Know That All Things Work Good

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Romans 8:28
Psalters: 261, 113, 187, 316
Confession of Faith
  1. What.
    1. “All things” refers to everything in the life of everyone who is called of God.
      1. This implies that God sovereignly controls all things (Eph. 1:10,11), including every action of every rational-moral being (Rom. 9:17-19; Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23).
      2. Specifically, our text speaks of absolutely everything in our lives, from conception to death.
    2. All things “work together.”
    3. “For good” in God’s judgment.
      1. The determination of what is good is that which conforms us “to the image of His Son” (29).
      2. God’s goal in His us of everything in our life is conformity to “His Son” (cf. Eph. 1:5).
  2. This work God performs on “them who are the called according to His purpose.”
    1. We are “the called” (cf. 30; 1:6,7).
      1. This refers to God’s internal, irresistible, effectual call.
      2. As “called” ones we are awakened from spiritual death and are enabled to believe and to see spiritual things.
    2. We are called “according to His purpose.”
      1. The call is not according to our merits.
      2. Rather it is because of (in accordance with) His purpose and grace (cf. II Tim. 1:9).
    3. The working of all things together is to serve God’s purpose of conforming us to His Son, so He is the firstborn.
  3. The knowledge of this truth is experienced only in the way of our loving God.
    1. First, this truth is known.
    2. The knowledge is ours in the way of our loving God (Greek word order).
      1. Our love for God arises (and grows) from His (first) love for us (I John 4:19).
      2. Our love takes His Word as truth and trusts Him (especially when we cannot understand).