ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER
Romans 8:28
Introduction - Romans 8:28 is a promise most of us if not all of us have held on to in difficult times.
As we go through our study of Roman 8 we now come to this verse and we will look at each aspect of this promise.
Today’s Focus: We will look today at four details of the comforting promise of Romans 8:28.
I. The Certainty of the Promise
1. Know…this is something we can be certain of. We are certain of it even though sometimes the circumstances tell us otherwise.
2. The word “know” used here speaks of intuitive knowledge. This knowledge comes with our faith in the Lord. When we really know the Lord we can know this promise to be true.
II. The Breadth of the Promise “That all things”
1. All things – this means everything in our lives. Every event, what we would call good things and even the bad or negative things. The word all means all.
2.
The words “all things” in the English comes from the word
“pas" and means all,
any, every, the whole.
III.
The Greatness of the
Promise. “Work together”
1. The translation “work together” comes from the word
sunergeō
pronounced soon-erg-eh'-o
which comes from a related word meaning to be
a fellow worker, that is, co-operate.
Everything
that happens in our lives becomes a fellow worker and co-operates toward the
right end. They co-operate together
for the good that God intends in our lives.
2.
“For Good” - This “good” may not be apparent to us as we go
through the difficult times but by faith we accept this to be true.
3.
The greatness of this promise is apparent.
When we understand it and believe it we understand that God is working in
every aspect of our lives. That God
is never sitting back and letting things just happen out of control.
It will all fit together in an understandable way. Many times it is like a jigsaw puzzle and doesn’t really
make sense until the last piece is in place.
IV.
The Objects Of The
Promise – It is for whom? This
promise has some limits. It is not
true of everyone.
1.
To those who love God.
Who
is it that loves God? Many people
know of God in that they recognize that there is a creator of all things but
they cannot say that they love God. God
is there to blame when things get out of control but they would never think of
loving God. Do you love him?
Let us look up some verses that will help us see the truth about our Love
for God.
a.
The Bible says, “we love Him because he first loved us” (1 John
4:19).
b.
John 4:10 says: “In this
is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.”
c.
Those who understand what He did for us and realize His great love for us
are the ones that love Him.
d.
Those who love God understand that He works things for good in our lives.
Even the things that we would consider negative those who live Him know
he works them for good.
Even
though hard times come we know He love us and is doing the best for us.
e.
Those who do not love Him and don’t know of his work for them are not
included in this promise. There are
things that happen that are out of control and not for the good.
2.
“Those who are the called according to His purpose”
a.
This promise is to the called.
This
is the word “klētos” pronounced klay-tos'
meaning invited or appointed or
called.
b.
This calling is explained in verses 29-30.
We will talk more about it then.
3.
There are two limitations to this promise.
We need to be sure that we have received Christ so that we are included
in this promise.
Conclusion
– More promises
1.
This is a verse we must memorize. We
must hold on to in the good times and the difficult times. It is a promise that is true even though it is not apparent
to us in the difficult circumstances. Our
faith helps us hold on to this promise in the difficult circumstances of life.
2.
Joseph saw the reality of how God works things together for good.
He went through really hard times. He
was hated and sold by his brothers. He
endured being a slave in a foreign land. He
was falsly accused and sent to prison. But
at the end of his life he saw how God worked all of these things together for
good. Genesis 50:20
3.
Some other precious promises from God that we can use when the “good”
of Romans 8:28 is not yet apparent.
a.
Isaiah 26:3-4
b.
Isaiah 40:29-31
The
word “wait” qâvâh
kaw-vaw'
means to
bind together (perhaps by twisting), that is, collect;
(figuratively) to expect: - gather (together), look, patiently, tarry,
wait (for, on, upon).
Someone
has suggested that this word “wait” is saying that we should weave our faith
into His promises.
c.
Isaiah 41:10
4. Let us hold on to these great promises of God.