3/27/19

Romans 8:28

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

I will not be guilty of denying the individual believer the joy and comfort of applying this truth in their life.  I have a friend who prays with thankfulness for a crippling injury because that injury was used to bring him to Christ.  And it is this verse he applies to his experience.  Who wants to argue with that?

Still let us look at this verse as it applies to the church as a whole rather than the individual.

There is an inclusive universal that marks the subject, “all things.”  To whomever this is written there is nothing intended to escape this description.  This universal is then further extended and described “works together for good”.  The description thus far leaves us with a need.  For who is included must be included for the statement to have a specific meaning.

So the writer describes those who will have this divine certainty of good.  They are described two ways.  First from their character, “they love God.”  This is not an option but an absolute.  And it is followed by another equal certainty.  They are divinely called in the external purpose of God.  Who fits this description?  The church.  We say all things in this world are done for the good of the church.