And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:28-32
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." I am not sure if you realize just how controversial that statement is...how hard it is to believe. It says that all things work together for the good for believers. If anything can be said about this verse, it is that it represents a boundless hope for us as Christians. Paul seems to be saying, as long as God is in charge, no matter how bad things get, no matter how dark the valley, or how long the night, we know that we will be victorious in the end. And so in all things, God works together for our good. But Paul is saying more than that. He is saying that all these things work together for our good in a very specific way. This is not just a trial to be endured on the way to heaven. It serves a purpose.
"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." Now I am not going to debate predestination and free will here in this blog. I don't think it would be fruitful. So put all of the arguments you have heard for or against predestination out of your head and look at what the Bible says God has predestined us for. On the last day we will be conformed into the image of His Son. This is the "good" that everything works toward for us as Christians. God allows difficult things and people in our lives so He can use them to mold us like a lump of clay. He is conforming us into the image of Christ. The Bible tells us that even Christ suffered trials in order to be made perfect in obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9). In the same way, we suffer and learn obedience along the way.
"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." Now I am not going to debate predestination and free will here in this blog. I don't think it would be fruitful. So put all of the arguments you have heard for or against predestination out of your head and look at what the Bible says God has predestined us for. On the last day we will be conformed into the image of His Son. This is the "good" that everything works toward for us as Christians. God allows difficult things and people in our lives so He can use them to mold us like a lump of clay. He is conforming us into the image of Christ. The Bible tells us that even Christ suffered trials in order to be made perfect in obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9). In the same way, we suffer and learn obedience along the way.
Still it is hard for me to believe that all things work together for our good. It is hard to fathom that God allows his children to be raped. It's hard to believe that He allows them to be mistreated, tortured, and murdered. Sometimes trying to understand it seems beyond reasoning. There is a sense in which we must accept this Scripture on faith. However, Paul wasn't oblivious to true suffering. This passage was written by a man who had been whipped with thirty-nine lashes five times. He was beaten with rods three times. He had been shipwrecked and lost at sea. He was even stoned and presumed dead (II Corinthians 11:24-26). So Paul knew a thing or two about suffering. He knew that it is hard to accept the truth of this verse at face value, but he himself had experienced it to be true. He had suffered terribly and had witnessed how God used his pain to conform his heart into the image of Jesus. So Paul doesn't shy away from the truth. He doesn't qualify it, but he does give us help.
As we try to hold on to such a difficult truth, as we strain to understand it, Paul gives us a handle we can grasp onto. "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Our Father has already proven His love for you. He has already given His most precious gift to secure your good. He didn't sacrifice Jesus just to let you drown in suffering. You can be sure that He has a good plan for your life. If He gave you Jesus, then you can be sure that He will in no way hesitate to give you all the other blessings at His disposal. He will withhold no good thing from you. Because of Christ, you can believe that somehow, against all odds, Romans 8:28 is true. God is using everything in your life (even the painful things) for your good. Slowly but surely you are being conformed into the image of His Son. Glory to the Father!
For further reading this week...
- Romans 12:1-2: Don't conform to the world; be transformed.
- I Peter 1:13-15: Don't be conformed to your evil desires; be holy.
- II Corinthians 3:17-18: We are being transformed into His likeness.
- Genesis 37-45: Joseph's life proves that suffering can produce a character like Christ's.
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