Romans 8:28-39
The text before us is rich in the things that God wants believers to know about themselves. In verse 28, Paul states that we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
In employing the plural pronoun we, Paul proclaims that he, the believers in the church at Rome, and believers of every era know that all things work together for good to them. Almost. Paul attached two conditions. Things work together for good for those who love God and for those who are called according to His purpose. Paul most certainly loved God and was called according to His purpose. Questions: Is it possible for a believer not to love God? Is it possible for a believer not be called according to His purpose? Hardly.
If one does not know that Paul’s declaration is true, one cannot know that all things involving Paul worked together for good for Paul. Believers know that all things worked together for good for Paul because God used Paul to deliver the gospel to them.
The Holy Spirit moved Paul to expound upon his calling and the calling of all believers. In verse 29, the Spirit states that God predestinated them that He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son. And what image might this be? Jesus is the first-born of all who shall be raised from the grave. Whom did God predestinate? All that He foreknew. And whom did God foreknow? We need look no further than John 3:16. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. If one believes, one is part of the number which is predestinated to be in the image of Him who was first raised from the dead.
In every instance, God foreknew us before we knew Him. God knew Paul before Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Christ died for offences that God foreknew — offenses which predate and postdate our believing that God so loved us.
God wants believers to know the image to which we are predestined to be conformed — the image of His Son. Conformed means to be made like or brought into agreement with. Believers are totally dependent upon God to become as Jesus is. Jesus was and is without sin. Believers are justified by Him. We are to be like Him who justified us. We cannot make ourselves as He is, but, we can let His testimony be seen in us. We can do that which God intends. We can be transformed into vessels which He uses for His purposes.
In verse 30, God assures all who are predestinated to be in the Son’s image that they are also called. Since all who believe are predestinated, all believers are called. God wants all believers to know that He has called them, justified them, and glorified them. God wants believers to know what He has done. He wants believers to know that they are so loved by Him.
Paul asks two questions in verse 31. The second question answers the first. The second question demands that we acknowledge and proclaim the love that God has bestowed upon us. Who can be against us? The inescapable answer is: Those who oppose God.
In verse 32, the apostle asks how shall God (who gave His Son) not give freely all things to us through Him (the Son). God wants believers to know where they stand. Believers are justified by God. One cannot make a charge against a believer without making a charge against Him who justifies.
The Holy Spirit of God wants believers to be assured that Christ is risen and sits at the right hand of God the Father to make intercession for them.
Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” For something to separate a believer from Christ’s love, that something must be greater than God. Satan is powerful but the love of God is greater. The serpent bruised the heel of the Seed of Woman but the Seed of Woman bruised the serpent’s head.
Because of God’s love, we can be certain that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Difficult times come upon us. We lose loved ones. We are victims of accidents and illnesses. Our financial securities are destroyed. No matter the difficulty, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Because we trust God, we are persuaded, like Paul, that neither death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, is able to separate us from the love of God.
God wants us to know that we are more than conquerors such that we might be more than conquerors through Christ. We are called according to His purpose.
