HIS PROVIDENCE ... OUR CONFIDENCE

The Lord has divine oversight and control of everything that takes place. The hand of God is at the helm, steering His beloved through the storms of life toward a promised safe haven. Nothing escapes His purview.  

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 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. 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. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:28-31

In this reading, your progression as a believer is unveiled ...

1. 'Whom He did foreknow' Since God is not bound by the natural laws of time and space, He possessed infinite knowledge of you before you came into being. 

2. 'He did predestinate' It is God who determined your future ... that of being transformed into the likeness of His Son. The Lord wrote all of history before it ever began and therefore authored your destiny as a follower of Christ. 

3. 'He also called' The call is initiated by the Father, made effective by the Holy Spirit, and results in a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior. Each believer was 'summoned' to escape the darkness and live in the light.

4. 'He also justified' This is the forensic act of God in which He forgave your sins, imputed to you the righteousness of Christ, and declared you 'guiltless' before the throne of grace.

5. 'He also glorified' This represents your sinless perfection in heaven one day. Once this marvelous sequence began, it was carried through with such surety that you are considered 'glorified' in the past tense. It is already an accomplished fact in the heart and mind of God. Therefore, you cannot lose your salvation as some teach.

The end of the passage proclaims, 'If God be for us, who can be against us'. So pilgrim. walk in the confidence ... wrought by His providence.