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Introduction
TEXT: Romans 8:28-29
Therefore Series: Here in Romans is where we discover the benefits/blessings of being “in Christ”
Justified, set free, a new life (out of autonomy and self-sufficiency, adopted, heirs.
Illustration: Song that builds … like Stairway to heaven.
For the last two weeks we have wrestled with the question of suffering in the life of God’s people.
We saw that we have hope in our suffering.
We saw that we have help in our suffering.
(HS)
This week we are going to see that we have purpose in our suffering.
Main Idea: Here in Romans 8:28-28, we are given two amazing truths that give purpose to every circumstance we face in this life.
Every Circumstance in this Life Will Turn Out For Your Good
Paul makes an astounding claim here.
“All things work together for good ...”
Paul makes a claim that covers every possible contingency.
Nothing happens without God’s total, meticulous, and unrelenting care and attention.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, “God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.”
His providence governs everything.”
There’s several things we need to see about this:
First, this verse says that all things happen to Christians.
That is, the Christian’s circumstances are no better than anybody else’s.
Many Christians explicitly teach—and most Christians implicitly believe—that if we love and serve God, then we will not have as many bad things happen to us.
That’s not true!
Secondly, Paul tells us that “all things are going to work together for good — for those who love God and are called according to his purpose” This cannot be said of every human being.
This is one of the beautiful benefits of being “in Christ”.
We can have assurance that everything that happens in our lives is going to “work together for good”.
How? Who knows!!
Notice that Paul says this something that “we know” … so how do we know this?
God’s word.
(Gen.
50:20)
We can have a deep conviction that whatever happens in our lives are working together for good.
How?
How does this happen?
Is it just random, evolutionary
Illustration: “Who’s flying the plane?”
Paul is telling us that we can have a deep conviction that God has his hand on the wheel!
Illustration: My kids never know how we’re getting somewhere (every once and a while they’ll worry about it if we’re going somewhere good like Disney)
Every Circumstance in this Life is Worked Together for Your Good by God
There is debate about this verse.
Whether it should say, “God causes everything to work together for good” or just “all things work together for good”.
The extra “God” was probably added later.
But in the end it doesn’t really matter.
It is absolutely clear from what comes next in verse 29 that it is God that is doing the working.
Romans 8:29
When things work together in your life, it’s because of God.
Notice Paul does not say, “Things work together for good.”
Things never work together for good on their own.
Rather, if anything good happens, it is because God is working it together.
-Keller
Illustration: The ingredients of a cake.
Individual parts don’t taste good but after the process it is delicious.
So in this passage we are told that God is putting together all the pieces.
Some good ones.
Some terrible ones.
And he is using them to produce something wonderful.
Illustration: Joseph’s story — And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
(Ge 50:20)
God had been using all of the circumstances of Joseph’s life — good, bad, and ugly—in order to bring about the preservation of his people.
Every Circumstance in this Life Will Produce a Better Life
Romans 8:28 is probably one of the most miss used and miss quoted verses in the Bible.
It’s loved by many because on its surface it seems to say that if bad things happen now, God is going to give us better things in exchange later in life.
E.g., If we don’t get that house we really loved now, God will give us a better one later.
But God is not working all things together to make the circumstances of your life better.
He is doing this to give you a new and better life!
How do we know this?
Look at Romans 8:29—God has “predestined” or “pre-ordained” that we would be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus.
God has had a purpose from the very beginning.
That we would be the “brothers” of Jesus.
That we would have a new life in the household of God for eternity!
That we would be invited to God’s table in eternity!
So we now have a great assurance that this process is going to happen.
It is a done deal!
God has predestined that it would.
We are given a house built upon the rock … no upon the sand!
Illustration: Three Little Pigs
This glorious truth gives us a house that will stand.
Not one made of straw or sticks.
Conclusion
Illustration: Tim Keller’s dream
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