I wrote this expository sermon on Romans 8:28 for a preaching class at Bob Jones University. For the sermon as I actually delivered it, see The Christian’s Comfort.
Introduction. Here in this verse we have perhaps the greatest promise ever given to man. This promise is full of benefits; but if you do not fully believe it, you will lack confidence and steadfastness in the midst of tribulation. Since Sunday school you have known the story of the great sufferings of Job. Job went through a series of unparalleled catastrophes in his life. His barns were destroyed by fire; his cattle were stolen by bandits; his children were killed in a storm. He lost everything that he had. Did all this work together for Job’s good? I believe that if Job were here today he would boldly exclaim, “Yes, I know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Not only did Job’s possessions go through the fire, but Job’s soul also went through the fire of testing. In Job 23:10 he says, “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job was purified to be more like his God. You must believe in a sovereign God. We will see two things about this great promise of God—the promise is powerful, and the promise is personal.
I. The promise is powerful. (28a)
No greater, more practical promise has ever been given to believers. The promise that God will work all things together for the good of His elect is an unbeatable promise. Nothing can slip through the plan of an all-sovereign God without His approval. Whether it seems evil or good, we can have confidence in knowing that God is in control, and that He will never do or allow anything that is not for our best interest. It covers every aspect of our lives. What a practical promise this is; nothing has more relevancy to our daily lives. You must believe in a sovereign God.
1. The certainty of the promise is secure (“And we know”). Paul says that this is a promise that we can and must know with confidence. There is no doubt and no question in it. He did not say that we can hope that this will happen, or that sometimes it will happen, or that this promise is secure if we do our half. We can know it. It is guaranteed. This is not merely Paul’s opinion, but the inspired truth from God to His people. We must know beyond all doubt that God controls the circumstances of our lives, and that we are safe in His hands. You must believe in a sovereign God.
2. The extent of the promise is limitless (“that all things”). When we are given a promise that spans such a vast expanse of the events of our lives, the tendency is to question its veracity. But it is clear from the verse and its context that the word all is not limited in the least. All means all. Can this really include all things—when your brother is killed in a car accident, or when you lose your family and all your possessions like Job? Romans 8:33–35 makes it clear that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and nothing can work evil against us. You must believe in a sovereign God.
3. The person of the promise is God (“work together”). God is the source of this promise. These words come from the mouth of Him who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). When God makes a covenant with men, it is an everlasting covenant that cannot be broken (Isa. 61:8). The NASB reads, “that God causes all things to work together for good,” portraying the person behind the promise. These things do not just happen by chance. God is the one actively working “all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11). He says in Isaiah 46:10, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” God is an active God who is at work. You must believe in a sovereign God.
4. The result of the promise is beneficial (“for good”). Everything that happens in your life happens for your good. Paul probably had in mind both this life and the life to come. God works all things for our good in this life and in preparation for eternity. No matter what happens, we are guaranteed that it is for our good. Second Corinthians 4:17 tells us, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Difficulties now mean eternal benefits later. Joseph was hated by his own brothers and sold into slavery; yet he was faithful to God and to Potiphar. When Potiphar’s wife lied, Joseph was cast into prison, where he sat for years, still faithful. How could he not be bitter and angry with God? Because Joseph believed in a sovereign God. In Genesis 50:20 he said, “Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.” God takes what seems to be evil and makes it work together for our good. Joseph believed in a sovereign God, and you must believe in a sovereign God.
II. The promise is personal. (28b)
This truth is a magnificent and incomparable promise, but whom does it include? Who are the beneficiaries of this powerful promise? Is it for all men? Is it just for godly Christians? The verse gives us two qualifications that limit its extent—those who love God, and those who are effectually called. This is the same group of people; those who love God are those who are first effectually called. This promise is for all genuinely born-again people of all ages.
1. The promise is for those who love God (“to them that love God”). This is the action of the believer toward God. All genuinely born-again people will love God; to know God is to love God. By a man’s love for God he gives evidence that he has been called of God. He is not saved by his love for God, because men are by nature haters of God and His enemies (Rom. 5:10). Jesus said in John 8:42, “If God were your Father, ye would love Me.”
2. The promise is for those who are effectually called (“to them who are the called according to His purpose”). This is God’s action toward the believer, which produces and causes a love for Him. This is not the general call by which Scripture calls all men to repent (Acts 17:30); that would extend the promise to all men, and would mean that all men love God, which we know is not true. The call Paul is talking about is the call found in verse 30: “Whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified.” This cannot be a call to everyone, or else you end up with universalism. This is the effectual call which God extends to the elect, enabling them to respond to the gospel in faith in Christ and to have love for God. You must believe in a sovereign God.
Conclusion. We have seen that this great promise of Romans 8:28 is a powerful promise: its certainty is secure, its extent is limitless, its person is God, and its result is beneficial. We have also seen that it is a personal promise that extends to those who love God and to those who are effectually called by God. No greater promise has ever been given to the people of God. In Psalm 23:6 David tells us, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow [you] all the days of [your] life.” The word follow is literally pursue: God has promised to pursue us with good all our life. You must put your faith in God to unlock the power of this promise. You must believe in a sovereign God.