Romans 8:28 Explained
What does Romans 8:28 mean?
If you read Romans 8:28 with its two following verses, it becomes clarified. Romans 8:28-30 together describes the progression of the grace believers toward their ultimate glorification “in the heavenly places.”
“28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he [God] did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 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 8:28-30 (KJV)
The point seen in its context of Romans 8 is telling us, no matter what happens to us in this life, regardless of the difficulties and heartaches, there is nothing but eternal glory waiting for us “in Jesus Christ” when we are ultimately resurrected to “appear with Him in [heaven’s] glory”
As people who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ exclusively, we will share in His glorification in eternity future. God the Father will use us to exalt His Son forever “in the heavenly places.”
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Colossians 3:4 (KJV)
This was eternally planned for us grace believers “before the world began” but kept secret until it was revealed to Paul.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Ephesians 1:4 (KJV)
That is the whole purpose of the Gentile Church, “the Body of Christ,” the group of believers who God “foreknew” “before the foundation of the world,” because He purposed to form “His Body/”
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope [expectation] of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; Titus 1:1-3
Rom. 8:28 is not about justification and salvation, that was settled earlier in Romans; it is about the eternal destiny of the already saved believers. God has securely fixed our eternal destiny in Christ (Eph. 1:13) — we (as believers in Christ) will be “conformed to the image of his Son” (cf. Rom. 8:29-30).
Just notice our title in Romans 8:28, we are “them that love God,” “them who are the called according to his purpose.” Our purpose is to ultimately glorify Jesus Christ “in the heavenly places” forever (Eph. 1:20-23; 2:6-7; Col. 1:16-23; 2 Tim. 4:18).
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all [angelic] principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the CHURCH, 23 WHICH IS HIS BODY, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:20-23 (KJV)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7 (KJV)
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And He Is The Head Of The Body, The Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him [Christ] should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you [Gentiles], that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Col. 1:16-23
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 (KJV)
This explanation is so much more glorious, so much richer, than religion’s cheap, carefree, superstitious, and mindless interpretation of Romans 8:28, religion says things like this; “Oh, God will manipulate your circumstances to give you a job to solve your unemployment problem. God will heal you of your terminal cancer so you can have a nice, sweet life. God will work it all out so you can get rid of all your problems and escape all your dilemmas in life. He will give you a wonderful day today if you just claim it in Jesus’ name!”
That is ignorant foolishness. The fact is that life will have troubles before and after salvation, thus Paul says also in Romans 8. God does not cause our troubles but He uses them ‘for our eternal good.’
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (KJV)
What we need to know is that, even on our bad days, even in our sickness, even in our weakness, even in our difficulties, God has given us grace sufficient to endure those troubles (2 Cor. 12:7-11). Ultimately, that same grace will carry us on into eternity to carry out His will in the heavenly places!
In verses 31-39 the Holy Spirit eternally links us to “The Love Of God” that is “In Christ Jesus Our Lord.”
“31What shall we then say to these things [the foregoing verses to 28-30]?
If [since] God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things [of eternal value]? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, [Nothing] Shall Be Able To Separate Us From The Love Of God, Which Is In Christ Jesus Our Lord.”
Whether troubles, distresses, persecutions, famines, nakedness, perils, or swords (wars), we can be sure that, no matter our circumstances, “nothing can separate us from the [unconditional eternal] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [secret] among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU, The Hope Of [Eternal] GLORY: Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
Satan will use our difficulties to cause us to think God has abandoned us or that God does not care about us. But we are to live by God’s Word, the Holy Bible, not by our circumstances, emotional feelings, or thoughts of past evils we may have suffered.
We keep our eyes focused on the truth of Scriptures and not on our situations. In God’s Word, we see that He does care for us and He still is with us, He is ever IN US. He still has great plans for us in eternity future, so no matter what Satan or man may do to us, our heavenly destiny is completely secure in Christ (Romans 8:28, Col. 3:4)!