jesus again. For He ‘worked out His salvation’ simply by walking in obedience to God, trusting Him and delighting in Him (as opposed to being faithless or self-serving) and always depended on His grace. We, then, will ‘work out our salvation’ through abiding in Jesus and, through the Spirit of God, learning to emulate Him (being conformed to His image):

.... "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

(Romans 8:29)

.... Predestination Phase 3 conforms us to Jesus’ image. No one could seriously doubt that a person must first of all be saved in order for this transformation to occur, so this naturally translates into the latest ‘phase’ of predestination. And we will walk in obedience to God as a result of His own handiwork, leading and empowerment in our lives, and not by any power of our own. (We will discuss this further in Section 28.)

. .... Thus, on the Day of Judgment, any good thing in us will entirely owe itself to Christ, the pattern, the Firstborn, and by the working of His own grace on our lives. By this, God’s eternal purpose – that He alone should be exalted on this Day – will be accomplished; and the mystery of His will – that He be glorified in His Son – will be fulfilled in Christ through us. He is increasingly glorified in our lives as we are conformed to His image – and this is also our fruit to eternal life:

.... "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

(John 6:27)

.... "Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

(Philippians 2:12-13)

To continue this discussion with Part 27, Comments on Romans 8:29-30, click here.