Romans - by Marshall Proctor of the Calvinist Lounge

"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."
This is a very interesting passage indeed, especially if we go back to the original languages. I have no problem with how the KJV translated these verses, however, looking into the Greek is an extremely helpful, and necessary tool in exegesis.
Let us begin:
Let us look at the word "foreknew." The Greek word is προγινώσκω (prog-in-oce'-ko) (Strong's Concordance #4267), and it means know beforehand, or foreknow. This is not the same as him predestining people, but there does seem to be a differentiation here. Those whom he foreknew, implies that there are those whom he has not foreknown. This foreknowledge is a special foreknowledge, because, of course, God obviously foreknows all that will be. These are individuals that he has foreknown.
So those whom God has foreknown, in this special way, "he predestined."
But what about predestined? What does that mean? In Greek word is προορίζω (pro-or-id'-zo)(Strong's Concordance, #4309), and it means to "foreordain, predetermine, mark out beforehand." So, God has predetermined, and foreordained something to happen to those whom he has foreknown. What is that something?
"To be conformed to the image of his Son."
What does that mean? Basically, it means what it sounds like it means. Those people whom God has known in eternity past in a special way, He predetermined that those people, as opposed to the people whom God has not foreknown nor predestined, become like Christ. If we are to become like Christ, we need to have a righteous standing of equal quality with Christ. We need the righteousness of Christ given to us as a gift. But it goes beyond that; it also means that these people who are special in the heart of God are predestined to live holy lives. Cross reference this to Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
"Moreover," or another suitable translation would be "and." Paul is not done explaining this concept, so he is about to explain further.
"Whom He did predestinate." Same word, same meaning, still a specific group of people, same individuals. "He called." Called, the Greek word is καλέω (kal-eh'-o)(Strong's Concordance #2564) This word means to summon or invite. This is a specific call as opposed to the general command and call to everyone everywhere to repent. How do I know? Because Paul has been speaking about this particular group of people throughout the context, there's no way that this call could mean the general call to salvation. These people, whom God knew on an intimate level, whom he foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son, he has sent a personal invitation to them.
And the elect really must respond to this call, and they do, for a time, resist it like any other unbeliever. God's grace, however, eventually overcomes their resistance and they call upon the Name of the Lord, and receive the forgiveness won for them on the cross. No one should assume they are saved if they have not sought the Lord in repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Claiming to be "elect" will profit no one if they will not look to Jesus Christ.
"Those whom He has called, he also justified." Δικαιόω, (dik-ah-yo'-o)(Strong's Concordance #1344) This word means to "make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous." This is not simply a removal of our unrighteousness that thereby makes us righteous. How do I know?
Philippians 3:9 – "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Notice that the righteousness is "of God." That means it comes from him, it is not found in us in any way shape or form.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Again, the righteousness we have comes from something, or rather someone, God. It is given to us.
Romans 4:3 - For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Righteousness was "counted unto him." We do damage to the text if we say that God simply removing unrighteousness makes us righteous. That is only half of what justification is, the second is that the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to our accounts, it is given to us as a gift, through faith.
So those whom God has foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus, God removes their sin and imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ unto us.
Notice, all of those whom God has foreknown, and all of those whom he has predestined receive justification. This is further evidence that this is not simply a predestining of means, or some nebulous group, but real individuals. But of course the church is predestined and of course the means of salvation are predestined, but it is illogical to think that God predestined a group of people without predestining those individuals which comprise the group.
And now, those whom God has foreknown, predestined, and justified, he also glorified. One last Greek word, δοξάζω (dox-ad'-zo)(Strong's Concordance #1392) means to "glorify, honor, bestow glory on." This means that God will impart to us glory upon our death or His imminent return. We will receive "heavenly dignity and recognition"(Thayer's Greek Lexicon) What does all this entail? I doubt that anyone can truly comprehend the full meaning and reality of our glorified state, but it is surely out of supreme grace.
So we see that there is a distinguished, set apart, group of individuals whom God has foreknown in an intimate way, and have been predestined by God the Father to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, which entails justification, sanctification, and finally glorification.