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. Romans 8:28 KJV
In this verse, Paul is saying that as believers, as we know [(Greek word oida for the word “know”) or “to have knowledge of …as in divine knowledge….” or “know Him perfectly” or “would have had perception of” (1) perception as discernment (2)] that all things work [or cooperate together (3)] together for good to those that love [in a social or moral sense (3)] God, [the supreme Divinity (3)], to them who are the called [or invited, i.e., appointed (3)] according to his purpose [or i.e., proposal (intention) (3)] [or plan (definition of intention) (4)] .
We as believers find that “all things” good or bad, trying or excruciating, eventually work out for good as it is God’s plan to do so.
God’s love requires us to be in relationship with Him. We are to be socially or “relating to or involving activities in which (we) spend time talking to (Him)” (2), and relating to Him morally or “concerned with the principles of right and wrong” (2) which turns our situations out to be good as we are “used of the purpose of God.” (1).
We are as “the show bread (in the Temple) as exposed before God.” (3) as an offering to God. We are to have our lives lived according to God’s plans, His proposal which He set forth (3) to us “for consideration” (definition of proposal) (2).
We are called or given the invitation (3) to carry out God’s plan for us on earth. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (5), chosen meaning elect or favorite (3) or “chosen for salvation through divine mercy” [definition of elect (2)]. We are His favorite (3), His elect (3) and through His mercy we are all given the invitation or “are the called according to his purpose.” God calls us all!
Praise Be To God!
(1) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words by W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White Jr.
(2) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
(3) The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D.
(4) Google definition
(5) Matthew 22:14 KJV
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.