Do our past sins work together for our future?

Good.

It's a question from two different listeners today.

Tim is one of them.

Dear Pastor John Hello, Paul writes in Romans 8.28, and we know that all things work together

for good to them that love God to them who are the call, according to his purpose.

I know that all things include the so-called bad things as well, like suffering and death.

However, I'm confused as to whether the all things also includes my specific sins.

A similar question came into us from Cliff.

Pastor John, can you explain something?

Does the all in the all things of Romans 8.28 include my sin?

I hate my sin.

I long for the day I won't sin.

But is my sin too working for an eternal good in me?

Pastor John, how would you answer Tim and Cliff?

Well, before I answer directly, which I hope to do, let me lay down a biblical warning

because Paul is very much aware of a danger in answering this question with a yes, namely

that our sins can do work together for our eternal good.

He sees a danger and he warns against it at least twice.

So that's where I feel like I should start.

So here's the first one, Romans 3.5, if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness

of God, what should we say that God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us by no means for then

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