It is amazing to think that there was never a time when God did not know and love us. When Paul speaks of God ‘foreknowing’ his people he doesn’t just mean knowledge in the intellectual sense, that is, simply as God knowing the future. He is talking about something much deeper than this. The Bible often talks about God ‘knowing’ his people and this ‘knowledge’ always refers to a strong relational connection. The same word is sometimes used to describe sexual union. (“Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived.” Genesis 4:1 ESV) So, Romans 8:29 is not saying that God predestined his people to glory because he foresaw that they would have enough faith to warrant this. This idea flies in the face of what Paul is trying to say here. Paul wants us to know that there has never been a time when we were not the objects of God’s special fatherly love. This section is all about helping us to feel secure in God. How do we know that we will keep our place with God? The simple answer is that it doesn’t depend on you. Your standing with God does not even depend on the level of your faith. You were saved through faith, but even that was a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). God gives you the strength to hold onto him through life. He just wants you to enjoy his love and favour and rest assured in his grace. He wants you to know that he has always loved you and that he always will. It has all been worked out beforehand. It’s okay, God has got you.
Rest in God’s grace.
Read and reflect on Romans 8:29 along with Ephesians 1:3-14
