ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

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.

The lesson text is applicable only to them that love God, which is the same as them who are called according to His purpose. The context of this scripture refers back to the first verse of the chapter. Here we find Paul addressing this message to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Then we are safe to say that all things work together for good, to them that hear God's word, believe it to be true, repent of their past sins, confess Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and Savior of the world, and be baptized for the remission of sins. This is God's purpose, and it is for this purpose God called the world to obey His will, on the Day of Pentecost, through the inspired preaching of the apostle Peter, as well as the other apostles. And, for this same purpose,God called all Romans to obey His will through the preaching of the apostle Paul and other faithful proclaimers of His word.

It is the same purpose to which God called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). God's plan of salvation originated in His mind before the beginning of time - it was predestined beforehand - God decreed it before the world began. As a fact, this is further explained in the two verses that follow the lesson text. Paul gave the same explanation to the church at Ephesus. To them he wrote, In Whom (Jesus Christ), also, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1:11).

Today, this purpose is the same. It is the eternal purpose, which He (God) purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:11). It is to this purpose that the world is called today, through the preaching and teaching of the same word of God, that was delivered on the Day of Pentecost, by the apostles. Those that responded to God's call, and obeyed His will, are further identified as members of the body of the Savior, the church of Christ. Notice what Luke wrote as he recorded the events on the Day of Pentecost. He wrote that about three thousand souls obeyed God's will - they gladly received His word (and) were baptized, and were added unto them (See Acts 2:41). To what were they added? Reading on we find that Luke said that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Vs. 47). To those, then, that are in the body of Christ, His church - to those that are followers of Christ - to all Christians, we know that all things work together for good. What a wonderful blessing God bestowed on His children; those that make up the church of His Son, Jesus Christ!

There was never a greater blessing given than God's gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. It was great because it came from God. It was great because it was His Son. It was great because it was a sacrifice of one life that others might live. It was great because the one that lost His life was sinless and undeserving of such a cruel death. It was great because those that were saved were the lowest of sinners and deserving of the death on the cross of Calvary, instead that of the Son of God. It was the greatest of gifts because it was given in God's love all sinners of the world. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

It was God's plan from the foundation of the world. God's plan worked - it accomplished His will. It has been openly established, is in place, and is working today. It is now carrying out God's will, and accomplishing the same thing it did on the Day of Pentecost - converting sinners of the world into saints within the body of Christ. It is converting alien sinners into obedient children of God. Just how much do we appreciate this greatest of gifts? We should not only thank God continually for it, but we should let nothing remove it from our possession. It was given in the love of both God and Jesus Christ. It should be received with the adoration of our undying love. This is the meaning as Paul closes this chapter. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (See Rom. 35-39).