Romans 8:28 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.
Great verse. Greatly abused.
People use this verse to suggest that there is a silver lining for them behind every tragedy that occurs. That's not true. What was the silver lining behind Cain killing Able? What was the silver lining behind Israel being annihilated by Assyria because of their idolatry? Sometimes things do not happen for our good. Sometimes a lot of people get hurt, and God gets blamed because of a poor understanding of Romans 8:28
I. THE BENEFICIARIES
Who's the Beneficiaries of this verse?
1. This verse is NOT for everybody.
The person who does not know God or love God cannot claim this verse (and would be foolish to do so!)
Much of the book of Romans, to this point, has been about the wrath of God being poured out. Romans 1:18, "...The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness..." Romans 2:5 says, "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." This is NOT good.
2. This verse is for those who love the Lord
(See Deuteronomy 6:6; 10:12; 11:1,13,22; 13:3; 19:9; Joshua 22:5; 23:11; Nehemiah 1:5; Daniel 9:4;Matthew 22:37; Luke 11:42; John 8:42; 1 John 2:5; 4:10, 20-21; 5:2-3)
Loving God is the essence of what God desires of men.
Loving God is inseparably linked with the keeping of God’s commandments.
Loving God and loving men sums up the requirements of the Law.
God’s blessings are poured out on those who love Him
Loving God is not the natural response of men toward God, but that response which God Himself makes possible through the work of His Spirit.
So... do you love God? Do you treasure God? Desire God? Revere and Adore God? It would be inappropriate to claim the promise of Romans 8:28 if you do not love God.
3. This verse is for those who are called according to his purpose.
The truth is - God's call does not come without purpose (which is to display His glory)
The truth is - we have all been called. It's just that many times, God gets a busy signal, or we just don't pick up.
Joseph is the greatest Old Testament example of Romans 8:28:
He was
hated by his brothers
thrown into a pit
sold into slavery
falsely accused by Potipher’s wife
thrown in prison
forgotten about
For seventeen years, Joseph suffered and paid the price for the sins of his brothers. But then, he sees his brothers who did this to him, and he is able to say to them... "...God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:7) In Genesis 50:20 he says, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Joseph had a great understanding of Romans 8:28 two thousand years before it was written. He had been called. He had purpose. It was good.
II. THE PROMISE
What's the promise?
NOT: "All Things Are Good"
Sin is not good. The way the Pharisees rejected Jesus and tried him in the middle of the night is not good. The way the Romans mocked him, and beat him, and nailed him to a cross is not good. The persecution of the saints is not good.
BUT: The Outcome is Good!
Illustrate: Heresy's Coacoa is BAD!
(It should be illegal! It is false advertizing! It looks like a chocolate bar in a can - but it's not. You must read the fine print that says, "unsweetened" (But no kid reads this!). It should have a child proof lid on it. But it doesn't. This stuff is BAD!) BUT... add a little sugar, and some flour, and eggs, and vanilla. Add some heat... And it's GOOD!
Illustrate: Paul was flogged, stoned, beaten, and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. This is BAD! But he says in Philippians 1:14, "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." This is GOOD!
Life is NOT about our happiness. But our holiness, our salvation, our sanctfication, our adoption as children of God. It's about God's glory. And if we have our minds set on what the Spirit desire (Romans 8:5...), then we can say with Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9... “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
But I am afraid that if you don’t love God... if you do not have a heart for God, or the mind of Christ - then this good that God promises will not be good enough. If you do not have the mind of Christ, then this promise of God has nothing to offer you.
NOT: "All Things"
BUT: "In All Things" (which includes BAD things)
It includes:
painful things
tragic things
unpleasant things
the sins of others
the malicious things others have have done to you
it includes your OWN sins, your OWN shortcomings and failures
it includes events which took place before you were even born... or before you were saved
This is the context of Romans 8:28...
BEFORE ROMANS 8:28...
v 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (What Ray Stedman calls “The Hurts & The Hallelujahs”)
v 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
v 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration...
v 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay
v 23 ...we ourselves, ...groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
AFTER ROMANS 8:28...
v 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
v 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
“In all things”... God is working!
EXAMPLES
- Joseph being sold into slavery is BAD! But seeing how God used it so that he could save his people from starvation seventeen years later is GOOD!
- Job losing all his wealth, health and children is BAD! But having it all restored and being drawn closer to God is GOOD!
- Jonah being swallowed by a fish is BAD! But repenting and having the fish barf him up on the shores of Niniveh is GOOD!
(Not only did he repent, he had an all expenses paid trip to where God wanted him to go)
- Paul...
- Jesus...
As children of God, we share in the inheritance of Christ! BUT we must be prepared and proven by suffering. This is why we need this promise. It gives people (who love God) hope & encouragement in the midst of suffering
III. THE SOURCE
"We know..."
God is at work!
God is Sovereign
God is accomplishing his will
God is in control (He is orchestrating the events of history)
You & I are NOT the subject of the promise. GOD IS!
Look at what God is able to do!!!
This should bring TERROR to those who are living for themselves. And HOPE to those who love God, and are living for God
This is a battle cry to believers. We love God. We have been called to serve God. And no matter what the world throws at us - God will use it for His glory - which is our good.
This promise is not based on the frailties of man, but on the sovereignty of God! He is not the CAUSE of all things. But he is in control of all things. He permits. But He does not allow anything that will thwart His purpose. We know - that God is SOVEREIGN! Especially in times of suffering! God is soveriegn!
And God is GOOD to those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
IV. THE CHALLEGE
Look through the promise - to God himself. Behold the God you were made for!
