"Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8:28 everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown over any more. The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life. When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28—from measles to the mortuary—they are the freest and strongest and most generous people in the world. Their light shines and people give glory to their Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). THE FOUR PILLARS UNDER ROMANS 8:28 The foundation of this immense structure of future grace is equally immense. It is found in Romans 8:29-30. In fact, the foundation is so massive that all I can do in this chapter is point out some of its main supporting structures and pray that you will spend the rest of your life going further and further into the strength and depth of Romans 8:28. This would not be wasted effort because Romans 8:28 contains within itself virtually every other promise God has made to us. Therefore the foundation of Romans 8:28 is the foundation of all the promises. It is good to live aboveground in the great skyscraper of Romans 8:28; but it is also needful to know our way around in the underground rooms and halls where the massive supporting pillars go deeper than we can imagine. This will make us secure and unshakable people. I call Romans 8:29-30 the foundation of verse 28 because it begins with “for,” which means that Paul is giving the reason or basis that we can be confident in this promise. The promise says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Then comes the basis of the promise in four parts: 29) FOR whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren; 30a) and whom He predestined, these He also called; 30b) and whom He called, these He also justified; 30c) and whom He justified, these He also glorified. These four statements are the four massive pillars in the foundation of the future grace promised in Romans 8:28. What’s the point of a chain of statements like this? The point is certainty and confidence and assurance and security. The point is that God is the one who saves his people, really saves them. He does not just offer salvation, he saves them. From beginning to end he is the One who decisively and infallibly acts so that not one of his own is lost. The point is that the chain cannot be broken: all the foreknown are predestined; all the predestined are called; all the called are justified; and all the justified are glorified. The point is to guarantee that everyone in the chain will reach the goal of glory."


Piper, John (2009-10-21). Future Grace (Kindle Locations 1915-1940). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

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