Happiness-Romans 8:28
One of the best things about being a Christian is that you have what everybody wants: happiness. In fact, Christianity is all about joy (1 Th 5:16; Gal 5:22,23), a joy that is in spite of circumstances.
John 15:11 “…that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”John 16:22 “…you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”John 17:3 “…have the full measure of my joy within them.”
Jesus’ disciples will suffer greatly, unbearably, but Jesus promises a constant/complete joy no matter their life circumstances; a joy that will withstand any hardship, adversity, even torture and death.
Do you have such an unshakable/impervious/relentless joy as a Christian? Jesus says we should. Three reasons a Christian should always be happy based on Rom 8:28-30 (while living in a world of suffering/brokenness):
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (ESV)
1. Your bad things turn out for good (8:28).2. Your good things can never be lost (8:29).3. Your best things are yet to come (8:30)
1) Our bad things turn out for good (Rom 8:28). There are 3 implications of this first point.
1st, “All things” happen to Christians, those who love God—the Christian’s circumstances are no better than anybody else’s.
Many Christians explicitly teach—and most Christians implicitly believe—that if we love and serve God, then we will not have as many bad things happen to us. Horrible things happen; believing, loving, serving God do not keep them from happening.”All things” means all the things that happen to everybody will happen to people who love God.
2nd, the implication is that when things work together for good in your life, it’s because of God. “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God” (NLT)On their own, things decay, fall apart; they never work together for good. If good happens, it’s because God worked it together. Modern people believe things ought to go right. But Christians have to discard that idea completely. Everything that goes well is a miracle of grace. :
3rd, this implication is the most basic: although bad things happen, God works them for good. The promise is not that we will see immediately how every bad event works out for our good. The promise is that all the bad God will work together for good in its totality. Newton said, “Everything is necessary that he [God] sends; nothing can be necessary that he withholds.” God brings bad things into our life to cure us of things that can destroy us in the long run. We’re so discouraged/despondent because we’re shocked when a bad thing happens. We say this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.
2) Our good things can never be lost (Rom 8:29)
God does not promise better life circumstances if you love him. This is a joy that goes beyond circumstances. Jesus Christ did not suffer so that you would not suffer. He suffered so that when you suffer, you’ll become like him. Paul uses the word predestined. Something that is predestined is fixed. What Paul means is that if you love God, you can count on a promise that is absolutely fixed, no matter what. What is it that’s predestined? That we will be conformed. The Greek word is morpha, where we get the word metamorphosis. Paul is saying that God promises to “metamorphosize” us. God promises to change our very inner essence into the very inner essence of Jesus Christ. The good that God is moving you toward through everything that happens in your life—whether good or bad—is the magnificent goal of your transformation into Christ’s nature. If you love God, God is working everything toward this goal; it will mold you, sculpt you, polish you, & shape you into the image of his Son. It’s predestined. It’s guaranteed. Paul is not promising you better life circumstances; he is promising you a far better life.
3) The best things are yet to come (Rom 8:30)
The 3rd point is that the best is yet to come. If you understand what is to come, you can handle anything here. One of the most astounding things in Ro 8:30 is this: “…those he justified, he also glorified.” “Glorified” is in the past tense. Paul is so absolutely certain God is going to make you as beautiful as Jesus, he writes of glorification as an accomplished fact. It’s as good as done.
Resource: (Why a Christian should always be happy) (Based on “The Christian’s Happiness” by Tim Keller; 1997)
