Romans Lesson 15

Introduction

Very pleasant good day to you, and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. Let me encourage you to get your New Testament and be opening to the book of Romans, chapter 8. Where today we shall continue our verse by verse study through this grand book. In fact, our lesson today is going to be from Romans 8, and beginning in about verse 18, and we’re going to go through verse 28, where in verse 28 is found one of the most beautiful texts in all of the Bible. It says, We know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are the called according to his purpose. What a great passage and comforting passage that is. Indeed, it is a scripture that is that has brought uh peace and tranquility to troubled souls.

It has brought courage to the faint hearted, it has brought cheer to the afflicted, and in fact it has given strength to the weary. It is one of those great passages of the Bible. But unfortunately, Romans chapter 8 and verse 28 has also been misused. It has sometimes been used as though, as though it means uh everything, no matter what we may wish, will come true. As though the word good in there means that really whatever we want, God is going to provide for us. But it does not mean that there’s going to be heaven on earth. It does not mean that God, like Santa Claus, just answers our every request. But it certainly does bring great comfort to the soul of the Christian who understands that good things that God gives has to do ultimately with eternal life.

1. Sufferings of This Present Time Not Worthy to Be Compared

Really, if we’re going to appreciate and understand Romans chapter 8 and verse 28 to the fullest, though, we need to understand something about the context within which it is found. And so, if you have your New Testament’s open now to Romans chapter 8, let’s begin with our study in verse 18, and let’s see what precedes that great passage of Romans 8 28. I’m reading now, beginning in Romans 8, verses 18 through 21, where the scripture says, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. In verse 17, as we concluded our last study, the apostle by inspiration spoke about suffering with Jesus Christ, that we might also be glorified together with him. In what sense could it be that Christians suffer with Jesus Christ? Or in our text that we began with, verse 18, it continues talking about the sufferings of this present time. Well, surely we all who walk in the flesh understand that everybody, Christian or not, has various trials and troubles in the flesh. We find that our bodies indeed have many times sicknesses and disease and ultimately death. And so in one sense, there are just sufferings that are common to flesh.

But in addition to this, those who serve the Lord find persecution. In fact, in 2 Timothy chapter 3, the apostle said, All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And there are various different hardships that are brought upon those, often just because of their faith. It may be true that in this particular country, in the time in which we presently live, we do not have to fear what the law of the land may do to us, because we may assemble for worship, and really we do not face death as some in former years and maybe even now in other countries may face. And yet there are sufferings of a Christian. But the apostle here is trying to say that even though there may be sufferings and sufferings for Jesus Christ, in order that we may be glorified together with him.

Notice when verse 18 he says, So what? The present sufferings are not even worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed hereafter. The suffering of the present is not even really worthy of comparison to the future glory. Oh, if we could but just get that understanding of what heaven will be like, perhaps we’d even more so fully appreciate all the wonderful blessings that are in Christ and live more closely directed toward him and his will. Second Corinthians chapter 4, in verses 16 through 18, the apostle there spoke how that we faint not, that is, we don’t become weary even in the midst of sufferings, when he says, Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Indeed, those who understand the promises that God has given in his word to those who are the children of God, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared. Even as we look forward to the to be glorified, to be even as his body in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 21, when he shall change our vile body, the scripture says, into the glorious body, even like unto him when he appears to receive his his saints unto him. And yet this text in Romans chapter 8 not only speaks about how that there is present suffering, he then talks about how there is some groaning.

2. Even the Creation Groans

There is some suffering going on. In fact, in verses 19-21, he speaks about the creature waiteth, or the creature was made subject to vanity. I would have to say to you that what this passage may really mean has been a passage of great discussion among various Bible scholars. Whether the word creature here, what is it really referring to? There are those, in fact if you have an American Standard Version translation, you notice that the word creation is the translation given there. And Thayer, who is a Greek authority, says that the word here that is translated creature or creation really refers to what we might call nature itself. Even the things of the world seem to be personified here. That the world itself was made subject to to groaning it wasn’t willingly, that is that it was not its own fault.

It was the fault of man who sinned. But you may remember even back in the original story in Genesis chapter 3, where the Bible speaks how that after Adam and Eve had sinned that God even placed the curse, when he said that even thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. So in this sense I believe verses 18 to 21 are simply saying even the creation groans, awaiting deliverance for when indeed the the coming of Christ occurs and and the saints are glorified and given a glorified state and in a perfect heavenly abode, even the the things that that have been caused, or the the curse of sin that we even suffer on this earth, shall then be removed.

3. Saints Also Groan and Are Saved by Hope

So in that sense, even the creation shall be delivered from its present problems. But further than that, he says in verse 22, as I continue the reading, that not only does the creation groan, but saints also groan. I’m reading verses 22 through 25, when he says, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit. Even we are even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Now you notice here he sort of adds to the fact that not only does the whole creation groan, but we also groan. And the we, he identifies as those who have the first fruits of the Spirit. So now, specifically, I think verse 23 identifies those who are the children of God. Those who have obeyed the gospel and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them through the medium of the Word of God, those who have the likeness of Jesus Christ, back in chapter 8 and in verse 9, we saw there where the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ were used interchangeably. And now when we have the first fruits of the Spirit, that is, we we have the blessings, the spiritual blessings that come through following Jesus Christ.

We have Christ dwelling within us. We have God dwelling within us, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. You may remember the passage in Galatians chapter 2 and in verse 20, where the Apostle Paul said, I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Well, how does Christ live in anyone? Is it a personal indwelling? We understand Christ personally is at the right hand of the Father on high. But he explained in Galatians 2 21 when he says, The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So that when we indeed keep the Word of God, the faith that God has revealed unto us, so it is that we are influenced, guided by, led by, and thereby, in that sense, God dwells within us.

It is really impossible, I believe, to separate either one of those from dwelling within us and guiding us and influencing us. But here in this passage he says that now those who have the first fruits of the Spirit, though we groan within ourselves. Why? Because we are awaiting deliverance. Saints groan, waiting deliverance, the redemption of our body. Well, now the redemption of our body refers, of course, to that final abode in heaven, when this fleshly body shall be turned into a spiritual body. And then he says, It is hope. Hope that saves us. You see, though there may be some present suffering, hope enables us to have patience, to keep on keeping on. No matter what the troubles may be of this life. We look beyond the present.

We look beyond the material things of this world. How about the Apostle Paul when he said, I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day. There is hope that is real. Hope that serves as an anchor of the soul, regardless of the turmoils and the troubles and the disappointments even of this fleshly or material world. Or even in the kind of faith that Abraham had in Romans chapter 4, verses 20 through 21, when it is said that he staggered not in unbelief. He believed the promise of God that what he had promised he was able also to perform. And so the child of God, who has the first fruits of the Spirit, the promises that God has revealed through his word, has the kind of hope that is sure.

4. The Spirit Also Helpeth Our Infirmities

He can say, as Paul, I know. He can say, as the Apostle Paul, I am positive that what God has promised, he will indeed perform. And so that keeps us going, even though there may be suffering, even though there may be death as the result of the faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, look at verses 26 and 27, when he says, likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Again, what a beautiful and comforting thought. That the Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities.

We may have some problems and infirmities and sufferings in this world, but we’re not alone. We’re not fighting it by ourselves. The scripture here speaks about the Holy Spirit as making intercession for us, and also intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Well, down in verse 34, the scripture speaks of Jesus Christ, who also makes intercession for us. Have you ever thought of yourself as having two divine personalities, both the Holy Spirit and Christ Himself making intercession for us? Have you ever considered the fact that we’re not fighting battles all by ourselves and alone? And yet, what a wonderful thought. There are times where perhaps we feel so burdened, so troubled and heavy-hearted, we can’t even put into words. We want to pray, or we want to express to God the feelings of our hearts, and we know not the words to say.

I believe in this passage, the groanings here are our own groanings. He says, groanings which cannot be uttered. That is, we cannot put them into words. We know not exactly how to express them. But he says, the Spirit who searches the mind, he searches our spirit, and then he puts into words that we would want to phrase, and he makes intercession for us through Jesus Christ. Though we know not what we should pray for, the Spirit makes intercession for us. What a great passage. We’re going to pause for just a moment when we come back. We’re going to look at verse 28 and see how that with this background of having sufferings and infirmities, and yet the Spirit making intercession for us, that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.

You stay with us, we’ll be back in just one moment. Romans 8 and verse 28 is indeed one of the most beautiful and comforting of texts in all of the Bible. But the Scripture says, and we know that all things work together for good. To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. But who is it that is really called according to God’s purpose? And who are they that love God? And really, what is it when he says that all things work together for good? What does that really mean? Indeed, this is a great passage, and yet it has been often misunderstood and greatly misapplied. And so it is important that we understand something about the context, as we’ve just been studying, of course.

We’ve talked about how that back in even in verse 17, he spoke about the sufferings that we endure with Christ in order that we may be glorified with him. He speaks about how that not only does the creation groan, but even we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan together. But the groaning refers, it seems, even to the distress and to the to the desire that we be redeemed from this present situation. In fact, in verse 23, he says, even we wait for the adoption to it, the uh the redemption of our body. Do you look forward to heaven? There are many people who say they want to go to heaven, but they seem to be enjoying this world so much that they aren’t really setting their goals and sights upon the world yet to come.

They’re living of this world kind of religion. And yet the Christian who understands something about the coming of Christ and the judgment to come is groaning, waiting for even the redemption of the body. And then he speaks about the hope that we have. That hope that is real, it serves as an anchor. Because indeed, we believe that what God has promised, he is able also to perform. Heaven is a reality, and it shall come to pass. And no matter what the present struggles or distresses may be, when we look forward to heaven itself, we can wait patiently for it. We with perseverance continue on, faithful to the Lord, no matter what. And in addition to that, verses twenty six and 7, he says, the Holy Spirit also makes intercession for us.

5. To Them That Love God, Called According to His Purpose

Even when we know not how to put it into words ourselves, the Spirit makes intercession in our behalf. He knows our own mind and puts into words what we perhaps cannot put into words. Now, with that background, he says then our text in verse 28, we know that all things work together for good. What kind of good? Is he talking about the material good? Does he say that, well, no matter what kind of physical sickness you may have, you’re going to get well? Does he say no matter what your wish list may be in a material way, you’ll be granted it? Well, surely we all know that is not true. God has not built a wall around Christians and said you’ll never again be tempted or troubled, and every material want will be yours.

That isn’t what he means. This is a passage sometimes that has been read even, I’ve heard them read at funerals of people who did not even try to serve the Lord, as though even that death can work out for good. Well, the promise for good is to them who love God. Well, who loves God? In 1 John chapter 5 and verse 3, the scripture says, This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not grievous, they’re not burdensome. First of all, let me say that Romans 8 and verse 28 is a promise to people who are trying to serve the Lord. People who who close their Bible and care not what the word of God says, and they do not intend to obey God’s will, it is not a promise for them.

In fact, to further make that point, the scripture says to them that love the God, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Those who are called according to the purpose of God. Well, that’s an expression, perhaps best explained when you turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 14, where the scripture says that he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are called by God. His purpose, his plan of redemption is revealed in the gospel. The gospel is God’s power unto salvation, Romans 1 16. It is the means by which we understand the purpose and the plan of Almighty God. And if we’re called according to his purpose, then we’re the kind of individuals who respond to the gospel.

To love God, called according to his purpose, we obey.

6. How All Things Work Together for Good

In fact, says, seeing ye purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. Are you called according to God’s purpose? That is, have you turned to the Word of God, seen the revelation of God, His Word for us, and then obeyed that word? Indeed, all things work together for good to them that love God who are called according to his purpose. But let’s raise the question further. How can this be that all things work together for good? Are there not trials and troubles in this world? I mean, even the Apostle Paul, who’s writing this letter to the church at Rome, he was imprisoned. He faced ultimately death. In fact, tradition says he was beheaded.

Did that work for good? Is it possible that good can come no matter what troubles may be in our life? Well, I believe if we understand the context, we understand that the word good here points to that which involves eternal redemption. You see, here’s the real context. If people understand that what God has promised is to help us so that we may go to heaven, if we but seek his will and follow his will, he’s promised to be with us and to guide us, to give us strength even in times where we’re down and times where we’re tempted. We though have to set our sights on heaven and set our mind, our will to obey God Himself. In fact, back in Romans 8 and verse 23 again, you notice where he said, We groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to witness the redemption of our body.

Is that not the ultimate good, the redemption of our body? That is, the salvation that he has promised in his word. When we look at it from that point of view, we can say even persecution can work for good. I think of the passage in Philippians chapter 1, where the apostle Paul himself spoke about the time of his imprisonment. In verses 12 through 14, he said, I would you should understand, brethren, that the things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places, and many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

How many of us would take that attitude toward imprisonment? What if in fact you’re thrown in jail because you are a Christian, because you’ve been telling the word of God to others, would you thank God for it? Would you look at it on the bright side and say, hey, this is working good? That is, it’s fallen out to the furtherance of the gospel? Or even when there may be times that we’re chastised. Maybe there are times where we’ve not been walking as we should, and the elders of the church or someone comes and says, Look, brother, here’s the word of God, and you need to straighten up your life. Or maybe even in our own life, there are just things that aren’t exactly what we had wished for or asked for, but they brought us back to a point of being more humble in spirit and attitude.

Listen to this text in Hebrews chapter 12. When he says, We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they, verily, for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure for our prophet, but he for our prophet, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward, it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. You notice the text even says, even chastening can work for us good, can work joy in the long run. It gives the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised thereby. In that sense, we can understand all things work together for good.

Well, even when there may be certain times in our life we think we have failed. I think of a story in the book of Genesis about Joseph, when even as a seventeen-year-old, his brothers hated him so much they sold him. They talked about killing him, but they did sell him to the Midianites. So in turn, as he went down into Egypt. Later, if you know the story, he became second even unto Pharaoh. And later, when his brethren came down trying to find or buy grain to sustain themselves during a famine. And Joseph knew them, and eventually, through Joseph, the family of God, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was moved and protected in the land of Egypt and favored for a period of time. In Genesis chapter 50 and verse 20, Joseph made this statement, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

What that story really reveals is that in the providence of God, he can take even that which may have been intended as evil, and he can turn it for good. You see, Joseph never turned his back on God. He may not have understood why all this was happening to him. He may not have understood why his brothers would have would have wanted to even have him murdered, or why it was that he was thrown in jail because he refused to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife. But because he kept doing God’s will, God took what looked bad and turned it for good. And so even when we may think, hey, we failed, God can make it for good if we put God first. Even troubles of life, in James chapter 1, in verses 2 and 3, the scripture says, My brethren count at all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have a perfect work that you may perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Yes, even death, even death can be good. I love the passage in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, where he says, We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked. In this tabernacle we groan. That’s the same language in Romans chapter 8. But God can take all the things and mold them into beautiful robes of white for the world yet to come. You know, in our lives we may find our wife sometimes baking a cake, and she may take salt and flour and things that by themselves aren’t very good, but together can make a beautiful cake.

Conclusion

And so it is that God can take the things of this world, though we may groan in the flesh, yet he can make them work together for spiritual and eternal redemption of our body. I hope that you love him and obey him so that your home will be heaven. Until our next study, we bid the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.