There are so many passages in the Bible that give us great hope, but one of the best has to be found in Romans 8:29-30. It’s commonly called the Golden Chain of Redemption. It’s called that because each reality mentioned is precious like gold and linked together like a chain to bring about our full redemption. And like a chain, it’s so strong it can’t be broken.

This is what the Holy Spirit said through Apostle Paul to us in that passage, “For those whom [God] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Did you hear the five links in the golden chain of redemption? First is the chain of being foreknown by God, which means that God fixed His love on you long before you fixed your love on Him. The Bible says in Ephesians 1 that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. That’s what it means to be foreknown by God.

Second is the chain of predestination. Because God fixed His love on you, He set the course of history so that you would eventually become conformed to Christ.

Third is the chain of calling. In due time, God called you to Christ for salvation and didn’t stop calling you until He won you to Christ, when you gladly and willingly put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Fourth is the chain of justification. You are justified by grace through faith. To be justified is not only to have your sins forgiven but to be made completely righteous by being accounted with Christ’s righteousness. You become just if I’d always obeyed.

And fifth and finally is the chain of glorification, which will be realized at the second coming of Jesus Christ when we will have our resurrection bodies and finally be conformed completely to Christ.

There you have it:  the Golden Chain of Redemption. Foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified. Praise the Lord for the amazing grace God has shown you! If you are in Christ, you have hope upon hope!

And if you are not yet in Christ, turn from sin and trust in Christ, and this golden hope will be yours as well.

Change begins in you!