In Romans 8:28, the Apostle Paul said this to the Christians in Rome: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
My friends, before I say anything else, please don’t get me wrong. This is an awesome verse! I love this verse! Every Christian should love this verse! It should give every Christian all of the encouragement in the world and beyond!
However, I hear people use (or rather “misuse”) this verse all of the time. I hear it taken out of its context and misapplied to people to whom it really shouldn’t be. Specifically, I hear people say this to the “Lost” [i.e., to those who have never believed and obeyed the Gospel message and are, therefore, separated from God, “dead” in their sins, and condemned to an eternity in Hell when Jesus Returns (ref. Mark 16:15-16; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)]. The “Lost” is NOT Paul’s audience in this passage. Rather, he is speaking to Christians (see Romans 1:7 and Romans 6), those who HAVE ALREADY believed and obeyed the Gospel unto their salvation, those who HAVE “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). So, this beautiful blessing Paul speaks of in Romans 8:28 is for Christians only. This promise cannot be for those who do NOT “love God” [which is shown by them NOT obeying God (1 John 5:3)] for those who have NOT answered the Gospel Call [which is shown by them NOT obeying it (1 Peter 1:22-25; Romans 6:17)].
I also hear this verse misapplied to a number of different situations of which Paul did not intend. Often times, when people invoke this verse, what they are doing is commendable: they are trying to console and comfort someone who is going through a challenging time. You will hear them say, “Well, God has promised that everything is going to work out for the best.” You may even hear them say something Calvinistic like: “Well, this is just all a part of God’s plan.” Sadly, most of the time that this verse is used (again, by well-meaning people), it is used in a way which focuses on the physical and temporal. When you look at the context, Paul is looking at spiritual and eternal things. Yes, Paul faced many terrible physical sufferings for the cause of Christ throughout his life as a Christian (2 Corinthians 11:22-33). And, Christians are promised that we too will physically suffer for living as Christians (1 Peter 4:12-19). And, in this life, many devoted Christians will suffer and suffer and suffer some more, even until death; their physical lives here on earth may never be free of suffering. But, what Paul is saying in this passage is that, no matter what physical and temporal sufferings we may face in this life (whether it is for Christ’s sake or not), “the glory which shall be revealed in us” is beyond worth it; God WILL glorify His saints in that Last Day (Romans 8:18, 18-30). In this sense, Paul rightly says that “Since God is for us, who can be against us?!” (Romans 8:31). Because of what Jesus did on the Cross, because of what Jesus is doing at the right hand of God, because of what He will do when He Returns, we Christians are “in all these things, more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:32-39)! No matter what a Christian may suffer in this life, we know for a fact that, if we remain faithful to Him, “all things work together for [our] good.” God will do as He has promised and bring the faithful Home to be with Him in Heaven for eternity, where there will be no more dying, crying, or even sighing, but only peace, rest, healing, and comfort (Revelation 21-22)!
Friends, this passage is so misused. Please, don’t trivialize it by misapplying it to the “trivial” things of life. Rather, let us meditate on its true meaning and it incredible power all to the glory of God. And, if you’re not yet a Christian, but still one of the “Lost,” then please obey the Gospel as soon as possible. If you would like more information about this or help doing it, then please contact one of us at the Northwest church of Christ and we will be happy to assist you with that.
–Curtis Carwile