Romans 8:28 : And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. The expressions "them that love God" and "them that are called according to his purpose," refer to the same persons. What is included in the all things of the verse? Does Paul include the devil and all his works and agents? Does he include the lusts of the flesh, which war against the soul, and to our infirmities in which we need help? It seems to me that the context and the very nature of the case demand that we take the all things in a limited sense. In all that he had said up to this point Paul was talking about what God had done and is doing for us through Christ and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He had also shown how hope sustains us and how the Holy Spirit interprets to God the unutterable longings of our hearts. Why not understand Paul to refer to the things he had been talking about? And all of God's dealings in the past with men and nations worked for the good of those who love God, and whom God called. Paul's statement is a sort of conclusion from what he had said. It is not fair to him to make his conclusion include things he had not mentioned. Why, then, should we conclude that he now speaks of every conceivable thing, every conceivable force and circumstance, and that he affirms that all these things, both good and bad, work together for good to those who love God? To do so is to entirely miss the trend of his thought. Who are those who love God? "He that bath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments" (1 John 5:3). "And this is love that we should walk after his commandments" (2 John 1:6). But what is meant by the words "called according to his purpose"? God's purpose in sending his Son into the world was to save those who believe in him. He, therefore, purposed to save men through his Son. It is his purpose to save all who want to do right (Matthew 5:6). Hence, all who feel the burden of sin and their need of righteousness, or justification, are called. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Those who answer this call are the called according to his purpose. This calling is spoken of in 2 Timothy 1:9 : "Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal."