And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome and the verses we study today concern the overall doctrine of salvation.  Paul is showing that our salvation from start to finish is from the Lord.  We need to learn how to handle the trials that will inevitably hit us – it is especially important in times of suffering when we are most discouraged that we must be ready for our spiritual survival.  The  great truth of the sovereignty of God is that God has His purpose and His plan cannot be thwarted.

It is not much comfort to be told “all things work together for good to those who love God” when we are in times of present suffering.  Paul is telling us that the present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with future glory.  Loving God is not a condition of His plan but a description of His purpose.  Every true Christian does love God – this is from man’s point of view – but these verses about God’s purpose are written from God’s point of view.  This is written so man will not mistake his/her love for God as the primary thing.  Rather our love for God stems from His calling us.

When bad things happen to us they are not good in and of themselves – God uses trials that we should submit to Him in trust.  Knowledge of the sovereignty of God brings great comfort in the midst of trial.  Paul says that we know this – salvation from first to last is of the Lord.  If we are saved it is because God determined it and planned it.

In verses 29 and 30 God is the subject of all the verbs.  God is acting.  God’s foreknowledge is not just knowing in advance what people would do but choosing to set His love on some before the foundation of the world.  God’s purpose and plan to rule His world as He determined – His plan for history and our salvation –  is bound up with God’s purpose of exhaulting His Son.  Salvation is from the Lord based on Christ’s work of redemption.  Christ Jesus paid the penalty that sinful man deserves and God declares righteous all who trust in Him.  The faithful are free from any liability to the broken law.  Even our faith however, does not merit justification as it is the channel through which justification is received and is the free gift of God.  Salvation is from the Lord and is secure because it is from God.  God effectively called us, justified us and is now working to conform us to the image of His son.  To quote Steven Cole,” If His sovereign purpose for the glory and supremacy of Jesus Christ is certain then our future of glory with Christ is certain.”