Called, Justified, and Glorified

December 12th, 2024
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 8:30 …and these whom [God] predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:30 resumes the chain of salvific, theological terms that began in v. 29 with God’s foreknowledge and predestination. These terms reveal, at a minimum, that the salvation of sinners did not begin when they were born and later heard the gospel; rather, the process of salvation for those whom God foreknew began prior to the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) when God predestined them for salvation. For them, saving faith is granted as a gift (Eph. 2:8-9), expressed in repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19), and sealed for eternity (Eph. 1:13-14).

There is a distinct order of terms in God’s overall plan for the salvation of His chosen ones according to Romans 8:28-30. God first “foreknew” those He would save. Those whom He foreknew were then “predestined” for salvation. Only these would God effectively call, “for those whom He predestined, He also called.” “Called” is like a summons to duty, like a soldier called to serve his country with orders from his commanding officer. That is what salvation is. To be sure, God calls many to salvation, “for many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). God’s efficacious call, however, never falls on deaf ears for those He foreknew and predestined. This “effectual” calling occurs when God summons one of his foreknown children to faith through a preacher or evangelist. Those predestined to salvation believe, but as in Matthew 22:14 teaches, not all who hear the gospel call respond. Only those who prepared ears to hear will respond to Christ. All whom God summons will respond (cf. John 6:37).

The progress goes even further, for “those whom [God] called, He also justified.” As noted in Romans 3:24, this is a legal term—a verb that means “to declare righteous.” So once God’s foreknown, predestined children are called to believe in Christ, and upon their repentance of sin, God declares them righteous, in spite of how sinful they may have been prior to their belief. They are then forgiven and free from sin’s penalty. Additionally, they are given Christ’s righteousness which cleanses them from all unrighteousness. They are now, in a word, justified!

Paul’s list of theological terms ends with glorification, for those whom God justified, He also “glorified” (Gr. doxazō). The term means “to make great; honor.” With ultimate future glory the theme of Romans 8:18-30, this is this final step for those enduring trials and groaning under the curse that God subjected the creation to as a result of sin (Gen. 3:17-19). In God’s overall plan, He always expected to save His own from the curse by sending His Son that “all who believe in Him have eternal life” (John 3:16). Clearly then, because of Romans 8:28-30 and others like it, John 3:16 must be interpreted in light of Romans 8:28-30. The “all who believe” of John 3:16 includes all peoples from all nations, but it does not mean that every single person ever created will come to faith. Certainly it is an open offer for all, but it is specifically for those whom God has foreknown and predestined to believe. All others may hear the gospel, but since they were not foreknown by God, they will never respond to Christ with saving faith.

Food for Thought

It is remarkable that all five terms used by Paul are past tense verbs. God is the active subject of each verb, and He alone is responsible for their completion. It is one thing to note that He foreknew and predestined in the past, but to also have called, justified, and glorified as past actions prior to birth? God did not say, we “will be justified” but that justification was completed at the same time He foreknew His people. Likewise, glorification. For although believers live in corrupt bodies, our final, glorified state is already a done deal! Now that is the hope of being a Christian—believing what God says as truth, whether in the past, present, or future.