Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:28

"And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose." — Romans 8:28 (ASV)

That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We know this, for we have proved it in our own experience. All things work. There is nothing inactive in the providence of God.

All things work together. There is a unity in providence. God sets one thing over against another. Blessed be the name of God, all things work together for good.

The purpose of God to his people is good, and only good; and though this or that might be injurious, yet, all put together, they work for good to those who love God.

Come, my soul, do you love God? Can you say tonight, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee.? All things work together for your good.

Not only shall they work, but they are working; they work now, for your good.

And learn another sweet lesson. You are one of those whom God calls, according to the sweet purpose of his electing love, for so it stands: those who love God are the same as those who are called according to his purpose.

If you love God, God loves you. Your love to God, poor and faint though it is, is the assured token that he loves you with an everlasting love, and, therefore, with bands of loving-kindness has he drawn you.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

All things. That is a very comprehensive expression, is it not?

It includes your present trouble, your aching head, your heavy heart: all things.

All things work. There is nothing idle in God's domain.

All things work together. There is no discord in the providence of God. The strangest ingredients go to make up the one matchless medicine for all our maladies.

All things work together for good—for lasting and eternal good,—to them that love God, that is their outward character,–

To them who are the called according to his purpose.

That is their secret character, and the reason why they love God at all.

That all things work together for good to them that love God, (Romans 8:28).

They all work. They work in harmony. They work for one purpose. That purpose is for good.

To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

How are we to know who they are who are the called according to God's eternal purpose? The previous clause informs us, for both relate to the same individuals; "them that love God" are "them who are the saved according to his purpose." We cannot peer into the pages of the Lamb's book of life, yet we can tell by this simple test whether our names are recorded there: do we truly love the Lord? If so, all things are working for our present and eternal good, all things visible and invisible, all things friendly and unfriendly, all things in providence and grace.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

Not yet "all mankind," but these who "love God."

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.

We know it: we are assured of it.

And we know–

Paul, like John, was no agnostic; he did not even say, "We think, we imagine, we suppose." No; "we know"–

That all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.

I do not like to hear this text quoted, as I often do, only in part – only half of it. "All things work together for good," say people.

"Oh! yes; somehow or other, good will come of it." It does not say so here.

It says, All things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are the called according to his purpose.

This is a special purpose and object of God for a special people.

And if you do not belong to this people, things are not working together for your good.

No; but you may find that they will work together for your banishment from life and from the presence of God. Take your heed to this. The stars in their courses fight against you if you fight against God; and the very earth groans and complains of bearing up your weight if you are a rebel against the Most High.

You must, first of all, be reconciled so as to love God, and the eternal purpose must be worked in you by your effectual calling from the world, or else you must not dare to intrude into the holy sanctuary of my text.

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God. Of course, they do, for God loves them.

To those who are the called according to his purpose. Of course, they do, for that purpose which called them is not consistent with anything but a purpose of infinite love to them.

The great eternal purpose encompasses all things that happen and bends all to the grand object of the good of the called ones.

"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."

Almost everything in this world looks to us to be in confusion, but to God's eye all is in order. One wave dashes this way, and another that, but they are all working together, and they are all working with one great purpose too.

Do not say, Christian, "All these things are against me." Ah, poor soul! This is the verdict of your unbelief, but you will know better than that one of these days.

All things are working for you, and not one of them is working against you; therefore, do not be dismayed. They are all working together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.

And we know.

This is not a matter of opinion. This is scarcely a matter of faith.

"We know." We are sure of it. We have proved it.

And we know –

Now we are coming to a dear old passage which reads like music. There is no eloquence in the world that ever touches the eloquence of the Apostle here.

To them who are the called according to his purpose.

For they would never have loved God if he had not called them to it, and had not purposed to call them.

That all things work together for good–

We must not stop there, otherwise the statement will not be true, for all things do not work together for good to all people, but only–

And we know

We know: we are sure of it.

To them who are the called according to his purpose.

That is their private character, which God knows, and which he reveals to them in due course.