In All Things?
Romans 8:28-30 (p. 1757-1758) August 20, 2017
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.
Romans 8:28
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish
what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20, Joseph to his brothers
And we know . . .
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
because our gospel came to you
not simply with words, but also with the power,
with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
- We know the “groaning” by OBSERVATION
- We know God’s plan by THE TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
that for those who love God . . .
“No eye has seen . . . what God has prepared for those who love him” –
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (quoting from Isaiah 64:4)
- Yes, God is GOOD (see Ezekiel 18:25-32)
- But there is a special place in God’s promise for M
all things work together for good . . .
The Lord sent a great wind on the sea . . . .
Jonah 1:4 (see also Jonah 1:17; 4:6-8)
- “All things” include GROANING AND “ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION
- GOD is the ultimate “worker” [ultimate = providential and direct, see the Esther / Jonah tension]
- The “good” is my SALVATION, NOT MY CONVENIENCE
for those who were called according to his purpose.
[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life –
not because of anything we have done be because of his own purpose and grace.
2 Timothy 2:9 (also see Ephesians 1:1-14 and Romans 9:10-13)
- God’s purpose for me is GLORY = CONFORMING TO JESUS CHRIST
- God’s purpose for me is also A HOLY LIFE (go back to 2 Timothy 2:9)
Romans 8:26-30 (ESV)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 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. 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
More study resources for Romans 8
Tim Browning’s “The Whole Creation Groans . . .” at
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/mp3/romans_browningpdf.html
Bob Deffinbaugh’s sermon, “More Than Conquerors” at https://bible.org/series/romans-righteousness-god
Ligon Duncan’s messages at http://www.fpcjackson.org/resource-library/sermons/greetings-from-an-apostle
John Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans, 1955).
Michael Horton’s “Romans from 30,000 Feet” from “An Overview of the Book of Romans”, http://www.reformationtheology.com/
2011/04/romans_from_30000_feet_by_mich.php
Kim Riddlebarger’s “Through the Obedience of One” sermon at http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/sermons-on-pauls-epistle-to-th/
Sinclair Ferguson’s “The Great Exchanges of Romans” at
http://www.ligonier.org/blog/great-exchanges-romans/
F.F. Bruce’s paraphrase of Romans at https://biblicalstudies.org.
uk/pdf/eq/1958-2_bruce.pdf or Paternoster Press (1965); Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Eerdmans, 1977); and The Epistle of Paul to the Romans (Eerdmans, 1963). I really like Bruce’s poem on page 162:
To run and work the law commands,
Yet gives me neither feet nor hands;
But better news the gospel brings:
It bids me fly and gives me wings.
Tim Keller’s Romans For You (The Good Book, 2014).
William Hendriksen’s Romans in BNTC (Baker Books, 1980).
James Boice’s Romans, Volume 2 (Baker Books, 1991).
Earl Palmer’s Romans series notes “The Greatest Book”, Winter 2002, University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washington.