“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30 NASB1995)

When we are reading and studying the Scriptures, we should not skim over them lightly, assuming we always understand what they are teaching. But we should pay close attention to the words, for the words have very specific and intended meanings which are not to be taken lightly and casually with little consideration at all for what they mean. But we should pray for understanding of words and their meanings so we get the right message.

So, let’s begin with “God causes all things to work together for good…” “Good” must be defined according to God and to his word and to his character and what he calls “good,” and not as humans might define “good” by our own standards and likes and dislikes and moods, etc. For we humans tend to call anything “good” that makes us feel good, or that is pleasing to our flesh, to the taste, to the ear, to the eyes, and to the mind, etc.

But what God considers as good is God, himself, and his character, and all that comes from him and is of him. And this includes all that is righteous, morally pure, honest, faithful, considerate, thoughtful, kind, generous, helpful, loving, and obedient to God and to his service. But even here, all these words must align with God and with his character and with the teachings of the Scriptures, for they, as well, all have specific meanings.

So, if God causes all things to work together for good, it is what is good in the eyes of God, and not necessarily in agreement with what is desired as good by humans. And who are the recipients of this goodness of God? We are all who love God. And all who love God obey God and his commands, and we no longer make sin our practice. And the called according to his purpose are those who are doing the biblical and spiritual will of God.

Since God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – always existed, and he always will be, and since he is the one who created us, thus God foreknew all of us who would biblically receive Jesus Christ into our lives to be Lord (Owner-Master) and Savior (from slavery to sin) of our lives. And thus he predestined (predetermined) us to become conformed to the image (likeness of character) of his Son Jesus Christ, in obedience to his will.

Now some people are teaching this in a way which totally disregards the teachings which show that we must, by God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in the Lord Jesus, receive (accept, take) Jesus Christ into our lives, deny self, die daily to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience to his commands. We must lay aside the old self, and we must put on the new self in Christ Jesus, and we must live holy lives, pleasing to God, all in the power of God.

So none of us are marionettes, with Jesus holding and pulling all the strings, to where we have no choice in what we do. We have to choose Jesus and his will and his commands every day and every moment of our lives. And we all are totally accountable before God for our actions, our words, our thinking, and our behaving. So, if sin is what we obey, and not God’s commands, we do not have eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

So, yes! We are absolutely and totally responsible for what we do with Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. But none of us can believe in Jesus in our own flesh. That belief has to be of God, and persuaded of God as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our own sinfulness, and of our need to turn from our sins and to follow our Lord in surrender to his will and in walks of obedience to his commands.

For being justified by God isn’t just to be declared righteous, but it is to be freed (delivered) from our slavery (bondage, addiction) to sin so that we can now serve our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living, i.e. so that we can now live righteously in the power of God. So, we are not just forgiven our sins, but we are set free from our addiction to sin so that we can now please our Lord in all of who we are and do and say, for his glory.

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

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