Romans 8:28-31
That famous “All things work together for good” verse 28!
We discussed this at some length last week to considerable effect!
Here are five points to consider:
We know- according to Wilson , this speaks of “experimental certainty, not tentative conjecture.” In other words, we know this in our minds and we’ve experienced it in our lives
In what areas in your life do you find it hard to be convinced that God is working together for your good?
(Together) for good (in) all things- “this does not mean that everything which happens to us is good in and of itself. Suffering is a tragic, physical evil. I am not supposed to say to another believer who is suffering, ‘Rejoice, this is a wonderful benefit that you are experiencing here, because it is working together for your good’…Rather, if I see another suffering, I must do everything in my power to alleviate that suffering…God uses these things…bring victory out of them…redeems the evil that befalls us” (RC Sproul ). Also, we are not to practise or celebrate sin, but thank God that despite our shameful behaviour, He creates a good outcome
How can we tell people that God will bring good out of a situation if they love and trust Him, whilst still acknowledging how evil the situation is in itself at the time?
Love must be the stance we have towards God; all things only work together for good for “those who love God”, not those who mentally assent to His existence merely. And one of the signs that we are called by God is that we love Him- “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “The whole point of studying Scripture is that we might love God more. The better we know Him, the easier it is for our hearts to be inflamed with affection for Him” (Sproul). To love = to be called = to love
In John 21, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” What would you say if He asked you?
Called in the NT Epistles always refers to those who are “really brought into the blessings to which they are invited” (Wilson). This is because God’s call is irresistible and not based on our own merits or ability to respond (see 9:11 ).
If God’s call is irresistible, why do so many reject the Good News of His Son?
According to His purpose is so comforting because it “establishes the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints; for if all things work together for their good, what or where is that which God will permit to lead them into condemnation?” (Haldane)
Can we lose our salvation? Consider the next verse. Then, Matthew 24:24; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Hebrews 12:2. Contrast with Hebrews 2:3; 6:4-6; 10:26-27; Romans 11:20-21.
“The unbreakable chain ” of verses 29-30
1. Foreknowledge (not merely knowledge)
“God has always possessed perfect knowledge of all creatures and of all events. There has never been a time when anything past, present or future was not fully known to Him. But it is not His knowledge of future events (of what people would do, etc.) which is referred to [here] for Paul clearly states that those whom He foreknew He predestined, He called, He justified, etc. Since all men are not predestined, called and justified, it follows that all men were not foreknown by God in the sense spoken of in verse 29… Although God knew about all men before the world began, He did not know men in the sense that the Bible sometimes uses the word know, i.e. with intimated personal awareness and love. It is in this latter sense that God foreknew those whom He predestined, called and justified” (Steele & Thomas ).
If God not only has a perfect knowledge of the future, but also a set purpose with regard to certain individuals, what becomes of free will? More importantly, how does the doctrine of foreknowledge affect your life as a believer in Jesus?
2. Predestination
Predestination is a hard teaching to swallow, but here it is in black and white. We cannot debate its reality, but there is some discussion to be had about its nature.
a. The prescient view . “God looks down the corridors of time from his vantage point in eternity and sees the different responses people make to the gospel of Christ. On the basis of His prior knowledge of how we will respond freely to the invitation of the Gospel, God then predestines those whom He knows will say yes to salvation. Predestination, according to this view, is not an actual foreordaining that people will believe, but only a foreordaining that those who believe will be saved. God does not worth the faith into their hearts. That is something they do by their response, by their will, by their choice” (Sproul).
b. The Reformed view. “This is a really simple explanation of predestination. God looks at the mass of fallen humanity and selects some to receive the grace of calling, justification and glorification. But before He can select anyone, God must have an idea in His mind of the identity of those whom He is choosing. God does not predestine unknown quantities; God predestines persons that are known to Him. Therefore, it is a logical necessity that foreknowledge of the people comes before predestination. To add that is a foreknowledge of what people were going to do before He predestines them runs absolutely contrary to the rest of the list” (also Sproul!).
More concisely, Moule says, “Comparing this passage with 2 Timothy 1:9, it is clear that the foreknowing is of persons, not of merit in those persons .” God’s free choice!
Looking at verse 29, why are we foreknown and predestined? In other words, what is the goal of election?
What do you think “firstborn” means?
What does it mean to be one of Jesus’ many brothers?
3. Calling
We’ve discussed this already in relation to verse 28. In the Gospels, the call refers to outward hearing (“many are called but….”), but in the Epistles to “inward reception, due to a special and sovereign influence from above” (Moule).
Check out 1 Corinthians 1:24-27, Jude 1 and Revelation 17:14 cst. Matthew 20:16 and 22:14.
How exactly does God call us, outwardly and inwardly?
What are we called to (straightforward-ish question)?
4. Justification
This is a huge topic, in my view the most important in the Bible apart from the LORD Himself! It can be defined as: getting right with God. What could be more crucial than that? The whole of the first part of Romans concerns itself with justification, and particularly how sinners can only be justified by God’s grace, and not by our own efforts.
Reread 1:17, 3:26, 4:24-25, 5:8-9, 6:22, 8:3. Also Titus 3:5,6.
If we are quick to justify and excuse our bad actions, why are we slow to receive the free justification God has provided?
How can we encourage and convince people that their greatest need is justification, not money, security, home, or even love (controversial!)?
5. Glorification
Again, we don’t have time to elaborate on this concept this week, but simple ways of describing glorification are to be found in…
1 Corinthians 13:12; 15:49,53; 1John 3:2; Philippians 3:21.
Why doesn’t God glorify us straight away, as soon as He justifies us?
Conclusion to the 5-link chain of salvation
“The eternal purpose of God [is certain and] indicated here by the use of the past tense. No such assurance would be conveyed to believers if ‘calling’ depended upon the will of man, for no chain is stronger than its weakest link…Paul speaks of salvation exclusively in terms of God’s action…Thus God’s foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification of His people form five links in an unbreakable chain of salvation” (FF Bruce ).
Write down two or three reasons why it’s a very good thing that our salvation from foreknowledge to glorification is dependent on God, and not on us.
Write down one reason why God’s total sovereignty does not promote laziness and sin in the believer.
Lord bless and keep you from this day forth!
