LW Baptist

By Rolland Coburn

Pastor

God has a wondrous purpose for us, expressed in a promise worth meditation. The promise is “And we know that to those who love God, all things work together for good, to those who are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28). First, God’s people—who are they? God and the Holy Spirit helps us know who they are, and we understand his word by faith. God’s people are those who love God. There are only two people-types, those who love him, and those who do not. God’s promise is only for those who do. They are reconciled to God by faith in Christ’s blood. We respond to his love. Another feature is the “all things”—what are they? They are our individual experiences, part of God’s complex plan known as providence. The term means that God provides for our every need in all life situations. It is not just a popular saying. It is God’s promise. Some people do not believe it, but their unbelief cannot cancel God’s faithfulness. God’s purpose for us has parts. “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (verse 29). The words show his loving purpose for us and for himself with us. He foreknew, or named us and claimed us, before we were born. His salvation is by his grace; we don’t earn it. We love him because he first loved us. God is the hero, not us. Jesus made it clear: “You did not choose Me but I chose you” (John 15:16). This purpose includes us becoming like himself, like Christ, both spiritually and physically, the transformation when we are glorified at the resurrection. All this is not for our preeminence, but for Christ’s. God’s detailed planning also shows his love. “And those whom he predestined, he also called; and whom he called, he also justified; and whom he justified, he also glorified,” (verse 30). I tell my wife I appreciate her planning of our day, meals, our week and our lives together. It shows me her love; she is thinking about us. God has effectively called us his people into fellowship with himself and his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He justifies us, declares us righteous, opens our hearts, renews and writes on them his call. He has many good thoughts about us. The last word in our promise is the word glorified. It describes God’s preservation of His people. Paul the apostle said, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever, amen” (2 Timothy 4:18). Where would we be if Jesus hadn’t loved us, cared and sacrificed his life? So glad that he did!