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The sermon presents love for God as the visible mark of those whom God has sovereignly chosen and effectually called. Salvation is attributed decisively to divine grace rather than human ability, against the backdrop of human sin and inability. Romans 8:28 is interpreted as a promise not of wealth or ease but of spiritual good: growing faith, grace, humility, fellowship with Christ, and usefulness in his service. The believer is therefore urged to trust God’s providence not merely in retrospect or expectation, but in the painful and uncertain present.
Theological center: God’s sovereign, effectual grace calls his people to salvation, and his providence works all things together for their spiritual good.
Applications: Examine your love for God · Trust God’s present providence · Consider sovereign calling · Redefine what is good
Primary texts: Romans 8:28 · Romans 9:11-24
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 I. WE have here the description of a true Christian and a declaration of that Christian’s blessedness. We have him first very succinctly, but very fully described in these words—“Them that love God, them who are the called according to his purpose.” These two expressions are the great distinguishing marks whereby we are able to separate the precious from the vile, by discovering to us who are the children of God. The first contains an outward manifestation of the second—“Them that love God.” Now, there are many things in which the worldly and the godly do agree, but on this point there is a vital difference. No ungodly man loves God—at least not in the Bible sense of the term. An unconverted man may love a God, as, for instance, the God of nature and the God of the imagination. But the God of revelation no man can love, unless grace has been poured into his heart to turn him from that natural enmity of the heart towards God, in which all of us are born. And there may be many differences between godly men, as there undoubtedly are. They may belong to different sects. They may hold very opposite opinions, but all godly men agree in this—that they love God. Whosoever loves God, without doubt, is a Christian. And whosoever loves Him not, however high may be his pretensions, however boastful his professions—has not seen God, neither known Him—for “God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” True believers love God as their Father. They have “the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry Abba, Father.” They love Him as their King. They are willing to obey Him, to walk in His commands is their delight. No path is so soft to their feet as the path of God’s precepts, the way of obedience thereunto. They also love God as their Portion, for in Him they live and move and have their being. God is their all, without Him they have nothing, but possessing Him, however little they may have of outward good, they feel that they are rich to all the intents of bliss. They love God as their future Inheritance. They believe that when days and years are past they shall enter into the bosom of God. And their highest joy and delight is the full conviction and belief, that one day they shall dwell forever near His throne, be hidden in the brightness of His glory, and enjoy His everlasting favor. Do you love God, not with lip language, but with heart-service? Do you love to pay Him homage? Do you love to hold communion…