Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Romans 8:31-39

Transcript

Romans 8:31-39 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  I hope that the study of Romans has been encouraging to you.
• 0:05
  I hope especially chapter 8.
• 0:07
  ! It's been such a joy for myself to sit and rest in this chapter.
• 0:13
  We normally preach the Advent themes and just thought this year it would be great to press on through.
• 0:20
  And today's Advent theme is the Advent theme of love.
• 0:23
  And this text helps us fix our gaze on that very thing.
• 0:27
  So I'm grateful for the way this is timed out as we approach Christmas Day tomorrow.
• 0:33
  So let me just begin by reading the text.
• 0:34
  Before I do, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us, written for his glory and our good.
• 0:41
  And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
• 0:47
  Romans 8, beginning in verse 31.
• 0:51
  What then shall we say to these things?
• 0:54
  If God is for us, who can be against us?
• 0:58
  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
• 1:02
  how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
• 1:06
  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
• 1:10
  It is God who justifies.
• 1:12
  Who is to condemn?
• 1:14
  Christ Jesus is the one who died.
• 1:15
  More than that who was raised, who is at the right hand of God,
• 1:19
  who indeed is interceding for us.
• 1:22
  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
• 1:26
  Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
• 1:32
  As it is written,
• 1:33
  For your sake we are being killed all the day long.
• 1:36
  We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
• 1:40
  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
• 1:45
  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
• 1:49
  nor things present nor things to come,
• 1:51
  nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation
• 1:56
  will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 2:03
  Paul begins this part of Romans 8 with a question.
• 2:07
  What then shall we say to these things?
• 2:11
  And what things is Paul referring to?
• 2:14
  Well, he's referring directly to chapter 8 verses 28 through 30,
• 2:22
  where Paul speaks of the unstoppable plan of God to pursue his people to the end.
• 2:28
  In this text is contained a brief order of salvation,
• 2:33
  the main point of which is that God acts, God accomplishes, and God maintains.
• 2:41
  Oh, recall, beloved, that these three verses are meant to be comfort to the weary soul.
• 2:48
  Since the end of chapter 7, Paul has expressed the challenge of living in our corrupted flesh
• 2:53
  and living in a corrupted world.
• 2:57
  And then he says, beginning in verse 28,
• 2:59
  And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good
• 3:05
  for those who are called according to his purpose.
• 3:08
  For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of a son,
• 3:12
  in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
• 3:16
  And those whom he predestined, he also called.
• 3:19
  And those whom he called, he also justifies.
• 3:22
  And those whom he justified, he also glorified.
• 3:26
  And last week we considered these verses in terms of the confidence that is ours in this life.
• 3:34
  Paul says, and we know.
• 3:37
  And we considered it in three points.
• 3:40
  First, our confidence in God's providence.
• 3:44
  So providence is God's purposeful sovereignty.
• 3:49
  It's him working in his power to accomplish purpose for us.
• 3:54
  And if you are a Christian, then anything and everything that happens in your life
• 3:59
  is being used of God for your good.
• 4:05
  We saw, secondly, that we have a confidence in God's purpose.
• 4:09
  What is that purpose?
• 4:11
  What is it that he is working providentially to accomplish in our lives?
• 4:15
  We saw that we would look more and more like Christ to the praise of Christ.
• 4:22
  And we saw, thirdly, our confidence in God's plan.
• 4:27
  If we are to have the confidence that Paul here states we are to have,
• 4:32
  then we must be confident in God's plan.
• 4:36
  You will not weather well the storms this life will assail you with
• 4:40
  apart from an anchored confidence in all that God has guaranteed for you
• 4:45
  in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
• 4:49
  And verse 31 is an elaboration of the very point that Paul has been making
• 4:54
  concerning our confidence.
• 4:57
  So he asks a question,
• 5:00
  What then shall we say to these things?
• 5:04
  And he answers that question,
• 5:07
  If God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:12
  This is an answer worth settling into.
• 5:17
  If God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:22
  When life is full of trouble,
• 5:25
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:29
  When you feel like an outsider at work or with your family
• 5:33
  because you're trying to live a holy life,
• 5:36
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:39
  When it seems that we live in an age that has abandoned all truth and reasonableness,
• 5:46
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:49
  When the American church appears to be crumbling down around us,
• 5:55
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 5:59
  When you or someone you love dearly receives a tragic diagnosis,
• 6:06
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 6:09
  When you struggle against your flesh and it falters and it fails,
• 6:16
  if God is for us, who can be against us?
• 6:22
  Let this answer framed as a question,
• 6:25
  a response to God's providence and purpose and plan,
• 6:30
  be emblazoned across your mind.
• 6:33
  Have it be your ruling thought,
• 6:36
  despite how desperate you may feel in any given moment,
• 6:40
  if God is for us,
• 6:43
  who can be against us?
• 6:46
  No one and nothing.
• 6:49
  Because we know that for those who love God,
• 6:51
  all things work together for good.
• 6:57
  Every bit of trouble in this life,
• 6:59
  if God is for us,
• 7:00
  we know that God is working it for the great good
• 7:04
  that we would look like Christ for Christ.
• 7:08
  So, who can be against us?
• 7:13
  Paul then asks and answers four follow-up questions
• 7:17
  that are meant to help us consider this reality
• 7:19
  that if God is for us,
• 7:21
  no one can be against us.
• 7:24
  Before we look at those four questions and answers,
• 7:28
  I want us to notice the qualifying factor
• 7:32
  in all that Paul is saying.
• 7:35
  He says,
• 7:37
  if God is for us.
• 7:41
  It is also possible that God is not for you,
• 7:45
  and the basis of this being,
• 7:47
  for or not for,
• 7:50
  is whether or not you are in Christ.
• 7:54
  Let's not neglect the context of Paul's phrase here.
• 8:00
  Paul is speaking directly to Christians in this letter.
• 8:04
  Those who are professing faith in Jesus Christ.
• 8:08
  Remember in Romans chapter 8 and verse 1,
• 8:10
  he says,
• 8:11
  There is therefore now no condemnation
• 8:14
  for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• 8:19
  Every person, he has said,
• 8:22
  Romans chapter 3,
• 8:23
  has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
• 8:26
  We deserve condemnation,
• 8:29
  but for those who are in Christ Jesus,
• 8:32
  Romans 8, 1 says,
• 8:33
  there is no condemnation.
• 8:37
  He goes on to say in chapter 8, verse 5,
• 8:41
  Those who live according to the flesh
• 8:42
  set their minds on the things of the flesh,
• 8:46
  but those who live according to the Spirit
• 8:48
  set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
• 8:51
  So, there's two categories of people, right?
• 8:55
  Those who are in Christ
• 8:57
  and those who are not in Christ.
• 8:59
  Those who have the Spirit
• 9:01
  and therefore set their minds
• 9:02
  on the things of the Spirit
• 9:04
  and those who do not have the Spirit
• 9:06
  and do not set their minds
• 9:08
  on the things of the Spirit.
• 9:10
  Those who for there is no condemnation
• 9:13
  and those who there is condemnation.
• 9:17
  Those that God is for
• 9:20
  and those that God is not for.
• 9:25
  Romans 8, 9 says,
• 9:27
  You, however,
• 9:28
  are not in the flesh,
• 9:29
  but in the Spirit,
• 9:31
  if in fact the Spirit of God
• 9:33
  dwells in you.
• 9:36
  And so Paul expresses some concern here
• 9:39
  that perhaps those who are professing
• 9:41
  faith in Christ
• 9:42
  are not actually in Christ
• 9:44
  and therefore Christ is not in them
• 9:47
  by the Spirit.
• 9:49
  And then he says,
• 9:49
  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
• 9:53
  does not belong to Him.
• 9:57
  And so we just must ask the question,
• 10:00
  as Paul is making this case to us,
• 10:01
  that if we are in Christ,
• 10:02
  then Christ is in us by the Spirit
• 10:04
  and we will be setting our minds
• 10:07
  on the things of the Spirit,
• 10:09
  namely His Word,
• 10:12
  that we would be affectionate toward
• 10:15
  and have the ruling thoughts in our life
• 10:17
  be those things that are of God.
• 10:23
  And so, what most occupies your mind?
• 10:28
  What do you think about
• 10:30
  when you seem to be thinking about nothing at all?
• 10:32
  Is your general disposition bent Godward or not?
• 10:39
  These are important things for us to consider
• 10:42
  and to think about.
• 10:45
  How do our affections for the things of God
• 10:49
  stir us to the activity of God?
• 10:55
  Elsewhere, Paul says,
• 10:56
  this is Galatians 5, verse 22 and 23,
• 10:59
  the fruit of the Spirit
• 11:02
  is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
• 11:09
  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
• 11:14
  God works things into us
• 11:15
  that He works then out of us
• 11:17
  by the power of the Spirit.
• 11:19
  And if we are in Christ,
• 11:20
  if God is for us,
• 11:22
  then He is also in us
• 11:25
  working on our behalf.
• 11:27
  And so, consider carefully this morning,
• 11:30
  is God for you?
• 11:33
  Do you fit in this category
• 11:34
  as an adopted Son of God?
• 11:39
  And I do hope that you can join us
• 11:41
  this morning in confidently saying,
• 11:45
  and we know.
• 11:48
  Because if you can then,
• 11:50
  if God is for you,
• 11:51
  no one can be against you.
• 11:54
  If you are in Christ Jesus,
• 11:56
  then this reality includes you.
• 11:58
  You are safe because you are saved by God.
• 12:02
  God is for you.
• 12:06
  So, now that we've dealt with the qualifying factor,
• 12:11
  let's look at Paul's follow-up questions and answers.
• 12:16
  Number one, verse 32,
• 12:19
  He who did not spare His own Son,
• 12:22
  but gave Him up for us all,
• 12:24
  how will He not also with Him
• 12:26
  graciously give us all things?
• 12:31
  God's commitment to us
• 12:32
  is most readily seen at the cross.
• 12:37
  He gave His very own Son
• 12:39
  to ransom us from the clutches of our sin
• 12:43
  and to bring us to Himself.
• 12:45
  What clear picture do we need
• 12:49
  of God's concern for us?
• 12:53
  John 3, 16.
• 12:56
  John writes,
• 12:56
  For God so loved the world
• 12:59
  that He gave His only Son
• 13:01
  that whoever believes in Him
• 13:04
  should not perish
• 13:05
  but have eternal life.
• 13:09
  The prophet Isaiah records in Isaiah 53,
• 13:12
  this is verses 4-6,
• 13:14
  and then verse 10.
• 13:17
  Surely, Christ has borne our griefs
• 13:20
  and carried our sorrows.
• 13:23
  Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
• 13:25
  smitten by God,
• 13:26
  and afflicted.
• 13:27
  But He was pierced for our transgressions.
• 13:31
  He was crushed for our iniquities.
• 13:34
  Upon Him was the chastisement
• 13:35
  that brought us peace,
• 13:37
  and with His wounds
• 13:38
  we are healed.
• 13:40
  All we like sheep have gone astray.
• 13:44
  We have turned everyone to His own way.
• 13:48
  And the Lord has laid on Him
• 13:50
  the iniquity of us all.
• 13:53
  Yet it was the will of the Lord
• 13:55
  to crush Him.
• 13:56
  He has put Him to grief.
• 13:58
  When His soul makes an offering for guilt,
• 14:00
  He shall see His offspring.
• 14:02
  He shall prolong His days.
• 14:05
  The will of the Lord
• 14:06
  shall prosper in His hand.
• 14:08
  God the Father
• 14:11
  gave to us
• 14:14
  God the Son
• 14:15
  that we might
• 14:17
  be brought back into relationship
• 14:19
  with Him.
• 14:21
  So Paul reasons
• 14:22
  if God the Father
• 14:23
  was willing to give up for us
• 14:25
  God the Son,
• 14:26
  how will He not also with Him
• 14:28
  graciously give us
• 14:30
  all things?
• 14:33
  That is, how could it be possible
• 14:34
  that having started
• 14:35
  with the greatest of gifts,
• 14:37
  will He not complete
• 14:38
  His plan
• 14:39
  of spiritual blessing
• 14:41
  for us?
• 14:44
  Again, don't forget the context.
• 14:46
  Just a few verses ago,
• 14:49
  Paul said in verse 16 and 17,
• 14:53
  the Spirit Himself bears witness
• 14:55
  with our spirit
• 14:56
  that we are children of God.
• 15:00
  and if children,
• 15:02
  then heirs,
• 15:03
  heirs of God
• 15:04
  and fellow heirs
• 15:06
  with Christ,
• 15:08
  provided we suffer with Him
• 15:09
  in order that we may also
• 15:11
  be glorified
• 15:12
  with Him.
• 15:14
  So Paul goes on
• 15:15
  to talk about how
• 15:16
  the suffering of this world
• 15:17
  isn't even worth comparing
• 15:18
  to the glory
• 15:19
  that's being revealed to us
• 15:21
  and how the creation
• 15:22
  and we
• 15:22
  and the Spirit within us
• 15:24
  all groan
• 15:25
  for this future
• 15:27
  glory.
• 15:28
  glory.
• 15:29
  So what is the
• 15:29
  all things
• 15:30
  that God has promised
• 15:31
  to give to us?
• 15:32
  It's all of the spiritual blessing
• 15:34
  that He's mentioned
• 15:34
  in verse 28
• 15:36
  through 30
• 15:37
  that culminates finally
• 15:38
  in our glorification.
• 15:41
  Right?
• 15:42
  How could it be possible
• 15:43
  that Him who gave us
• 15:45
  His very Son
• 15:46
  will not also give us
• 15:47
  all things?
• 15:51
  If God is for us,
• 15:53
  who can be against us?
• 15:56
  The second question
• 15:58
  that He asks
• 15:59
  we find in verse 33.
• 16:01
  Who shall bring
• 16:02
  any charge
• 16:03
  against God's elect?
• 16:06
  And He answers it,
• 16:07
  it is God
• 16:08
  who justifies.
• 16:11
  God is the judge
• 16:13
  and the justifier.
• 16:15
  We have been declared
• 16:16
  righteous
• 16:17
  in His court.
• 16:19
  We stand before God
• 16:22
  guilty of our own accord
• 16:24
  and we have
• 16:25
  no
• 16:26
  defense.
• 16:28
  When entering our plea,
• 16:30
  our plea can only be
• 16:32
  guilty
• 16:32
  when charged
• 16:33
  with our crimes.
• 16:35
  But another,
• 16:37
  the Lord Jesus Christ,
• 16:38
  just before our sentencing,
• 16:41
  declares
• 16:42
  mine.
• 16:42
  Mine.
• 16:43
  This one belongs
• 16:45
  to me
• 16:46
  and I have paid
• 16:48
  the penalty
• 16:48
  for his sin
• 16:49
  and I have given him
• 16:51
  my righteousness.
• 16:55
  He accomplishes this
• 16:56
  on our behalf
• 16:57
  in the courtroom
• 16:58
  of God.
• 17:01
  John MacArthur
• 17:02
  wrote of this text,
• 17:03
  God conceived the law,
• 17:05
  revealed the law,
• 17:06
  interprets the law,
• 17:07
  and applies the law.
• 17:09
  And through the sacrifice
• 17:10
  of His Son,
• 17:11
  all the demands
• 17:12
  of the law
• 17:13
  have been met
• 17:14
  for those
• 17:15
  who trust
• 17:16
  in Him.
• 17:18
  Who shall bring
• 17:19
  any charge
• 17:21
  against God's elect?
• 17:23
  It is God
• 17:24
  who justifies,
• 17:26
  declares
• 17:27
  righteous.
• 17:28
  Our punishment
• 17:29
  taken from us,
• 17:31
  eternal reward
• 17:32
  given to us
• 17:34
  because of Jesus'
• 17:35
  perfect
• 17:36
  law-keeping.
• 17:38
  We find
• 17:39
  another qualifier
• 17:40
  in this
• 17:41
  text.
• 17:42
  Paul says,
• 17:43
  who shall bring
• 17:44
  any charge
• 17:44
  against God's
• 17:46
  elect?
• 17:48
  And once again,
• 17:49
  Paul is not
• 17:49
  trying to pick
• 17:50
  a theological
• 17:51
  fight.
• 17:53
  Not at all
• 17:54
  what he is
• 17:54
  doing here.
• 17:56
  He's going to
• 17:56
  launch into
• 17:57
  some future
• 17:57
  chapters of
• 17:58
  working out
• 17:59
  all of the
• 18:00
  implications
• 18:00
  of the glories
• 18:02
  he states
• 18:02
  at the end
• 18:03
  of chapter 8.
• 18:05
  He here
• 18:06
  is just
• 18:07
  teaching
• 18:07
  Christians
• 18:08
  that their
• 18:09
  confidence
• 18:10
  is not
• 18:10
  in their
• 18:11
  works,
• 18:12
  but in
• 18:13
  God's
• 18:13
  working
• 18:14
  on their
• 18:15
  behalf.
• 18:17
  This should
• 18:18
  do nothing
• 18:18
  but
• 18:19
  comfort us.
• 18:21
  This truth
• 18:22
  is
• 18:22
  complex,
• 18:24
  I will
• 18:24
  admit.
• 18:25
  God's
• 18:26
  sovereignty
• 18:26
  in our
• 18:27
  salvation
• 18:27
  is complex.
• 18:29
  The doctrine
• 18:30
  of election
• 18:31
  gives us
• 18:31
  much to
• 18:32
  think about,
• 18:33
  but let
• 18:33
  us not
• 18:34
  miss
• 18:34
  that it
• 18:35
  is
• 18:36
  good.
• 18:38
  You
• 18:39
  were loved
• 18:40
  by God
• 18:40
  long before
• 18:42
  you did
• 18:42
  anything,
• 18:44
  good
• 18:44
  or bad,
• 18:46
  anything.
• 18:48
  Paul says
• 18:49
  in Ephesians
• 18:49
  chapter 1
• 18:50
  verse 3
• 18:51
  and following,
• 18:53
  Blessed be
• 18:53
  the God
• 18:54
  and Father
• 18:54
  of our
• 18:55
  Lord Jesus
• 18:55
  Christ,
• 18:56
  who has
• 18:57
  blessed us
• 18:57
  in Christ
• 18:58
  with every
• 18:59
  spiritual
• 18:59
  blessing
• 19:00
  in the
• 19:01
  heavenly
• 19:01
  places,
• 19:01
  even as
• 19:03
  he chose
• 19:03
  us in
• 19:04
  him before
• 19:05
  the foundation
• 19:05
  of the
• 19:06
  world,
• 19:07
  that we
• 19:07
  should be
• 19:08
  holy and
• 19:09
  blameless
• 19:09
  before him.
• 19:11
  In love
• 19:11
  he predestined
• 19:12
  us for
• 19:13
  adoption to
• 19:13
  himself as
• 19:14
  sons through
• 19:15
  Jesus Christ
• 19:16
  according to
• 19:16
  the purpose
• 19:17
  of his
• 19:18
  will,
• 19:18
  to the
• 19:19
  praise of
• 19:20
  his glorious
• 19:20
  grace with
• 19:21
  which he
• 19:22
  has blessed
• 19:22
  us in
• 19:24
  the
• 19:25
  beloved.
• 19:26
  Beloved,
• 19:27
  if you do
• 19:28
  not like
• 19:29
  the doctrine
• 19:30
  of election,
• 19:31
  then you
• 19:31
  cannot love
• 19:32
  the doctrine
• 19:33
  of eternal
• 19:33
  security.
• 19:36
  They are
• 19:36
  cause and
• 19:39
  effect.
• 19:40
  And this
• 19:40
  doctrine is
• 19:41
  always taught
• 19:42
  to us for
• 19:43
  this great
• 19:44
  end, that
• 19:45
  we would
• 19:45
  know that
• 19:46
  if we belong
• 19:47
  to God,
• 19:48
  that he
• 19:49
  will keep
• 19:50
  us to
• 19:51
  the end.
• 19:52
  Who shall
• 19:53
  bring any
• 19:54
  charge against
• 19:55
  God's elect?
• 19:56
  It is God
• 19:57
  who justifies.
• 19:59
  God is
• 20:01
  for us.
• 20:02
  Who can
• 20:03
  be against
• 20:04
  us?
• 20:06
  The third
• 20:07
  question he
• 20:07
  asks,
• 20:07
  verse 34,
• 20:09
  who is
• 20:11
  to condemn?
• 20:12
  Similar to
• 20:13
  the question
• 20:13
  he asked
• 20:14
  previously in
• 20:15
  verse 33.
• 20:16
  And he
• 20:17
  answers it,
• 20:17
  Christ Jesus
• 20:18
  is the one
• 20:18
  who died,
• 20:19
  more than
• 20:20
  that who
• 20:21
  was raised,
• 20:21
  who is at
• 20:22
  the right
• 20:23
  hand of
• 20:23
  God,
• 20:23
  who is
• 20:24
  indeed
• 20:24
  interceding
• 20:26
  for us.
• 20:28
  Jesus
• 20:29
  Christ was
• 20:29
  condemned in
• 20:30
  our place
• 20:31
  and paid
• 20:31
  the penalty
• 20:32
  for our
• 20:33
  sin.
• 20:34
  He bore
• 20:35
  the eternal
• 20:36
  wrath that
• 20:37
  was justly
• 20:38
  due to
• 20:39
  us.
• 20:40
  This is the
• 20:41
  doctrine of
• 20:41
  penal
• 20:41
  substitutionary
• 20:42
  atonement and
• 20:43
  is central
• 20:44
  to the good
• 20:45
  news.
• 20:46
  We deserved
• 20:47
  a punishment
• 20:48
  and he took
• 20:49
  it on himself
• 20:50
  in our
• 20:51
  place.
• 20:53
  He atoned
• 20:53
  for the wrath
• 20:54
  of God
• 20:54
  that was
• 20:55
  due us.
• 20:57
  We will
• 20:57
  celebrate
• 20:58
  Christmas
• 20:58
  tomorrow.
• 21:00
  And while
• 21:01
  as we think
• 21:02
  about the
• 21:02
  incarnation,
• 21:03
  it is important
• 21:04
  to reflect
• 21:05
  upon the
• 21:05
  humility
• 21:06
  of the
• 21:07
  second part
• 21:07
  of the
• 21:07
  Godhead
• 21:08
  in the
• 21:08
  form of
• 21:09
  a baby
• 21:09
  lying
• 21:10
  in a
• 21:11
  feed trough.
• 21:13
  We ought
• 21:14
  not forget
• 21:15
  why,
• 21:16
  though,
• 21:17
  he was
• 21:17
  incarnate.
• 21:19
  It is good
• 21:20
  to think
• 21:20
  about him
• 21:21
  humbly
• 21:21
  coming
• 21:22
  as a baby,
• 21:23
  but he
• 21:23
  came for
• 21:25
  a purpose.
• 21:26
  A baby
• 21:27
  born as
• 21:29
  a king
• 21:30
  to rule
• 21:31
  and to
• 21:33
  reign.
• 21:34
  Sometimes I
• 21:34
  think our
• 21:34
  focus gets a
• 21:35
  little shifted
• 21:36
  too heavily
• 21:37
  in one
• 21:38
  direction.
• 21:40
  Remember
• 21:41
  Jesus said
• 21:41
  in Mark
• 21:41
  10,
• 21:42
  verse 45,
• 21:43
  the Son
• 21:43
  of Man
• 21:43
  came not
• 21:45
  to be
• 21:45
  served,
• 21:46
  but to
• 21:46
  serve and
• 21:47
  to give
• 21:47
  his life
• 21:48
  as a
• 21:49
  ransom
• 21:49
  for many.
• 21:51
  Jesus'
• 21:52
  focus was
• 21:54
  fixed on
• 21:54
  the purpose
• 21:55
  for which
• 21:56
  he came,
• 21:57
  to die
• 21:58
  in our
• 21:59
  place.
• 22:00
  Jesus Christ
• 22:01
  is the
• 22:01
  one who
• 22:03
  died.
• 22:04
  However,
• 22:04
  his work
• 22:05
  did not
• 22:05
  end there.
• 22:06
  He is
• 22:07
  risen and
• 22:08
  interceding
• 22:09
  or praying
• 22:10
  for us.
• 22:13
  The text
• 22:13
  says,
• 22:14
  verse 34,
• 22:15
  that Jesus
• 22:15
  is at the
• 22:16
  right hand
• 22:16
  of God
• 22:17
  and interceding
• 22:18
  for us.
• 22:20
  Hebrews 8,
• 22:21
  1 states
• 22:21
  that we
• 22:22
  have such
• 22:23
  a high
• 22:24
  priest,
• 22:24
  one who
• 22:25
  is seated
• 22:25
  at the
• 22:26
  right hand
• 22:26
  of the
• 22:27
  throne
• 22:27
  of the
• 22:28
  majesty
• 22:28
  in heaven.
• 22:31
  So we
• 22:31
  pick up
• 22:32
  the detail
• 22:32
  that not
• 22:32
  only is
• 22:33
  Jesus at
• 22:33
  the right
• 22:34
  hand of
• 22:34
  the Father,
• 22:35
  the place
• 22:36
  of honor,
• 22:37
  the place
• 22:38
  of esteem,
• 22:40
  but also
• 22:40
  that he
• 22:41
  is seated
• 22:43
  there.
• 22:44
  Jesus
• 22:45
  declared in
• 22:46
  his dying
• 22:46
  breath,
• 22:47
  it is
• 22:48
  finished.
• 22:50
  He has
• 22:51
  no need
• 22:52
  like the
• 22:53
  earthly
• 22:53
  priest to
• 22:53
  continually
• 22:54
  make
• 22:54
  sacrifice
• 22:55
  because
• 22:55
  he
• 22:55
  himself
• 22:56
  was
• 22:57
  that
• 22:57
  sacrifice
• 22:58
  and he
• 22:59
  died
• 22:59
  once
• 23:00
  for all.
• 23:01
  The work
• 23:02
  is completed.
• 23:03
  All that
• 23:04
  he was sent
• 23:04
  to accomplish
• 23:05
  is guaranteed
• 23:06
  by his
• 23:08
  death
• 23:08
  and
• 23:09
  resurrection.
• 23:10
  It is a
• 23:11
  sure
• 23:12
  thing
• 23:13
  that all
• 23:14
  that he
• 23:15
  purchased
• 23:15
  in his
• 23:16
  death
• 23:16
  will
• 23:17
  come
• 23:18
  to
• 23:19
  believe
• 23:19
  in him
• 23:20
  and
• 23:20
  will
• 23:21
  persist
• 23:22
  to the
• 23:23
  end.
• 23:24
  2 Corinthians
• 23:25
  chapter 1
• 23:26
  the first
• 23:26
  part of
• 23:26
  verse 20
• 23:27
  says
• 23:27
  for all
• 23:28
  the promises
• 23:29
  of God
• 23:30
  find their
• 23:31
  yes
• 23:32
  in
• 23:33
  Christ.
• 23:35
  Finished
• 23:36
  work.
• 23:37
  Guaranteed
• 23:38
  result.
• 23:40
  And Paul
• 23:40
  tells us
• 23:40
  as we live
• 23:41
  in this
• 23:41
  age of
• 23:42
  already
• 23:42
  and not
• 23:43
  yet
• 23:44
  that
• 23:45
  Jesus
• 23:45
  is
• 23:46
  praying
• 23:47
  for
• 23:47
  us.
• 23:49
  This
• 23:49
  is just
• 23:50
  an
• 23:50
  unfathomable
• 23:51
  depth.
• 23:52
  I don't
• 23:52
  have much
• 23:53
  to say
• 23:54
  about it.
• 23:55
  He's
• 23:55
  told us
• 23:56
  previously
• 23:56
  in this
• 23:57
  chapter
• 23:57
  that the
• 23:57
  Spirit
• 23:58
  intercedes
• 23:58
  for us
• 23:59
  and now
• 23:59
  that
• 23:59
  Christ
• 24:00
  Jesus
• 24:00
  intercedes
• 24:01
  for us.
• 24:02
  What
• 24:03
  glorious
• 24:03
  truths
• 24:04
  these are.
• 24:06
  As we
• 24:07
  walk in
• 24:07
  this
• 24:07
  difficult
• 24:08
  life
• 24:08
  and it
• 24:09
  is
• 24:09
  surely
• 24:10
  difficult
• 24:11
  we
• 24:12
  should
• 24:12
  be
• 24:12
  comforted
• 24:13
  that
• 24:14
  the
• 24:14
  Godhead
• 24:15
  prays
• 24:16
  for us
• 24:17
  works
• 24:18
  on our
• 24:19
  behalf
• 24:19
  for what
• 24:21
  purpose
• 24:21
  that our
• 24:23
  holiness
• 24:23
  would bring
• 24:24
  about the
• 24:24
  praise
• 24:25
  of Christ.
• 24:27
  He is
• 24:28
  with us
• 24:28
  and he
• 24:29
  is for
• 24:30
  us.
• 24:31
  If God
• 24:32
  is for
• 24:32
  us
• 24:33
  who
• 24:34
  could
• 24:34
  be
• 24:34
  against
• 24:35
  us?
• 24:37
  The
• 24:38
  fourth
• 24:38
  and last
• 24:38
  question
• 24:39
  that he
• 24:39
  asks
• 24:40
  verse
• 24:41
  35
• 24:41
  who
• 24:43
  shall
• 24:43
  separate
• 24:43
  us
• 24:44
  from
• 24:45
  the
• 24:45
  love
• 24:45
  of
• 24:47
  Christ?
• 24:48
  Paul's
• 24:49
  answer
• 24:49
  to this
• 24:49
  question
• 24:50
  also
• 24:50
  implies
• 24:51
  or
• 24:51
  what
• 24:52
  shall
• 24:52
  separate
• 24:52
  us
• 24:53
  from
• 24:53
  the
• 24:53
  love
• 24:54
  of
• 24:55
  Christ?
• 24:55
  And
• 24:55
  his
• 24:56
  emphatic
• 24:57
  answer
• 24:57
  is
• 24:58
  nothing.
• 25:00
  Nothing.
• 25:02
  Shall
• 25:03
  tribulation
• 25:03
  or
• 25:05
  distress
• 25:05
  or
• 25:06
  persecution
• 25:07
  or
• 25:08
  famine
• 25:08
  or
• 25:09
  nakedness
• 25:10
  or
• 25:10
  danger
• 25:11
  or
• 25:11
  sword?
• 25:13
  As it
• 25:13
  is
• 25:13
  written,
• 25:14
  for
• 25:14
  your
• 25:15
  sake
• 25:15
  we
• 25:15
  are
• 25:15
  being
• 25:15
  killed
• 25:16
  all
• 25:16
  the
• 25:16
  day
• 25:17
  long.
• 25:17
  We
• 25:18
  are
• 25:18
  regarded
• 25:18
  as
• 25:19
  sheep
• 25:20
  to be
• 25:21
  slaughtered.
• 25:23
  Shall
• 25:23
  all of
• 25:24
  the
• 25:24
  trouble
• 25:24
  that
• 25:25
  this
• 25:25
  world
• 25:25
  can
• 25:26
  throw
• 25:26
  at
• 25:26
  us
• 25:26
  separate
• 25:27
  us
• 25:27
  from
• 25:28
  the
• 25:28
  love
• 25:28
  of
• 25:29
  Christ?
• 25:30
  And
• 25:30
  he
• 25:30
  does
• 25:31
  this
• 25:31
  very
• 25:31
  interesting
• 25:31
  thing
• 25:32
  in
• 25:32
  verse
• 25:32
  36.
• 25:33
  He
• 25:33
  cites
• 25:33
  Psalm
• 25:34
  44
• 25:35
  and
• 25:36
  verse
• 25:36
  22.
• 25:37
  And
• 25:39
  it
• 25:39
  feels
• 25:40
  upon
• 25:40
  first
• 25:40
  reading
• 25:41
  it
• 25:41
  like
• 25:41
  an
• 25:41
  unnecessary
• 25:42
  assertion.
• 25:44
  It
• 25:44
  feels
• 25:44
  as if
• 25:45
  Paul
• 25:46
  under the
• 25:46
  inspiration
• 25:46
  of the
• 25:47
  Spirit
• 25:47
  feels
• 25:47
  like
• 25:48
  he
• 25:48
  needs
• 25:48
  to
• 25:48
  prove
• 25:48
  himself
• 25:49
  from
• 25:49
  the
• 25:50
  Old
• 25:50
  Testament
• 25:50
  as we
• 25:50
  often
• 25:51
  do
• 25:51
  in our
• 25:51
  preaching.
• 25:52
  We
• 25:52
  draw on
• 25:52
  text
• 25:53
  to say
• 25:53
  this
• 25:53
  thing
• 25:54
  I'm
• 25:54
  saying
• 25:54
  to
• 25:54
  you
• 25:54
  is
• 25:54
  not
• 25:54
  a
• 25:55
  crazy
• 25:55
  thing.
• 25:55
  Look
• 25:56
  here
• 25:56
  it
• 25:56
  is
• 25:56
  in
• 25:57
  the
• 25:57
  Bible.
• 26:00
  I
• 26:00
  think
• 26:00
  Paul
• 26:00
  felt
• 26:01
  the
• 26:01
  need
• 26:01
  to
• 26:01
  do
• 26:01
  that
• 26:02
  to
• 26:02
  prove
• 26:02
  himself
• 26:03
  from
• 26:04
  the
• 26:04
  Old
• 26:04
  Testament
• 26:05
  text.
• 26:05
  So he
• 26:05
  must be
• 26:06
  doing
• 26:06
  something
• 26:07
  more
• 26:08
  interesting
• 26:08
  than that.
• 26:09
  So join
• 26:10
  me if
• 26:10
  you will
• 26:10
  in
• 26:11
  Psalm
• 26:12
  44.
• 26:16
  While
• 26:16
  you're
• 26:16
  getting there
• 26:17
  I'm just
• 26:17
  going to
• 26:17
  tell you
• 26:18
  that in
• 26:18
  verses
• 26:19
  1-8
• 26:20
  the
• 26:20
  psalmist
• 26:21
  recounts
• 26:22
  the past
• 26:22
  glories
• 26:23
  of
• 26:24
  Israel's
• 26:24
  history.
• 26:25
  The way
• 26:26
  that
• 26:26
  God
• 26:26
  had
• 26:27
  worked
• 26:27
  on
• 26:28
  behalf
• 26:29
  of
• 26:29
  Israel.
• 26:30
  Verse
• 26:30
  1 says
• 26:31
  O
• 26:33
  God we
• 26:31
  have
• 26:31
  heard
• 26:32
  with
• 26:32
  our
• 26:32
  ears
• 26:33
  our
• 26:33
  fathers
• 26:34
  have
• 26:34
  told
• 26:34
  us
• 26:34
  what
• 26:35
  deeds
• 26:35
  you
• 26:35
  performed
• 26:36
  in
• 26:36
  their
• 26:37
  days
• 26:37
  in
• 26:38
  the
• 26:38
  days
• 26:39
  of
• 26:40
  old.
• 26:41
  He
• 26:41
  reaches
• 26:41
  back
• 26:42
  the
• 26:42
  psalmist
• 26:42
  does
• 26:43
  to the
• 26:44
  history
• 26:44
  of the
• 26:45
  way
• 26:45
  that
• 26:45
  God
• 26:45
  had
• 26:45
  worked
• 26:46
  amongst
• 26:47
  his
• 26:47
  people
• 26:48
  but
• 26:48
  then
• 26:48
  beginning
• 26:49
  in
• 26:49
  verse
• 26:49
  9
• 26:49
  he
• 26:50
  laments
• 26:51
  Israel's
• 26:51
  present
• 26:52
  state
• 26:52
  and
• 26:52
  declares
• 26:53
  that
• 26:54
  Israel
• 26:54
  God's
• 26:55
  people
• 26:55
  had
• 26:55
  not
• 26:55
  forgotten
• 26:56
  God
• 26:56
  or
• 26:57
  turned
• 26:58
  away
• 26:59
  from
• 26:59
  him.
• 26:59
  And then
• 27:01
  he says
• 27:01
  in
• 27:01
  verse
• 27:02
  22
• 27:03
  this is
• 27:03
  what
• 27:03
  Paul
• 27:04
  cites
• 27:04
  in
• 27:04
  Romans
• 27:04
  8
• 27:05
  yet
• 27:05
  for
• 27:05
  your
• 27:06
  sake
• 27:06
  we
• 27:06
  are
• 27:06
  killed
• 27:07
  all
• 27:07
  the
• 27:07
  day
• 27:08
  long
• 27:08
  we
• 27:08
  are
• 27:09
  regarded
• 27:09
  as
• 27:09
  sheep
• 27:10
  to be
• 27:11
  slaughtered.
• 27:12
  we
• 27:12
  have
• 27:13
  been
• 27:13
  faithful
• 27:14
  to
• 27:14
  you
• 27:14
  and
• 27:14
  yet
• 27:15
  it
• 27:16
  seems
• 27:16
  that
• 27:16
  you
• 27:16
  have
• 27:16
  forgotten
• 27:17
  us
• 27:18
  because
• 27:18
  we
• 27:18
  are
• 27:18
  being
• 27:19
  killed
• 27:20
  like
• 27:20
  sheep.
• 27:22
  You
• 27:22
  see
• 27:22
  Paul
• 27:23
  cites
• 27:24
  this
• 27:24
  verse
• 27:24
  to
• 27:24
  explain
• 27:25
  the
• 27:25
  present
• 27:26
  state
• 27:26
  of
• 27:27
  the
• 27:27
  faithful.
• 27:29
  Those
• 27:29
  who
• 27:29
  were
• 27:29
  familiar
• 27:30
  with
• 27:30
  Psalm
• 27:31
  44
• 27:32
  would
• 27:32
  have
• 27:32
  understood
• 27:33
  the
• 27:33
  lament
• 27:33
  of
• 27:34
  the
• 27:34
  psalmist.
• 27:35
  We
• 27:36
  will
• 27:36
  experience
• 27:37
  tribulation
• 27:38
  and
• 27:38
  distress
• 27:39
  and
• 27:39
  persecution
• 27:40
  and
• 27:40
  possibly
• 27:41
  famine
• 27:41
  or
• 27:42
  destitution
• 27:43
  or
• 27:43
  danger
• 27:44
  or
• 27:45
  sword.
• 27:47
  But then
• 27:47
  the
• 27:48
  psalmist
• 27:48
  in
• 27:48
  Psalm
• 27:48
  44
• 27:49
  goes
• 27:49
  on.
• 27:51
  Awake!
• 27:52
  Why are
• 27:53
  you
• 27:53
  sleeping,
• 27:54
  O Lord?
• 27:55
  Rouse
• 27:55
  yourself.
• 27:56
  Do not
• 27:56
  reject us
• 27:57
  forever.
• 27:58
  Why do
• 27:59
  you hide
• 27:59
  your face?
• 28:00
  Why do
• 28:01
  you forget
• 28:01
  our
• 28:02
  affliction
• 28:02
  and
• 28:03
  oppression?
• 28:05
  For
• 28:05
  our soul
• 28:05
  is bound
• 28:06
  down to
• 28:06
  the dust.
• 28:07
  Our
• 28:07
  belly
• 28:07
  clings
• 28:08
  to the
• 28:08
  ground.
• 28:09
  Rise
• 28:10
  up.
• 28:10
  Come
• 28:10
  to our
• 28:11
  help.
• 28:11
  redeem
• 28:12
  us
• 28:12
  for the
• 28:13
  sake
• 28:13
  of
• 28:14
  your
• 28:14
  steadfast
• 28:15
  love.
• 28:18
  Now we
• 28:18
  probably,
• 28:19
  when we
• 28:19
  read
• 28:20
  Romans
• 28:21
  chapter
• 28:21
  8,
• 28:22
  and Paul
• 28:22
  cites
• 28:23
  Psalm
• 28:24
  44
• 28:25
  verse 22,
• 28:26
  don't have
• 28:26
  our minds
• 28:27
  drawn to
• 28:27
  the context
• 28:28
  the way
• 28:29
  his original
• 28:30
  readers were.
• 28:31
  We've got to
• 28:31
  do a little
• 28:31
  more work,
• 28:33
  and I'm
• 28:33
  doing that
• 28:34
  work for
• 28:34
  you at
• 28:35
  the moment
• 28:35
  this
• 28:36
  morning.
• 28:37
  Do you
• 28:38
  see what
• 28:39
  Paul is
• 28:40
  doing by
• 28:40
  citing
• 28:41
  Psalm
• 28:41
  44
• 28:42
  22.
• 28:45
  Paul is
• 28:45
  stating,
• 28:46
  under the
• 28:46
  inspiration of
• 28:47
  the Spirit,
• 28:48
  that God
• 28:49
  has come
• 28:51
  to our
• 28:52
  help.
• 28:53
  He has
• 28:54
  redeemed us,
• 28:56
  and he has
• 28:56
  done so
• 28:57
  because of
• 28:58
  his steadfast
• 29:00
  love.
• 29:02
  See that
• 29:02
  connection
• 29:03
  there?
• 29:04
  So you
• 29:04
  find yourself
• 29:05
  in a
• 29:06
  moment in
• 29:06
  your life
• 29:07
  feeling as
• 29:08
  the psalmist
• 29:09
  of Psalm
• 29:09
  44 feels.
• 29:11
  Why are you
• 29:12
  sleeping,
• 29:12
  O Lord?
• 29:13
  Where are
• 29:14
  you?
• 29:14
  Have you
• 29:15
  rejected me?
• 29:16
  What's
• 29:16
  going on?
• 29:17
  You feel
• 29:18
  like you're
• 29:19
  a sheep
• 29:20
  to be
• 29:21
  slaughtered.
• 29:22
  You feel
• 29:23
  like you've
• 29:23
  been separated
• 29:25
  from the
• 29:26
  love of
• 29:27
  God.
• 29:28
  Paul
• 29:28
  says,
• 29:30
  no.
• 29:31
  Our
• 29:32
  circumstances
• 29:33
  may not
• 29:33
  be
• 29:34
  temporally
• 29:35
  pleasant,
• 29:37
  but we
• 29:37
  are
• 29:38
  eternally
• 29:39
  blessed.
• 29:41
  Verse 37,
• 29:42
  no,
• 29:43
  in all
• 29:44
  these things
• 29:45
  we are
• 29:46
  more than
• 29:47
  conquerors
• 29:48
  through
• 29:48
  him
• 29:49
  who
• 29:50
  loved
• 29:50
  us.
• 29:51
  Despite
• 29:52
  everything
• 29:53
  going on
• 29:54
  in the
• 29:55
  already
• 29:55
  and the
• 29:56
  not
• 29:56
  yet,
• 29:57
  we are
• 29:58
  more
• 29:59
  than
• 29:59
  conquerors.
• 30:00
  It is a
• 30:01
  guaranteed
• 30:01
  thing.
• 30:03
  That we
• 30:03
  will
• 30:03
  receive
• 30:04
  the
• 30:04
  blessing
• 30:04
  that
• 30:05
  awaits
• 30:05
  us.
• 30:06
  This
• 30:06
  glory
• 30:06
  that
• 30:07
  we
• 30:07
  groan
• 30:08
  for
• 30:08
  because
• 30:09
  if
• 30:11
  God
• 30:11
  is
• 30:11
  for
• 30:11
  us,
• 30:12
  who
• 30:13
  can
• 30:13
  be
• 30:13
  against
• 30:14
  us?
• 30:15
  Verse
• 30:16
  38,
• 30:17
  for I
• 30:17
  am
• 30:17
  sure,
• 30:17
  and I
• 30:18
  just
• 30:18
  love
• 30:18
  these
• 30:18
  sweeping
• 30:19
  comments.
• 30:20
  That's
• 30:20
  what Paul
• 30:20
  is doing
• 30:21
  here.
• 30:21
  He
• 30:21
  is
• 30:22
  just
• 30:22
  trying
• 30:22
  to
• 30:22
  encapsulate
• 30:23
  every
• 30:23
  possible
• 30:24
  thing
• 30:25
  that
• 30:25
  might
• 30:25
  come
• 30:25
  into
• 30:26
  your
• 30:26
  mind,
• 30:27
  that
• 30:27
  might
• 30:27
  separate
• 30:27
  you
• 30:28
  from
• 30:28
  the
• 30:28
  love
• 30:28
  of
• 30:28
  God
• 30:29
  in
• 30:29
  Christ
• 30:29
  Jesus
• 30:30
  our
• 30:30
  Lord.
• 30:30
  He
• 30:31
  says,
• 30:31
  I
• 30:31
  am
• 30:31
  sure
• 30:32
  that
• 30:33
  neither
• 30:33
  death
• 30:33
  nor
• 30:33
  life,
• 30:34
  nor
• 30:35
  angels
• 30:35
  nor
• 30:35
  rulers,
• 30:36
  nor
• 30:36
  things
• 30:36
  present,
• 30:37
  nor
• 30:37
  things
• 30:37
  to
• 30:38
  come,
• 30:38
  nor
• 30:38
  powers,
• 30:39
  nor
• 30:40
  height,
• 30:40
  nor
• 30:40
  depth,
• 30:41
  nor
• 30:41
  anything
• 30:42
  else
• 30:42
  in
• 30:42
  all
• 30:43
  creation
• 30:44
  will
• 30:44
  be
• 30:44
  able
• 30:45
  to
• 30:45
  separate
• 30:45
  us
• 30:45
  from
• 30:46
  the
• 30:46
  love
• 30:46
  of
• 30:46
  God
• 30:47
  in
• 30:47
  Christ
• 30:48
  Jesus
• 30:48
  our
• 30:49
  Lord.
• 30:52
  So
• 30:52
  good.
• 30:55
  Charles
• 30:55
  Spurgeon
• 30:56
  once
• 30:57
  said,
• 30:57
  God's
• 30:57
  children
• 30:58
  are
• 30:59
  God's
• 30:59
  children
• 31:00
  anywhere
• 31:00
  and
• 31:01
  everywhere
• 31:02
  and
• 31:03
  shall
• 31:03
  be
• 31:03
  even
• 31:04
  unto
• 31:04
  the
• 31:05
  end.
• 31:06
  Nothing
• 31:06
  can
• 31:07
  sever
• 31:07
  that
• 31:07
  sacred
• 31:08
  tie
• 31:08
  or
• 31:09
  divide
• 31:09
  us
• 31:10
  from
• 31:11
  his
• 31:11
  heart.
• 31:13
  If
• 31:13
  God
• 31:14
  is
• 31:14
  for
• 31:15
  us,
• 31:16
  who
• 31:17
  can
• 31:17
  be
• 31:18
  against
• 31:19
  us?
• 31:20
  Romans
• 31:21
  8 is
• 31:22
  such
• 31:23
  a
• 31:23
  precious
• 31:24
  chapter
• 31:24
  in
• 31:25
  the
• 31:25
  Bible.
• 31:27
  Some
• 31:27
  have
• 31:27
  argued
• 31:28
  the
• 31:29
  book of
• 31:29
  Romans is
• 31:29
  the
• 31:29
  most
• 31:30
  important
• 31:30
  book
• 31:31
  of the
• 31:32
  Bible.
• 31:32
  That
• 31:33
  it's
• 31:33
  the
• 31:34
  hinge
• 31:34
  on which
• 31:35
  all of
• 31:35
  the
• 31:35
  truths
• 31:36
  of
• 31:36
  Scripture
• 31:36
  swing
• 31:37
  and
• 31:37
  that
• 31:38
  Romans
• 31:38
  chapter
• 31:38
  8
• 31:39
  is
• 31:39
  the
• 31:39
  spindle,
• 31:40
  which
• 31:40
  is
• 31:40
  that
• 31:40
  little
• 31:40
  thing
• 31:41
  that
• 31:41
  goes
• 31:41
  down
• 31:41
  the
• 31:41
  middle
• 31:41
  of
• 31:41
  a
• 31:41
  hinge
• 31:42
  that
• 31:43
  holds
• 31:43
  it
• 31:43
  all
• 31:44
  together.
• 31:45
  I
• 31:46
  hope
• 31:46
  you
• 31:46
  don't
• 31:46
  underestimate
• 31:47
  the
• 31:47
  significance
• 31:48
  of
• 31:49
  Romans
• 31:49
  chapter
• 31:49
  8,
• 31:50
  especially
• 31:51
  what
• 31:51
  Paul
• 31:51
  is
• 31:51
  arguing
• 31:52
  from
• 31:52
  verse
• 31:52
  28
• 31:53
  and to
• 31:54
  the
• 31:54
  end
• 31:54
  of
• 31:55
  the
• 31:55
  chapter.
• 31:56
  It's
• 31:57
  core to
• 31:59
  what he's
• 31:59
  teaching us
• 32:00
  in this
• 32:01
  book and
• 32:02
  we're going
• 32:02
  to work on
• 32:03
  unpacking it
• 32:03
  further in
• 32:05
  the next
• 32:05
  year.
• 32:07
  Before I
• 32:08
  conclude today
• 32:08
  and pray for
• 32:09
  us, I
• 32:10
  just want to
• 32:11
  read the end
• 32:11
  of the chapter
• 32:12
  again.
• 32:13
  It brings me
• 32:14
  such joy
• 32:14
  to read it.
• 32:15
  I'm going to
• 32:15
  start in
• 32:16
  verse 28,
• 32:18
  read to the
• 32:18
  end,
• 32:19
  and pray
• 32:19
  on our
• 32:20
  behalf.
• 32:21
  And we
• 32:22
  know
• 32:23
  that for
• 32:25
  those who
• 32:26
  love God,
• 32:26
  all things
• 32:27
  work together
• 32:28
  for good,
• 32:30
  for those
• 32:30
  who are
• 32:31
  called
• 32:31
  according to
• 32:32
  his purpose.
• 32:33
  For those
• 32:34
  whom he
• 32:34
  foreknew,
• 32:35
  he also
• 32:35
  predestined
• 32:36
  to be
• 32:36
  conformed
• 32:37
  to the
• 32:37
  image of
• 32:37
  his son,
• 32:38
  in order
• 32:38
  that he
• 32:39
  might be
• 32:39
  the first
• 32:39
  born among
• 32:41
  many
• 32:41
  brothers.
• 32:42
  And those
• 32:43
  whom he
• 32:43
  predestined,
• 32:44
  he also
• 32:44
  called.
• 32:45
  And those
• 32:46
  whom he
• 32:46
  called,
• 32:46
  he also
• 32:47
  justified.
• 32:48
  And those
• 32:48
  whom he
• 32:48
  justified,
• 32:49
  he also
• 32:50
  glorified.
• 32:52
  What then
• 32:53
  shall we
• 32:53
  say to
• 32:53
  these
• 32:54
  things?
• 32:55
  If God
• 32:55
  is for
• 32:56
  us,
• 32:57
  who can
• 32:57
  be against
• 32:58
  us?
• 32:59
  He did not
• 32:59
  spare his
• 33:00
  own son,
• 33:00
  but gave
• 33:01
  him up
• 33:01
  for us
• 33:01
  all.
• 33:01
  How will
• 33:02
  we not
• 33:02
  also with
• 33:03
  him graciously
• 33:03
  give us
• 33:04
  all things?
• 33:06
  Who shall
• 33:07
  bring any
• 33:07
  charge against
• 33:08
  God's elect?
• 33:09
  It is God
• 33:10
  who justifies.
• 33:12
  Who is to
• 33:12
  condemn?
• 33:13
  Christ Jesus
• 33:14
  is the one
• 33:14
  who died,
• 33:15
  more than
• 33:15
  that who
• 33:15
  was raised,
• 33:16
  who is at
• 33:16
  the right
• 33:17
  hand of
• 33:17
  God,
• 33:18
  who indeed
• 33:18
  is interceding
• 33:20
  for us?
• 33:22
  Who shall
• 33:22
  separate us
• 33:23
  from the
• 33:24
  love of
• 33:24
  Christ?
• 33:25
  Shall
• 33:25
  tribulation
• 33:26
  or distress
• 33:26
  or persecution
• 33:27
  or famine
• 33:28
  or nakedness
• 33:29
  or danger
• 33:29
  or sword?
• 33:30
  As it is
• 33:31
  written,
• 33:32
  for your
• 33:32
  sake were you
• 33:33
  being killed
• 33:33
  all the day
• 33:34
  long,
• 33:35
  were you
• 33:35
  regarded as
• 33:36
  sheep to
• 33:37
  be slaughtered?
• 33:38
  No,
• 33:39
  in all these
• 33:40
  things we are
• 33:41
  more than
• 33:41
  conquerors through
• 33:42
  him who
• 33:43
  loved us.
• 33:44
  For I am
• 33:45
  sure that
• 33:45
  neither death
• 33:46
  nor life,
• 33:46
  nor angels
• 33:48
  nor rulers,
• 33:48
  nor things
• 33:49
  present nor
• 33:49
  things to
• 33:50
  come,
• 33:51
  nor powers,
• 33:52
  nor height,
• 33:52
  nor depth,
• 33:53
  nor anything
• 33:54
  else in all
• 33:55
  creation will
• 33:56
  be able to
• 33:56
  separate us
• 33:57
  from the love
• 33:58
  of God in
• 33:59
  Christ Jesus,
• 34:00
  our Lord.