“TO THEM…”

 

Romans 8:28

 

            “We know that all things work together for good.” If we stop there and read no further, we would be forced to say, “That is not so.” The simple fact of the matter is that all things do not work together for good to everyone. There are many against whom all things work for evil. The text makes sense, and is true only when the entire sentence is read, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” God’s providence, in all its details, is designed and accomplished for his elect, those who love him and are the called according to his purpose. Whenever we think about God’s providence, we must never forget that divine providence is for…

 

A Designated People.

Everything that is, has been, or shall hereafter be is brought to pass by the hand of our God for the good of his people. Who are these people? Am I one of them? Are you? All religious people claim to be God’s people. The Jews claim to be God’s people and so do the Arabs. Catholics claim to be God’s people and so do Protestants. Mormons say they are God’s people. So do Campbellites and Russellites. Who are God’s true people?

 

God’s elect are identified by their faith (Phil. 3:3). Worshipping God in the Spirit, they trust Christ alone for all grace and salvation, placing no confidence in any privileges, experiences, or works of the flesh. God’s saints are identified by their love - “Them that love God!” Believers are people who love God. In many respects believers and unbelievers are very much alike, especially if the unbeliever is religious and moral. But here is a marked distinction. True believers, and they alone, love God ((Rom. 8:7) We love God in his revealed character as the holy, absolute sovereign of the universe (1 Cor. 16:22). Believers are also identified by their calling - “Them who are the called.” Let the Arminian, the free-willer, try as he may to get around the eighth chapter of Romans. Here it stands to declare forever the glorious, gospel doctrine of God’s free, sovereign, effectual, irresistible grace in Christ. Those who believe are “them who are the called”. If language means anything, this text asserts that there are some people in this world who are called and others who are not called. Our faith in Christ and love for God is the result of this call.

 

            There is one more golden nugget of divine revelation in this sweet verse of Scripture. All things that come to pass in time are brought to pass by the hand of our God according to…

 

A Divine Purpose.

The grace by which we believe, by which we love God, by which we are called, this great providence which works all things together for our good is “according to his purpose”. The evidence of our calling is our faith in and love for God as he has revealed himself to us in Christ. The evidence of our election and redemption is our calling. The cause of our election, redemption, and calling is God’s sovereign, eternal purpose of grace toward us in Christ (2 Tim. 1:9).

 

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #581

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net