[ ] 8/1/2010 #893
GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS PEOPLE
Romans 8:26-27
INTRODUCTION:Someone has said that Romans 8:28 is a “soft pillow for a tired heart.” Paul wrote in the previous verses about the sufferings and groans of creation as well asGod’s people. This verse doesn’t answer all our questions concerning suffering, but it does contain a beautiful promise to those who love God.
I. GOD’S PROMISE
A. CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISE.
The believer can have confidence in God’s promise. He has received the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives the believer assurance. “By this know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:13) He has Jesus in heaven interceding for Him. (Rom. 8:34) The believer has the Holy Spirit who prays for him according to the will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27) The integrity of God Himself assures the believer. This is seen in God’s faithfulness to Abraham. God made a promise to Abraham and confirmed it with an oath. The writer of Hebrews wrote:
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:17-20
B. CAUSE FOR THE PROMISE.
1. The promise offers encouragement during suffering. (Rom. 8:18, 22-23)
2. The promise offers expectation during suffering. (Rom. 8:24-25)
3. The promise offers examples of those who suffered.
a) Joseph
b) Job
c) Jesus
d) Paul & Silas
A cowboy applied for an insurance policy. The agent asked, “Have you ever had any accidents?” After reflecting for a moment, the applicant responded: “Nope, but a bronco did kick in two of my ribs last summer, and a couple years ago a rattlesnake bit me on the ankle.” “Wouldn’t you call those accidents?” asked the puzzled agent. “Naw,” the cowboy said, “They did it on purpose!”
CHARLES SPURGEON: "I venture to say that the greatest gift God can give us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health had."
"For we know that all things work together for good." That phrase “work together” is really one wordin Greek. It means the combination of many elements to produce a positive result. Ordinary table salt is composed of two chemicals, sodium and chlorine, which by themselves can be toxic and yet when properly combined they produce a beneficial substance.
The word “good” means beneficial, profitable or useful. In other words, God will cause everything in our lives to become beneficial, spiritually profitable, useful and good, even in a fallen world filled with sin and corruption. Remember also that the good is what is good from God’s perspective.
When Paul says that all things work together for good, he is not saying that the tragedies and heartaches of life will always produce a better set of circumstances. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. God is not committed to making you healthy, wealthy and wise. He is committed to making you like his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And whatever it takes to make you more like Jesus is good. So it is in the providence of God that we learn more in the darkness than we do in the light. We gain more from sickness than we do from health. We pray more when we are facing troubles.
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way.
But I was none the wiser,
For all she had to say.
Then I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she.
But, oh, the lessons I did learn
When Sorrow walked with me.
II. GOD’S PEOPLE
A. CONDITION FOR THE PROMISE.
This promise is not for everyone. This promise is for those who love God. The opposite is true for those who do not love God.
Jesus identifies those who love Him.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepth them, he it is that loveth me.” (John 14:21)
“If a man love me, he will keep my words.” (John 14:23)
“He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.” (John 14:24)
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:2)
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” 1 John 2:3-5
B. CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROMISE.
This promise does not mean a life of ease. Those who love God will receive His blessings in heaven.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18)
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)
III. GOD’S PURPOSE
A. GOD’S UNLIMITED GRACE FOR SALVATION.
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Tim. 1:9)
In Ephesians 1:6-7, Paul wrote the following concerning the saved: “To the praise of the glory of His grace, through which He hath made us accepted in the Beloved; In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:6-7)
B. GOD’S UNALTERABLE GOAL IN SALVATION.
God’s unalterable goal in salvation is to conform the sinner into “the image of His Son.” (Rom. 8:29)
It is stated in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that He is transforming the saved to be like His Son: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
C. GOD’S ULTIMATE GLORY IN SALVATION. (Eph. 1:12)
God’s ultimate purpose is to bring glory to Himself: “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
Paul stated again in Ephesians 1:14 that the saved are: “unto the praise of His glory.” God is more committed to our holiness than to our happiness.
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Romans 8:28 teaches us that God has an eternal plan for us. God’s plan is to conform usinto the image of His Son.
2. The Almighty God is able to control the situations in our lives and use them for our good.God takes all the circumstances of life, both the good and bad, and blends them together so they work out for our good and for His glory.
3. The big question for us today is: Do we believe He is working all things for our good? Do we trust Him? Do you love Him?
4. The most important question is: Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, repent of your sins and ask Jesus to save you right now!