In this session we will move
forward to Romans 8:30, but will then reach backward to Romans 8:28-29.
Romans
8:30 seems very simple and straightforward. It is composed of the works of God
adjoining each other and consecutively leading into one another. This is according to God’s v=
iew,
the “vertical” view.
Romans
8:28 however, describes this process according to the “horizontalR=
21;
view. These are the details r=
elated
to Romans 8:30. Between being
predestinated and being glorified there is a great unknown for us. This unknown is filled with “=
;all
things.” In order to br=
ing us
from predestination to glory, or, full conformat=
ion to
the image of the Son of God in verse 29, “all things” are neede=
d.
“All
things work together” means that it takes a mosaic of many things wor=
king
together to accomplish good for us.
Each thing individually may not make sense, but an assemblage of tho=
se
things do. This is like a pic=
ture
puzzle in that one piece makes no sense, but a number of pieces together
do. The result is that an ima=
ge
starts to form—that of the Son of God. This is our highest good.
Some
Christians, however, do not seem to benefit from “all things” a=
nd
in fact, do not seem to benefit from anything. As bad things happen, they grow bi=
tter
or escape-oriented and as good things happen, they “high-jack”
those things for their own perceived good.=
This is why we are told that the good is not only for those called
according to His purpose, but “to those who love God.” Our condition must be ready to receive the “=
;all
things” from God, or else we will not benefit from anything. We will spend time instead, resist=
ing,
fighting, and misunderstanding. God
will them be forced to turn up the heat in our environment or even delay His
work to a future time. One wa=
y or
another, one thing is certain: the end product will be full conformation to=
the
image of His Son, glorification.