What Good?
I have been going through a rough time…
Fred, my step-father’s health has taken a downturn. This grieves mom, and the rest of the family. He has bone cancer. He is dying. It is a trying time. We know that soon he will be with our Savior, and that is cause for joy. However, the journey, for him is becoming extremely difficult.
[I am selfish. I love Fred. I value Fred. He is the godliest man I know. His insight, encouragement, and heart for God inspire me. I am not ready to lose him yet.]
Fred sees it a little differently. Fred’s attitude is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [1] “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
His illness has been a tool he has used to continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and build up the body of believers.
However, his condition brings up a situation. Many are the ‘well-wishers’. Christians, non-Christians, friends even strangers continue to tell us (the family) that, “The Bible says, “All things work together for good…”” They are referring to Romans 8:28.
I wonder sometimes how many times we hear it. What I wonder about more often is how many times that verse has been misquoted, and not been an encouragement as much as a discouragement… Sorry, but telling a person that just lost a loved one ‘everything works for good’ can evoke all manner of negative feelings. Unless, one uses that verse for what it says, not what we ‘want’ it to say it can be more hurtful than helpful.
For your sake, friends, let us look at the verse and its context…
“Everything works together for good.” Is that what it says in context? Is that all it says?
Romans 8:28a, “And we know that all things work together for good”.
It sounds good so far. What does the rest of the verse say, “to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Okay, there appears to be a discrepancy with the flippancy we use this verse.
Look at it more closely.
1. All things work together for good.
2. Condition: ‘to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose’. A strange phrase but further study will reveal that is a ‘Christian’.
Conclusion: All things work together for good for Christians.
However, we do not know what the “Good” is and we are not sure yet this is conditional for Christians.
It is not sound just to say, “All things work together for good.” It is not even sound to say, “All things work together for good for Christians…”
What is the “Good”? Using Fred as an example, what GOOD is there in dying a long painful death?
We need to look at the next verse. The Conclusion takes on additional meaning and promise.
Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
First we have to ‘verify' our assertion that the verse is addressed to Christians: “to those who love God” 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” John 5:42-43 Tells us that those who do not love God, do not have Christ in them (are not Christians). Romans chapter 1 gives a description of non-believers, even stating they ‘hate God’ (verse 30).
Continuing:
“whom He foreknew, predestined, brethren”. ‘He foreknew’ appears four times in the New Testament (in use by Peter and Paul) - in reference to believers (Christians). ‘Predestined’ appears five times in the New Testament (in use by Paul) - always in reference to believers. ‘Brethren’ Paul uses over 100 times in his letters. Only once does it not mean the 'family' of believers (it refers members of ‘the’ family of Christ - that is Christ’s literal physical (½) brothers [2]). Back to verse 28, “the called” is in use nine times by Paul, Jude, and John to mean believers. We show our ‘Condition’ is a ‘proven’ interpretation that this verse refers to Christians. [The 8th Chapter of Romans begins with this phrase: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,”] By looking at the verse, the surrounding verses, the book, other books, and the rest of the New Testament, we find this ‘promise’ of “Good” is for Christians.
We know now that the Conclusion is valid, “All things work together for good for Christians.”
WE still have not defined “Good”.
Continue with the text of verse 29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Take out the parts we know, that make sense. What remains? The two phrases, “to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” What does that mean? Let us work backwards. We know what brethren means, and we know who He is. “To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus might be the firstborn among many Christians.” ‘The Firstborn’ used in conjunction with Jesus, is an adjective ‘honorific’ - the first to be resurrected to glory, the highest, the greatest, the Christ.
“To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus, will be the Christ of many
Christians ‘in the family’ ” (remember Christian means little Christ). That would be, “To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus, The Christ, will have many ‘in the family’.
What does it mean then “to be conformed to the image of His Son”? That is straightforward, it means what it says, to become literally a ‘Christian’ a ‘little Christ’ not just a believer. There is a condition here. “To become like Christ so that Jesus, will be THE Christ of many ‘in the family’. Our becoming ‘like Christ’ results in ‘many brethren’.
There is the old saying, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read”. The condition is that our becoming ‘Christ-like’ will present an ‘example’ that will result in ‘many in the family’. What a responsibility, and a privilege.
Verse 29 then says, “Christians are to become like Christ so that we result in Jesus being the Christ of ‘many in the family’”.
We take Verse 28: All things work together for good for Christians. Add to it Verse 29: To become like Christ so that Jesus will be the Christ of ‘many in the family’.
We now have a very pertinent promise and admonition:
Promise: All things work together for good.
Condition: For Christians
Reason/Result: to be (made/become) more like Christ.
Ultimate ‘revealed’ purpose of God: So that Jesus will be the Christ of ‘many in the family’.
In other words, we have a definition of the “Good”. The “Good” is so that Christians become more Christ-like, and in so doing, others are saved by their example.
It does not mean what we often want it to mean, that bad things will not happen to us… It does not mean that we fatalistically and blindly accept this verse. “I do not know why it happened. However, I know this terrible thing will work out for good somehow.” We do not have to wander around in the dark wondering what that ‘somehow’ is; the answer is right there.
Now, does the rest of Scripture tell us that we are to be (and be made) more Christ-like?
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:9-11, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (John 8:12 Jesus tells us that HE is the Light of the world, “…“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”” - it says now to let our light (Him in us) shine.)
1 John 2:5-6, “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Fred has ‘run the race with perseverance’. There is no doubt, when he is through, that a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) is waiting for him. There is no doubt he continues to live for Christ… While it grieves me to see him suffer, I am humbled by his steadfast commitment to furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ…
I know that Fred is becoming more Christ-like. I know in the last couple of months that he has seen others become members of the family of Christ.
I know that the ‘Good’ of all that is happening to Fred is that Fred, every Christian near him becomes more Christ-like, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ spreads so others come into the family…
I have not asked him, but I am certain that if I did ask, Fred would tell me that if just one person comes to know Christ as Savior because of his example in facing death, then all he has gone through has been worth it.
Now THAT is Good!
Friends, the next time you are faced with pain, heartbreak, or grief; the next time you are faced with trying to comfort someone going through a difficult time - think about these verses. Then ask how you grow to be more Christ-like, to further the Kingdom of Heaven…
Jesus Christ set the example - “Father, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39a
[1] Notice that the rest of that paragraph (Verses 5-7) has the same ‘purpose’ revealed. Verse 6a Paul writes, “Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation...”
Paul’s sufferings are so others might be saved.
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:5 is the specific reference. Paul is addressing the topic of marriage. We say Jesus' ½ brothers because they are the children of Joseph & Mary, Not formed by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. In other words, they have the same mother, but different fathers.
Fred, my step-father’s health has taken a downturn. This grieves mom, and the rest of the family. He has bone cancer. He is dying. It is a trying time. We know that soon he will be with our Savior, and that is cause for joy. However, the journey, for him is becoming extremely difficult.
[I am selfish. I love Fred. I value Fred. He is the godliest man I know. His insight, encouragement, and heart for God inspire me. I am not ready to lose him yet.]
Fred sees it a little differently. Fred’s attitude is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [1] “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
His illness has been a tool he has used to continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and build up the body of believers.
However, his condition brings up a situation. Many are the ‘well-wishers’. Christians, non-Christians, friends even strangers continue to tell us (the family) that, “The Bible says, “All things work together for good…”” They are referring to Romans 8:28.
I wonder sometimes how many times we hear it. What I wonder about more often is how many times that verse has been misquoted, and not been an encouragement as much as a discouragement… Sorry, but telling a person that just lost a loved one ‘everything works for good’ can evoke all manner of negative feelings. Unless, one uses that verse for what it says, not what we ‘want’ it to say it can be more hurtful than helpful.
For your sake, friends, let us look at the verse and its context…
“Everything works together for good.” Is that what it says in context? Is that all it says?
Romans 8:28a, “And we know that all things work together for good”.
It sounds good so far. What does the rest of the verse say, “to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Okay, there appears to be a discrepancy with the flippancy we use this verse.
Look at it more closely.
1. All things work together for good.
2. Condition: ‘to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose’. A strange phrase but further study will reveal that is a ‘Christian’.
Conclusion: All things work together for good for Christians.
However, we do not know what the “Good” is and we are not sure yet this is conditional for Christians.
It is not sound just to say, “All things work together for good.” It is not even sound to say, “All things work together for good for Christians…”
What is the “Good”? Using Fred as an example, what GOOD is there in dying a long painful death?
We need to look at the next verse. The Conclusion takes on additional meaning and promise.
Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
First we have to ‘verify' our assertion that the verse is addressed to Christians: “to those who love God” 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” John 5:42-43 Tells us that those who do not love God, do not have Christ in them (are not Christians). Romans chapter 1 gives a description of non-believers, even stating they ‘hate God’ (verse 30).
Continuing:
“whom He foreknew, predestined, brethren”. ‘He foreknew’ appears four times in the New Testament (in use by Peter and Paul) - in reference to believers (Christians). ‘Predestined’ appears five times in the New Testament (in use by Paul) - always in reference to believers. ‘Brethren’ Paul uses over 100 times in his letters. Only once does it not mean the 'family' of believers (it refers members of ‘the’ family of Christ - that is Christ’s literal physical (½) brothers [2]). Back to verse 28, “the called” is in use nine times by Paul, Jude, and John to mean believers. We show our ‘Condition’ is a ‘proven’ interpretation that this verse refers to Christians. [The 8th Chapter of Romans begins with this phrase: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,”] By looking at the verse, the surrounding verses, the book, other books, and the rest of the New Testament, we find this ‘promise’ of “Good” is for Christians.
We know now that the Conclusion is valid, “All things work together for good for Christians.”
WE still have not defined “Good”.
Continue with the text of verse 29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Take out the parts we know, that make sense. What remains? The two phrases, “to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” What does that mean? Let us work backwards. We know what brethren means, and we know who He is. “To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus might be the firstborn among many Christians.” ‘The Firstborn’ used in conjunction with Jesus, is an adjective ‘honorific’ - the first to be resurrected to glory, the highest, the greatest, the Christ.
“To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus, will be the Christ of many
Christians ‘in the family’ ” (remember Christian means little Christ). That would be, “To be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus, The Christ, will have many ‘in the family’.
What does it mean then “to be conformed to the image of His Son”? That is straightforward, it means what it says, to become literally a ‘Christian’ a ‘little Christ’ not just a believer. There is a condition here. “To become like Christ so that Jesus, will be THE Christ of many ‘in the family’. Our becoming ‘like Christ’ results in ‘many brethren’.
There is the old saying, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read”. The condition is that our becoming ‘Christ-like’ will present an ‘example’ that will result in ‘many in the family’. What a responsibility, and a privilege.
Verse 29 then says, “Christians are to become like Christ so that we result in Jesus being the Christ of ‘many in the family’”.
We take Verse 28: All things work together for good for Christians. Add to it Verse 29: To become like Christ so that Jesus will be the Christ of ‘many in the family’.
We now have a very pertinent promise and admonition:
Promise: All things work together for good.
Condition: For Christians
Reason/Result: to be (made/become) more like Christ.
Ultimate ‘revealed’ purpose of God: So that Jesus will be the Christ of ‘many in the family’.
In other words, we have a definition of the “Good”. The “Good” is so that Christians become more Christ-like, and in so doing, others are saved by their example.
It does not mean what we often want it to mean, that bad things will not happen to us… It does not mean that we fatalistically and blindly accept this verse. “I do not know why it happened. However, I know this terrible thing will work out for good somehow.” We do not have to wander around in the dark wondering what that ‘somehow’ is; the answer is right there.
Now, does the rest of Scripture tell us that we are to be (and be made) more Christ-like?
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Philippians 1:9-11, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (John 8:12 Jesus tells us that HE is the Light of the world, “…“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”” - it says now to let our light (Him in us) shine.)
1 John 2:5-6, “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Fred has ‘run the race with perseverance’. There is no doubt, when he is through, that a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) is waiting for him. There is no doubt he continues to live for Christ… While it grieves me to see him suffer, I am humbled by his steadfast commitment to furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ…
I know that Fred is becoming more Christ-like. I know in the last couple of months that he has seen others become members of the family of Christ.
I know that the ‘Good’ of all that is happening to Fred is that Fred, every Christian near him becomes more Christ-like, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ spreads so others come into the family…
I have not asked him, but I am certain that if I did ask, Fred would tell me that if just one person comes to know Christ as Savior because of his example in facing death, then all he has gone through has been worth it.
Now THAT is Good!
Friends, the next time you are faced with pain, heartbreak, or grief; the next time you are faced with trying to comfort someone going through a difficult time - think about these verses. Then ask how you grow to be more Christ-like, to further the Kingdom of Heaven…
Jesus Christ set the example - “Father, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39a
[1] Notice that the rest of that paragraph (Verses 5-7) has the same ‘purpose’ revealed. Verse 6a Paul writes, “Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation...”
Paul’s sufferings are so others might be saved.
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:5 is the specific reference. Paul is addressing the topic of marriage. We say Jesus' ½ brothers because they are the children of Joseph & Mary, Not formed by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. In other words, they have the same mother, but different fathers.
posted by Unchained Slave at 9:12 AM
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