in Romans 8:29-30, the passage we call the “Golden Chain of Salvation”, there is something more given to us.  Paul writes “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”[ii]  Following on this, Paul continues with a description of what happens when God predestines.  The one that is predestined is called, justified, and finally glorified.  The status of “being glorified” is equated to conformity to the image of his Son.  Let’s unpack this a bit more…

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The Golden Chain of Salvation…  A series of steps in the process of salvation, necessarily ending in the believer being glorified.  For too many believers glorification is a concept that has no definition in their minds.  For many, their understanding of glorification goes no farther than a vague notions that: “Jesus saved me from my sins and someday I will go to heaven, or someday my body will be redeemed.[i]  Yet, in Romans 8:29-30, the passage we call the “Golden Chain of Salvation”, there is something more given to us.  Paul writes “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”[ii]  Following on this, Paul continues with a description of what happens when God predestines.  The one that is predestined is called, justified, and finally glorified.  The status of “being glorified” is equated to conformity to the image of his Son.  Let’s unpack this a bit more…

What is “Glory”?

“Glory” is the translation of the Hebrew word “Cabod” which means heaviness.  What then is the “Glory of God”?  God’s glory is his “heaviness”.  This begs the next question:  What is “heavy” about God?  God does not have “weight”[iii], consequently the term should be understood to mean “important”.  We call concepts that have serious implications “heavy” concepts.  What then, is “important” about God?  God’s attributes show us what is important about Him, they have serious implications for our lives.  For example, it is important that God is:

1. eternal and the source of life
2. faithful
3. the one who provides for and blesses His people
4. true
5. loving[iv]

Glory then is not something outside of God, a standard of “shininess” that we use to describe him, (as if “we” could set a standard to describe God!)  Glory is the very essence of God.  God “is” glory.  Something is “glorious” when it shows us God, or reveals God.

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