notes

Main point summary

All things work together for good to those who are the called of God and love God. Because God foreknew His chosen once to be Christ-like.

Arc 28-30

editing

NT

Romans 8:28-30

nkjv

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose.

actionmanner

For whom He foreknew,

He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,

conditional

that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

actionpurpose

Moreover whom He predestined,

these He also called;

whom He called,

these He also justified;

and whom He justified,

these He also glorified.

progression

ground

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV)

Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7 NET)

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV)

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, (Hebrews 2:11 ESV)

discourse

8:28 a "we know " contrasted to "we do not know " 8:26. At times we are overwhelmed and do not know what to pray, but there is something we do know. We know that all things work together for good to the called of God, those who love God. We may fall back to the things we know, when we don't know any further. 8:28 c,d " together for good " Bad things happen to the children of God. To deny that fact is foolish. History shows that Christian were often treated with much hostility because of what they stand for. And the western society is moving again in a Christian-hostile direction, let by some people calling for tolerance who are themselves not tolerant when it comes to Christian views. Western countries were founded on a Judeo-Christian value system. To bad that some people misuse the liberty in those countries. As great as the opposition may be, Christians who love God and are called by God may face everything because they know that God works even the bad things for their good. Death is pretty much the worst thing that can happen. But even that is gain for a Christian. Death means to be with Christ - best thing ever! 8:28 e,g " to those " The destination of things working together for good are those who are called by God and those who respond to Him. Even when our love is weak and we wandered from the Lord, God will complete His purpose with those He foreknew. It is so sure that Paul speaks of it even in the past form "glorified" 8:30 f. 8:28 h "those who are called " When Christians fail to love God, it is a great comfort to know that our love for God is as dependent on God as our call from God. We can do nothing ourselves. It takes much more to love someone who does not return love. God will love us always even when we wander from Him. Nothing can separate us from His love, as later verses show. Called according to His purpose and grace, and not because of our works 2 Tim 1:9 This purpose of the call was giving us in Christ Jesus before the ages began 2 Tim 1:9 This calling is into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, our Lord 1 Co 1:9 Called to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2:14 Called to bless, that we may obtain a blessing 1 Pt 3:9 8:29 The ground for all things working for good to those who are called and love God is God himself. He is the one who foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified. We became the recipients of His work. 8:29 d - f "to be conformed to the image of His Son " The purpose of God is to work Christ-likeness through whatever circumstances we are in. Bad and good is working together to that purpose. Our ultimate good is to be Christ-like. Christ-likeness does not mean that all start wearing the same things and speak the same way. It is rather a uniformity in a brought diversity. That is what we find in His church. There are members gifted in different ways who form a living body with Christ being the head.

Phrase 28-30

Romans 8:28-30

And we know

that all things work

Content

together

Context

for good

Advantage

to those

Destination

who love God,

to those

who are the called

according to His purpose.

Manner

For

Ground

whom He foreknew,

Condition

He also predestined

Accompaniment

to be conformed

Purpose

to the image

of His Son,

that He might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

Moreover

Progression

whom He predestined,

these He also called;

whom He called,

these He also justified;

and whom He justified,

these He also glorified.

phrasing