Focus: God's Still Working

Text: Rom.8:30

"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."

God is always in the business of doing something. He ever works. He worked yesterday; He is working today, and He has work to do tomorrow. Until He is done working, He will keep working. Paul writes, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil.1:6). God always begins to finish. Christ is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

The Lord Jesus Christ says, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (Jh.5:17). From creation to redemption and to the consummation of all things, God continues to work. Paul says, "For it is God which WORKETH in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). Talking about himself, he says, "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his WORKING, which WORKETH in me MIGHTILY" (Col.1:29). 

God is a mighty worker. He works within us and outside of us.

From our text, Paul reveals that God has predestinated, called, justified and glorified us, and all of it is realized in Christ. In Rom.15:16, Paul says that we are "being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." In 1Cor.6:11, Paul declares, "And such were some of you: but ye are WASHED, but ye are SANCTIFIED, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

In Christ we have been predestined and called. Now let's look at God's work of justification, sanctification and glorification. Our justification goes back to the cross where Christ shed His blood and died for our justification. Sanctification is the present work of the Spirit of God within us. Glorification looks to the work of God in the future.

Justification is the work God did FOR us. Sanctification is the work God does IN us, and glorification is the work God will do ON us. Our call to ministry is the work God does WITH us. 

Through ministry we become workers together with God. God works through us and with us.

In the past, God justified us. In the present, God is sanctifying us, and in the future, God will glorify us. Interestingly, Paul sees our glorification as work that has already been executed. Our future glory is already a done deal. We have a sure future full of glory.

Child of God, God worked and still works for you, he works in you, and surely, he will work on you. Give Him glory and be forever grateful to Him for His love. God still works, and He works for your own good and for His own glory.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter