Segala Sesuatu demi Kebaikan (Roma 8:28)

PA Khusus GRII Cikarang

Ucapan Rasul Paulus yang Sulit dalam Surat Roma

Selasa, 16 Juni 2020

Vik. Tommy Suryadi

Referensi utama:

  1. buku “Ucapan Paulus yang Sulit” karya Manfred T. Brauch
  2. com
  3. NIV Study Bible

Tema: Segala Sesuatu demi Kebaikan (Roma 8:28)

  • Kita tahu sekarang, bahwa Allah turut bekerja dalam segala sesuatu untuk mendatangkan kebaikan bagi mereka yang mengasihi Dia, yaitu bagi mereka yang terpanggil sesuai dengan rencana Allah.

Pertanyaan:

  • ‘Kebaikan’ seperti apa yang dimaksud dalam ayat ini?
  • Apakah ‘segala sesuatu’ mencakup penderitaan dan kesulitan orang Kristen?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

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. (NASB)

Kebaikan seperti apa?

  • NIVSB: that which conforms us ‘to the likeness of his Son (v. 29)’
  • 29: 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.
  • Kebaikan yang dimaksud itu berhubungan dengan keselamatan.
  • Keselamatan bukan satu titik tetapi suatu proses. Tuhan aktif dalam proses itu.
  • 1 Petrus 1:9 karena kamu telah mencapai tujuan (telos) imanmu, yaitu keselamatan jiwamu.
  • Kejadian 50:20 Memang kamu telah mereka-rekakan yang jahat terhadap aku, tetapi Allah telah mereka-rekakannya untuk kebaikan, dengan maksud melakukan seperti yang terjadi sekarang ini, yakni memelihara hidup suatu bangsa yang besar (ESV: many people).

Roma 8:29-30

Sebab semua orang yang dipilih-Nya dari semula, mereka juga ditentukan-Nya dari semula untuk menjadi serupa dengan gambaran Anak-Nya, supaya Ia, Anak-Nya itu, menjadi yang sulung di antara banyak saudara. Dan mereka yang ditentukan-Nya dari semula, mereka itu juga dipanggil-Nya. Dan mereka yang dipanggil-Nya, mereka itu juga dibenarkan-Nya. Dan mereka yang dibenarkan-Nya, mereka itu juga dimuliakan-Nya.

Apakah ‘Segala Sesuatu’ Mencakup Penderitaan?

  • Ellicott’s Commentary – persecution and suffering included.
  • Meyer’s NT Commentary – even those full of pain not excepted (v. 35).
  • Benson Commentary – Namely, that occur in the course of divine providence, such as worldly losses or gains, poverty or riches, reproach or commendation, contempt or honour, pain or ease, sickness or health, and the ten thousand changes of life.
  • Cambridge Bible – No doubt St. Paul has specially in view the sufferings of the saints.
  • Barnes’ Notes – All our afflictions and trials; all the persecutions and calamities to which we are exposed.
  • Matthew Poole – even sin itself; because from their falls, God’s children arise more humble and careful. Afflictions are chiefly intended; the worst and crossest providences, those things that are evil in themselves, they work for good to the children of God.

Pembahasan oleh John Piper:

  • Paul is not saying all things are good. He is saying all things are turned by God for good.
  • For Christians, all things work for good all the time.
  • if you don’t love God, you can’t claim this promise. If you are not called according to his purpose, you can’t claim this promise.
  • In those who are called, love for God is what defines them. It’s the abiding condition of our hearts — whether strong or weak.
  • So Paul is not saying all things work for good for Christians some of the time (when their love for God is strong), and all things don’t work for good for Christians some of the time (when their love for God is weak). Loving God is not:
    • Meeting his needs (God is self-sufficient).
    • Loving his gifts alone.
    • Fruits of love/deeds. E.g. Ephesian Church.
  • Loving God is: desiring God, delighting in God, satisfied in God, valuing God, revering God. ‘All Things’ Includes the ‘Bad Things’.
  • The whole context before and after Romans 8:28 is painful.
    Romans 8:17 says we will be glorified with Christ if we suffer with him.
  • Verse 18 says that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us.
  • Verse 20 says that the creation — including us — is subjected to futility.
  • Verse 21 says that creation is in bondage to decay. Verse 23 says that even Spirit-filled Christians groan with the fallen creation awaiting our adoption, the redemption of our weak, sick, and dying bodies.
  • Verse 24 says we have been saved “in hope” and you can’t see hope, otherwise it wouldn’t be hope, so most of our salvation is invisible and still in the future. No wonder we groan.
  • Verse 35 says there are tribulation and distress and persecution and famine and nakedness and danger and sword.