ALL things work together for good

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:13 pm

I heard a man preach the other day about the scripture all things work together for the good to they that love God and are the called.

Can someone explain this scripture because he said
not all things work for good such as illness/cancer..
Isnt God involved in everything?

Post by **_Paidion** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 7:09 pm

First, it is important to realize that the passage does not say:
All things work together for the good of those who love God, etc.

Let's look at the passage, and regard the context:

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also pre-appointed to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he pre-appointed he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:28-32

Let's look at the words AFTER that initial statement to see what the "everything" embraces. That little word "for" links what follows to the initial statement. God wants those called ones who love Him to become Christ-like - "conformed to the image of his Son". He wants them to become mature, full grown sons of God. His Son is the first-born among many brethren. Those who share in the first resurrection will be raised as "brethren of Christ", sons of God, complete.

This conformity to the image of the Son is a process. First God pre-appoints them. Of course, they don't have to keep their appointment, but those who do are the called ones. When they begin to submit to the authority of Christ, and begin to live righteously, they are justified, that is, righteous in God's eyes now as they go on to perfection. It's interesting that Paul says that those whom He justified, them also He glorified. Are we glorified yet? No. But when God does a work in a person, He finishes it.
Therefore, it's as good as done! We might as well say we are glorified now.

Another example of this is where it is stated that God has put all things under his feet (man's feet or Christ's feet; you decide). The very next sentence states that we do not yet see all things under his feet! If God decides to do a thing, it's as good as done!

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

So, if we are going in the direction of Christ-likeness, and completion, what God does within us is "work everything together for our good".
He will continue to work in us until the work is complete. It is all for our good. Indeed, there could be nothing better that to grow toward the image of Christ, and to share in the first resurrection, where the Lord Himself will put the fininishing touches upon us.

This passage does not teach that everything that happens is for the good of those who love God. Clearly that is not the case. For example, when a Godly Christian couple's little daughter is missing, and they later find out she was brutally raped and murdered, it is ludicrous and insulting, as well as false and very hurtful, to tell the parents that it was all for their good. And it may be lead them to become angry with God.

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:10 pm

THANK YOU.....

Post by **_STEVE7150** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:34 am

I agree with Paidion that all things work for the good. The promise Paul gives is that "in all things" whatever caused them ,God works for the good or is working to bring good out of it. But we have free will so if that is not just a sham then God has to allow bad things to happen as a consequence of man's free will.