Loving God: the Test
A Sermon on Romans 8:28-30
Originally preached Nov. 24, 1961
Scripture
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the …
Sermon Description
No matter how devastating the trial, there is good that God will bring forth from it. After just speaking about present trials and tribulations in Romans 8:28–30, Paul then assures that anything endured in this life, whether good or bad, will work out for the Christian’s own good. In this sermon on loving God titled “Loving God: the Test,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that while this promise is not for everyone, there is a description of to whom this will apply. Paul explicitly states that this is only for those that truly love God and have been called by God. A Christian who loves God will love Him with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. They will believe in God, more than just an intellectual belief, but a true belief in the person and work of Christ. The description also includes those who have been called with an effectual call, because not all who hear the gospel have been called by God to be His child. Dr. Lloyd-Jones adds a third factor to the description: a person whose actual experience in the Christian life would agree and show proof that all things that afflict them are being worked out for their own good. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the unsure to listen and ask themselves if they love God and have they been called. By taking these things into account, a true Christian can rest assured in this promise.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is continuing the theme of assurance of salvation in Romans 8.
- He is giving an absolute guarantee of the final completion in glory of our total redemption.
- Paul starts with the experimental and moves to the doctrinal.
- The sermon looks at how we can know the promise in verse 28 is true for us.
- The first description of believers is that they love God. Loving God is more than just believing in God or having an emotional experience. It includes obeying God's commands and desiring to please him.
- Trials and tribulations show whether we truly love God. We can react like Job or like Job's wife.
- There is no greater proof of God's love for us than our love for him. We love him because he first loved us.
- The second description of believers is that they are "the called." This refers to the effectual call, not the general call. The effectual call produces faith and repentance.
- We can know we are called if we are surprised at ourselves for loving God, realize God has entered our lives, have been convicted of sin, believe the Bible is God's Word, feel helpless without God, see our need for Christ, and desire to know God more.
- Our experience also confirms God's promise. We feel God is still dealing with us, we can't be happy in sin, chastisement has been good for us, and we can say "Let nothing please nor pain me apart, o Lord, from thee."
- Next, we will look at "according to his purpose."
Sermon Q&A
How Does Martin Lloyd-Jones Explain Romans 8:28-30?
What does "all things work together for good" mean according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the statement "all things work together for good" means that God actively works and manages all circumstances in the lives of Christians—both positive and negative—to ultimately produce good for them. He emphasizes that "they don't happen automatically. It is God who works all things, or who so deals with all things, doesn't matter what they are, that he uses them and turns them to our ultimate good." This promise is specifically for believers, not for everyone.
Who are the people to whom "all things work together for good" applies?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that this promise only applies to those who fit two descriptions mentioned in Romans 8:28: 1. "Them that love God" 2. "Them who are the called according to his purpose"
He emphasizes that "it doesn't apply to everybody. It applies to certain people." Therefore, Christians must examine themselves to determine if they fit these descriptions to know if this promise applies to them.
Why does Paul describe Christians as "those who love God" in this passage?
Lloyd-Jones suggests five reasons why Paul uses this specific description: 1. To contrast Christians with non-Christians, whose "carnal mind is enmity against God" 2. To show that Christianity goes beyond mere intellectual belief in God 3. To emphasize that love is all-inclusive, involving the whole person 4. To emphasize that love includes obedience to God's commandments 5. To provide "an absolute proof of God's love to us" since "we love him because he first loved us"
What is the difference between the "general call" and "effectual call" in the Bible?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains: 1. The general call: The gospel invitation that goes out to all people without discrimination. "There is one sense in which everybody hears the call of this gospel." This is the universal preaching of the gospel to "every creature."
- The effectual call: The divine intervention that produces a response in some hearers. "It is obvious that in the case of one, the call has not been effectual. It is equally clear that in the case of the other, it has been effectual." This is what Paul refers to in Romans 8:28 when speaking of "the called according to his purpose."
How can a person know if they have been "effectually called" by God?
Lloyd-Jones provides several tests to determine if one has been effectually called: 1. You can say "I am what I am by the grace of God" and are amazed at yourself 2. You're aware that God has "entered into your life and has disturbed your life" 3. You've experienced conviction of sin 4. You believe the Bible is truly God's word, not merely man's words 5. You feel utterly helpless and in need of salvation 6. You see Christ as the Son of God and believe in His atoning death and resurrection 7. You have a desire to know God better 8. You feel "a magnetic attraction" toward God 9. You cannot be happy in sin 10. You can thank God for trials and see how they've been good for you
What does Lloyd-Jones say about the importance of practical application versus doctrine?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that practical application should come before abstract doctrine. He warns against those who want to "rush to the doctrine" without first examining the experimental and practical aspects of faith. He states: "If you are annoyed at that, well, it goes down as a very black mark against you if you want to rush to the doctrine. It makes me begin to think that you're more interested in the intellect than in the life, and it's a very bad sign." He says those who prioritize doctrinal debates over practical comfort show they may be "just interested intellectually and you're a controversialist."
How does Job illustrate what it means to love God according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones uses Job as a prime example of someone who truly loves God. Despite losing his possessions, children, and health, Job continued to worship God saying: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." When his wife urged him to "curse God and die," Job refused. Lloyd-Jones points to Job's declaration "though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" as the ultimate evidence of loving God. He concludes: "When everything's going against you, when you're being tried and tested and disappointed, do you want to curse God? Do you grumble and complain? Well, if you do, I don't think you've got much grounds for thinking that you're one who loves God."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.