Is Romans 8:28 Scripture's Greatest Promise?
Someone asked Bum Phillips, one time, if Earl Campbell was at the top of the class of running backs who had ever played. In Bum’s way, he said he couldn’t say if Earl was at the top of the class, but that whatever class Earl was in, it wouldn’t take long to call roll.
Maybe sports isn’t your thing. Who’s the greatest President? Or, we could debate the greatest movies, TV shows, record albums, or country songs, right? Everybody has their own idea of “greatest”.
All though, I would have serious reservations about whether someone was paying attention who didn’t answer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Seinfeld, Pet Sounds, and He Stopped Loving Her Today.
What about the question of this post? It’s hard to say, isn’t it?
There are great promises of comfort: OT promises of a coming Messiah, Jesus’ promises to send His Spirit, to never leave us or forsake us, and be with us always – comforting hearts that strain in seasons of anxious solitude. We have the great promise of eternal life for those who trust in Jesus. We understand that no Scripture-based promises indicate that our lives will be a cakewalk; but yet, we hold these as some of the greatest promises we’ve been given.
The focus of this post is the suite of promises in Romans 8 which reside within the context of our future glory. This text is full of assurance, written as statements and positioned as promises. Together, mixed in the bowl of hope, and stirred by God’s Spirit, they comprise what I believe to be the greatest promise in Scripture.
Paul begins the section by claiming that our current suffering is not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us. This letter was written during a time of tension for Christians – targets of persecution from Jews and Romans. State sanctioned persecution had not arrived in the Empire at that time, but real nonetheless. Whatever the source of the suffering, Paul claims it pales in comparison to what awaits those who are in Christ. He began the section we call chapter 8 with a bold statement that, thanks to God, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, then followed by an argument for the blessing of God’s Spirit – the source of new life and power in Christians.
To the expected revelation of future glory, Paul adds the current blessing of prayer – interceded by the same Spirit. So, whether our interaction with God is face to face, as in glory, or in prayer, the Spirit of God speaks for us and interprets God to us.
In the midst of these thoughts on current blessing from God, Paul drops this promise, in the language of assurance:
“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. (NIV)
In chapter one of this letter, Paul identifies himself as one who was called to be a messenger of the gospel of God, and he identifies the Christians in Rome as those who are loved by God and called to be saints. Paul merges the love between God and individuals; those who are called according to the needs of His purpose.
In all things God works for the good? Does that mean that there are no hardships for those who are in Christ? Obviously not. He’s just acknowledged their current suffering. So, what is the good God works all things toward?
The answer starts in the next sentence, not as isolated information, but rather as support for the promise that was just made. God works all things for the good, because… Most English translations will write “for” in verse 29, but when Paul is making argument, it should be translated as “because”.
Paul is saying that God works all things for the good because:
Those who God knew (loved) beforehand
Were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son
And those who were predestined were called
And those who were called were justified
And those who were justified were glorified
Each verb (knew, conformed, predestined, called, justified, and glorified) is past tense. Paul is arguing God’s promise that in all things, God’s work for the good is supported by things that have already happened. The subject for each of those verbs is God.
God has already done all things that work for our good.
As the argument continues, Paul asks a rhetorical question. What can we say to that? If God, who has done all these things, is for us, who can be against us? God did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us. If He was willing to give Him up, will He not give us all things? Who will accuse or condemn us? Not God – He justified us; not Christ – He lovingly and willingly died, was raised, and is now seated at God’s right-hand interceding for us. What will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by troubles, fear, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, a sword? No, not even by death, or life, or earthly powers or heavenly powers, or anything in creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus – the good and the promise of good.
That’s Paul’s argument for why that promise is solid. If any part of the support fails, the promise is meaningless. It’s this argument that shows me that God has “worked all things for good” as the greatest promise in Scripture. I may be unremarkable. My health may fail. My marriage may struggle. I may lose a child. My faith may waiver at times. I may live beneath my privileges as a child of God. I may be a poor advertisement for our loving and compassionate God at times. I disappoint. I frustrate. I fail.
And yet, I am loved. And nothing can take that away.
He promised, long ago.