What are the "All Things" in Romans 8:28?

Most people read “all things work together for good” as if Paul promised a better tomorrow, smoother circumstances, or quick fixes to today’s problems. But Romans 8:28 is not about your next week. It’s not even about your lifetime.

Paul is talking about God’s eternal plan, stretching from before the world began all the way to the glory that will be revealed in us. The “all things” are the entire sweep of God’s purpose for the Body of Christ—past, present, and future—working together toward our final glorification, not our temporary comfort.

Before Genesis 1:1, God ordained a hidden wisdom “unto our glory” (1 Cor. 2:7). In Christ, we were predestinated according to the One who “works all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11). That means God has been working “all things” for our good long before we existed—and He will continue until we stand in the fullness of Christ’s glory.

This is why Paul contrasts:

  • Sufferings vs. Glory (Rom. 8:18)
  • Vanity vs. Hope (Rom. 8:20)
  • Bondage of corruption vs. Glorious liberty (Rom. 8:21)

Right now, we live in the suffering, the vanity, the corruption. But we’ve also been subjected in hope—and that hope is what produces our groaning, our longing, our endurance.

Romans 8:28 is not a promise that everything in your life will “work out” here and now. It’s a promise that everything God has ever purposed—across ages, dispensations, and eternity—will culminate in your glorification with Christ.

That is why our present afflictions are “light” and “momentary.” They are working for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17–18). Look beyond what is seen. Anchor your joy and peace in what God is doing on the unseen level.

The real “good” of Romans 8:28 is not a better day tomorrow. It is the glory of Christ in you forever.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chosen before the foundation of the world

Image
God’s entire redemption plan was determined long before the world was made. God knows the end from the beginning as we read in Isaiah 46:10. However, it is interesting how we can distinguish our grace doctrine from other dispensations based on what was prophesied versus what was kept secret. God revealed relevant parts of the plan systematically and slowly through dispensations. The majority of the plan to restore the earth was revealed through the prophets and unto Israel. Israel will be used to bring earth back in subjection under Christ in the Millennial Kingdom. The rest of the plan was kept secret by God and revealed in the perfect time to our apostle, Paul, who wrote the remaining details of God’s plan to restore the heavens under Christ through the agency of the Body of Christ. As we study the bible and learn God's will for us, we need to recognize these two programs and ensure we adhere to the principles of our doctrine, the mystery program, as written in Paul's 13-epis...
Read more

The Weaker Brother Isn’t Who You Think He Is

Image
It’s not always obvious. The weaker brother isn’t the one who skips church or struggles with prayer. He’s often the one who looks the most committed. He avoids meat, steers clear of certain days, and holds tight to rules that make him feel holy. He’s sincere. He’s serious. And in his own mind, he’s strong. But Paul says otherwise. The weaker brother is weak in faith—not weak in effort. He’s not rebellious, he’s just unsure. His conscience is sensitive, sometimes misinformed. He’s afraid of dishonouring God, so he builds fences where God gave freedom. He’s shaped by tradition, not truth. And while his heart may be in the right place, his understanding hasn’t caught up. He sees liberty and feels guilt. He sees others walking free and assumes they’re careless. He equates restraint with righteousness. And when someone enjoys a freedom he avoids, he’s offended—not because they’re wrong, but because he’s unsettled. Now here’s the twist: He thinks he’s the strong one. He sees his strictness a...
Read more

What is a Dispensation?

Image
A "dispensation" is not a period of time, but an administration, or stewardship of time. It's more associated to a way of life than a length of time. The Greek word itself means to manage a household. It describes the role of a steward and a system or a way of doing things. Before Paul's mystery dispensation, Israel lived under the economy of law. God dealt with Israel differently to how He deals with us today. Thus, the mystery dispensation, which started at Paul's conversion, has more to do with God dispensing a new lifestyle of grace to replace Israel's law, than calculating the duration in ages or years on a timeline. A dispensation ends when God declares a new set of rules that changes the pattern or behaviour (1 Tim.1:16) of living from the previous dispensation. In summary, an age deals with time, whereas a dispensation relates to a way of life. So, when studying the Bible rightly divided, the focus should be on the way of living, and not on the duratio...
Read more