Examining the Meaning of Romans 8:28

I’m coming at you with another very popular verse that is often misquoted and misinterpreted. Romans 8:28 is a famously quoted verse that we see stamped everywhere and heavily referenced. Something I’ve noticed is that people tend to read these verses out of context. In order to understand the right context of Scripture, we have to study the verses before and after them. This is what I will attempt to do with this post. I’m no Biblical scholar but the Bible was given by revelation of God and only through His revelation can we fully comprehend it. Let’s dive in!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase through a link we’ll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you but will help this blog to keep on running.

How Romans 8:28 Is Often Misquoted

Romans 8:28 is often quoted to imply that whatever it is that you’re going through is all good. Or that your tests and trials will lead you to success and/or prosperity. I see it especially used when someone is undergoing some illness, divorce, job loss, etc. Christians use it as a go-to feel-good mantra.  It’s like when Sally tells Molly, who was just diagnosed with a debilitating illness, “Oh don’t you worry, all things work together for good. I know this is painful but it is all good. You will be okay, God’s got this.” If someone told me this in a similar circumstance it wouldn’t make me feel any better.

I’ve also seen this verse misapplied when an ambitious entrepreneur experiences a setback and his friends try to cheer him up by telling him that God allowed it because all things work together for good.

What is wrong with these forms of usage? The short answer is everything. The truth is that this verse is much more powerful than how most misinterpret it. Here is the correct interpretation of Romans 8:28 and how it applies to our lives. 

What Does Romans 8:28 Mean?

In order to understand the complete meaning of this verse, we need to take a look at the verse afterward. 

Romans 8:29

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The “good” that verse 28 mentions is not referring to prosperity. It’s not referring to God’s consolation either. Although Scripture is replete with God’s peace, this verse is misapplied if used with the aim to console someone or to encourage. The “good” Paul was referring to is God’s conforming work in us. It’s His molding of our character and lives that is good and is always working for our betterment. 

Paul is trying to say that all that happens to us (not just the bad, but also the good) is God’s work in us. The last two words in verse 28 should give us a clue; “His purpose.” And then if we continue reading unto verse 29, we learn what His purpose is. What is His purpose? “He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.” God’s purpose for us is that we may be conformed into the image of His Son. This is the good, and it is so good! This is so much better than health and money. 

[bctt tweet=””God will see to it that we are in circumstances best designed by His sovereign love to give us opportunities to bear fruit for Him.” ~Elisabeth Elliot” username=”TheScribe_Blog”]

We have to also pay attention that Paul wasn’t only talking about the bad things that happen to us, but to ALL things, including the good things.

I’m not putting illness on the same level as blessings but God wants you to know that no matter what transpires, He KNOWS and is working out to conform us like Him. He never does anything for no reason. 

Sometimes we may wonder why God would choose to teach us a greater lesson through pain. Why couldn’t He have done it in a less painful way? If you have asked yourself this, you’re not alone, I used to do it too. When we focus on God’s purpose and stop viewing our problems through our limited human lens, we understand that God’s will is always greater than our pain. And our greater reward here on earth, is to be closer to Him. Take Elisabeth Elliot’s experience for example.

If someone understands deep pain better than many, it is Elisabeth Elliot.

Elisabeth was widowed twice. Her first husband, Jim Elliot lost his life after being speared to death along with 4 other missionaries by the Huaorani natives of Equador in 1956. He was 28. Elisabeth was 30 and their daughter Valerie was not yet 1. They had gone as missionaries with 4 other American couples to minister to these natives who had never heard about Christ. They were doing God’s work, so why would God allow this to happen? She could have allowed herself to be filled with bitterness and resentment against these natives.

But she didn’t.

Not only did she stay on as a missionary to the natives who killed her husband for another 7 years, she raised her daughter among them. Because of her obedience to God and love for these natives, the people got saved and several of them went on to become ministers! 

13 years later she remarried only to lose her second husband 4 years later. She eventually married a third time and remained married until her death in 2015. 

After the death of her husband Jim, Elisabeth said, “I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God.”

(I recommend her book, Through Gates of Splendor to read about the missionaries’ deaths and her experience in Equador). 

I hope you grasp the full meaning of Romans 8:28 and come to understand that God’s good work in us does not always mean that we’ll be rewarded with prosperity.

Why desire an earthly reward, when Heaven is so much better? Why crave accolades, when God can call us “good and faithful servant, enter into my rest” one day? He’s not done with us but He is working and will finish the good work in us (Philippians 1:6). 

Romans 8:28 is a promise! 

God promises that His refining is working for our good. That is a promise not words of comfort. Although His promises are comforting, it is the outcome of His promise that bring us peace- not like the world gives it.

Isn’t the correct interpretation so much better than the misinterpretation? We need to be careful about how we read Scripture, not just how we interpret it. If we read it correctly, then we will understand it correctly, apply it correctly, and quote it correctly. We almost missed the hidden manna in this verse if we hadn’t taken the time to study it in context. 

I pray this brief Bible study has helped you in understanding this famous verse. Check out the first post in the series, “What Is Philippians 4:13 Really Saying?”

 

 

 

Enjoyed this post? Share it on Pinterest!