His Purpose

In Romans 8:18-25 Paul tells the Church that even though we endure much suffering in the earthly realm, that suffering will be as nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in our eternal being. Positionally, we have been adopted as adult sons, but while we continue our assignments on earth, our bodies as well as nature itself are in a state of corruption. So nature groans and we groan under the curse of sin until that time when our hope (confident anticipation) is fulfilled, and God displays His workmanship in us. Because we do anticipate that glorification with confidence, we can be patient in our day-by-day walk with our Lord.

The Holy Spirit helps us in that patient endurance, also, because He knows exactly what we need and how to pray on our behalf. We often do not know what we need or how to pray according to God’s will, but He has provided the comforter for us to “run interference” in our trials of faith and character. That is a magnificent promise, brethren. When we are at our wit’s end, spiritually, just relax and claim this promise and know that God the Holy Spirit has your needs spoken before the throne of grace:

Romans 8:26-27, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Romans 8:28, 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.

Everybody’s favorite promise. AND WE KNOW that in ALL THINGS God works for the good. Usually quoted from the more poetic King James version and simplified as “all things work together for good.” Like some other favorite Bible quotes, though, it is oversimplified and quoted out of context, thereby losing its true meaning.

God works all things together for whose good? For the good of those who love Him, (every believer does not just automatically love God) AND those who have been called (elected to privilege) according to His purpose (predetermined plan). John 14:15 (Jesus speaking, to His disciples) ““If you love me, keep my commands.” (Maybe you love me, maybe you don’t, but IF you do here’s how you show it.)

So, for those who are called according to God’s purpose (believers) and who have continued to learn and obey Him and who genuinely love Him, every circumstance in life works out eventually to the good. Not only to the individual believers who love God, but to the Church; because it is His pleasure to give us good things and because we represent Him in the world. The good mentioned here is not just relative good, but good of intrinsic value, meaning it is good anywhere, anytime, in any circumstances. The best good. God’s good.

Romans 8:29-30 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

God is Omniscient. He knew you and me in eternity past. Before there was a you and me, He foreknew all about every one of us. Which ones would be His. As He decreed the atoning work of His Son, He predestined us who would be His to be conformed to the image of His Son. That predestination was available to all who would believe, but God knew which ones would believe, and devised a plan whereby we would be changed and would learn how to live as Royal Family of God. Those who would be His, He made contact with in time and gave us the gospel message of salvation. When we believed the message, He justified us by declaring us righteous, just like Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus Christ, He has glorified us by adopting us as His adult sons.