Spurgeon's Sermon 2626 Peace In Believing Romans ... - Apibs.info

383which the inspired apostles knew nothing at all. Read the Epistles of John,and note how he continually says, “We know, we know, we know,” andhow frequently he adds, “We believe,” as though believing and knowingwere the same thing. Agnostics may declare that they know nothing, if theyplease; but, as for us who do know, because we believe what we are taughtof God in this Book, we will speak He who has something to say has sright to say it; we know, and therefore we speak.Mark, brethren, how the apostle speaks here; he does not say that all thingsshall work together for good; no, but that they do work together,they arenow working for your present good. This is not merely something whichshall eventually turn out right; it is all right now, “We know that all thingsare working together for good to them that love God, to them who are thecalled according to his purpose.” No sooner does the apostle mention thatword “purpose” than he must needs found a long discourse upon it. Hewas not afraid or ashamed to speak of the purposes of God. There aresome preachers who say nothing about God’s purpose, or God’s decree;they seem to be afraid of it, they say it is “Calvinistic doctrine.” Why, itwas here, in the Scriptures, long before Calvin was born, so what righthave they to call it by his name? Listen to what the apostle has to say:29, 30. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to beconformed, to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amongmany brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, themhe also glorified.There is no separating these golden links of love and mercy. Thatforeknowledge, to which all things future are open and present, begins thedeed of love. Predestination comes in, and chooses a people for God whoshall be eternally his. Upon this, in due time, follows effectual calling, bywhich the chosen ones are brought out, from the impure mass of mankind,and set apart unto God. Then follows justication by faith, through theprecious blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ; and where this is, glorywill certainly come, for “whom he justified, them he also glorified.”31, 32. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who canbe against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for usall, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?