Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:28 is one of the greatest verses in the entire scripture: God is taking EVERYTHING and turning it to the good of His beloved children, even their sufferings.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

In verses 29-30, Paul goes on to tell us that God has been actually working out this plan from before The Beginning.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“Predestination” is the theological idea in some parts of the Christian tradition that God has already chosen who will believe—and therefore be saved—and who will not believe—and therefore be condemned. But that is not what Romans 8:29-30 is about! In v. 29, God has “predetermined” that those who love God (see v. 28) will be shaped to be more like Jesus. In other words what is predestined is not who will believe but what God’s plan is for those who believe.

Romans 8:28 tells us that God is working everything together for good. Verses 29-30 tell us that God will not abandon the Jesus-people until they take their place in glory. He doesn’t just forgive and leave it at that, but rather God works all the way through until the plan is complete. Paul puts it like this is his letter to the Philippians:

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ [Philippians 1:6].

Paul tells us that God “foreknows” who will believe, but that is not the same thing are “forcing” belief. In the same way, God foreknows that human beings will sin, but that foreknowledge does not force sin. What vv. 28-30 tell us is that God is working everything together for good, and that part of His divine plan is to keep working in the lives of those who are in Christ until God’s ultimate purpose is realized—a restored and glorified humanity taking its place in the restored new creation. And God has always planned to involved humanity in this way—it was “predestined.”

God’s intention, Paul emphasizes, is to bring to glory every person who has been justified [made right, declared innocent—AF] by faith in Jesus Christ. Our assurance of ultimate victory rests on this promise of God to us. But Paul, ever the realist, knows that that ultimate victory may lie many years ahead—years that might be filled with pain, anxiety, distress, and injustice. Thus he also encourages us by reminding us that God sends his Spirit into the heart of everyone he justifies. The Spirit brings power and comfort to the believer in the midst of suffering and he brings assurance in the midst of doubt. Christians who are unduly anxious about their relationship to the Lord are failing to let the Spirit exercise that ministry. It is by committing ourselves anew to the life of devotion—prayer, Scripture reading, Christian fellowship—that we enable the Spirit to have this ministry of assurance in our hearts. —Douglas Moo

These verses are meant to be a comfort to people who are struggling and suffering.

“I’m having a hard time.”

“Well, God is working all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

“Can you say more?”

“Well, from before time He knew you and had a plan for you, a plan to save you and put you in right relationship with Him and to ultimately restore you to rule in His name.”

In this way, we can see that verse 28 runs right into vv. 29-30, which are meant to comfort the afflicted believer in exactly the same way as v. 28 and, as we shall see, vv. 31-39.

“Yes, stuff is hard but it’s actually still part of God’s plan.”