I. Five Divine acts, through each of which in regular succession the purpose of salvation advances to its accomplishment, are linked by St. Paul into one golden chain, of which one end is let down out of the unknown past, and the other returns to lose itself in the unknown future.
II. From first to last this magnificent chain of redemptive acts permits neither halt nor rupture. The secret counsel of His will holds in its bosom all those whom the future glory shall receive. This is the thought on which, by the structure of his sentence, St. Paul intended to lay stress, and with reason, since it is the thought which pledges to faith the security of the believer and the concurrence of all things for his final good.
J. Oswald Dykes, The Gospel according to St. Paul,p. 265.
References: Romans 8:28-39. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 93.Romans 8:29; Romans 8:30. Homilist,vol. vi., p. 177. Romans 8:29. H. Drummond, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxxii., p. 263; R. S. Candlish, The Fatherhood of God,p. 162.Romans 8:30. M. Rainsford, No Condemnation,p. 267; Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 149. Romans 8:30. Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 287. Romans 8:31. Ibid.,pp. 185, 189; Bishop Lightfoot, Church of England Pulpit,vol. v., p. 233; Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,"vol. viii., p. 95.