Randy, I agree with you! You have stated much more eloquently and simply what I have been trying to say. (Where have you been?)

 

Folks --- I do apologize --- The pre-destination I was speaking about in my prior post was the type of pre-destination that is found in the doctrine of Calvinism where people teach that some babies are pre-destined to heaven and some are born pre-destined to hell ---- I realize that I should have clarified that teaching (a little further) from what the Bible says ----because YES, God does predestinate us to conform to the image of his dear Son -  I mentioned this in my note today to Joe Hoyle: (Joe, Romans 8:29-30 --these two verses you speak of are talking about Christians after they are put into the Body of Christ. The ONLY thing you are predestined for - is to be put into His Body once you are saved and you get saved by an act of your FREE WILL.)  No need to clarify further - Randy, you have already done so!

 

--- Randy, thanks so much!!!  You have stated below the explanation to these scriptures simply and exactly what I am talking about and I agree with you 100%!  Your very last paragraph and sentence below sums this up in a nutshell exactly and to the point!  (Did I ask you where have you been?)

 

From Randy Kulp:

 

(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.

 (30) 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.

 

A clear and simple paraphrased rendering of the above verses solves the problem of the apparent contradiction on this issue:

 

(29) For those that God knew would accept the call of salvation, for these he also predetermined that they would be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

(30) Moreover, those who He predestinated (to be conformed to His Son's image), these He also called: and those who He called, He also justified. And Those He justified, He also glorified.

 

The predestination spoken of in this verse has to do with the fact that God has already made up His mind on a certain issue. And in the same verse He identifies what that issue is. The issue is about conformity to the Son. Those from among fallen man who chose to accept the "free gift of salvation," these would be the ones that God has decided (previously) would be conformed to the image of His Dear Son. Unfortunately, there are always some scholarly people who decide to interpret this verse in a way that makes it contradict another very important verse of Scripture, which says that God "would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1. Tim. 2:4).

 

Conformity to the image of His Son. That is the issue! And for those who care to take a look at the past, it has always been the issue. "Image" and "likeness" is what Adam lost through the fall. But what is gained through salvation is something even better than what Adam lost. What is gained as one is transformed into the image of God's Dear Son is a glory that Adam never had. Indeed, not only has Image and likeness been restored, but praise be to God, something priceless has been added to it. What is that? Like the icing on the cake - it is the glory of The Son.

 

The predestination spoken of in this verse has to do with the fact that God has already made up His mind on a certain issue. And in the same verse He identifies what that issue is. The issue is about conformity to the Son. Those from among fallen man who chose to accept the "free gift of salvation," these would be the ones that God has decided (previously) would be conformed to the image of His Dear Son. Unfortunately, there are always some scholarly people who decide to interpret this verse in a way that makes it contradict another very important verse of Scripture, which says that God "would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1. Tim. 2:4).

 

Thanks Randy!

Rene