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

In contrast to what God knows (Romanos 8:27) is what ‘we know'. Our knowledge of the purposes of God may be limited, but what we do know is that to those who love God (believers), to those who are called according to His purpose, all things work together for good. By ‘good', of course, we must see final good, what is good in God's eyes. Such things do not necessarily turn out for our earthly benefit, for God's way might lead to a cross, and may well, as we have seen, lead to suffering and tribulation (Romanos 8:17). But what we can be sure of is that they result in our eternal good. God will take all that happens to His own and make it work for their good.

‘To those who love God.' Unexpectedly this description is rare in Paul's writings. See, however, 1 Corintios 2:9 (an Old Testament quotation); Romanos 8:3 (‘the one who loves God is known of Him') and compare Efesios 6:24 (‘those who love our LORD Jesus Christ'). But the idea is common in the Old Testament, signifying true believers, something which 1 Corintios 8:3 confirms. Such love is, of course, the basis of Christian living, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and might' (Deuteronomio 6:5; and regularly cited or confirmed by Jesus; Mateo 22:37; Lucas 10:27). But Jesus also said, ‘If God were your Father you would love Me' (Juan 8:42). Thus to love God is to love Jesus Christ. The reference is therefore clearly to true believers, something confirmed by the fact that they are those who are ‘called according to His purpose'.

‘All things.' We need not put a limit on ‘all things', for if one thing is sure it is that God does make all things finally work together for those who love Him, even though it might be as a rod of chastisement (Hebreos 12:5). It especially has in mind suffering and persecution, as well as the antagonism of evil spiritual forces (Romanos 8:35; Romanos 8:38).

‘To those who are called according to his purpose.' Here is a definition of those who love God, and vice versa. Those who love God are those whom He has called according to His purpose. In some way they have heard His voice speaking to them, and they have responded. The calling has thus been an effectual call because it has resulted in their loving God. And it is a call made ‘in accordance with His purpose'. Whatever men's thought may be concentrated on, God's thoughts are focused on the salvation of His own, and on His presentation of them in His sight as holy, unblameable and unreproachable (Colosenses 1:22). For this purpose of God for those whom He has called is now made clear as it is expanded on in Romanos 8:29.

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