What is your favorite promise from God’s word? When I ask that question it’s common to get a stare, but occasionally a person will be quick to answer with one of the hundreds of promises that God has given to us and most popular, by far, is the promise of Romans 8:28.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) — 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What about that promise is so appealing? First, it covers everything that we might face in life including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Secondly, God promises to work all things together for good. And thirdly, the promise is to the called, which is God’s doing, so there is no “qualifying” on our part for this promise.
Before we dig into that aspect of the promise let’s go back to the opening statement, “And we know.” This is not a conjecture or wish. This is something upon which you can rely when anything in life happens. The Bible is sure to resound with things we can know including the truth, the assurance we have a part in the salvation brought about by the Lord Jesus Christ, and sweet communion of fellowship amid suffering.
John 8:31–32 (ESV) — 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
1 John 2:3–5 (ESV) — 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
Philippians 3:7–10 (ESV) — 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Back to Romans 8:28.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) — 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
We can know something very special in the fact that this promise is for those who love God.
We are told that by nature we do not love God and if we do love God, it’s all because He has first loved us. In fact, loving God, hearing and responding to His word, and doing what He has commanded is evidence that He has first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (ESV) — 19 We love because he first loved us.
Romans 3:10–12 (ESV) — 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
John 1:10–13 (ESV) — 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Do you love God? If we say we do, then we are to follow that statement up with a lifestyle that indicates we love Him.
1 John 4:20–21 (ESV) — 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 5:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Before we cover the meat of the promise that God works all things together for our good, consider the last part of the promise as to the recipient: the called according to His purpose. Again, that is an action of God to bring us into new life in Christ.
2 Timothy 1:8–9 (ESV) — 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
Colossians 1:13 (ESV) — 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
What is the good that God is working all things together for “the called” who are also the “lovers of God?” People have tried countless ways to figure out what the good can be in Romans 8:28. It’s quite simple to understand if we just continue with the text.
Romans 8:29 (ESV) — 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
He’s pointing to the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification, as He brings together those things that happen to us and around us along with the word of God and make us increasingly more like the Lord Jesus Christ in our character. You can be sure when facing the fires of affliction that God has a purpose for it as we read in 1stPeter.
1 Peter 1:6–7 (ESV) — 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
God has a purpose for everything, and He has a goal for you in your life. That goal is for you to grow closer in fellowship and dependency to the Lord Jesus Christ, and as you do, you become more and more like Him. And that is good.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
