The Purpose Of God

The Purpose of God

Romans 8:28

May 29, 2005

OPEN:

I stood dismayed in the kitchen of our newly acquired country home--I had accidentally submerged my left foot in a tray of fresh wall paint. A few minutes later, as I took off my comfortable, hole-in-the-toe painting sneakers, I regretted that I hadn't brought along another pair of socks. I would have to sport a "Country Orange" big toe in my sandals when I picked up my four little sons from the sitter's.

When I arrived at her home, she suggested that since they were still napping, I do a little shopping and stop back for them later. I don't often get an offer like that, so I wasted no time in heading for the department store.

On the way, I remembered my toe. It would had been embarrassing to explain my clumsiness, my orange toe, and my toeless sneaker. At the store, however, I quickly made my way to the housewares department. There I found that all things really do "work together for good." I was able to perfectly match the new kitchen dish cloths and towels to my Country Orange toe. -- Christine R. Wilson, Eureka, CA, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."

CONTEXT:

Romans 8:26-39

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know [oida] that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, [proginosko, not pro oida.] he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

• This is the same word for know that would be used for “Adam knew his wife.”

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

TEXT: 28 And we know [oida] that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I. The Confidence of God’s Purpose “we know”

• At times, divine revelation may be silent.

• But that is not so here!

• There are some things that the believer can know.

A. Some Truths We Can Know

• Our generation denies revealed truth.

• They live in the fog and mist of relativism.

• Nothing can be known for sure.

• More and more consider themselves agnostic.

• But we believers lay our head on our pillow at night in calm assurance that there are some things that we can know.

1. We can know that Jesus Came From God

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

2. We can know whom we worship.

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

3. We can know that we have a home in Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.