John Calvin Commentary Romans 8:30

"and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." — Romans 8:30 (ASV)

And whom He foredetermined, (præfinivit), them He also called, etc. So that he might now show by a clearer proof how true it is that conformity with the humiliating state of Christ is for our good, he adopts a graduating process, by which he teaches us that participation in the cross is so connected with our calling, justification, and, in short, with our future glory, that they can by no means be separated.

But for readers to better understand the Apostle’s meaning, it may be well to repeat what I have already said—that the word foredetermine does not refer to election, but to that purpose or decree of God by which He has ordained that the cross is to be borne by His people. By declaring that they are now called, he intimates that God had not kept concealed what He had determined concerning them, but had made it known, so that they might resignedly and humbly submit to the condition allotted to them; for calling here is to be distinguished from secret election, as being subsequent to it.

So that no one, then, may raise this objection—that no one knows what lot God has appointed for him—the Apostle says that God, by His calling, bears clear testimony to His hidden purpose. But this testimony is not only found in the outward preaching of the gospel; it also has the power of the Spirit connected with it, for the elect are spoken of here, whom God not only addresses by the outward word, but whom He also inwardly draws.

Justification may fittingly be extended to the uninterrupted continuance of God’s favor, from the time of our calling to the hour of death. But since Paul uses this word throughout the Epistle for the free imputation of righteousness, there is no need for us to deviate from this meaning. Indeed, what Paul aimed to show was that a compensation is offered to us so precious that it should prevent us from shunning afflictions. For what is more desirable than to be reconciled to God, so that our miseries may no longer be signs of a curse, nor lead us to ruin?

He then immediately adds that those who are now pressed down by the cross shall be glorified; so that their sorrows and reproaches will bring them no loss. Although glorification is not yet displayed except in our Head, yet since we, in a way, behold in Him our inheritance of eternal life, His glory brings us such assurance concerning our own glory that our hope may rightly be compared to a present possession.

We may add that Paul, imitating the style of the Hebrew language, uses the past tense for these verbs instead of the present tense. A continued act is undoubtedly what is meant, with this meaning: “Those whom God now, consistently with His purpose, disciplines under the cross, are called and justified, so that they may have a hope of salvation, so that nothing of their glory decays during their humiliation; for although their present miseries deform it before the world, yet before God and angels it always shines forth as perfect.”

What Paul then means by this progression is that the afflictions of the faithful, by which they are now humbled, are intended for this purpose: that the faithful, having obtained the glory of the heavenly kingdom, may reach the glory of Christ’s resurrection, with whom they are now crucified.