Paul declares God works all things for our Good
Romans
8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose. NKJV
Paul has unfolded how God the Holy Spirit so searches
our hearts like a person would take a lamp or a flash light when walking
through a dark patch of woods that all potentially dangerous things would be
illuminated that they may be avoided. Our hearts even those of us who have been
born again are still stained and sullied that we so often don’t even know what
we should pray for or about and often times we ask for things we already have
in our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite our inadequacies in our prayers and in all
other areas of our decision making as sons and daughters, our Heavenly Father
will take even our wrong choices and the evil perpetrated against us from the
minions of satan and the human instruments he uses to work through to come
against us. Although while we are undergoing trials and test as well as the
constant, ceaseless, and cruel warfare with principalities and powers it may
not seem that all things will end up for our good. However, Paul is now summarizing
everything he has said about us from the beginning of this chapter and what we
have in our union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says that we know and are
certain that everything in our lives will be worked together by our loving,
merciful, and watchful Father in Heaven for our good. Paul here gives us the
icing on the cake of our assurance of eternal blessedness with and in our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Paul first came out of Romans 7 with the distress of the conflict he found in himself into
the joy of knowing that the Spirit of Life in our Lord Jesus Christ has freed
him and us from the tyranny of the enslavement to sin and the freedom from our
remaining indwelling sin. Not only is there no condemnation for any of us in
Christ, but we are also assured of having everything that occurs in our lives
during our sojourn down here that He is Sovereignly working for our good. There
is no better true documented story of this truth than that of Joseph from the
Old Testament (Genesis 37-47).
Joseph was the man that God the Father would use to preserve His chosen people
Israel, but the devil also was aware of Joseph (although he did not know Joseph’s
Divine destiny) and the purity of life that he lived even as a young 17 year
old boy. Joseph was hated by his older brothers and they wanted to kill him,
but found that maybe it would be better if they would get rid of him and make
some money out of it. So his brothers all attacked him and through him in a
well and kept him there until they saw some slave traders pass by and then sold
him to them for money. Joseph was accused of rape by his slave master’s wife
(which was a lie) and thrown into prison. To make a long story short, Joseph
was released from prison and became 2nd in command next to Pharaoh.
All the evil perpetrated against Joseph, God the Father was working it all out
for Joseph’s good and God’s Glory as Joseph by his position was able to save
his whole family from starvation (at that time they were only 75 people) and
move them to Egypt and the Nation of Israel grew to over 2 million people in
the span of 400 plus years.
It was God the Father who was with Joseph at every
turn that had the appearance that the devil and evil would triumph. Joseph
loved God and worshiped and reverenced Him and so it is that Paul says that it
is those who love God (the One True God as He is revealed in Scripture through
Jesus Christ) that will see all things worked together for their good. Paul
said this to the Corinthian believers, 1
Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those
who love Him.” NKJV Our Lord Jesus Christ is not working all the things in the lives of non-believers
together for good because they do not belong to Him and therefore, the fruit of
their lives testify that they do not know Him or love Him. Paul even says to
brother Titus that many people profess to know God, but when it is all said and
done their works or lifestyle testifies that they do not know Him at all (Titus
1:15-16). Paul says in this passage some very strong words about
those who do not love our Lord Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let
him be accursed. O Lord, come! NKJV Although there are those who fain love
for our Lord Jesus Christ that is not backed up by reality in the everyday
life, I and every sincere born again believer can rest in and shout for joy
that even during our time of ignorance when we ran from grace in the indulgence
of our sin just as all the others did and still do right now, that our true redemption
was already ordained before the foundation of the world.
Paul says not only those of us who love our Lord
Jesus Christ, but who were called according to His purpose. We were called not
with the mere general call that goes out to all sinful humanity (John 3:16), but we were called with an
effectual or a forceful call that could
only be heard by our depraved souls in sins captivity (God’s Elect) and this
should breed such a love and gratitude for our Precious Lord Jesus Christ that
never subsides, or is never subdued, or is never soured by any circumstance,
trial, test, spiritual attack from satan, or anything or anybody. It is God the
Father’s purpose that is at work in this call and therefore, nothing can thwart
or stop it from its manifestation. The English word Paul used here purpose comes from the Greek word prosthesis which means a setting forth or
figuratively a proposal or intention; example specifically the showbread (in
the Temple) as exposed before God. Think of it the purpose of our Heavenly
Father in calling us with a forceful and irresistible call is to so clean us up
by His Grace that we would be holy just as the showbread in the Jewish Temple
is set aside for a holy use in the service of Almighty God.
Psalms
119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. NKJV
Psalms
119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn
Your statutes. NKJV
Ephesians
1:11-12 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined
according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel
of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His
glory. NKJV
2
Timothy 1:9 “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was
given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” NKJV
“But all the providences of God are theirs -
merciful providences, afflicting providences, personal, public. They are all
for good; perhaps for temporal good, as Joseph’s troubles; at least, for
spiritual and eternal good. That is good for them which does their souls good.
Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a tendency to the spiritual
good of those that love God, breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer
to God, weaning them from the world, fitting them for heaven. Work together.
They work, as physic works upon the body, various ways, according to the
intention of the physician; but all for the patient’s good.” Matthew Henry
“My life of rebellion and sinful indulgence before
my encounter with the Living Christ were all a part and parcel that brought me
to my knees crying out ‘Lord, help me’ and were known to Jesus before He ever
said, ‘Let there be light’ and knowing this reality, how can I not but love Him
passionately and trust that all the things that appear horrible to me, He who
knew me and loved me in my filth will He not work out every trial, test, and
evil attack against me for my good.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not
know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your
heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus,
I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You
shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead
proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my
sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my
life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely
in Christ,
Author
of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and
Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into
Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s
Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod,
Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners,
Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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