Romans 8:28

This verse has been translated from the original Greek three different ways. I'll begin by listing each of them:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose.

And we know that God works together with those who love Him to bring about what is good--with those who have been called according to His purpose.

Which is it? Paul made this statement, which has recently replaced John 3:16 as the most quoted verse in all of Scripture, with something very important in mind. In our text, we are given basically three options to choose from. Which is Paul’s intended meaning? (1) In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. (2) All things work together for good to those who love God. (3) In all things God works together with those who love Him to bring about what is good. The KJV renders this verse: “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.” The Amplified Bible says: “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” The NASV reads, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good.” The ESV, my translation of choice, reads: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” It is clear when we look at v28-30 that in this context God alone is working all things for the good of His people. Look at the verbs. God is the actor; He is at work. God works everything, even evil, for good. God works good in everything. We touched on deism in the past, that God has been passive since creation. And we saw that it is false. We see it again here. God is working everything for good. That alone should give us comfort.

Keep in mind the context of this verse. It follows a tremendous passage on suffering, and it’s hard to learn how to cope with suffering while you’re suffering. So Paul would say to learn how to cope, so that when you face trials and sufferings, you will cope Biblically by taking comfort that God is working good in your sufferings. He is actively bringing all things according to His purpose and will to the consummation. It’s not just there is a future hope that is certain; it’s not just that the Spirit helps us in our weakness; it’s also that God is actively working all things for the ultimate good of His people. Paul is not simply saying that all the nice things work together for our good. He is saying that every obscene evil that you can imagine is turned by God to your best interests: death, illness, marital strife, vocational problems, persecution because of your belief, your child has been diagnosed with an incurable disease. God causes all things to work together for good. Your wife wants a divorce. Your job has been terminated, etc. God causes every single event in your life to work together with other seemingly isolated events for your ultimate good.

Paul is not saying that all things are good in the believer’s life. There are many things that are not good. Some not good things are done to us, which we experience at no fault of our own. Other not good things we do ourselves. Paul is saying that God works in all things, God works all things, everything individually, comprehensibly for the good of the believer. Likewise, Paul is not saying to take a “Que Sera Sera” approach to life, “whatever will be, will be.” Paul is not saying, “Everything is going to work out just fine, so don’t worry about it.” He’s not asking you to have a blind optimism, a hopeful resignation to your fate in the future. That’s not his counsel. Paul is explaining the special providence of God over His children. And it is one of the most comforting truths of the Bible, because in it we learn that there is no meaningless or wasted suffering in our life. There is no purposeless experience in the totality of our lives. God in His sovereign wisdom works everything to bring about His purpose for glory.

But the only ones who can claim this comfort are believers. This promise, this encouragement, this providence is not generic. It’s restricted; it’s discriminatory. Paul is not talking about some sort of general principle of the universe. This is a specific activity of the sovereign God on behalf of His children, whom He has drawn into a saving relationship. We cannot assure unbelievers with these words. For the unbeliever, for the one who has rejected God, for the one who does not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot say this suffering will result in glorious good. This promise is only for believers, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This description is of one people, not two different types. This people, believers, love God, because He first loved us; because He’s done a work of grace in us, we love Him. But Paul doesn’t just say it that way, because he knows that there are some people who might think if he only said those that love God, it might seem as if God’s encouragement here is based on our love of Him. And so he immediately stops and says, “And let me remind you that those who love God are the called ones. They love Him, because He called them. He sought them and ran to them. He drew them, and consequently, they love Him.” So Paul looks at it from our perspective (those who love God) and from God’s perspective (those who are called according to His purpose). And both are upheld.