Terms and Conditions Apply

All things work together for good.*

Problems with Understanding Romans 8:28

Misunderstanding of “good.”

Expectation of an immediate good.

It is a conditional promise.

It has significant meaning in its context.

It is a deep spiritual truth, not a trite platitude.

This is a certain, definite promise.

God wants to give you confidence and hope through His Word.

This is an all-encompassing promise.

There are no limits as to what God can use to accomplish His good.

This is not a promise to shield us from suffering, but to use our suffering for good.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.John 16:33

This is a synergistic promise.

Synergy is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

God takes all things in your life and puts them together to work a greater good.

This is a promise for good.

Our understanding of what is ‘good’ may differ significantly from God’s perspective on what is truly good.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?Micah 6:8

‘Good’ to us is subjective.

Good is ultimately about accomplishing the will of God.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.Psalm 143:10

Good is not always immediately pleasant.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.Genesis 50:20

The ‘good’ may not be seen in your lifetime.

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;Deuteronomy 8:15-16

The unsaved man or the carnal Christian measures God’s good by worldly standards.

Personally beneficial Superficial results Short timeline Disconnected purpose

The Spirit-Filled Christian measures God’s good by eternal standards.

Benefit of the Kingdom and others Eternal results Eternal timeline Unified purpose

This is a promise for God’s children.

We have been called by God to be sons and daughters.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.Romans 8:30

God’s common grace extends to all of His creation, but there is no guarantee of grace or good for the unbeliever.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.Matthew 5:45

The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.Psalm 145:9

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.Luke 6:35

This is a promise for the obedient child of God.

Love is not an emotion, but an action.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Our love for God is shown through obedience.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.John 14:15

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.John 15:10

Our disobedience is proof that we love ourselves more than we love the Father.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.John 14:23-24

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.1 John 5:3

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.John 14:21

If you want the promise, make sure you meet the conditions.

If you’re going through it, just realize the story isn’t over yet.

Some things may not seem good on their own, but when combined with the other parts of your Father’s sovereign plan, they contribute to a greater good.

Sometimes the ‘good’ will be readily apparent, other times you’ll need to wait on it. But the ‘good’ is promised by your Father.