Yesterday, we came to the conclusion that the disciples were saved from the storm by the power and will of Jesus Christ not by their faith, will or works. I concluded with the following verse showing this is exactly how God works in our eternal salvation.

"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.” (Romans 8:28-30)

This marvelous, unbroken circle of salvation starts and ends with the power and sovereignty of God. The last thing to happen to the elect of God is that they will be glorified. This means that they will be resurrected in the likeness of Jesus Christ and live with God forevermore. Notice that it is in the past tense. Just like the account of “passing over the sea,” it is a foregone conclusion in the mind of God that we WILL be glorified so Paul puts it in the past tense.

Why is this so? Because all things are working together to make it happen. This does not mean that we and God are working together. Neither does it mean that God is using all events in our lives to bring about this end. Sin and horrible events are not decreed by God and they are not working together with God for our good. They are working against God just like the storm in the sea. But, just like the storm in the sea, God rebukes those things and saves us by His power. All the things working together are Gods will and actions — including His foreknowledge (love), His predestination of our being glorified, His effectual calling of us, His justifying of us by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, and ultimately His sovereign work in raising us from the dead to glory.

We must conclude as Paul did as he continued in Romans 8. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” and “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

Jesus has declared that we will make it to glory on the other side. Therefore, we will make it to glory!