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."

 

            May God the Holy Spirit, who inspired these words, effectually inscribe them upon our hearts for the glory of Christ, enabling us in all things to believe, worship and give thanks unto our God. I call your attention to just four things.

 

1. A Delightful Persuasion - “We know…” The word “know” in this sentence refers to a knowledge beyond speculation, theory, doctrine, or even sound judgment. It is the knowledge of a confident, assured persuasion based upon fact and experience. May God graciously and thoroughly convince us of these things as he did the Apostle Paul. He says, “We” - All true believers - “know”. But how do we know? What is the basis of this knowledge? Is this a pipe dream; or a matter of established fact? We know these things by the revelation of God’s Word (Psa. 84:11; 91:1-16; Prov. 12:21; Hos. 2:18). We know these things, and walk in the comfort of God’s providence, because of the inner witness and anointing of the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things, by whom we have the mind of Christ (1 John 2:20; 1 Cor. 2:16). And we know the wisdom and goodness of God’s adorable providence because we have experienced it. Rolfe Barnard used to say, “We only believe what we experience.” He was exactly right. Are you persuaded, really persuaded of what Paul teaches us here? If you are, you have a persuasion that will keep your soul in peace. Indeed, this is the only persuasion that will keep your soul in peace.

 

2. A Divine Providence - “We know that all things work together for good…” Providence is God’s government of the universe. This is a subject of deepest importance. If we have a proper view of God’s providence, we will see the hand of God and the heart of God in everything, in all the experiences of our lives. Let us never talk like the unbelieving Philistines who said, “it was a chance that happened to us” (1 Sam. 6:9). Believers talk like Job (1:21), Eli (1 Sam. 3:18) and David (2 Sam. 16:11-12), ascribing all things to the hand of our God. God is not idle. He is the one Person who is always on the job. He never needs to rest, recuperate, or regroup! God almighty, our God and heavenly Father, is always at work, governing the world.

 

3. A Designated People - “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called…” This promise of God is not for and is not given to everyone. It is a special promise, made to a special people. It is God’s promise “To them that love God. To them who are the called.”

 

4. A Declared Purpose - “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 purpose of God, according to which he rules the universe is not hard to discover. It is plainly stated in verses 29-31. It is “his purpose” of grace toward his people in eternal election and predestination.

Don Fortner