Them that Love God !

beloved57

Well-known member
Rom 8:28-29

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.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Now exactly who are them that Love God ? For the promise "that all things work together for good" is qualified isnt it ? Its not promised to all without exception, but to them that love God !

Now even though thankfully the regenerate in their newbirth they are given a new heart that loves God, that fears God, I dont believe the text is confined to them, but it includes all for whom Christ lived and died for as their Surety, as their Covenant surety. Isaiah wrote in this Isa 42:6

6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 49:8

8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Christ as Adam was, is a Covenant Head, and Christ as the Covenant Head of His People, His Church, He kept the Law obediently for them, which included the duty for man to Matt 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This Law Christ as Covenant Head fulfilled for His People. Paul wrote Rom 13:8-10

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Christ as Covenant Head for His Seed has fulfilled all the Law and has provided them a Righteousness that honours the Law Rom 8:3-4

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son[As Covenant Head] in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This Righteousness that fulfills all the law is imputed to all of Gods Elect, for whom Christ represented, so since Christ Loved God, they whom He represented loved God, and God is well pleased with them in Him. So all things do work together for good to them, who are also the called according to His Purpose.
 

beloved57

Well-known member
Them that Love God are also them He God foreknew Rom 8:28-29

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.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Now did He foreknow them before they became believers ? Yes He did. So even when they were dead in sins, unconverted enemies, even then God who is Sovereign was working all things together for their good. Even then were they objects of Gods love for them in Christ, for their unconverted days in spiritual death could not seperate them from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom 8:34-39

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Understand, the elect prior to conversion are in death, the shadow of death Matt 4:16

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Lk 1:79

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace

Isa 9:2

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

We are by nature in a region enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and sin, dead in trespasses and sins.
 
Top