All things work for Good

Today, I want to take a look at a very popular verse and examine what it says. Turn with me to Romans chapter 8 and we’ll start reading in Verse 18.

Romans 8:18–30 NIV

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Before we take a look at verse 28 in detail, let’s look quickly at the context of this verse within this passage. Paul is telling us in verses 18-23 that there is a suffering that all creation is going through. Even though there is suffering, there is a hope in the glory that is to come.

Romans 8:22 NIV

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Then there is this theme of groaning…Whole creation has been groaning

Romans 8:23 NIV

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

…we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly...

Romans 8:26 NIV

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

...And the Spirit - the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans...

There is a lot of groaning going on, but this groan is just temporary as there is a greater hope that is to come, A hope that we are waiting for.

That word wait is used twice, once in verse 23

Romans 8:23 NIV

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

…and then again in verse 25:

Romans 8:25 NIV

25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Do we wait eagerly, or patiently? It’s both. The original word wait eagerly in verse 23 and wait in verse 25 are actually the same verb. It has a connotation of eager expectation or confident expectation or anticipation of future events. That future events?

Isaiah 65:17 NIV

17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

God has already promised a new heavens and a new earth. With a new earth, it stands to reason that everything on the earth will now be in different state, a state that is no longer cursed as a result of the fall of Adam.

The good news in the hear and now is that the Holy Spirit is involved:

Romans 8:26–27 NIV

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

We can be so quick to jump to verse 28, that we miss verse 27. “…the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” This is great news. We don’t always know what to pray, but the Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Not according to just what we want, but according to the will of God.

Let’s now take a look at verse 28...

Romans 8:28 NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

And WE KNOW...

Do we know? Sometimes we don’t act like we know. We only see the bad and wonder how God could ever be in it.

Paul doesn’t say that he thinks or that it is his opinion....WE KNOW!

When we know something, we act on that knowing. The burner on top of the stove is hot…we know this…that’s why we don’t touch it.

If we know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” then why do we doubt what is happening? God’s got a plan in all of what is happening…we know this!

And we know that in ALL THINGS...

As people, we have to be careful in using absolutes in our conversation.

When we say that all politicians are corrupt, what we mean is that many politicians are corrupt.

When our wives say that We always leave the toilet seat up, we know that is not the case and she means that we often leave the toilet seat up.

When absolutes are used in God’s Word, we can count on them. When it says in ALL things, it means ALL THINGS!

Good things, bad things, unexpected things, planned things, accidents…ALL THINGS God’s working!

And we know that in all things GOD WORKS

God is doing the work. He is in control…not us. We have a tendency to not like when we are not in control, but we can rest knowing HE is the one working!

And we know that in all things God works for the GOOD of those who love Him

He is working for our good.

Our version of good pales in comparison to God’s version of good.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—

I want those things…I want that good, not just my good

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those WHO LOVE HIM

Do you love Him? Do you love God? Then this promise is for you.

Do people who don’t love God get good things? Yes, yes they do, but God is not working ultimate good for them in all things. Eventually, people have to decide, will I love God and accept Jesus or not. If not, what is coming is really, REALLY bad.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS PURPOSE.

So what is his purpose for which he has called us?

Romans 8:29 NIV

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

He has called us to be like Jesus. To be connected to Jesus and daily being more like Him.

To love others like him

To serve others like him

Do you love Him? Do you love God more than anything else or anyone else? Then know this promise is for you.

If you’re not sure, let me invite you now to love Him. The Bible says this:

1 John 4:19 NIV

19 We love because he first loved us.

God loved us first. How?

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We just believe in Jesus. Not just that Jesus exists, but believe in all that he taught and did including dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected. He is alive today and desires a relationship with you.