Yes — God works all things together for good in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
This promise is not for everyone; it belongs to believers whom God has called and positioned in Christ before the world began. Les Feldick teaches that there is no luck in a believer's life, because God is in total control, and even trials and tribulations are used by God to bring the believer to His intended goal.
Romans 8:28 — This is the verse that directly says all things work together for good, and it qualifies the promise as applying to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:26-27 — This passage shows the Holy Spirit interceding for the saints according to God's will, which is part of God's constant work on the believer's behalf.
Romans 8:28 states plainly, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." The verse does not promise easy circumstances; it promises that God is sovereignly working every circumstance toward good for His people. The surrounding context shows the Holy Spirit helping believers in their weakness and interceding for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27), and it asks, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). The Scripture also says that tribulation works patience (Romans 5:3) and that all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Les Feldick takes Romans 8:28 at face value: God is in such complete control of the believer's life that there is no such thing as luck — everything that happens, whether good or bad, works together for good because God is in control [Clip 2]. He repeatedly says that becoming a believer does not give you a rose-petaled pathway; believers face just as many trials and testings as the world, but they have a stabilizing power that will see them through [Clip 4] [Clip 5]. Les teaches that God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle; when hard times come, a true believing heart will not grow bitter but will find God all the more precious [Clip 1]. The promise belongs to believers because God called them according to His own purpose and grace before the world began [Clip 3], and every believer has a calling and purpose that God is directing him toward [Clip 6]. Even the Christian life's constant battle against Satan and the world is part of God's plan, and God has promised that we can do it [Clip 7]. Furthermore, all three persons of the Godhead are continually working for the believer: the Holy Spirit intercedes, the Son is the advocate, and "If God be for us, who can be against us?" [Clip 0].
Yes. Les teaches that "all things" includes everything in our life, whether it's good or bad [Clip 5]. He points to Romans 8:28 and says that because God is in complete control, everything that happens works together for good [Clip 2]. He uses the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:18 to show that all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ [Clip 5].
According to the Scripture and Les, the promise is qualified: it applies to "them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Les explains that God called believers with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [Clip 3]. He adds that every believer has a calling and that God has a plan for each believer's life [Clip 6].
Les says believers are not promised a rose-petaled pathway; they still live in a world of trials and tribulations, but God says, "I'll see you through it," and will never forsake them [Clip 4]. God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle, and a true believing heart will find God all the more precious when hard times come [Clip 1]. The Christian life is like paddling a canoe up a roaring river — it is a constant battle against Satan and the world, but God has promised we can do it [Clip 7].
The Trinity Works for Us
Les shows that all three persons of the Godhead are constantly working for the believer: the Holy Spirit intercedes in prayer, Jesus is the believer's advocate with the Father, and Paul concludes, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Trials Test the Believer's Heart
Les teaches that God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle; when hard times come, a true believing heart will not become bitter and angry but will find God all the more precious.
No Luck in the Believer's Life
Les uses Romans 8:28 to say that everything that happens in a believer's life works together for good because God is in complete control; there is no such thing as luck for a believer.
Called According to God's Purpose
Les explains that God has called believers with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus before the world began.
No Rose-Petaled Pathway
Les teaches that believers are not promised a rose-petaled pathway; they still face the world's trials and tribulations, but God says He will see them through and never forsake them.
All Things — Good or Bad
Les says "all things" means everything in our life, whether good or bad, and that all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ; believers have a stabilizing power to see them through trials.
Every Believer Has a Calling
Les teaches that every believer has a calling from God; God has a plan for your life and wants you to seek it out.
Christian Life Is a Constant Battle
Les compares the Christian life to paddling a canoe up a roaring river: it is never easy because believers face Satan and the world, but God has promised we can do it.
Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
This verse shows the Holy Spirit interceding for believers, which Les points to as part of God's constant work on our behalf.
Romans 8:27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
This verse shows that the Spirit's intercession is perfectly aligned with God's will for the saints.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This is the central verse of the question, directly promising that all things work together for good for believers.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
This verse, referenced by Les, reinforces that God's power is on the believer's side.
Romans 5:3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
This verse shows that tribulation has a purposeful role in the believer's spiritual development.
2 Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
This verse, used by Les, says all things are of God and that reconciliation comes through Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
This verse, mentioned by Les, shows Jesus Christ as the believer's advocate with the Father.
No. Les says believers are not going to have a rose-petaled pathway; they will still have trials and tribulations like the rest of the world, but God says He will see them through it and never forsake them.
No, the verse itself says it is for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Les adds that God called believers before the world began according to His own purpose and grace.
Les says God brings times of testing and tribulation to test our mettle. The true believing heart will not grow bitter, but will find God all the more precious in hard times.
Les says all things means everything in our life, whether good or bad. All things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?