All Things for Good- Bumper Sticker Scripture

Romans 8:28

Intro

As we come to Romans 8:28 we come to a beloved passage of scripture, a promise claimed in times of great suffering and adversity. It is a verse repeatedly used to comfort and counsel other Christians. This passage is situated within this wonderful letter which we studied at length as a church a while back but it is also situated within a chapter which many throughout history have named “the mount Everest of the new testament.”

The book of Romans is a letter penned by the apostle Paul to a beloved church in Rome. This was a growing church made up of both Jews and Gentiles that Paul had not planted nor visited. In order to gain their trust and support for his missionary journeys, specifically Spain, he lays out for them the most robust and comprehensive presentation of the gospel ever written.

After laying out the theology of the gospel of Christ and it’s numerous implications for believers, he concludes one of the first major doctrinal sections of the book with the comforting words that God works all things together for good. We can read a verse like this on it’s own and we can draw all kinds of conclusions from it as we read our situation into it.

Potential misunderstandings: Here’s what Romans 8:28 does NOT mean…

This verse is NOT teaching that all things are good.

That would flatly contradict so much scripture which affirms time and again that in a fallen world, there are many things that are evil and not good in themselves. This should not be used to put the label “good” on many injustices, sins, and disasters. Paul himself doesn’t even do that in chapter 1.

This verse is NOT teaching that the word “good” in this text refers to my temporary good or goods this side of the resurrection.

This verse is not usually misused or misapplied per se. That’s why in selecting this verse there was a bit of a discussion as to whether or not this is a “misused” verse in the bible among truly orthodox and serious-minded Christians.

If I can speak candidly with you, the misunderstanding of this verse is hidden in the minds of many and really is just a blind spot- it was a blind spot for me for many years.

It all depends upon what we mean by “Good” in this text. You know what I thought the “good” was that God is working in my trial? It’s the classic idiom “When God closes a door he opens a window.”

If I lost my job, God working things for good means he’ll just provide a better job.

If I lose a relationship, it just means God has a better relationship in store.

If I lose my house, oh don’t worry, God works all things for good so you’ll get a better house.

The reality is, none of those things are promised to us by scripture. I’m not saying God can’t work to provide these things, he certainly can, but this text is not guaranteeing our temporary good or for all things to just work out in this life. They may not.

Can we know what this “good” is? Can we be certain of this promise? Can we truly lay claim to this in our suffering and pain? The answer is yes. It doesn’t have to be ambiguous as the culture makes it to be or even how earth-bound some well-meaning Christians make it out to be.

The main point this morning and what we see from our text is that As God's chosen people, we can remain steadfast in suffering with the assurance of security in His eternal plan and our union with Him.

My heart for you, my goal for us today is to see why this security we have in God’s goodness and sovereignty is so much better than our temporal goods. You need to see this. You need to grab hold of that reality today.

Main points: Let’s examine the beauty of this promise closely…

Our Confidence in this Promise- “And we know…”

Paul begins with the words- “and we know.”

It’s important to understand WHY Paul even brings up this promise. He begins with the word and- it connects what he’s about to say with what came before.

What comes before in Romans 8 is really a series of promises and benefits which further summarize the benefits of our Justification before God. Since chapter 5 of this book, Paul has been doing this— Detailing the benefits believers receive by being in union with the Lord Jesus.

What Romans 8 is reminding us of is through the application of Christ’s work to us by the Spirit, we do not stand condemned before God but rather, forgiven and righteous. We have inward renewal- The new creation to come has already been given to us by the Spirit imparting to us new life.

If this is all true, and it is, the question naturally comes up: what about this fallen world? Why do we still suffer and deal with the residual affects of the curse of sin as we await heaven; the New Creation where righteousness dwells? Paul emphasizes that this is indeed the sad reality we all face and live with

Going back to vs. 18 of Rom. 8, Paul begins talking about the current state of this fallen, fractured creation and talks about the resurrection life we have in the Spirit- what we get to enjoy right now, and what we will enjoy in the future when Christ comes. He writes “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Paul emphasizes that despite present sufferings, believers shouldn’t be afraid because their new life in Christ guarantees eternal glory beyond comparison. Through the Spirit, they find present comfort, strength, and assurance of a secure future, since the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in them.

Paul can say “And we know” because this is yet another promise and benefit of knowing Christ.

I It’s not always something we feel or experience But it can still be our confidence.

These realities transcend what we feel. We sometimes feel the opposite of confidence because we want answers In this life.

I know for me, the easiest question to dwell on in my suffering is “why?” We want answers from God to know why we go through what we go through. Have you ever done that?

Why did I lose my job?

Why did my mom die?

Why did I have to get divorced?

Why do I still battle that sin or this temptation?

The people of God need not wonder if this promise is true but by faith can exercise confidence in the Lord. We don’t have to trade what we DO know for what we don’t know. Paul wants the believers and the Holy Spirit wants us today to say “and we KNOW…” God never promised to give us every answer this side of heaven, but there is something we CAN know.

The Recipients of this Promise- “…that for those who love God… For those who are called according to His purpose…”

This next portion of the verse clarifies who it is that can lay claim to the promise.

You may be shocked to discover that it’s not every person.

This promise in suffering is only given to those who love God. That phrase is key. Those who love God, Paul says, are those who have already received the love of God by the Spirit and are thereby transformed people.

“for those who are called according to His purpose.”Is the other phrase here that stands in apposition to or further clarifies who it is that loves God.

In other words Paul is saying, “Those who love God, namely, those who are called according to God’s purpose.”

When Paul speaks of being called, its a declaration of who we are in union with Christ (when I say union with Christ I mean this inseparable relationship with have with Christ where everything that He has and gives becomes ours.) It could be translated “The called”- we are the called- the ones called by God.

This isn’t just a general calling you get when you merely hear the gospel, this is speaking of the effectual call where, as the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit gives you new life, opens your blind eyes, renews your will, and takes away your heart of stone— stubborn resistance to the gospel so that you come to Christ willingly and necessarily. It’s effective, it’s God’s power imparting faith to believe in Christ so that anyone who is called by God is guaranteed to come to Him.

So it’s not everyone- Only those who are the called ones, the regenerate ones- all things work together for good.

God works all things together for good for His people and His people alone.

The Substance of the Promise- “…all things things work together for good…”

All things— What does Paul mean here.

Scope of “all things”

All doesn’t always mean “all” all the time but here it seems that this is an all encompassing “all” in the text.

Meaning, when Paul writes the word “all” this is not JUST limited to our sufferings, but also our joys and present circumstances that are in our favor.

This is because even in the immediate context, Paul is talking about all of the positive benefits of being in Jesus Christ. All the sweetness of His love and grace that we experience day to day. But Paul sums it all up as he ends this section of his letter by making this general statement that ALL things are working together for our good. Even the dark, bitter pain we experience. Yes, even THAT is being worked together for good.

God governs the world.

This verse is about GOD’s activity. The text says that GOD is the one that works the hardships and pain together for good. The things themselves are not good nor are working together on their own.

We make sense of this when we remember that God’s goodness on display through His providence. God, without himself being the author or approver of sin, has a blueprint for all things and governs all people and all their actions.

We’re not Deists. We don’t believe God wound up the world, set laws in place and then leaves it to spin on its own without any divine involvement. God is intimately involved in every minute detail of history and it’s all moving toward God’s ultimate goal. It’s because God is absolutely sovereign over all things that we have the assurance that he will indeed work all things, even the most heinous of sins together in his good plan to bring about the ultimate destruction of evil and the glorification of His people. More on that in a moment.

This assures us that there’s no purposeless evil coming about in the world. There’s no purposeless natural disaster. Nothing happens by chance and nothing catches God off guard so as to thwart His fatherly governance.

As the Heidleburg catechism puts it, “Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from his fatherly hand”

God’s love and kindness is seen in Him ordaining and using everything He brings for our good- for something beautiful that displays His glory- one thinks of Joseph.

Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Multiple times Joseph will recount the horrible things that took place in his life and will attribute these things to the mysterious work of God’s providence. Though not all things are good, all things of every kind are overruled by God for the good of His children.

Think of all the ingredients in a batch of cookies (Expound)

Think of a beautiful tapestry- The bright vibrant strands are worked in with the dark muted strands to make a beautiful whole.

The Certainty and Clarity of the Promise- “…For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son…” (Vs 29-30)

Why can you KNOW this is true? you are…

Foreknown

You see Paul after giving this wonderful promise grounds it in something eternal so that you’ll be convinced that it’s true. He grounds vs 28 with the word “FOR”

Or it can be translated BECAUSE- What causes this to be true and for us to have confidence is that we are foreknown by God.

This refers to eternity past- before you were born and before the world was created.

When it says we were called according to God’s purpose, we’re talking about his eternal purpose and will. God’s unchangeable will was fixed from eternity, and that purpose included you and me.

To foreknow in the original language gives the idea of setting ones love upon someone in advance. It’s a special distinguishing love. We think of God’s election and choosing of His people as some cold process whereby God was by himself in heaven, twidling his thumbs, and then randomly decided to choose His people.

God’s choosing of us means that God set His eternal love upon us and chose to make us His beloved children in Christ.

Predestined- knowing the purpose of God clarifies the “Good” In this passage

but the foreknowing in eternity past is not just events, but of people. These people are predestined (which means to determine beforehand) unto a good purpose.

We still have yet to define what is the true “Good” God is working out in our circumstances.

We get a glimpse of it in this part. That’s why when you get to 8:28, don’t stop reading. If you’re being faithful to the text, we see that the “good” God is working is not simply that we get a better job than before, or a new and better girlfriend or boy friend, or whatever other temporary blessing.

The context makes clear that what is in view is our Salvation: past, present, and future. God’s predestined purpose for us is to make us like His Son Jesus. It’s Christ-likeness. “…all things are being used for the good of our salvation, for the consummation of all of God’s promises to us that we will become perfected in Christ and freed from even the presence of sin.”

United to Christ your elder Brother

Look at what Paul says though, it’s SO THAT Christ would be considered the firstborn among many brothers. It’s means that Christ would be the preeminent one among many brothers.

In other words, your union with Christ doesn’t only mean that Jesus’ Father becomes your Father, but that you gain a brother- brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is your true elder brother who brings you to Himself, gives you a new identity, and transforms you— but guess what, He uses your pain to do it.

I can anticipate the aversion to a teaching like this- “Yeah but a new job or a new church or a change of my circumstances is something I can immediately feel, see, and touch. I can’t necessarily see the hidden work of God making me like Jesus- Quite honestly, I don’t even see myself looking more like Jesus everyday.”

I understand how you can feel this way. It’s natural for us to cherish what is temporary. But you need to see why being made like Christ as a result of your suffering is BETTER than your circumstances changing. Why is it better?

Its because this reality is eternal. Something that lasts forever while this temporary world passes away. We’re not contrasting now, and when you’re in heaven. I’m showing you how the heavenly reality is actually experienced in the now. You and I were created for a purpose. Being made in the image of God we were made to display His glory- we were made to behold His glory and be like little mirrors to reflect His glory. Sin destroyed that purpose. And When God makes you His child and then works all things together for good, even the pain and suffering, He is causing you to bear the family resemblance: He’s causing us to be who we already are in Him. We are His children, Christ is our brother- When He works in our trials, He brings our character into alignment with our true God-given identity.

Secure in Him forevermore (Read vs 30)

See each of these benefits are inseparable. These aren’t just benefits in ziplock bags closed off from one another. Those in union with Jesus by faith are the foreknown ones who are called who are justified who are at the same time glorified. They possess all of this all at once.

He’s preserving you to inherit being in His holy presence forever. When you have Christ, and when you have Him shaping who you are, nothing, no material, temporary thing can compare to this. Eternity is in view here, and this causes us to see the beauty of God’s work in our present.

We all struggle with keeping eternity and keeping our relationship with Christ in view when we suffer. But if this is not enough for you, if this is not better than a temporary circumstance change, could it be that Satan has deceived you so much into being so earth-bound in your thinking that all you can think about is your circumstance changing? God by His Spirit is causing you to have eyes of Faith and is drawing you back to Himself and His purposes as being enough.

After all, all of these benefits of Salvation would not be possible if they were not rooted in God’s good plan to send His own Son to this World to be brutally sacrificed on a cross.

When trying to make sense of how God can still be good and ordain suffering we must look at the cross everytime. For it is at the cross do we see an infinitely good God laying His life down to reconcile sinners back to Himself. We see the judgement that was meant for all of mankind being poured out on an innocent man. We see that though man is sinful and deserving of Judgement, God Himself took on a human nature to live a perfect life and submit to the will of His father and become obedient to the point of death on the cross and rise again three days later so that anyone who believes in the Son is forgiven, and saved from their sin, and has the eternal Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen through suffering. And all of this is in the eternal plan of God.

Acts 4:27-28

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place

You see, it’s at the cross that we see the greatest suffering and greatest evil and the greatest injustice anyone could endure and God work’s it for the eternal good of the salvation of His people. We are secure and buried in His heart forevermore. This is how we can have confidence. It’s how we can look at the future unafraid and say “I don’t know why i’m suffering but I KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love of God and are the called according to His purpose.”

We can now have confidence in our Father we because we see the eternal plan of salvation- Our Father’s primary concern is NOT your personal comfort, but your deliverance from the penalty, power, and presence of Sin.

so To you, you who are far from God, the one who doesnt truly know this Savior- look away from yourself, drop any thing in your hand that you could offer to God for Him to accept you, turn your eyes away from the world you so cherish and behold His great mercy, look at His great love, look at the perfect righteousness of God in the person of His only begotten Son. He’s offered to you now. Trust in Him alone, repent of your sin, and be reconciled to This one true God.

The Right Response to the Promise- “What shall we say to these things?” (Vs 31-39)

What’s the application today? How do we as God’s people respond? Let’s let Paul lay it out for us… (Read 31-39)

Today we actively remember, actively rest in, God’s goodness which reaches it’s climax at the cross when He laid down His life for us. If He didn’t spare His own Son, why would He not give us all things and work all things for the salvation and perseverance of His people?

As God's chosen people, we can remain steadfast in suffering with the assurance of security in His eternal plan and our union with Him.

Think about this:

What kind of Woman would Corrie Ten Boom have been if she didn’t experience the trials she did? During world war two as she was arrested after hiding jews and sent to a concentration camp to be treated so poorly, she was being shaped by God to be an incredible example of love, forgiveness, and perseverance.

End with illustration that the moon is always round.

It’s only because God is good that we can know that He’ll work all things together for good.

We see it in the lives of very real people and the Lord shaped them into who they became through the hardship. He does the same with us.

No matter how we perceive it, no matter if we see what He’s doing, these verses point to the all-satisfying goodness of our God. His goodness is as eternal as He is because God doesn’t just do good, He IS Good. It’s His very essence.

It’s faith in God’s goodness that led Horatio Spafford to write beautiful words that impacted many after losing his son to sickness and his 4 daughters in a boating accident. As he was sailing to meet his wife in england over the waters where his daughters drowned He wrote:

“When peace like a river attendeth my way…”