“It’s All Good”
(Romans 8:28-39)
Series: Romans – United in the Gospel [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
May 29, 2022
Introductory Comments:
Romans chapter 8 is incredible! Listen to some of the beautiful passages that arise from this chapter of Scripture:
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. [on screen]
Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” [on screen]
Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. [on screen]
Now, Paul continues on with this amazing chapter and he once again starts off strong when it comes to the passage that we’re looking at today.
So, let’s look at Romans 8:28-39, but before we do, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
Did you know that the godly life is a good life, church? When we belong to God and He is in us, life is good. However, not only is life in the here and now good . . . life in the future is good as well.
So, let’s talk about life in Jesus being good. Today’s sermon is entitled, “It’s All Good.” [on screen]
So, first, let’s recognize the fact that we have a . . .
I. Good future (28-30) [on screen]
The future of those who belong to Jesus looks very good.
Listen to what Paul says in verses 28-30:
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
As we look at these verses, I’m sure verse 28 is known to many of us, and it is a wonderful verse. However, we must be sure to clarify a couple of things about verse 28.
First of all, notice that Paul says, “ . . . all things work together for the good.” Paul does not say, “all things are good.”
Second, notice that Paul clarifies who the all things working for good applies to: to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
So, God doesn’t say that everything will be good for everybody. Paul says specifically what will happen (all things will work together for good) and who it will happen to (those who love God).
What Paul is telling us is that if you are a follower of God, you have a good future ahead of you. All the evil, all the suffering, all the heartaches and headaches, all the misrepresentations, all the persecution, all the sin that was committed against you, will work together for your good!
That is why Paul says in verse 18 that the sufferings of this world do not compare with the future glory that awaits us. It will be good! It’s all good!
When you have to wait in a very slow and very long line at the fast-food restaurant, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you have false accusations leveled against you, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you are ripped off by someone, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your friends and family abandon you, remind yourself that it’s all good. When your children or grandchildren reject your love and care, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you or your family suffer health challenges, remind yourself that it’s all good! When you lose your job or you can’t pay your bills, remind yourself that it’s all good!
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Listen, God has been planning good in your life and in your future since before you ever existed on this earth! How incredible is that?
This miraculous reality is explained to us a bit by Paul in verses 29-30. Quite frankly, I wish Paul had given us more explanation but he didn’t. However, he says, “29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”
Paul speaks in verses 29 and 30 of God foreknowing us and predestining us.
First, God foreknows us. Now, this doesn’t mean that God merely sees us ahead of time, that would be foreseeing. Instead, God knows us ahead of time.
Before we ever existed on this earth God knew us and then He destined us (again before we were on the earth) to become like Jesus; to be conformed to the image of His Son.
This is why God can say to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” [on screen]
You see, before you were a child of your mother and father, you were destined to become a child of God, so that you could become one of the many brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, and you could be adopted as a child of God. How incredible is that? Knowing that can lead us to say, “It’s all good!”
Not only did God foreknow you, not only did God predestine you, but we see from this passage that He also called us to salvation, justified us by the work of Jesus, and has glorified us by the power of His Holy Spirit. Church, it’s all good!
We have a good future that God the Father has already guaranteed, Jesus has already earned, and the Holy Spirit is already delivering.
Next, in Jesus we have . . .
II. Good blessings (31-34) [on screen]
Listen to what Paul says in verses 31-34:
31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
These verses promise us good and wondrous blessings when we belong to Jesus. I’m not talking about new shoes, a new car, or a new style. I’m talking about a new life, new affections, and a new home in heaven prepared for you by Jesus!
God gave the life of His Son, Jesus, so that we might experience the depth of His great love for us. Think about that: He gave Jesus! Won’t He also give us everything else that He has promised us? He is faithful, He is loving, and He is full of good blessings.
What’s more: we don’t have to worry about what others might say about us or do to us because we know that God is for us! If God is for us, who can be against us? It’s all good, church!
Who can condemn us? God has already justified us and He is now sanctifying and glorying us! He had made us holy, He is making us holy, and He will one day make us fully holy.
When your boss at work speaks disparagingly towards you, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When your teacher or coach tells you you’re not good enough, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When someone decides that you are no longer worth loving, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When you’re hurt by someone who is supposed to be a friend, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you? When Satan temps you to despair, remind yourself that God is for you, who can stand against you?
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus took all the condemnation and now we can live in all the celebration. You know what I’m saying, church? It’s all good!
Jesus died, He was raised, and now He sits at the right of the Father and He says to the Father, that one is with me! It’s all good!
Church, there are good blessings in Jesus.
Finally, in Jesus we have . . .
III. Good security (35-39) [on screen]
I often get asked, “Pastor Matt, can someone lose their salvation?” Or, “Can suicide send us straight to Hell, even if we’re a Christian?” Or, “Can the devil have victory over a Christian?”
I’m so thankful for Romans 8:35-39 because it helps answer these questions and so much more.
Let’s look at verses 35-39:
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This passage brings so much clarity! The question is asked, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”
Paul has told us about all the blessings that come with Jesus all throughout the book of Romans. There are amazing blessings that come with the love of Jesus! However, what if we can somehow lose those blessings? What if someone can separate us from those blessings?
You can be separated from other blessings, can’t you? You can have great health one day and then find out the next day that you have cancer. You can have a very healthy retirement fund and then 2022 can happen. The love of your life can one day tell you that they don’t love you any longer. Your church can betray you or your pastor can betray you. Your new car can get wrecked or your new shoes can get scuffed.
However, Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus! Nothing can separate us from the of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s all good, church!
Notice that Paul doesn’t say that we won’t encounter things that try to destroy us or try to separate us from the love of God.
Most of the time we can’t even go a single day without the ways of evil and the dangers of this world clawing at us trying to bring us down in despair and darkness.
Paul even quotes Psalm 44:22 when he says, “Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” Paul is pointing to a verse that happened a long time before he was around to point out that God’s people have always suffered.
The point is not that we won’t suffer. The point is that if you are in Jesus, nothing can separate you from God! Nothing!
Not affliction, not distress, not persecution, not famine, not nakedness, not danger, not sword, not death, not life, not angels, not rulers, not things present, not things to come, not powers, not height, not depth, not COVID-19, not politics, not racism, not school violence, not high fuel prices, not a poor economy, not hypocrisy from other Christians, not negativity in the church, not a godless society . . . no, nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Church, we have good security in Jesus! Whatever you can think of, that thing cannot separate you from the love of God found in Jesus. It’s all good!
Concluding Thoughts:
In Jesus, we have a good future, we have good blessings, and we have good security. It’s all good, Church.
Let this bottom line summarize what Paul is teaching us in Romans 8:28-39:
Bottom Line: For those who belong to God, the final outcome will always be good. [on screen]
(repeat)
We know the end of the story. We know that the sufferings of this world do not compare with the glory that will be revealed to us. We know that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We know that there is no condemnation for us. We know that all things work together for us.
We know that the final outcome for the children of God will always be good. Rest in that promise. Rest in the knowledge that it’s all good.
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
1. Constantly remind yourself of God’s goodness shown to you. [on screen]
Has God been good to you? Do you remember when you were yet a sinner? Do you remember when you were walking in death and slavery?
Has God given you new life and new freedom? Has God promised you a home in heaven? Has God given you victory in this life?
Commit this week, and beyond, to remember all of God’s goodness shown to you.
2. Share God’s goodness with others. [on screen]
Church, there is not only victory for us, there is victory for others found in Jesus.
The world is hurting and Jesus brings healing. The world is confused and Jesus brings clarity. The world is dying and Jesus brings life. The world is in darkness and Jesus brings light.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16 [on screen]
The world needs to know about Jesus. The world needs to know that God offers them love from which nothing in creation can separate them.
Will you tell them? Will you share God’s goodness with others this week? Challenge yourself to do so.
Closing:
If you’ve experienced the goodness of God, stand in that goodness and soak it in. If you’ve never experienced the goodness of God, come to Him today.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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