Romans 8:28 –  ”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“And we know” – Paul was reminding them of what they already knew.  In other passages, Paul shares information that he had received individual by direct revelation or through his insights into the Old Testament text (see, for example, Romans 11:25).  In either case, this knowledge did not come from our own minds, but from the Holy Spirit.

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John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

This Is How God Loved The World.  In this passage, we see Jesus talking with a man named Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was of one of the more sincere and opened-minded of Israel`s wayward religious establishment.   Unlike many around him, he was not there to oppose Jesus.  Many opposed Jesus because they were jealous and did not understand what their Messiah truly had to offer.   They had different expectations and were expecting a military and political solution to their present oppression by the Romans.  Nicodemus seemed to know however that Jesus was different, and had something more to offer.   When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus He told him about the love that God the Father was offering.  Furthermore, Jesus told him how God was doing this.  In the end, Nicodemus learned about the Holy Spirit, and how it is He who shows us how to love as God loves us.  This was the direction missing from the religious establishment of that day. 

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