A Careful Approach to a Difficult Passage

Since November of 2006 I have had the great joy and pleasure of preaching through the book of Romans. This series has been a verse-by-verse study, taking in this entire New Testament epistle in its full context. For our church family, the study in Romans has been a mighty means of God's grace in grounding us more deeply in the Gospel. Furthermore, we have also come to have a full-orbed view of the biblical doctrine of salvation. In other words, the book of Romans really gives us a complete view of what is incorporated in God's act to save sinners.

Now one thing I love about preaching chapter-by-chapter in a book of the Bible, is that you come to face passages which are very challenging and difficult. Rather than preaching only on those verses we may all know and believe, "expository preaching" (the technical name for the kind of preaching I do) forces us to look at portions of the Bible that otherwise we might tend to avoid. So as we have been working through Romans we have come upon such passages that Christians would either ignore or explain away - because the passage is hard to understand or they don't like what it says.

One of these passages in Romans is 8:29-30. These verses say: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." I spent four weeks expounding these verses. But on the first Sunday we approached this text, I opened my sermon waving eight caution flags to help put us all in a right frame of mind and spirit that would be to the honor and glory of God. Each of these cautions could be applied to most any passage of the Bible which might be seen as difficult.

In the first place, we must see these verses in their proper context. Romans 8:29-30 is the exposition of God's purpose of salvation and His promise to work all things for the good of His people, in order to complete their salvation. In other words, these verses are sandwiched within the larger and greater context of Romans 8 - which is the assurance of final salvation. Paul the apostle is therefore bringing to every Christian in verses 29-30 the most profound doctrines to deepen the most lasting assurance that if God has saved you He will keep you saved. To be more precise, Romans 8:29-30 is explaining how God has determined to accomplish the purpose and promise of Romans 8:28 - which is the complete salvation of His people.

In the second place, we must realize the magnitude of the task we are undertaking. We are NOT musing over theories here! But we are considering the mind and will of Almighty God. This is a passage that we must therefore approach with reverence and godly fear. Commenting on this same approach to Romans 8:29-30, Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) declared:

We, pigmy creatures of time, fallible creatures as we are, unworthy and sinful, are now going to look together into this particular revelation that God has been pleased to give of His own mind. There is no activity in which we can ever engage which is more solemn than this, or more holy.

In the third place, we must not approach these verses in a merely intellectual manner. We are not dealing here with a problem in philosophy. This is God's divine revelation of His will and purpose that is before us in Romans 8:29-30.

In the fourth place, we must not approach this passage with an argumentative or quarrelsome spirit. We would all do well to remember the counsel of Second Timothy 2:23-24, "Have nothing to do with foolish controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome..." The word translated "quarrelsome" means to "wrangle" and "fight over words." Thus, taking this in application to Romans 8:29-30, we do not enter our study here to fight over words in this passage. Now I grant that we must define the words that are used so that we can understand them - and that may lead into controversy with certain people. But how we approach this passage should never be in a spirit to stir up controversy and argument over the words used in these verses. To do this is sinful and will accomplish nothing for the good of God's people.

In the fifth place, we must also never come to a passage like this in God's Word with the idea that we can fully understand and comprehend it. I believe this in one reason why so many Christians turn away from the teaching of Romans 8:29-30. They cannot fully understand and comprehend the doctrine of these verses, so they pass over them. Now in response to any believer who may do this, let me say plainly: not only is it foolish but even worse, it is arrogant to reject something just because you can't understand it - especially, when we are looking at God's Word.

The truth is, we are dealing here with the Mind of the infinite, holy, and sovereign God who will never be fully comprehended (see Rom.11:33-36). If I can fully understand and comprehend God and all that He does, then He is not worthy of either my worship nor my obedience at all! For in that instance, He has ceased to be God. However, thank God He is above and beyond all that we can understand and fully know because He is God! Furthermore, we have got to develop those categories in our mind for "mystery". In other words, we have got to develop categories for accepting all the counsel of God's Word, despite the fact that we will not be able to completely fathom everything the Bible teaches - like the Trinity, the Incarnation of Christ, and even predestination.

In the sixth place, we must approach these verses with absolute honesty by letting the Scripture speak for itself. Here again is another area where I see the greatest trouble generated over passages like Romans 8:29-30. I have seen more people in the church just simply deny what is plainly taught by these verses for the simple reason that they do not like what it says; or it doesn't fit their worldview; or most of all, they will just not accept that God can be like what this passage teaches. "My God", they retort, "would never do such a thing!" This is a common objection to the teaching of Romans 8:29-30. However, this objection is built upon a purely dishonest approach to the passage. They see what it says and they know what it says but they refuse to believe it. Therefore, they press upon the passage a meaning which is entirely contrary and foreign to what it actually teaches. It is nothing but sheer dishonesty.

In the seventh place, we must understand that the great doctrines of Romans 8:29-30 are meant only for the children of God. Who was the book of Romans written to? This letter was written to believers in Jesus Christ (see Rom.1:6-7). Henceforth, the doctrines of God's foreknowledge, predestination, and calling in particular, are all designed for the Christian to understand and embrace. These doctrines are not meant for anyone else but Christians. J.I. Packer called them, "The family secret of God's children." But admitting this means that such passages like Romans 8:29-30 should be preached and expounded to every Christian. Moreover, the setting of these verses are "pastoral" in nature, which means they are meant to comfort believers and give them greater assurance in salvation. It is therefore sad and disappointing that so many pastors choose to deny the Christians they shepherd, the comfort and assurance that Romans 8:29-30 would provide.

Finally, the greatest proof that we have approached these verses in the right spirit will be a greater urgency toward holiness and sanctification. To know that God has chosen me, set His love upon me, has marked me out to be like Jesus and has guaranteed that I will persevere to the very end - should only motivate me more to pursue holiness and be deeply humbled by the sovereign grace of God (see I Cor.15:10; Eph.1:4; Col.3:12). However, if the doctrine of predestination, for instance, should motivate me toward careless and loose living (since God has predestined my life to salvation and nothing can stop that plan); then not only am I putting myself in a very dangerous position, but I am also proving that I don't understand predestination. Humility, kindness, compassion, repentance, and love for Christ and my neighbor should all be the by-products of understanding in truth the teaching of Romans 8:29-30.