Romans 8:28-30

v Under grace there is a sovereign promise, 8:28-30.

This (v28) is one of the most quoted promises in all of Scripture, and rightfully so.  Nevertheless by keeping it in the context there may be a couple of insights otherwise missed when we quote v28 apart from v29-30 and all of Rom. 6-8.

·        The certain of the promise (we know).  All of God’s promises are certain.  But we are assured here because it is a promise that applies even to the darkest times of life when we might waver or doubt.

·        The scope of the promise (all things).  This applies to all our sufferings and trials (that is the context).  But it includes every situation, even our failures.

·        The nature of the promise (work together for good).  This is the essence of the promise.  God will sovereignly work in all things to bring about good.  To understand the promise we must understand good.  We usually have in mind what we think is good.  Usually it involve getting out of trouble in some way.  But God has His own idea of good which, in fact, is truly good.  The immediate context tells us what God’s purpose is for us in all things.  It is that we be conformed to the image of His Son (v29).  He predestined us for this.  In fact, this is linked to our adoption as sin (8:14-17).  This link is spoken of in Eph. 1:4-5: God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless (i.e. like Christ) having predestined us to adoption as sons.  Isn’t being under grace amazing?  We can know that whatever the circumstances God will so work as to use them to His (and our) goal of righteousness.

·        The recipients of the promise (those who love God, are called according to His purpose).  The promise is for those who are justified, for they are the ones He has called.  They are the ones who have turned from sin to love God.

·        The foundation of the promise (v29-30).  This promise is not based in the ability or accomplishment of those who love god.  It is rather based in what God does.

1.      God foreknew.  He knew ahead we would reject Him as all men do.  His knowledge of us was bathed in His loving choice as well (Amos 3:2; Hosea 13:5; 1 Cor. 8:3).

2.      Those He foreknew He predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image.  This happened before Creation (Eph. 1:4) when God determined beforehand His choice.

3.      Those He predestined He called.  Having made a choice, God then calls men to Himself.

4.      Those He called He justified.  Having called us He then does the work of justification, of declaring us righteous by the work of Christ and in response to faith.

5.      Those He justified He glorifies.  Those given a right standing before God will someday stand complete before Him in heaven.  “Sanctification is glory begun; glory is sanctification completed.”

Do you not see God’s grace in this?  Every life situation for those who love Him will be used to conform them to Christ, and that is true goodness.  Life’s hardest trials will not be lost to futility but will bring about God’s good for His children.