The Great Eight - Pt 26

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 28-30 ESV).

Let’s dig a bit deeper today. We have seen that our salvation is a direct result of God; the result of this redemptive work is that all things in our life then work together for good. We can be certain that God will indeed fulfill this promise because God himself has effectually called them into his covenant and caused them to qualify for it. We who are most undependable don’t have anything to do with the surety of this promise; and, God, who is utterly dependable does it. God’s personal initiative gives us a deeper confidence that God does indeed intend to pursue us with mercy all our days and work everything together for our good. We deny ourselves such deep and wonderful assurances when we do not embrace the doctrine of God’s sovereign, effectual call. There is such strength that comes into the walk of a Christian when he knows how it is that he came to be a beneficiary of this incomparable promise. And as though it were not enough to reassure us that we became beneficiaries of this promise by God’s effectual call, Paul adds the words, “according to his purpose.” All things work together for good to those who love God, to those that are called according to his purpose. Paul’s reason for adding this phrase was to make perfectly clear and undeniable that the call of God originates in God’s purpose, not ours. The call of God is not a response to anything we thought to do. God has his own high and holy purposes that govern whom he calls, and his call accords with these purposes, not with ours. He did not drive up to my door and pick me up and bring me to the banquet of eternal life because it fit into my purpose of salvation, but because it fit into his. In fact, had God waited for me to have a “purpose of salvation,” I would still be stumbling through life with no real purpose and no hope of any better. I would be one of those who cannot imagine anything better than that which might be experienced in this world. Let me be very clear for those of you who have any doubt of your faith. Just the fact that you are concerned is evidence enough of the working of the Holy Spirit in your life. That only happens to those who are effectually called. Rest assured. You are the recipient of this wonderful promise of God. Now begin to enjoy it. Regardless of your circumstance, ALL things are being worked out for your good!