Romans 8:28-34

 

Verse 28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I.    All things. 

A.  Good and bad things that happen to us as individuals.

B.   Good and bad things that happen to others.

C.   Good and bad things that happen to countries.

 

II.   Doesn't say all things that happen are good.

A.  It says God works all things together for our good.

B.   Some things that happen are bad.

1.      Chastisement is bad, for it hurts us.

2.      Chastisement is good, for it puts us where we ought to be, teaching us what will happen if we disobey God.

 

III. There is only a certain group of people this is true for.

A.  Those that love God.

B.   Those that are called according to His purpose.

 

Verse 29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

I.    Foreknow.

A.  Ps. 14:2 - The Lord looked down from heaven, saw nobody seeking Him, therefore called some to come.  If God hadn't called some, nobody would have come.

1.      Acts 13:49 - As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

B.            Predestinate - To cause to happen.

1.   We can cause some things to happen, but there are many things we can't cause.

a.   Somebody to get well when they are sick, although we can take them to the doctor.  But the doctor can't do anything unless God enables him.

b.   Somebody not to die.  But we can cause somebody to die before their time.  Or to be very sick the rest of their lives.

 

III. To be conformed - changed.

A.  Things that happen to us happen so that we will be more like Christ.

1.   Not that we would physically "look like" Christ.

2.   But that our nature would be like His.

B.   Satan would like things to happen so we will be more like him.

 

Verse 30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

IV.      Predestination leads to other things.

A.  He called us.

1.      Election is in eternity.

2.      Salvation is in time through the preaching of the Word.

B.   He justified us.

1.      This is a legal term indicating that we stand before God as if we had never sinned.

C.   He glorified us.

1.      This has to do with our eternal standing before God.

 

Verse 31, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

I.    This can give us much confidence.

 

II.   If God is against us, who can be for us?

A.  A person cannot be saved if God doesn't want them to be saved.

1.   All gains for eternity are nothing.

B.   All material gains are for nothing, and they will come to nothing.

 

Verse 32, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

I.    The reason we have everything in time and eternity is because God has already given us the very best he has - His Only Begotten Son.

 

II.   The things we receive are given so that we will be conformed to the image of His Son.  Not just to consume upon our lusts.

 

IF WE ARE OBEYING THE COMMANDS OF GOD FROM OUR HEART:

There is no way the devil can kill us God doesn't determine it to be so.

There is no way we can be sick if God hasn't determined it to be so.