Verse 28 The called according to his purpose. The doctrine of the passage introduced by this expression, and extending to Romans 8:32, seems plainly to be this,--that the redemption of the sinner is not a work which he performs upon himself, but one which God performs upon him,--being commenced and continued through its several successive steps, by divine power; and that, where it is once begun, it will be carried forward to its final consummation.