I direct your attention again tonight to that blessed, blessed text of Scripture found in Romans 8:28. May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher, as I try to preach to you about DIVINE PROVIDENCE. We read in our text…
(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."
I. "WE KNOW" – We who are born of God, we who know God, we who are taught of God, "we know".
We know by the revelation of Holy Scripture, the teaching of the Holy Spirit, the experience of grace and God given faith.
II. "WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS" – Surely, Paul does not mean all things without exception. Oh, but he does. That is exactly what he means.We have no difficulty seeing the hand of God in all good things. We know that all good things come from the hand of God. Indeed, James tells that nothing but good comes from our God (James 1:17). Yet, Paul asserts plainly that all things (both bad and good) are sovereignly ruled and overruled by our God in his adorable, wise and good providence for the good of chosen, redeemed sinners.
Be sure you understand the teaching of Holy Scripture in this regard. Our holy God is not the author or cause of sin; but he is the Ruler and Governor of it (Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6; Ps. 76:10).
(Psalms 76:10) "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."
(Isaiah 45:7) "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
(Amos 3:6) "Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?"
(Psalms 37:24) "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."
(Malachi 3:6) "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
(Mark 16:7) "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
Surely, if even our sins are graciously overruled by our God to do us good, we must see that all the evil things experienced in life as well as the good are also ruled by him in his glorious sovereignty to do us good!
Nothing is isolated. If we look at isolated events and try to judge the goodness of God's providence by them, we will always fail to see it. Providence uses all things together like a great peace of machinery. May God give us grace to see things this way.
Be sure you mark that word "work". It is a verb in the present tense. Paul does not say all things have worked together for good, or all things shall work together for good, or all things turn out good! He says, "All things work together for good." God, give me grace and faith to believe that! It is relatively easy to believe God for the past, and even for the future. It's the present that gives me trouble. Faith deals with the present. Faith is always in the present tense.
We sing –
Then a piece of china is broken, someone scratches the paint on our car, or we get a hangnail and we begin to moan and cry, "O Lord, let me just die!"
IV. "All things work together FOR GOOD."Yes, God's providence is good, always good, wondrously good! What does Paul mean when he says that "all things work together for good"?
We are often unable to see and understand the reasons and causes for specific events in our lives, in the lives of others, or in the history of the world. But our lack of understanding does not prevent us from believing God. We bow to his will, which is evident in his works of providence, and say…
(Romans 11:33) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
C. All God's works of providence are executed perfect holiness and righteousness.Even in the way he uses the evil works of men and devils is totally free of sin on his part. Though he has predestined and permits deeds of wickedness, sin cannot be imputed to the Almighty. Let men think and say what they will, these two things are plainly revealed in Holy Scripture…
Everything that comes to pass in time is brought to pass by God's sovereign providence, according to his eternal purpose which he purposed in himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. He works all things after the counsel of his own will. His counsel always stands. He always does all his pleasure in all things everywhere.
E. God's providence demands and deserves our unceasing praise."We should give to him the glory of all; observe with wonder and gratitude, the various steps of it (his providence) respecting ourselves and others; and put our trust in him for things temporal and spiritual; and at all times cast our care upon him, who cares for us; seeing it is, and always will be, well with the righteous, in time and to all eternity." John Gill
V. "We know that all things work together for good." If we stop there and read no further, we would be forced to say, "That is not so." The simple fact of the matter is that all things to not work together for good to everyone. There are many against whom all things work for evil. The text makes sense, and is true only when the entire sentence is read, "We know that all things work together for good TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED according to his purpose"
God's providence, in all its details, is designed and accomplished for his elect, those who love him and are the called according to his purpose.
Whenever we think about God's providence, we must never forget that divine providence is for A DESIGNATED PEOPLE. Everything that is, has been, or shall hereafter be is brought to pass by the hand of our God for the good of his people. Who are these people? Am I one of them? Are you?
All religious people claim to be God's people. The Jews claim to be God's people and so do the Arabs. Catholics claim to be God's people and so do Protestants. Mormons say they are God's people. So do Campbellites and Russellites.
Who are God's true people? Can they be identified with certainty? Indeed they can. You cannot identify God's people in this world by their clothes, their church, their creed, their confession, their conversation, or even their conduct. But they can be identified.
A. God's elect are identified by their faith.(Philippians 3:3) "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
B. God's saints are identified by their love.Believers are people who love God. In many respects believers and unbelievers are very much alike, especially if the unbeliever is religious and moral. But here is a marked distinction. True believer, and they alone, love God ((Rom. 8:7)
1. We love God in his revealed character (1 Cor. 16:22)4. All who love God recognize and confess that our love for him is caused by his love for us (1 John 4:19).
By this let us examine ourselves. Do I or do I not love my God? C. Believers are identified by their calling. – "Them who are the called."Let the Arminian, the free-willer, try as he may to get around the eighth chapter of Romans, here it stands to declare forever the glorious, gospel doctrine of God's free, sovereign, effectual, irresistible grace in Christ. Those who believe are "them who are the called".
If language means anything, this text asserts that there are some people in this world who are called and others who are not called. Our faith in Christ and love for God is the result of this call.
(Ephesians 2:1-4) "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: {2} Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: {3} Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {4} But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"
Has the Lord God called you to life and faith in Christ by the omnipotent power of his grace?
Let's read the text one more time.V. "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."
This grace by which we believe, by which we love God, by which we are called, this great providence which works all things together for our good is "according to his purpose". Blessed be his holy name!
(2 Timothy 1:9-10) God "hath saved us, and 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, {10} But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
Application:How I thank God for his good providence! I pray that he will give me grace ever to trust him, to trust his providence, to commit all things to his wisdom, his grace, his goodness, his providence, his care. And I seek that same grace for you.
It is good for me to know Christ and be found in him. If God has to cripple me, or cripple my child to get my attention and then turn my eyes and my heart to Christ, that is good! It is good for me…
Whatever God sees fit to use to accomplish these things for us and in us is good! At your leisure, read Psalm 107 again. There we are given a detailed view of God's providence. "All things work together for good."
Too much joy would intoxicate me. Too much misery would drive me into despair. Too much sorrow would crush me. Too much suffering would break my spirit. Too much pleasure would ruin me. Too much defeat would discourage me. Too much success would puff me up. Too much failure would keep me from doing anything. Too much criticism would harden me. Too much praise would exalt me. – My God knows exactly what I need. His providence is wisely designed and sovereignly sent for my good! Let him therefore send and do what he will. By his grace, I will…
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