Introduction

Our God rules sovereignly over salvation. The Bible teaches that God’s grace for us reaches all the way back before the creation of the earth. Every step leading to your salvation was done in the context of God’s grace-filled initiation:

• The person who told you about Jesus was placed into your life by God’s grace.
• Your ability to hear and understand your need for Jesus was, again, a gift of God’ grace.
• AND… by His grace, we are promised the free gift of heaven.

We can stand confidently in the great promise of Romans 8:28 all because of the grace God extended to us before the world began. The promises contained in Romans 8:28 are deeply rooted and established in the irreversible work that God began in eternity past. Paul explains the foundation of Romans 8:28 (in verses 29-30) so we can have unshakable assurance of our salvation when the storms of life begin to rain down on us.

When I lived in Prescott, I had a house built for my family on a hillside. In order to build that house on the side of that hill (so that it would not move), we had determined that we needed to dig down about 15-20 feet. Once we hit bedrock, we poured the footers of that house so that they firmly rested upon the solid bedrock beneath that hill.

You would never know it to look at it from the street, but that house extends almost as far into the ground as it rises above the ground. We rarely thought about that fact when we were living in the house, BUT when the monsoons pounded the hillside, the sure footing of our house was a source of confidence. As the rains came down and the winds violently blew, our house was not going to slide off the hill. It was firmly established, deep within the hillside.

God built and established our faith. He built huge structures that we refer to as the “promises of God.” Romans 8:28 stands as one of the greatest buildings that God ever built. It is staggering in size. It is massive in implication.

Our all-wise and infinitely powerful God has promised Christians that everything we face will be beneficial to us. He’s not talking about just the nice things, but the horrible things as well. Romans 8:35-37 says that things like tribulation, peril, distress, famine and sword will all be for the GOOD in our lives. When God says all things, he means EVERYTHING!

The promise of Romans 8:28 is like a skyscraper and Romans 8:29-30 is like the foundation of the skyscraper. Underneath the massive structure of the promise in 8:28 lies a deeper and stronger foundation than anything we could possibly imagine or ever fully comprehend. When you and I stand inside the walls of Romans 8:28, nothing can blow us over.

Outside of Romans 8:28, there is confusion, anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Those who live outside of God’s promises are constantly being blown over by every storm that comes their way. (I had Natalie make me a few visual aids this morning)

• Stick House: Outside the powerful promises of God’s Word are the temporary stick houses of substance abuse and sinful pleasure.
• Cardboard House: Outside the powerful promises of God’s Word, there are the cardboard houses of investment strategies, insurance policies and retirement accounts.
• Tent: Outside the powerful promises of God’s Word, there are tent-like fortifications of deadbolt locks and burglar alarms and handguns.

Outside of Romans 8:28 are a thousand other substitutes but every one of them is simply a diversion. It is a flimsy structure without a sure foundation.

BUT… When you walk into the massive structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. Where there was fear and uncertainty before, now there is stability and depth and freedom. When your life is built on the promises of God, it simply cannot be blown over any longer. Those who are called by God have the confidence that God works all the pain and all the pleasure in your life for His GOOD purposes.

Those living in the promises of Romans 8:28 are living confidently in the present because of the massive promises God has made to them in the past for the future. The foundations that lies under the promises of Romans 8:28 are massive enough to hold up God’s promises. In fact, it is so massive, that you could spend the rest of your life going further and further into the depths of these foundations and not come up with a sufficient end.

The truths contained in Romans 8:28 contain nearly every other promise that God has ever made to us. So, the foundation of Romans 8:28 is a foundation of tremendous security. While we could live our whole lives in the unshakable walls of Romans 8:28, looking at its foundations (in verses 29-30) help to make us truly unshakable and secure in our relationship with Jesus.

We are referring to Romans 8:29-30 as the foundations of Romans 8:28 because it begins with the word “for.” The “for” means that Romans 8:29-30 are the basis that Romans 8:28 is built upon. Paul says in Romans 8:28,

“²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

And here is the reason why we know that to be true,

“²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Our confidence in God lies in the hope of what we have been promised here. Romans 8:28 gives us assurance that God works for our good in all circumstances of life. But what exactly is “good” referring to? What “good” can we expect God to do in all the circumstances of our lives?

Verses 29 and 30 provide an answer to that question. The answer is much greater and higher than how our world would typically define “good.”  Paul could have ended his argument at Romans 8:28 and left us to define “GOOD” for ourselves. But He didn’t end it there. Paul defines very clearly the “good” that God is working towards. Look at verses 29 and 30 again:

“²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

The overall theme of these two verses is that God is preparing us for a glorious future in heaven as His adopted sons. In heaven, we will share in a part of Christs’ glory because those who God saves (who He justified) he has a plan to glorify (according to verse 30). So right now, God is working to conform us to the image of Jesus (verse 29).

God is working for the good purpose of making us like Jesus

Paul is saying here that everything that happens to us is pointing to a greater purpose. God is using “all things” in our lives to help us kill off sin so we can grow in holiness. Everything is working together so that we are “conformed to the image of his Son.”

In other words, the “GOOD” that God is working towards is a complete change of character within us. He is transforming us away from our natural tendencies so that, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we become as loving, noble, true, wise, strong, joyful and kind as Jesus is.

I’ve heard Christians complain that they are following God but they can’t understand why they are not better off. God is not promising Christians an easier or more comfortable life. He is not saying that Christians will experience more pleasurable things than those who are not. A lot of God-rejecting, secular people live longer lives and have more money and have more possessions than their Christian friends. Health and wealth are not the main “good” gifts Paul has in mind in Romans 8:28. Verses 29 and 30 make that truth very clear!

Grace to transform a person’s character from being someone who is naturally hostile toward God to be someone who is like His Son, Jesus, is a good gift that God gives only to those who love Him. You could summarize Romans 8:28-30 like this, “God works together all things to make us like His Son, Jesus and to get us ready for never-ending glory in heaven – which He has been planning for and preparing for us since before the beginning of time!”

You may ask…why is God working to conform us to the image of His Son? What exactly is He trying to accomplish?

The answer to that question is (at least partially) seen in this phrase, “²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

God is building a family

Verse 29 says that we will be adopted as Jesus’ “brothers.” (“Sisters” is probably implied)   A few weeks ago, we looked at where the scriptures say Christians are promised a legal adoption into God’s family. Look back at Romans 8:15. It says, “¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

Turn with me to 2 Peter chapter 1. Here we’ll see this theme repeated. I just visited an old friend who had adopted a daughter. He often said that people could see a family resemblance between him and his daughter. He said he found that humorous because they shared absolutely no genes in common.

In a comparable way, although we do not share any divine “genes” with Jesus, God is none-the-less transforming us from the inside out. Those who are “in Christ” are allowed to participate in Christ’s divine nature. 2 Peter 1:2-4 says,

“² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;³ seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises (promises like Romans 8:28-30), so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

Through the circumstances of life – both painful experiences and pleasurable ones – God is drawing out this new divine nature that Christians share with Jesus. He is shaping us into brothers and sisters of Christ. Those who are “in Christ” begin to both resemble Jesus as well as our Father in heaven. Listen to this description written by the writer of Hebrews. Hebrews 2:10-12 says,

“¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying,

“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.””

God is building a spiritual family made up of the “brethren.” Pastor Tim Keller said, “God is pouring us into the mold of Christ’s perfect greatness.” The Idea of conforming us to the image of Christ is not just some superficial likeness.

• It runs deep.
• It’s a total transformation.
• It is being completely remade from the inside out.

Paul writes the following words in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

So who does “we all” refer to? Who is included in this Christ-mirroring transformation? This question often comes with some controversy. Keep a finger in ROMANS 8 and turn with me over to Titus chapter 3 verse 4. God did not save us because He knew we were going to be good some day or because He wanted us on His team. God looked at our lives and extended salvation to us when we were TOTALLY undeserving. Paul is writing here and He says:

⁴ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, (That’s Jesus) ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness (not because of anything we had done) , but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Not only does He offer salvation because of His great mercy, but He made some truly incredible promises to those who are willing to receive Jesus as Savior. We’ll see one of these promises in the next verse. Read on to Titus 3:7

⁷ so that being justified by his grace (that is salvation) we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Not just saved, but heirs of the kingdom of God… coheirs with Christ. Brethren in the Family of God. I want to show you that in 1 PETER 1:3, Peter explains that God, in His sovereignty, is fully responsible for initiating your relationship with Him. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope (future glorification) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

God Initiated Salvation

…He has caused us to be born again…

New birth in Christ is God’s work. It is by His mercy and not as a result of anything that we had done. Romans 5:8 says, “⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Can a dead man bring himself to new life? No…Only God raises the dead! When we were spiritually dead, God initiated new life to begin in those who are redeemed. The Bible says that He has caused his disciples to be born again…

• It’s God’s work.
• God prepared the way for salvation.
• God communicates the gospel through faithful people and through His Word.
• God effectively calls individuals to salvation.
• God awakens spiritual life in those who are spiritually dead.
• God grants the faith necessary for an individual to trust in Jesus as Lord.

It’s totally God’s work. Theologians often refer to God’s initiation of salvation as the doctrine of election or the doctrine of predestination (the two terms are used interchangeably in Romans 8). Some people try to figure out the mind of God and make the doctrine of election pretty controversial. Controversy was not what Peter intended. As Peter thought about the fact that God chose him, do you know what thought consumed him? …what feeling overwhelmed him? WORSHIP! Right there in that verse he cried out…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Every time a gospel writer refers to God choosing people for salvation, they say it as a positive thing. Election stokes the fire of worship in their hearts. They are simply saying, “Can you believe that God choose a man like me?” Personally I’m overwhelmed that God chose a man like me and I have to join with them in saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Those who freely chose God were already sovereignly chosen by God

Turn in your Bibles over to Ephesians 1. The greatness of our infinite God is displayed in the fact that while he is in complete control of human history, individual people still have true significance. Those who have freely chosen Jesus as Lord and Savior can be assured that before they chose God, He chose them. Ephesians 1:3-6 says,

“³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

Verse 4 says that He chose us and he did so before we chose Him. He had to. Left to our own devises, we would have never chosen God. But… God in His infinite love and mercy put everything in place so that we might know God and be adopted into His family. Verse 5 says, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.”

Our study in Romans has made it clear that at the time of our initial salvation and in the process of sanctification, we have some choices that we need to make on our part. God does not save us against our will. However, in the Bible, there is no ultimate conflict between God’s total and perfect sovereignty and our human free will.

• If someone is saved, it is all because of God’s initiation and God’s grace.
• If someone is not pursuing God’s purpose so that they would be “holy and blameless in his sight,” (Eph 1:4), then there is no evidence of that person’s salvation.

The person who has received Jesus as Savior can rest assured that God has already been working from the very beginning of time to pave the way for their salvation. There is an old story that illustrates the doctrine of election better than any other explanation I’ve heard so far. It goes like this:

A man was walking down the street and comes to a church. He sees a sign over the church that reads, “Whosoever will.” He gladly responds to the invitation. He goes in and begins to fellowship with those who are on the inside. He quickly realizes that he does not have the right to be in this place and his sinful past would disqualify him from ever being a part of this spiritual family. In his fear and shame he gets ready to leave.

At that point someone grabs him and takes him down to the basement of the church. That person shows him the huge foundation stones holding up the massive building. Inscribed one of the stone are these words “Chosen before the foundation of the world.” Underneath that inscription he finds his name carved into the rock – like it had been there from the very beginning of history. Before he ever knew about the fellowship of the redeemed, his name was written in the foundation stones.

He entered completely of his own free will. God had always planned to have him there.

The point Paul is getting at is that God initiated our relationship with him. He made the first move. He did not wait for us to show interest in him before He began paving the way for our salvation. He chose us. Our security in God’s love is not determined by what we’ve done for Him but solely by His own infinite capacity to love sin-infested, God-hating, foot-dragging sinners. We were not offered salvation on the basis of our merit, but solely because of God’s sovereign grace.

God’s election and foreknowledge and predestination all points to the simple fact that He resolved long ago that He would restore many sinners. These sinners, He would conform to the image of Jesus. They would begin to reflect his glory on earth. In eternity, they would become radiant with Jesus’ resurrection immortality and be in fellowship with Jesus as brothers and sisters forever.

The Romans needed that kind of assurance. Paul wrote Romans 8 so that believers could walk into the arena in Rome and face being torn apart by lions while still having songs of praise on their lips. Paul was helping Roman believers to feel the great love of God more presently than they felt the teeth of the lions on their throats. The Roman believers needed to know that even if they faced torture and death, nothing could separate them from God’s love. They could have confidence that God is using even martyrdom to conform them to the image of their suffering Savior, Jesus Christ.

Life Application

This passage was ultimately written for our assurance of salvation and for our encouragement that our God rules sovereignly over salvation. Too often pastors and theologians talk about God’s choosing in a cold, academic fashion and they miss the wonder-filled, worshipful attitude it was written in. When Paul speaks about God’s initiation in our salvation, he does so to help us realize that God wants us to reach out and receive the good gift He’s been preparing for us since before time began.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, your heart no longer needs to question God’s great love for You. For those who respond to His call, we have assurance the He will carry us through until our ultimate adoption is complete and our glorification with Christ for all of eternity is realized.

Teaching Outline

God is working for the good purpose of making us like Jesus – Romans 8:28-29

God is building a family – Romans 8:15, 29, 2 Peter 1:2-4, Hebrews 2:10-12, Titus 3:4-7

• “¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying,
  • ‘I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
    In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.’” -Hebrew 2:10-12
• …We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit – 2 Corinthians 3:18
• “³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercyhas caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3

God Initiated Salvation – 1 Peter 1:3, Romans 5:8

Those who freely chose God were already sovereignly chosen by God – Ephesians 1:3-6

Application

1. Our God rules sovereignly over salvation
2. For those who respond to His call, we have assurance the He will carry us through until our ultimate adoption is complete and our glorification with Christ for all of eternity is realized.