Chapter 8:28-30

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

By Dr. John R. Stone

Romans 8:28-30

8 28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

(Rom. 8:28-30 NASB)

Part 25 Overview:

In Romans 8:1-11 Paul explained that the believer has freedom from God’s judgment because he is in Christ. In 8:12-17 he explained that the believer has freedom from defeat because the Spirit indwells (lives inside) him. In 8:18-27 he explained that the believer has freedom from disappointment because God will keep His promises. The believer has no fear of condemnation (being judged guilty) because he is clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He does not need to obey the flesh because the Spirit of God lives within him. He will have hope with God’s plan in his life because he will share in the glory of God. Those who know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior are free from the fear of God’s judgment. They know that God has clothed them with His righteousness. They are free from final defeat because the indwelling Spirit of God delivers them from bondage to the impulses of the flesh. They are free from frustration in the sufferings of life. Why? Because they know they will ultimately share in the glory of God. Now, in verses 8:28-30, believers are given the reassuring guarantee (promise): God is causing all things to work together for their greatest good.

Vs. 28: God’s Providence at Work

— What we know…

Through all the sufferings of life, in spite of all the personal failures, no matter what tragedies the believer encounters, one thing is certain: God has redeemed all of life for His children. All the sadness of living in a world of corruption and decay really is only temporary (will not last forever). God’s children have a guarantee that cannot be canceled or diminished (made to seem smaller). Their destiny in heaven is secure because God’s purposes cannot fail.

Verse 28 shows us five parts to God’s reassuring promise. 1) “We know” — The believer can be absolutely certain of this promise because we can trust God. The Scriptures reveal God’s character. 2) “God causes” — God is actively and personally involved in every circumstance and experience of life. 3) “All things” — There is nothing that is not included in this promise. Everything is included, no matter how bad, no matter how confusing. 4) “Work together” — Some things, some events, some experiences are not good in and of themselves. Yet God is able to turn everything around for our long-range good and to fulfill His purposes. 5) “Those who are called” — This promise applies only to those who have put their faith in Christ and have responded to the call of God to salvation. No matter how bad life on earth might be, the believer will be in heaven forever. On the other hand, no matter how good life might be for an unbeliever, things do not work together for his good. Hell is the final destination for all those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Vss. 29-30: God’s Purpose at Work

— Why we can be certain…

In these two verses Paul explains how the believer can be sure that God will cause everything to work together for good. He will do this in spite of what Satan may try to do to prevent it and in spite of how the believer might fail along the way. God guarantees the glorious outcome for every believer’s life. He has done five things for each of His children. 1) “Foreknew” — God knew each of His children before the world was created. He entered into a special relationship with them before they were even born. It is not that He saw them as if in a crystal ball and could predict their future. It means that He set His affection (love) on them before they existed. 2) “Predestined” — For reasons known only to Him, God knew and decided those who would believe in Him before He created the world. 3) “Called” — In Paul’s writings “to call” means more than just invite. Call means to summon, to bring to Himself. This refers to the moment of conversion, when the believer actually believed in Jesus. A believer is converted when he actually put his faith in the fact that Jesus died on the cross to pay for his sin. 4) “Justified” — God has declared every believer to be righteous in His sight. God sees Jesus Christ as the substitute for every believer in His presence. Each of His children is as secure in His love as Jesus is. 5) “Glorified” — This word is in the past tense, showing that God already sees each believer as having made it to heaven. Not one of His children fails to arrive in glory. Every one that He foreknew before creation will be glorified in the end; not one of them is missing.

Summary:

Romans 8:28 is always the same. This promise always means the same thing for every believer in every situation, every crisis, every tragedy, every disappointment, and every heartache. God is causing all things to work together for good for His children. Nothing will interfere with God’s purpose in the believer’s life. Therefore, the believer can give thanks in any circumstance of life because God’s purposes will not fail.

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