Together For Good
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 8th September service and hymns are below.
_________________________________
Our principal verses are:
Rom 8:28 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.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Together For Good
It is my plan, God willing, to spend a few weeks dwelling on some of the wonderful truths bound up in Romans 8:28-30. I appreciate we are here breaking into a larger section of Paul’s teaching but I trust the Holy Spirit will enable us to draw some spiritual benefit from holding up these diamonds to the light to marvel at the beauty they contain. These verses have been likened to a golden chain of salvation with each golden link precious in itself.
A word in context
The Apostle Paul begins by speaking of all things working together for good. This is not a stand-alone statement. It is actually the answer to a question anticipated by the apostle. He has been speaking of the great privileges bestowed by the Lord upon His redeemed people and ‘the glory which shall be revealed in us’. Yet Paul knows we groan, as believers, because of the hardships and trials we experience in this world. In our times of trouble some may wonder, ‘Is it possible these great blessings may never be realised?’
As sure as God is God
No, says Paul, our glory is certain and sure. We may be assured of it notwithstanding the trials we encounter in this world. Our certainty is founded upon God’s love, grace, kindness, faithfulness, wisdom, power and purpose. It is confidence grounded in truth and enjoyed by faith. It is our good hope because it fixed upon the nature and character of God, the attributes He has revealed concerning Himself and the promises He has made. It is confirmed in Jesus Christ’s coming to redeem His people from their sins.
Not worthy to be compared
Paul tells us all things work together for our good, that is, all things work together to deliver the glory God has promised. It is important here to distinguish between what is earthly good and therefore temporal and what is spiritual good and eternal. The people of this world, being spiritually blind, measure joy and success in terms of earthly prosperity which is deceptive and fleeting. Spiritual men and women know with Paul, ‘that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us’.
How inclusive is ‘all things’?
Paul tells us all things are presently working together for our good. This includes God in His three persons who has loved us, redeemed us and is presently applying the blessings of divine grace and mercy to us. It includes everything created in the kingdom of heaven, in the realm of earth and in the depths of hell. Angels, devils, principalities and powers, all events, circumstances and people, every invention, technology and discovery, every good act and every sinful act, everything is actively engaged in contributing to the good of God’s elect.
A certain fact
This is important for us to know as we face hardship. This is not ‘pie in the sky’. It is not a vain hope that good will someday flow from our present bad experiences like some kind of karma, or even that our troubles will be less in time to come. All things are presently and actively serving under divine command to do good for us now and always, whether seen or unseen. What we perceive as good things and bad things, prosperity and adversity, desirable and undesirable, be they temporal or spiritual, are all moving with purpose and engaged actively ‘together’ to accomplish God’s commitment to our glory and eternal joy.
God is in control
Our God is not battling against the evil and harmful powers of this world. He is ordering their sin and rebellion to supply His people’s temporal needs and ensure their spiritual glory. The wrath of man serves our King (Psalm 76:10). When the Lord Jesus came into the world He came to do His Father’s will and go to the cross. He suffered and died. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him according to ‘the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God’. Nevertheless, it was by the vicious nature of His enemies that He be taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain.
Things we know to be so
Paul says we know these things to be so and he is right. By faith in Jesus Christ we know that our salvation is certain and our glory assured. Yet, the outworking of sin in this fallen world clouds our view and brings pain, tears, regret, hardship and loss to all men alike, we are not immune. Our peace is that through it all, and despite our ignorance, our Lord who is all-wise, all-powerful and ever-faithful has ‘all things’ in hand. He who loves us will never leave us nor forsake us. He is working all things together for our good.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 2
The Eternity of God. Ps. 90. 2; Lam. 5. 19; Hab. 1. 12
I. Watts C.M.
1
Lord, raise my soul above the ground,
And draw my thoughts to thee;
Teach me, with sweet and solemn sound,
To praise the eternal Three.
2
Long ere the lofty skies were spread,
Jehovah filled his throne;
Or Adam formed, or angels made,
The Maker lived alone.
3
His boundless years can ne’er decrease,
But still maintain their prime;
Eternity’s his dwelling-place,
And ever is his time.
4
While like a tide our minutes flow,
The present and the past,
He fills his own immortal NOW,
And sees our ages waste.
5
The sea and sky must perish too,
And vast destruction come!
The creatures! look how old they grow,
And wait their fiery doom.
6
Well; let the sea shrink all away,
And flame melt down the skies,
My God shall live an endless day
When the old creation dies.
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 1062
“King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19. 16; 17. 14
T. Kelly 7s
1
King of kings, and Lords of lords!
These are great and awful words;
’Tis to Jesus they belong;
Let his people raise their song.
2
Rich in glory, thou didst stoop;
Thou that art the people’s hope;
Thou wast poor, that they might be
Rich in glory, Lord, with thee.
3
When we think of love like this,
Joy and shame our hearts possess;
Joy, that thou couldst pity thus;
Shame, for such returns from us.
4
Yet we hope the day to see,
When we shall from earth be free;
Borne aloft, to heaven be brought,
There to praise thee as we ought.
5
While we still continue here,
Let this hope our spirits cheer.
Till in heaven thy face we see,
Teach us, Lord, to live to thee.
Our God and Father has promised to do His people good and bring us to glory. All that we see around us, all that we experience, endure and enjoy is for our spiritual good and eternal glory.