Peter Barnes | Romans 8:28
SERMON NOTES
ALL THINGS FOR GOOD
(Romans 8:28)
– sovereignty of God in Gen.50:20; Ps.115:3; 135:6; Dan.4:34-35; Matt.10:29; Eph.1:11.
1. The certainty of this truth.
– we do not know what to pray (8:26) but we do know the sovereignty of God in all things (see ‘we know’ in 2:2)
2. This only applies to Christians.
– who love God (1 Cor.8:3)
– who are called according to His purpose (see too 8:30; 2 Tim.1:9)
3. God brings good out of suffering.
(a) suffering can have good spiritual effects (Rom.5:3; 2 Cor.12:7, 9; Joni Eareckson Tada
(b) suffering can enhance the gospel (e.g. Phil.1:12-14; Gen.50:20)
(c) even death achieves good for the Christian (Magdalene Luther’s death in 1542; see Phil.1:21, 23)
(d) God can even use sin for good (e.g. Ps.51:7-11; Acts 4:27-28)
– Thomas Watson: ‘Better is that temptation which humbles me than that duty which makes me proud.’
– ‘My times are in Thy hand’ (Ps.31:15; William Freeman Lloyd)