“We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for

those who are called

according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of his Son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he
predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified
he also glorified.”

– Romans 8:28–30

God Working Things Out For Our Good Doesn’t Mean Constant Happiness

I read all three of those verses because often times we just read verse 28. “And we know that for
those who know God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his
purpose.” And we think, “Okay. In any circumstance, God is working together for my good.” But we
often equate that, the picture of my good, with that which makes me happiest or that which is
easiest or that which makes the most sense to me. When we know oftentimes there are things we
walk through that don’t make us happy and that are really hard for us, and that don’t make any
sense to us.

Romans 8:28 teaches us that God works for our good. We are loved by God and are called to follow
Him.

Romans 8:28–30 Talks About God’s Ultimate Purpose for Us

But that’s where this promise totally ties in verse 28 to what happens in verses 29 and 30. Where
God tells us what his purpose is for us. “All things work together for good for those who are called
according to his purpose.” What is his purpose? His purpose is that we might be conformed to the
image of his Son. That we might be conformed to the image of Jesus. More and more every day, and
ultimately those whom he’s called he has also justified. Those he’s justified he’s also glorified.
Ultimately in heaven, we will be glorified, fully conformed into the image of Jesus. And that’s what all
things are working together toward. And that is the greatest good, that we might be like Jesus, look
like Jesus. That our lives would conform to his image.

These Verses Show That God is With Us in Our Difficult Situations

And so as you walk through your life, I imagine some of you who are listening to this right now. You
are walking through some really difficult things. More challenging things than I can even begin to
imagine. And I can imagine that it’s not easy. It’s hard and it’s confusing. It’s not at all what you
would have designed for your life. And I just want to encourage you that, yes, there is a loving God
that we see later in Romans 38-39.

His love for you is greater, higher than you can imagine. He loves you, and in the details of what
you’re walking through, he is working it together for your good. For your good, and your good is
greater intimacy with Jesus. And greater understanding of his love for you. As well as greater
dependence on and trust in him. Where he will always prove himself faithful to you. He’s working
this together for more conformity to the image of Jesus. Which is where your soul will find its
deepest delight.
Romans 8:28–30: Asking God to Conform Us to the Image of His Son

So I encourage you, even as I pray and think about certain situations in my own life and your life.
God, thank you for this promise. Thank you for this reminder that you are ultimately in control of all
things, even the worst things. Even the things that we least understand. That you who are all wise
are ultimately in control and that you’re working all these things together for our good and for the
good of those who love you. And who have been called according to your purpose, that you’re gonna
carry out this purpose in our lives. You’re gonna bring us more and more into the image of Jesus, that
we’re gonna know and enjoy and delight in you more at the end of this journey when it’s all said and
done, in greater ways than we can even fathom right now.

Trust in the Promise of God

So help us to trust in you. I pray for those who are walking through hard times especially right now
That you would help them to trust in you. Help my brothers and sisters to trust in your promise here
in Romans 8:28-30. Help me when I walk through certain things that I can’t even imagine right now
in the future. God, help me to cling to Romans 8:28–30, and we pray that you would indeed fulfill
your promise to work all these things together for our good and bring us to glory with you. We long
for that day. We long for the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Romans 8:28 is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible: “We know that all things work
together for the good of those who love God …” (CSB). For many people, this verse is a source of
tremendous hope.

But for others, Romans 8:28 feels like salt on their open wounds.

For those who have suffered greatly, it can be difficult to imagine what kind of “good” might arise
from their tragic situations. What silver lining is there when a couple loses a child to miscarriage?
What possible good could come from a father abandoning his family to start over with a new one?
What “greater good” is God up to when a car accident leaves a teenager paralyzed?

Romans 8:28 should be a verse of comfort. But in the midst of profound suffering, people still feel
abandoned by God. Rejected. Cursed.

Have you ever dealt with someone in this kind of situation? Have you ever gone through something
like this yourself? If you haven’t, you will at some point in your life. And when you do, you’ll need to
remember three ways God uses Romans 8 to give you hope in suffering.

1. What God started, he’s going to finish.

In verse 29, Paul brings up the “p” word: “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the image of his Son.”

Paul’s not trying to start a theological argument here about Calvinism; he’s trying to give us
assurance: “And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and
those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

Paul knows that for those who are suffering, it often feels like you are barely holding on. But in the
midst of your suffering, you have this assurance: What God started in you, he’s going to finish.

When you feel like you are barely holding on to God, be assured that he’s still holding on to you.

When my daughters were younger, we had a standard bedtime ritual. I would say, “I love you. Now,
does daddy love you because you are pretty?”

“No, daddy! … But we are pretty, right?”

I would say, “That’s right, you are pretty. But that’s not why I love you. Now, does daddy love you
because you are smart?”

“No, daddy! … But we are smart, aren’t we?”

“That’s right, you are smart. But that’s not why I love you.”

I would go through a few more—strong, brave, kind, etc. And eventually, I would ask, “So, why does
daddy love you?”

At this point, they would all call out, “Because we’re your daughters!”

I’ve set my love on my daughters, and I’m never taking it from them. That’s what God has done with
you.

You’ve been adopted into his family. You are a beloved child, and your Father sees you in your
suffering. Whatever else is happening in your pain, you can be sure that your Father hasn’t left you
alone in it. You are his child, and his heart is bound up with yours. What you feel, he feels. When you
weep, he weeps.

2. God is using all things to make you more like Jesus.

People who quote Romans 8:28 often overlook the rest of the verse, which may be the most
important part: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose.” And what is that purpose? “For those he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son …” (Romans 8:29 CSB).

God’s purpose in your life is to make you more like Jesus. The “good” Romans 8 talks about is not
giving you better circumstances—as if every bad event will automatically lead to a greater one later
on. The “good” of Romans 8 is God making you a better you—that is, more like Jesus.

Invariably, at every moment, God is working toward that. That painful chapter in your marriage, that
betrayal at work, that chronic illness—all of it was for that end.

And there will come a time, if you submit to God in faith, when you see that all the painful chapters,
all the heartache and tears and disabilities and disadvantages and disappointments were used by
God for one purpose: to mold you more into the image of Jesus.
3. Your story ends with the redemption of your body.

Paul says that “creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now … we also groan
within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22–23).

There is a physical redemption coming, and our bodies literally groan for it. For a young, healthy,
privileged person, this may not sound that fantastic. But for the elderly, for the sick, for the hurting,
this groaning is a daily reality.

In Christ, our groaning is a promise that our bodies will one day be redeemed. And not just back to
the days of our youth, but to a body like Christ’s resurrection body. We won’t ache or get sick or even
struggle with weight gain.

I don’t understand everything there is to know about what is waiting on us in heaven, but Paul says
that in light of the glory experienced there, even the worst things we experience now are going to
seem like a “momentary light affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Paul isn’t trying to minimize your present suffering. (He was, after all, a man who suffered greatly
himself.) He’s trying to give you hope for a day when that suffering will be swallowed up in something
greater.

You may not see it in this life, but not a single second of your suffering is wasted. Not one thing
happens in your life that the goodness of our God will not one day transform into glory.

In a world consumed by pain, corruption, and futility, this is hope you can cling to for life.
Introductory Comments:

Romans chapter 8 is incredible! Listen to some of the beautiful passages that arise from this chapter
of Scripture:

Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. [on screen]

Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received
the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” [on screen]

Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with
the glory that is going to be revealed to us. [on screen]

Now, Paul continues on with this amazing chapter and he once again starts off strong when it comes
to the passage that we’re looking at today.

So, let’s look at Romans 8:28-39, but before we do, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us.

(prayer)

Did you know that the godly life is a good life, church? When we belong to God and He is in us, life is
good. However, not only is life in the here and now good . . . life in the future is good as well.

So, let’s talk about life in Jesus being good. Today’s sermon is entitled, “It’s All Good.” [on screen]

So, first, let’s recognize the fact that we have a . . .

I. Good future (28-30) [on screen]

The future of those who belong to Jesus looks very good.

Listen to what Paul says in verses 28-30:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called
according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those
he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also
glorified.

As we look at these verses, I’m sure verse 28 is known to many of us, and it is a wonderful verse.
However, we must be sure to clarify a couple of things about verse 28.

First of all, notice that Paul says, “ . . . all things work together for the good.” Paul does not say, “all
things are good.”

Second, notice that Paul clarifies who the all things working for good applies to: to those who love
God and are called according to His purpose.

So, God doesn’t say that everything will be good for everybody. Paul says specifically what will
happen (all things will work together for good) and who it will happen to (those who love God).

What Paul is telling us is that if you are a follower of God, you have a good future ahead of you. All
the evil, all the suffering, all the heartaches and headaches, all the misrepresentations, all the
persecution, all the sin that was committed against you, will work together for your good!

That is why Paul says in verse 18 that the sufferings of this world do not compare with the future
glory that awaits us. It will be good! It’s all good!

When you have to wait in a very slow and very long line at the fast-food restaurant, remind yourself
that it’s all good! When you have false accusations leveled against you, remind yourself that it’s all
good! When you are ripped off by someone, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your friends
and family abandon you, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your children or grandchildren
reject your love and care, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you or your family suffer health
challenges, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you lose your job or you can’t pay your bills,
remind yourself that it’s all good!

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called
according to his purpose.”
Listen, God has been planning good in your life and in your future since before you ever existed on
this earth! How incredible is that?

This miraculous reality is explained to us a bit by Paul in verses 29-30. Quite frankly, I wish Paul had
given us more explanation but he didn’t. However, he says, “29 For those he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many
brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also
justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”

Paul speaks in verses 29 and 30 of God foreknowing us and predestining us.

First, God foreknows us. Now, this doesn’t mean that God merely sees us ahead of time, that would
be foreseeing. Instead, God knows us ahead of time.

Before we ever existed on this earth God knew us and then He destined us (again before we were on
the earth) to become like Jesus; to be conformed to the image of His Son.

This is why God can say to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, “I chose you before I formed you in
the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” [on screen]

You see, before you were a child of your mother and father, you were destined to become a child of
God, so that you could become one of the many brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, and you could
be adopted as a child of God. How incredible is that? Knowing that can lead us to say, “It’s all good!”

Not only did God foreknow you, not only did God predestine you, but we see from this passage that
He also called us to salvation, justified us by the work of Jesus, and has glorified us by the power of
His Holy Spirit. Church, it’s all good!

We have a good future that God the Father has already guaranteed, Jesus has already earned, and
the Holy Spirit is already delivering.

Concluding Thoughts:

In Jesus, we have a good future, we have good blessings, and we have good security. It’s all good,
Church.
Let this bottom line summarize what Paul is teaching us in Romans 8:28-39:

Bottom Line: For those who belong to God, the final outcome will always be good. [on screen]

(repeat)

We know the end of the story. We know that the sufferings of this world do not compare with the
glory that will be revealed to us. We know that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us. We know that there is no condemnation for us. We know that all things work together for us.

We know that the final outcome for the children of God will always be good. Rest in that promise.
Rest in the knowledge that it’s all good.

Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:

Weekly Challenge: [on screen]

1. Constantly remind yourself of God’s goodness shown to you. [on screen]

Has God been good to you? Do you remember when you were yet a sinner? Do you remember when
you were walking in death and slavery?

Has God given you new life and new freedom? Has God promised you a home in heaven? Has God
given you victory in this life?

Commit this week, and beyond, to remember all of God’s goodness shown to you.

2. Share God’s goodness with others. [on screen]

Church, there is not only victory for us, there is victory for others found in Jesus.
The world is hurting and Jesus brings healing. The world is confused and Jesus brings clarity. The
world is dying and Jesus brings life. The world is in darkness and Jesus brings light.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in
him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16 [on screen]

The world needs to know about Jesus. The world needs to know that God offers them love from
which nothing in creation can separate them.

Will you tell them? Will you share God’s goodness with others this week? Challenge yourself to do
so.

Closing:

If you’ve experienced the goodness of God, stand in that goodness and soak it in. If you’ve never
experienced the goodness of God, come to Him today.