Oct 20, 2019
Originally Presented: September 16, 2017
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28
This verse in Romans is one of the most sweeping promises in the Bible. Through the centuries it has rendered comfort and strength to those who trust its truth. The context of the verse is the suffering Christians endure on this earth and verse 28 is, in fact, the third specific reason in this passage why Christians should persevere with joy, peace, and strength in the middle of trials.
The first reason is the prospect of the everlasting delight of the completion of our salvation, namely the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23). The second reason is the intercessory help the Holy Spirit provides us in our prayers (Rom 8:26,27).
The third reason why Christians should endure with strength their troubles is the promise that God will weave all things together for their everlasting good. Of the many Biblical stories which display this wondrous activity by the Almighty
(e.g. Job, Esther, Paul), the stories of Joseph in Genesis and Christ Himself in the gospels stand out as marvelous examples of Romans 8:28.
But the promise of this verse does not apply to everyone. It is granted only "to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." These two phrases do not describe two classes of people, but one class of people, namely Christians. Subjectively, no one is a Christian who does not genuinely love God . . . delight, cherish, treasure, long for, be satisfied with the infinite God and Creator and Savior.
Further, no one is a Christian whom God has not called to Himself. The word 'call' is used in two ways in the Bible. One is a general, external call to all men to believe in Christ (Prov 1:24; Isa 55:1). The second is an individual, internal call that awakens the soul to spiritual realities (Rom 1:7; 8:30; 1 Cor 1:24). It is to the people who are called into salvation by the Holy Spirit to whom the promise of Romans 8:28 belongs. It is a massive comfort to trust in the truth of this verse.