Conquerors through Christ

Relevant BFF Articles

Love Conquers Fears

Love Conquers All Fears

Calling into Service

Our Personal Calling
(Titus 1:1)

BFF Biblical Old Testament Digital Library

All BFF's Biblical material in one spot! pdfs, powerpoints, podcasts, more!

Judgment

Misunderstandings of Judgment

Planning and Purpose Proverbs 16:1-4

Planning and Purpose
Proverbs 16:1-4

Tragedy

Why does God allow such things to happen?

Judgment4

Questions about judgment and tragedy

Bible Study Questions for Romans

 

Romans: Laying a Solid Foundation

Romans: Laying a Solid Foundation

The Bible Teacher's Commentary

Paul J. Bucknell

Commentary on Romans 8:26-39Conquerors through Christ

Paul J. Bucknell

Conquerors through Christ Romans 8:26-39

God Overall Designs Things for Our Good (Romans 8:28-30) is the second of three parts to the BFF Romans 8:26-39 Living Commentary: Conquerors through Christ mini series. There is also a Bible Study Question page on these verses. The question answered here is "Is God really in control?"

Romans 8:18-26 Suffering | Romans 8:26-27 Prayer
Romans 8:28-30 All things | Romans 8:31-39 God's love
Video Podcast | mp3 (on NT Library)
Bible Study Questions
| Predestination & Election

2) God Overall Designs Things for Our Good (Romans 8:28-30)

"28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).

salvation plan

• His design for our lives confirms He is fully involved in our lives.

• His plan assures us that He perfectly oversees all that happens in our lives.

• His design reminds us of His great work already done on our behalf.

• His plan reminds us of where we are headed, our goal.

Strength through Spirit's understanding and help

God has not only begun a great work in us before the creation of the world, He has also purposed to work it out until our full glorification.

Personal ~ Powerful ~ Prepared ~ Purposeful

 

What a comfort knowing nothing can go wrong!

Personal and Powerful

The Overall Design of Our Salvation (Romans 8:29-30)

Many people mistakenly think that the meaning of 'foreknew' is that God knew what man would decide before he did it. Foreknew (see Romans 11:2; I Pe 1:2) is to be understood in light of the use of 'know' as in Ge 18:19; Jer 1:5; Amos 3:2. Ziesler says the 'fore' not only shows that God's choice preceded the knowledge of it by the Christian but also shows that it was done before the world was created (see Eph 1:4, 2; II Ti 1:9).

Romans 8:29-30Things in our lives are not happening by accident. We can easily see the thread of God's grace weaving the history of man into the history of His Son. We see this undeniable design in our salvation, in Christ's sacrifice and in the experience of every saint. If one of these aspects are true of you, they all are.

We should clearly note that predestination is not associated with a select few, but a great many. Instead of an uncaring God, before us is presented a most merciful and compassionate God is portrayed.

Notice how similar Romans 8:28-30 are to Psalm 103:17-19, an Old Testament passage.

17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, 18 To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them. 20 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all (Psalms 103:17-19).


RESCUING THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION

Summary

God is working things out not just with this world in view but also in light of His eternal and good purpose. We can have full confidence in God even in times of suffering. As we ponder this eternal plan, we as God's children will be surprised to find that we have been purposely adopted. God wanted us. The Lord has intervened in our lives and benefitted us. Do notice, however, in the spirit of Romans 6-8, Paul notes that this confidence is only for those that persevere in their faith, to those who love and fear Him. Remember the context for these lofty teaches is to bring comfort and stronger trust in God's plan during times of suffering and distress.

Check out another, much more thorough treatment, on predestination and election. In that article Paul personally shares how he understands how predestination, election and all such teachings fit together in what he considers a consistent manner.

-> Continue on with the study on Romans 8:31-39 (The Lord Proves His Love for Us in Christ)


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