what is the meaning of Romans 8-29?

Of those He has already chosen, He will help them in their desire to become the image of His Son and they will then lead others to Him.

That pasage probably reflects the evangelist's belief, later elaborated on by Calvin et al, that the elect are predestined before birth to become believers, and to have a life which reflects a likeness to Jesus.

People who believe in a literal interpreation of the Bible have trouble with this passage, because it seems to deny free will. Those who believe that the Bible reflects the understanding of spiritual matters of certain human writers in certain times and places read passages like this in that context.

It is talking about how God new about sending His son Jesus to earth in the image of a human being long before it happend. He "predestined" or predeterminded that when he was born he would take on human flesh instead of remaining in spiritual form.

It means once we get saved we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. It does NOT mean we are predestined for Salvation.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Not all will come, but all have equal opportunity to come.

New Living says: "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Their interest in the love of God.

That is good for the saints which does their souls good. Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven. When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. And here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, one which cannot be broken. 1. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to

be conformed to the image of his Son. All that God designed for glory and happiness as the end, he decreed to grace and holiness as the way. The whole human race deserved destruction; but for reasons not perfectly known to us, God determined to recover some by regeneration and the power of his grace. He predestinated, or before decreed, that they should be conformed to the image of his Son. In this life they are in part renewed, and walk in his steps. 2. Whom he did predestinate, them he also

called. It is an effectual call, from self and earth to God, and Christ, and heaven, as our end; from sin and vanity to grace and holiness, as our way. This is the gospel call. The love of God, ruling in the hearts of those who once were enemies to him, proves that they have been called according to his purpose. 3. Whom he called, them he also justified. None are thus justified but those that are effectually called. Those who stand out against the gospel call, abide under guilt and wrath. 4.

Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope; for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks as one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we

wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affected by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness. (Ro 8:32-39)

God knew that we would believe so he chose us. Faith is a decision, based on free will. It is the decision God saw that we would make from the beginning. It doesn't mean that he caused our lives to turn out in such as way that we could do nothing but believe in him. It means that he knew we would come to believe in him no matter what happened in our life.