28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
for [contributes toward] good
Doctrine of Concursus, Part Three:
PRINCIPLE:
Nothing can happen to us unless it goes through God’s filter.
APPLICATION:
God took the initiative in saving us. He “draws all men to Himself” (Jn 6:44) while we are dead in our sins. We did not look for God initially but He for us. He did this in our salvation.
God also concurs in our daily lives. Job is an example of God’s concurrence in everything (concursus). The Devil could not reach Job unless God gave the Devil permission to do so (Job 1). God had to concur with Satan’s suggestion to bring trouble to Job.
For each action that Satan wanted to perpetrate on Job, he needed God’s authorization (concursus). For each successive action against Job, Satan had to acquire this right to attack this man of God. God granted the right to inflict Job with health problems, financial problems, and even loss of family members. All of these situations that God allowed to come to Job were catastrophic in nature.
Later Job gave his perspective about what God allowed in his life:
Job 1:21, And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
