Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Romans 8:28-30

Transcript

Romans 8:28-30 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
Well, good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in Romans chapter 8.
0:07
!
0:30
Romans 8, 28-30. Let's briefly put our attention on verses 26 and 27 and then we will press on.
0:40
Our third point for last week's sermon was, the Spirit groans for glory.
0:48
Verse 26 and 27 say,
0:50
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
0:54
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
0:57
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
1:03
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit,
1:06
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
1:12
So verse 26 begins,
1:14
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
1:19
Paul says,
1:20
Likewise, just like the creation groans for glory,
1:24
which was the first point, verses 19-22,
1:27
and Christians groan for glory, verses 23-27,
1:33
the Spirit groans for glory as a help to us in our present weakened state.
1:40
God the Spirit, with groanings too deep for words,
1:45
prays to God the Father on our behalf.
1:48
The communication between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit,
1:52
and the need for their communication is a grand mystery for us.
1:56
But it happens nonetheless.
1:59
And Paul is communicating something of this mystery to us here for our comfort.
2:05
For the Christian, those who hope for what we do not see,
2:09
verse 25, namely, our adoption as Son,
2:13
the redemption of our bodies,
2:15
this thing we call our glorification,
2:20
we wait for it with patience,
2:22
by the power of the Spirit who intercedes for us,
2:26
when we don't know what to pray,
2:29
and He always, as God,
2:31
prays according to the will of God.
2:34
So we can be sure that the intercessions of the Spirit
2:38
are answered with the power and presence of our Trinitarian God.
2:45
Now, this is as brief as I think I can be concerning these two verses,
2:49
and maintain faithfulness to the great comfort that they should bring us.
2:54
But that is the point.
2:55
That is where Paul has been driving us to,
2:59
as we live in the in-between,
3:01
the already and the not yet.
3:04
The Spirit groans for glory,
3:07
our glory,
3:08
and He groans on our behalf.
3:12
So don't underestimate the significance of this truth.
3:16
Whether you feel it to be true,
3:18
or experience it to be true,
3:20
if you are in Christ,
3:22
it is true.
3:25
The Spirit of God
3:27
prays for your hopeful,
3:30
patient perseverance
3:31
in the faith.
3:33
We have such an advocate with us
3:36
as we live in these days.
3:38
Which brings us
3:40
to today's text.
3:42
I'm sorry if that was too brief for you,
3:44
but I really want to spend some time
3:45
on verses 28 through 30.
3:49
So before I read it,
3:50
let me remind you, beloved,
3:50
that this is God's Word to us.
3:52
It was written for His glory
3:54
and our good.
3:57
And so we would all do well
3:58
to listen to it
3:59
in order to believe its promises
4:01
and obey its commands.
4:04
And we know
4:05
that for those who love God,
4:07
all things work together for good
4:10
for those who are called
4:12
according to His purpose.
4:14
For those whom He foreknew,
4:16
He also predestined to be conformed
4:18
to the image of His Son
4:19
in order that He might be
4:20
the firstborn among many brothers.
4:24
And those whom He predestined,
4:25
He also called.
4:27
And those whom He called,
4:28
He also justified.
4:30
And those whom He justified,
4:32
He also glorified.
4:36
Now Paul begins verse 28
4:37
with the phrase,
4:39
And we know.
4:42
We join with creation
4:44
and the Spirit
4:45
in groaning for glory
4:47
with hope and patience.
4:48
And then Paul says,
4:50
And we know.
4:53
Every other world religion
4:55
sets the locus of salvation
4:57
on the adherent,
4:59
their devotion,
5:01
their affections,
5:02
their works.
5:04
Christianity is altogether different.
5:07
If you are a Christian,
5:10
then you place all of your confidence
5:11
not on yourself,
5:14
but on God's gracious working
5:16
on your behalf.
5:19
We are saved by grace alone,
5:23
through faith alone,
5:24
in the personal work
5:25
of Jesus Christ alone.
5:29
What is it that we know?
5:34
Let's consider this confidence
5:36
that Paul says we have.
5:38
This confident knowledge
5:40
in the following three points
5:42
that emerge from today's text.
5:44
So, number one,
5:45
we'll consider our confidence
5:47
in God's providence.
5:50
Number two,
5:51
our confidence in God's purpose.
5:54
And number three,
5:55
our confidence in God's plan.
5:59
Bonus points for alliteration
6:01
this morning.
6:02
Number one,
6:03
our confidence in God's providence
6:05
we see in verse 28.
6:08
Right?
6:08
And we know
6:09
that for those who love God,
6:11
all things work together
6:13
for good.
6:16
Before I say anything
6:17
on this point,
6:18
I want to first define
6:19
the word providence.
6:21
It's likely a word
6:23
that you have heard before.
6:24
It's not a word
6:25
that we find in our text,
6:27
although it's an idea
6:28
that is found here.
6:30
Providence is God's
6:32
purposeful sovereignty.
6:36
God is sovereign,
6:37
which means that
6:38
he is the ruler of everything
6:39
and that he possesses
6:40
the power to rule
6:42
over everything.
6:44
It's a statement of him
6:46
as a being.
6:47
God is sovereign.
6:51
Job expresses this reality
6:52
in Job 42.2
6:53
where he says,
6:54
I know you can do all things
6:56
and that no purpose of yours
6:58
can be thwarted.
7:00
There's the sovereignty of God.
7:03
I know that you can do all things
7:05
and that no purpose,
7:07
now here's his sovereignty
7:08
in action,
7:10
in providence,
7:11
can do no purpose of yours,
7:13
can be thwarted.
7:16
God powerfully reigns.
7:19
He is sovereign.
7:21
And in verse 28,
7:22
we see God's sovereignty
7:23
expressed providentially.
7:26
It has purpose.
7:29
Right?
7:29
It's not aimless,
7:30
but it is aimed at
7:31
something
7:32
for
7:34
a people.
7:36
God's providence
7:37
is always
7:38
active
7:39
on behalf
7:40
of his people.
7:42
Notice that Paul
7:43
qualifies in this verse
7:44
a particular
7:45
people.
7:46
It's
7:47
those
7:48
who
7:48
love
7:49
God.
7:51
In verse 23,
7:52
he called Christians
7:54
those who have
7:54
the first fruits
7:56
of the Spirit.
7:57
Here he says,
7:58
those who love God.
8:00
If we can recall
8:01
all that Paul has said
8:03
in this letter thus far,
8:04
this phrase
8:05
should not surprise us,
8:07
although it may
8:08
because it's been a while
8:09
since we've studied
8:10
the rest
8:11
of the letter.
8:13
In Romans chapter 5,
8:14
verse 10 and 11,
8:16
Paul says,
8:16
says,
8:17
if while we were
8:18
enemies,
8:19
we were reconciled to God
8:21
by the death of his Son,
8:22
much more now that we are
8:23
reconciled shall we be saved
8:26
by his life.
8:27
More than that,
8:28
we also rejoice in God
8:30
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
8:32
through whom we have now
8:33
received
8:34
reconciliation.
8:35
You see there,
8:37
this idea,
8:38
we who were once
8:39
haters of God,
8:40
his enemies,
8:41
have,
8:42
by Jesus' death
8:43
and life,
8:44
been made
8:45
those who rejoice
8:46
in God,
8:47
those who love
8:48
him.
8:50
I hope and pray
8:51
this morning
8:51
that you are
8:52
one of those
8:53
who love God,
8:55
that his character
8:56
and his ways
8:57
are desirous
8:59
to you.
9:00
You have affections
9:01
for God.
9:02
I hope and pray
9:04
this morning
9:04
that you have
9:05
the confidence
9:06
to say,
9:07
and we know,
9:10
because what we know
9:13
is a precious,
9:14
precious truth.
9:16
It's an incredible
9:17
thing to know
9:19
all things
9:21
work together
9:22
for good.
9:25
Now,
9:26
Paul does not say
9:26
that all things
9:27
are good,
9:29
but he is saying
9:30
unequivocally
9:31
that God
9:32
providentially
9:33
accomplishes
9:34
his purpose
9:35
through the means
9:36
of all things.
9:40
And this is a
9:41
comprehensive
9:42
statement.
9:44
When Paul says
9:45
all things,
9:46
he means
9:47
all things.
9:49
And we need
9:50
not question
9:51
this.
9:52
And we know
9:53
all things
9:55
work together
9:56
for good.
9:58
If you are
9:59
a Christian
10:00
and anything
10:01
and everything
10:02
that happens
10:03
in your life
10:04
is being used
10:05
of God
10:06
for your
10:07
good.
10:09
All of
10:10
the joys,
10:12
the sorrows,
10:14
the pain,
10:15
the tragedy,
10:17
all of the
10:18
positive
10:19
prognoses,
10:20
all of the
10:21
negative
10:21
prognoses,
10:23
all of the
10:24
successes,
10:25
all of the
10:27
failures,
10:27
all of the
10:29
gains,
10:30
all of the
10:31
losses,
10:32
all things.
10:36
Let's not
10:37
forget that
10:37
God is
10:38
working good
10:39
in the good
10:39
matters of our
10:40
lives.
10:40
We are really
10:41
ready to
10:42
forget that.
10:43
But this
10:44
truth finds its
10:45
particular comfort
10:46
in the troubling
10:47
matters of our
10:49
lives.
10:49
That's where
10:50
we find
10:51
Paul's mind,
10:52
right,
10:53
considering the
10:54
trouble that this
10:55
life will bring
10:56
us as followers
10:56
of Jesus
10:58
Christ.
11:00
I want to
11:00
read to you a
11:01
hymn that you
11:02
may be familiar
11:03
with called
11:04
God Moves
11:05
in Mysterious
11:06
Ways.
11:07
It's a hymn
11:08
about providence.
11:11
It was written
11:11
by a man named
11:12
William Calper,
11:13
an 18th century
11:14
British poet,
11:17
a joy to read,
11:18
I commend him
11:19
to you,
11:20
and a man
11:20
who dealt
11:21
with chronic
11:22
depression the
11:24
entirety of his
11:24
life,
11:25
wrestled often
11:27
with the
11:27
assurance of
11:28
his faith.
11:30
I know that
11:30
he attempted
11:31
suicide at
11:32
least once.
11:33
Depending on
11:33
who you read,
11:34
there may have
11:34
been some
11:35
other occasions
11:36
for it.
11:38
And he
11:38
penned this,
11:39
it happens to
11:40
be in your
11:40
hymnals,
11:41
hymn number
11:41
88, if you
11:42
care to look
11:43
at it now or
11:44
at some other
11:44
time.
11:46
Listen to what
11:46
he wrote.
11:47
God moves
11:48
in a mysterious
11:49
way, his
11:50
wonders to
11:51
perform.
11:52
He plants
11:53
his footsteps
11:54
in the sea
11:54
and rides
11:55
upon the
11:56
storm.
11:58
Deep and
11:58
unfathomable
11:59
minds of
12:00
never-failing
12:01
skill, he
12:03
treasures up
12:03
his bright
12:04
designs and
12:05
works his
12:07
sovereign will.
12:09
Ye fearful
12:09
saints, fresh
12:11
courage take
12:12
the clouds
12:13
ye so much
12:14
dread, are
12:15
big with
12:16
mercy and
12:17
shall break
12:17
in blessings
12:18
on your head.
12:21
Judge not the
12:21
Lord by feeble
12:23
sense, but
12:23
trust him for
12:25
his grace.
12:26
Behind a
12:27
frowning
12:28
providence, he
12:29
hides a
12:30
smiling face.
12:32
His purposes
12:33
will ripen
12:34
fast, unfolding
12:35
every hour.
12:36
The bud may
12:37
have a bitter
12:38
taste, but
12:39
sweet will be
12:40
the flower.
12:42
Blind
12:42
unbelief is
12:44
sure to
12:44
err and
12:46
scan his
12:46
work in
12:47
vain.
12:47
God is
12:49
his own
12:50
interpreter, and
12:52
he will
12:53
make it
12:53
plain.
12:55
God
12:55
sovereignly,
12:57
providentially
12:58
works for
12:59
our good
13:00
in all
13:02
things.
13:04
Remember
13:05
that Paul at
13:05
the end of
13:06
chapter 7 has
13:07
expressed anguish
13:08
in his battle
13:09
against his
13:10
flesh.
13:11
He has
13:11
acknowledged that
13:12
we will suffer
13:13
in this life
13:14
in chapter 8
13:15
and verse
13:15
17.
13:17
He has
13:18
given to us
13:18
perspective in
13:19
chapter 8
13:20
and verse 18
13:21
where he
13:21
says,
13:22
For I
13:22
consider that
13:23
the sufferings
13:24
of this
13:24
present time
13:25
are not
13:25
worth comparing
13:26
with the
13:27
glory that
13:27
is to be
13:28
revealed to
13:29
us.
13:30
He's going
13:31
on to talk
13:31
about the
13:32
groaning of
13:33
creation and
13:34
ourselves and
13:35
the spirit
13:36
longing for
13:37
all things
13:38
to be made
13:39
new.
13:40
And now
13:40
he gives
13:41
to us this
13:42
confident
13:43
comfort in
13:45
verse 28.
13:46
all things
13:48
work together
13:49
for good.
13:52
But what
13:54
is this
13:54
good?
13:56
Some people
13:56
use this
13:57
idea as a
13:58
pleasant
13:58
platitude that
13:59
leaves people
14:00
guessing at
14:01
what the
14:01
good might
14:02
be.
14:03
Kind of
14:04
floated out
14:05
there.
14:05
Well, God
14:06
uses things
14:07
for good and
14:07
then we spend
14:08
time looking
14:09
for the good
14:10
whether we're
14:10
in the midst
14:11
of the
14:11
suffering or
14:12
we try to
14:12
look back
14:13
on the
14:14
suffering and
14:15
often it's
14:16
hard to
14:16
find.
14:18
Paul doesn't
14:19
leave us
14:19
wondering.
14:20
He doesn't
14:21
leave us
14:22
guessing.
14:24
He again
14:24
qualifies the
14:26
recipients of
14:26
God's providence
14:27
as those who
14:29
are called
14:30
according to
14:32
his purpose.
14:33
What purpose?
14:36
If we're
14:37
reading carefully,
14:38
this purpose
14:38
must be the
14:40
good that he's
14:40
referring to
14:41
and we
14:43
don't need to
14:44
guess at what
14:45
God is doing
14:46
providentially for
14:48
his people.
14:50
So we have a
14:51
confidence in
14:53
God's providence.
14:55
We also see
14:56
secondly our
14:57
confidence in
14:59
God's purpose.
15:02
Notice this in
15:02
the last half of
15:03
verse 29.
15:06
He said,
15:07
those who
15:07
before knew,
15:08
he also
15:09
predestined,
15:10
what?
15:10
This is the
15:11
purpose,
15:11
to be
15:12
conformed to
15:13
the image
15:14
of his
15:15
Son in
15:16
order that
15:17
he, the
15:18
Son, Jesus
15:18
Christ, might
15:19
be the
15:19
firstborn among
15:21
many brothers.
15:23
What is
15:23
God's purpose
15:24
as he works
15:25
providentially in
15:26
our lives?
15:27
That we
15:28
would look
15:28
more and
15:29
more like
15:30
Christ to
15:31
the praise
15:32
of Christ.
15:35
Note with
15:35
me the
15:36
phrase to
15:37
be conformed
15:38
to the
15:39
image of
15:40
his Son.
15:42
God says
15:43
to Israel
15:43
in Leviticus
15:44
19 and
15:45
verse 2,
15:47
you shall
15:47
be holy
15:48
for I,
15:49
the Lord,
15:49
your God,
15:51
am holy.
15:52
And the
15:53
law emanates
15:54
from this,
15:55
showing us
15:55
what it
15:56
means to
15:56
be holy.
15:57
It's
15:58
something that's
15:58
asked of
15:59
God's
15:59
people.
16:01
Peter cites
16:01
this verse
16:02
in 1 Peter
16:02
chapter 1
16:03
and verse
16:04
16 to
16:05
make the
16:05
very same
16:06
point.
16:07
We are
16:08
to be
16:08
like God
16:09
in holiness,
16:11
but how
16:12
is this
16:12
possible?
16:13
By being
16:15
conformed
16:16
to the
16:17
image of
16:17
his Son
16:18
who is
16:19
God.
16:21
The author
16:22
of Hebrews
16:22
in chapter
16:23
1 verse
16:23
3 says,
16:24
Jesus is
16:25
the radiance
16:26
of the glory
16:26
of God
16:27
and the
16:27
exact
16:28
imprint
16:29
of his
16:30
nature.
16:32
Progressively
16:33
becoming
16:33
like Jesus
16:34
by the
16:35
power
16:36
of the
16:37
Spirit.
16:38
This is
16:38
how we
16:39
keep this
16:40
command.
16:41
You can
16:41
note
16:42
chapter 8
16:43
verses 2
16:43
through 11
16:44
is all
16:45
about this
16:45
active
16:46
sanctifying
16:47
process
16:47
in our
16:48
lives,
16:49
moving us
16:49
from one
16:50
degree to
16:51
another
16:51
of glory,
16:52
of holiness.
16:54
So God
16:55
providentially
16:56
uses all
16:57
things in
16:58
our lives
16:58
to bring
16:59
about our
17:01
holiness.
17:02
This is
17:03
the point.
17:04
This is
17:05
what he's
17:05
at work
17:06
doing.
17:07
This is
17:08
that purpose
17:09
that Paul
17:10
refers to.
17:12
He is
17:12
persistently
17:13
pressing
17:14
in this
17:15
direction
17:16
because he
17:17
loves us
17:17
and he
17:18
means for
17:19
our lives
17:19
to glorify
17:20
him.
17:22
It is
17:22
his
17:22
providential
17:23
purpose in
17:23
your life
17:24
if you
17:24
belong to
17:24
him and
17:25
he will
17:26
not fail
17:27
to accomplish
17:27
his purpose
17:29
for you.
17:31
I hope
17:32
we can
17:32
join with
17:33
Paul
17:33
this text
17:34
and elsewhere
17:35
like Philippians
17:36
chapter 1
17:36
and verse 6
17:37
where he
17:38
writes to
17:38
the Philippian
17:39
Christians,
17:40
I am sure
17:40
of this,
17:41
that he
17:42
who began
17:43
a good
17:43
work in
17:44
you
17:44
will bring
17:45
it to
17:45
completion
17:46
at the
17:47
day
17:47
of Jesus
17:48
Christ.
17:49
He says
17:49
there,
17:50
I am
17:50
confident
17:51
and I
17:52
know
17:52
that he
17:53
who began
17:54
the work
17:54
will
17:55
definitely
17:56
complete
17:57
the work.
18:00
But the
18:01
high aim
18:01
of your
18:02
Christlikeness
18:03
is not
18:04
ultimately
18:05
you.
18:07
You
18:07
certainly
18:08
receive
18:08
benefit
18:09
as you
18:09
grow
18:09
in
18:10
holiness.
18:11
But notice
18:12
the higher
18:13
point that's
18:13
going on
18:14
here.
18:15
In order
18:15
that
18:16
Jesus
18:17
might be
18:18
the firstborn
18:19
among
18:20
many
18:20
brothers.
18:23
Firstborn
18:23
is used
18:24
figuratively
18:24
here to
18:25
refer to
18:25
the position
18:26
of
18:26
privilege,
18:28
preeminence,
18:30
or supremacy.
18:32
Commonly
18:32
used in
18:33
this way
18:33
in the
18:34
scripture.
18:35
So,
18:36
we are to
18:36
look more
18:37
like Christ
18:38
in order
18:38
that Christ
18:39
might be
18:40
privileged,
18:42
preeminent,
18:43
supreme.
18:45
Another
18:46
place,
18:46
Paul writes
18:47
this,
18:47
Colossians
18:48
chapter 1
18:48
verse 15
18:49
and following
18:50
Jesus
18:51
Christ
18:51
is the
18:52
image
18:52
of the
18:52
invisible
18:53
God,
18:53
the
18:53
firstborn
18:54
of all
18:55
creation.
18:57
Certainly
18:58
Paul doesn't
18:58
mean there
18:58
that he
18:59
was
18:59
created,
19:00
no.
19:01
He's
19:01
preeminent,
19:02
he's
19:02
supreme,
19:03
he's
19:03
privileged
19:04
above
19:04
all
19:04
creation.
19:06
For
19:06
by him
19:07
all
19:07
things
19:07
were
19:08
created
19:08
in
19:09
heaven
19:09
and
19:09
on
19:09
earth
19:09
visible
19:10
and
19:10
invisible
19:11
whether
19:11
thrones
19:12
or
19:12
dominions
19:12
or
19:12
rulers
19:13
or
19:13
authorities
19:13
all
19:14
things
19:14
were
19:15
created
19:15
through
19:15
him
19:16
and
19:17
for
19:18
him
19:19
including
19:20
us.
19:21
And
19:21
he
19:22
is
19:22
before
19:23
all
19:24
things
19:24
and
19:24
in
19:25
him
19:25
all
19:25
things
19:25
hold
19:26
together
19:26
and
19:27
he
19:27
is
19:27
the
19:28
head
19:28
of
19:28
the
19:28
body
19:28
the
19:28
church
19:29
he
19:30
is
19:30
the
19:30
beginning
19:30
the
19:31
firstborn
19:31
from
19:32
the
19:32
dead
19:32
that
19:32
in
19:32
everything
19:33
he
19:33
might
19:34
be
19:34
preeminent
19:36
for
19:37
in
19:37
him
19:37
all
19:37
the
19:37
fullness
19:38
of
19:38
God
19:38
was
19:38
pleased
19:38
to
19:39
dwell
19:39
and
19:39
through
19:39
him
19:40
to
19:40
reconcile
19:41
to
19:41
himself
19:42
all
19:42
things
19:42
whether
19:43
on
19:43
earth
19:43
or
19:44
in
19:44
heaven
19:44
making
19:45
peace
19:46
by
19:47
the
19:47
blood
19:47
of
19:48
his
19:48
cross
19:48
so
19:49
we
19:50
are
19:50
to
19:50
be
19:51
conformed
19:52
to
19:52
the
19:52
image
19:52
of
19:53
a
19:53
son
19:53
so
19:54
that
19:54
Christ
19:55
will
19:56
be
19:56
magnified
19:57
so
19:58
God
19:58
works
19:59
all
20:00
things
20:00
together
20:01
for
20:02
good
20:02
the
20:04
good
20:04
that
20:04
we
20:04
would
20:04
look
20:05
more
20:05
and
20:06
more
20:06
like
20:06
Christ
20:07
to
20:07
the
20:07
praise
20:08
of
20:09
Christ
20:10
what
20:11
an
20:11
absolute
20:12
comfort
20:13
this
20:14
is
20:14
we
20:15
have
20:15
our
20:15
perspective
20:16
aimed
20:17
where it
20:18
needs
20:18
to be
20:18
right
20:19
when
20:19
we're
20:19
thinking
20:19
rightly
20:20
everything
20:20
that
20:21
comes
20:21
our
20:21
way
20:21
all
20:22
of
20:23
the
20:23
troubles
20:23
of
20:23
this
20:23
life
20:24
are
20:24
meant
20:25
to
20:25
bring
20:25
about
20:25
a
20:26
greater
20:26
good
20:27
for
20:28
us
20:29
to
20:29
the
20:29
glory
20:30
of
20:30
Christ
20:31
this
20:31
momentary
20:33
life
20:33
right
20:33
this
20:34
present
20:35
momentary
20:36
suffering
20:36
that's
20:36
not even
20:37
worth
20:37
comparing
20:38
with
20:38
the
20:38
glory
20:39
that
20:39
is
20:39
to
20:39
be
20:40
revealed
20:40
to
20:41
us
20:42
when
20:42
all
20:43
of
20:43
the
20:43
details
20:43
of
20:44
this
20:44
difficult
20:44
life
20:45
press
20:45
down
20:45
on
20:46
you
20:46
you
20:47
will
20:48
need
20:48
this
20:49
comfort
20:50
perhaps
20:52
you
20:52
have
20:52
already
20:53
needed
20:54
it
20:54
perhaps
20:56
you
20:56
need
20:56
it
20:56
now
20:56
I
20:57
guarantee
20:57
in
20:58
your
20:59
life
20:59
you
21:00
will
21:01
need
21:02
it
21:02
press
21:03
on
21:04
in
21:04
pursuit
21:05
of
21:05
Jesus
21:05
Christ
21:06
you
21:06
will
21:07
suffer
21:07
in
21:08
this
21:08
world
21:09
what
21:10
do
21:11
we
21:11
do
21:11
when
21:12
we
21:12
suffer
21:13
we
21:13
need
21:14
a
21:14
robust
21:15
theology
21:15
of
21:16
suffering
21:17
and we
21:17
found
21:17
such
21:18
richness
21:18
here
21:19
in
21:19
Romans
21:19
8
21:20
for
21:21
those
21:21
times
21:21
I'm
21:23
grateful
21:23
across
21:23
the
21:23
years
21:24
just
21:24
by
21:26
grace
21:27
becoming
21:27
committed
21:28
to
21:28
verse
21:29
by
21:29
verse
21:29
exposition
21:30
of
21:30
the
21:30
Bible
21:31
working
21:31
through
21:32
and
21:32
seeing
21:33
people
21:33
sent
21:33
out
21:34
from
21:34
here
21:34
going
21:36
places
21:36
getting
21:38
terribly
21:38
ill
21:39
overseas
21:39
coming
21:40
back
21:41
to
21:41
us
21:41
suffering
21:42
great
21:43
loss
21:43
and
21:44
having
21:45
people
21:45
say
21:45
thank
21:46
you
21:46
for
21:46
teaching
21:47
me
21:47
to
21:48
suffer
21:48
and
21:49
don't
21:52
think
21:53
that I've
21:53
suffered
21:53
in the
21:53
way
21:54
that
21:54
many
21:54
people
21:54
have
21:55
suffered
21:55
and
21:55
so
21:56
you
21:56
ask
21:56
the
21:56
question
21:56
well
21:56
how
21:57
have
21:57
I
21:57
done
21:57
that
21:57
and
21:57
it's
21:58
just
21:58
that
21:59
we've
21:59
taught
21:59
the
21:59
Bible
22:00
and the
22:00
Bible
22:00
teaches
22:01
us
22:02
how to
22:03
suffer
22:03
and to
22:03
suffer
22:04
well
22:05
J.I.
22:07
Packer
22:07
once said
22:08
this is
22:08
on the back
22:09
of your
22:09
bulletin
22:09
this morning
22:10
if you
22:11
ask
22:11
why is
22:12
this
22:12
happening
22:13
no light
22:15
may come
22:15
and I just
22:16
want to
22:16
insert
22:16
at that
22:17
point
22:17
I think
22:17
specifically
22:18
why is
22:20
this
22:20
happening
22:21
is what
22:22
he means
22:22
why is
22:23
this
22:23
happening
22:23
no light
22:24
may come
22:24
but if
22:25
you ask
22:25
how
22:26
am I
22:27
to
22:27
glorify
22:27
God
22:28
now
22:29
there
22:29
will
22:30
always
22:30
be
22:30
an
22:31
answer
22:32
so
22:34
we
22:34
have
22:35
reason
22:35
to
22:35
have
22:36
confidence
22:36
in
22:36
God's
22:37
providence
22:37
and
22:38
confidence
22:39
in
22:39
God's
22:40
purpose
22:41
working
22:41
all
22:42
things
22:43
that
22:43
we
22:43
would
22:43
look
22:43
more
22:44
like
22:44
Christ
22:44
for
22:45
the
22:45
praise
22:45
of
22:46
Christ
22:46
and
22:48
we
22:48
should
22:48
have
22:48
confidence
22:49
in
22:50
God's
22:50
plan
22:52
so
22:52
we'll
22:53
see
22:53
this
22:53
at
22:53
the
22:53
beginning
22:54
of
22:54
verse
22:54
29
22:55
as
22:56
well
22:56
as
22:57
verse
22:57
30
22:58
verse
22:59
29
22:59
the
23:00
first half
23:00
says
23:00
for
23:00
those
23:01
whom
23:01
he
23:01
foreknew
23:02
he
23:03
also
23:03
predestined
23:05
goes on
23:06
to say
23:06
to be
23:06
conformed
23:07
to the
23:07
image
23:07
of a
23:08
son
23:08
and
23:08
verse
23:09
30
23:09
and
23:09
those
23:10
whom
23:10
he
23:10
predestined
23:11
he
23:11
also
23:12
called
23:12
and
23:13
those
23:13
whom
23:13
he
23:13
called
23:14
he
23:14
also
23:14
justified
23:15
and
23:15
those
23:15
whom
23:16
he
23:16
justified
23:16
he
23:17
also
23:18
glorified
23:19
now
23:20
there
23:22
are
23:22
some
23:22
hot
23:22
words
23:23
in
23:23
these
23:24
two
23:24
verses
23:25
they're
23:26
words
23:26
that
23:26
many
23:27
pastors
23:27
don't
23:28
touch
23:29
too
23:29
hot
23:30
to
23:30
handle
23:30
words
23:32
that
23:32
have
23:32
been
23:32
highly
23:32
contested
23:33
vastly
23:35
ignored
23:35
and
23:36
grossly
23:37
misunderstood
23:38
before
23:40
I
23:40
proceed
23:41
to tell
23:41
you
23:41
that
23:41
the
23:41
words
23:42
foreknew
23:42
and
23:42
predestined
23:43
mean
23:43
just
23:44
that
23:44
I
23:46
want
23:46
to fix
23:46
your
23:46
attention
23:47
on
23:47
why
23:48
Paul
23:48
is
23:48
using
23:49
these
23:49
words
23:49
to
23:50
communicate
23:50
these
23:51
truths
23:52
as we
23:53
study
23:53
the
23:54
Bible
23:54
we
23:54
have
23:55
to
23:55
study
23:55
the
23:55
Bible
23:55
in
23:56
its
23:56
context
23:57
it's
23:58
altogether
23:59
possible
24:00
to
24:00
believe
24:01
something
24:01
to be
24:02
true
24:02
and
24:02
to
24:03
believe
24:03
it
24:03
wrongly
24:04
it's
24:06
also
24:06
very
24:06
possible
24:06
to
24:07
see
24:07
something
24:08
taught
24:08
and
24:09
because
24:09
you
24:09
can't
24:10
reconcile
24:10
it
24:10
with
24:10
other
24:11
things
24:11
to
24:11
reject
24:11
it
24:12
as
24:12
true
24:13
so
24:13
the
24:13
context
24:14
always
24:15
matters
24:15
greatly
24:17
Paul
24:18
here
24:18
is
24:18
not
24:18
trying
24:19
to
24:19
pick
24:19
a
24:19
theological
24:20
fight
24:21
he
24:22
is
24:22
not
24:22
working
24:22
to
24:23
open
24:23
up
24:23
some
24:23
soteriological
24:24
debate
24:26
in fact
24:27
he
24:27
is
24:28
going
24:28
to
24:28
spend
24:28
chapters
24:29
9
24:29
10
24:30
and
24:30
11
24:31
working
24:31
out
24:32
the
24:32
implications
24:33
and
24:33
answering
24:34
the
24:34
objections
24:35
to
24:35
the
24:35
truth
24:35
stated
24:36
in
24:36
verses
24:36
29
24:37
through
24:39
30
24:39
there's
24:40
a lot
24:40
of
24:40
ink
24:40
spent
24:41
on
24:41
the
24:42
thing
24:42
that
24:42
he's
24:42
saying
24:42
right
24:43
here
24:43
in
24:44
verse
24:44
29
24:44
and
24:45
verse
24:46
30
24:46
he
24:47
is
24:47
going
24:47
to
24:47
go
24:48
to
24:48
great
24:48
effort
24:49
to
24:49
defend
24:50
these
24:51
doctrines
24:52
why
24:54
contextually
24:56
just think
24:56
for a
24:57
moment
24:57
why
24:57
why is
24:58
he
24:58
pressing
24:59
these
25:00
truths
25:00
God's
25:01
sovereignty
25:01
in our
25:02
salvation
25:03
to the
25:03
forefront
25:04
right now
25:05
it's because
25:07
he wants
25:07
to root
25:07
our
25:08
confidence
25:08
in our
25:09
future
25:09
glory
25:10
in
25:10
God's
25:12
plan
25:13
God's
25:25
God's
25:30
word
25:32
and so
25:33
we can't
25:34
ignore
25:34
what it
25:34
says
25:35
we
25:36
can't
25:36
just
25:36
pass
25:36
over
25:36
it
25:37
because
25:37
it
25:37
makes
25:37
us
25:38
uncomfortable
25:39
it's
25:40
not
25:40
there
25:41
for
25:41
that
25:41
it's
25:41
there
25:42
for
25:42
our
25:43
comfort
25:45
and so
25:47
Paul
25:47
says
25:47
for
25:48
those
25:49
whom
25:49
he
25:49
foreknew
25:50
he
25:52
also
25:52
predestined
25:54
another
25:56
place
25:56
he says
25:56
it
25:56
this
25:57
way
25:57
Ephesians
25:57
chapter
25:57
1
25:58
and
25:58
verse
25:58
4
25:59
the
26:00
father
26:00
chose
26:00
us
26:01
in
26:01
the
26:01
son
26:02
before
26:02
the
26:02
foundation
26:03
of
26:04
the
26:04
world
26:04
that
26:05
we
26:05
should
26:05
be
26:05
holy
26:06
and
26:07
blameless
26:07
before
26:08
him
26:09
this
26:11
word
26:11
foreknew
26:11
is a
26:12
compound
26:13
word
26:13
that
26:14
means
26:14
more
26:15
than
26:15
simply
26:16
knowing
26:17
something
26:17
before
26:18
on
26:18
its
26:19
surface
26:19
that's
26:19
what
26:20
it
26:20
seems
26:20
to
26:20
be
26:20
communicating
26:22
but
26:22
it's
26:22
more
26:23
than
26:23
that
26:23
because
26:24
the
26:24
Bible
26:24
uses
26:24
the
26:25
idea
26:25
of
26:25
knowing
26:26
someone
26:26
in
26:27
terms
26:27
of
26:28
special
26:29
intimacy
26:30
Paul's
26:32
picking
26:32
up
26:32
that
26:33
language
26:33
in
26:33
this
26:34
compound
26:34
word
26:35
right
26:36
an
26:36
example
26:36
Old
26:37
Testament
26:37
Genesis
26:38
4
26:38
and
26:38
verse
26:38
17
26:39
Adam
26:40
knew
26:41
his
26:41
wife
26:42
Eve
26:43
they
26:44
became
26:44
one
26:45
flesh
26:46
right
26:46
elsewhere
26:48
Matthew
26:49
New
26:50
Testament
26:50
example
26:51
chapter
26:51
1
26:52
and
26:52
verse
26:52
25
26:53
right
26:54
Mary
26:55
became
26:55
pregnant
26:56
having
26:57
not
26:58
been
26:58
known
26:59
right
27:00
loving
27:01
intimacy
27:02
Paul
27:03
is saying
27:04
that God
27:04
has a
27:05
predetermined
27:06
love
27:06
for those
27:07
he plans
27:08
to call
27:09
his
27:10
own
27:11
and
27:12
this
27:12
is a
27:13
vast
27:14
truth
27:14
and it
27:15
is one
27:16
that should
27:16
be altogether
27:17
humbling
27:17
!
27:17
and bring
27:18
about
27:19
great
27:20
gratitude
27:21
for God's
27:22
loving kindness
27:23
towards people
27:23
who deserve
27:25
hell
27:26
who have
27:27
been his
27:28
enemies
27:28
who have
27:29
no good
27:30
possession
27:31
of
27:31
ourselves
27:32
and yet
27:32
God
27:33
in his
27:34
loving
27:34
kindness
27:35
has
27:36
saved
27:36
us
27:36
those
27:37
he
27:37
foreknew
27:38
he
27:39
also
27:39
predestined
27:41
and this
27:42
word means
27:43
to mark
27:43
out a
27:44
point
27:44
or determine
27:45
beforehand
27:46
the result
27:47
for every
27:48
person
27:48
who belongs
27:49
to God
27:50
so he
27:51
foreknew
27:52
us
27:52
and he
27:53
set us
27:53
on a
27:54
course
27:54
right
27:55
a
27:56
definitive
27:56
result
27:57
that would
27:58
come to
27:58
pass
27:58
in our
28:00
lives
28:01
it is
28:03
not
28:03
possible
28:04
to dance
28:05
around the
28:05
meanings
28:06
of these
28:06
words
28:07
and stay
28:08
faithful
28:08
to the
28:09
text
28:09
I know
28:10
they raise
28:10
a ton
28:10
of
28:10
questions
28:11
Paul
28:12
knows
28:12
that they
28:12
raise
28:13
a ton
28:14
of
28:14
questions
28:15
and they
28:15
are
28:15
questions
28:16
that should
28:16
be
28:16
wrestled
28:17
with
28:17
for sure
28:18
we should
28:20
ask the
28:20
questions
28:21
and we
28:21
should
28:22
go to
28:22
the text
28:23
to find
28:24
the answer
28:24
to the
28:25
questions
28:25
and we
28:26
should
28:26
settle
28:27
in
28:27
when all
28:28
of the
28:29
complexity
28:29
doesn't
28:29
quite
28:30
get
28:30
solved
28:30
for us
28:32
I hope
28:33
that you
28:34
will
28:34
engage
28:34
with
28:34
Paul
28:35
as we
28:35
study
28:35
the
28:35
next
28:36
three
28:36
chapters
28:37
it will
28:38
take
28:38
some
28:39
time
28:39
to be
28:40
sure
28:41
in the
28:42
meantime
28:42
I hope
28:42
you ask
28:43
lots
28:43
of
28:44
questions
28:44
we can
28:44
talk
28:45
much
28:46
about
28:46
this
28:46
but
28:47
we
28:47
cannot
28:47
deny
28:48
that if
28:48
we are
28:48
to have
28:49
the
28:49
confidence
28:50
that Paul
28:50
here
28:50
states
28:50
we are
28:51
to
28:51
have
28:51
then we
28:52
must
28:53
be
28:53
confident
28:54
in
28:54
God's
28:55
plan
28:56
beloved
28:58
this
28:58
is a
28:59
pillow
28:59
for your
29:00
weary soul
29:01
to rest
29:02
upon
29:02
you find
29:04
yourself
29:05
living
29:05
in the
29:06
tension
29:06
of this
29:07
world
29:07
the already
29:08
and the
29:08
not yet
29:09
as you
29:10
suffer for
29:10
the name
29:11
of Christ
29:11
as you
29:12
battle
29:12
against
29:13
your
29:13
flesh
29:14
you
29:15
need
29:15
to know
29:16
that God
29:18
will finish
29:19
what he
29:20
started
29:20
it
29:22
depends
29:22
on
29:22
you
29:22
very
29:24
little
29:24
it
29:25
depends
29:25
greatly
29:26
on
29:26
him
29:27
you
29:28
will
29:28
not
29:29
weather
29:29
well
29:29
the
29:30
storms
29:30
this
29:30
life
29:30
will
29:31
assail
29:31
you
29:31
with
29:31
apart
29:32
from
29:32
an
29:32
anchored
29:33
confidence
29:33
in
29:34
all
29:34
that
29:34
God
29:35
has
29:35
guaranteed
29:35
for
29:36
you
29:36
in
29:36
the
29:37
person
29:37
and
29:37
work
29:38
of
29:38
Jesus
29:39
Christ
29:39
for
29:40
as
29:40
many
29:41
people
29:41
as
29:42
have
29:42
rejected
29:43
these
29:43
truths
29:43
and
29:44
been
29:44
angry
29:44
at
29:45
me
29:45
in
29:45
the
29:45
process
29:46
I
29:47
will
29:47
not
29:47
grow
29:48
tired
29:48
of
29:48
continuing
29:49
to
29:49
proclaim
29:49
them
29:49
for
29:50
those
29:50
who
29:51
will
29:51
believe
29:51
and
29:52
find
29:52
the
29:52
comfort
29:53
found
29:54
in
29:55
them
29:55
I
29:56
love
29:57
you
29:57
too
29:58
much
29:59
to
29:59
not
29:59
be
29:59
clear
30:00
about
30:00
what
30:00
the
30:01
scripture
30:01
says
30:01
about
30:02
God's
30:02
plan
30:03
in
30:04
your
30:04
life
30:05
so
30:06
I
30:06
just
30:06
won't
30:07
I
30:08
have
30:09
nothing
30:09
novel
30:09
to
30:10
say
30:10
there's
30:12
a lot
30:12
of
30:12
novelty
30:13
out
30:14
there
30:14
a lot
30:15
of
30:15
people
30:15
trying
30:16
to
30:16
dance
30:16
with
30:16
these
30:17
kinds
30:17
of
30:17
theological
30:18
concepts
30:19
we
30:20
do
30:21
well
30:21
to
30:22
look
30:22
to
30:22
the
30:23
church
30:23
of
30:24
the
30:24
past
30:24
to
30:25
see
30:25
what
30:25
they
30:26
believed
30:26
about
30:26
these
30:27
things
30:27
to
30:28
deal
30:28
with
30:29
the
30:29
text
30:29
plainly
30:30
as
30:31
God's
30:31
word
30:32
and
30:32
understand
30:32
why
30:33
why
30:34
might
30:34
we
30:35
be
30:35
taught
30:35
these
30:36
big
30:37
and
30:37
grand
30:38
truths
30:39
so
30:41
that
30:41
we
30:41
would
30:41
be
30:41
comforted
30:43
and
30:43
so
30:44
that
30:44
we
30:44
have
30:44
a
30:45
place
30:45
to
30:46
rest
30:47
in
30:47
the
30:47
mighty
30:48
hand
30:49
of
30:50
our
30:50
God
30:50
verse
30:53
30
30:53
says
30:53
those
30:54
whom
30:54
he
30:54
predestined
30:55
he
30:56
also
30:57
called
30:57
so
30:58
prior
30:59
to
30:59
the
31:00
foundation
31:01
of
31:01
the
31:01
world
31:02
he
31:03
had
31:03
knowledge
31:03
of
31:03
a
31:04
people
31:04
and
31:05
he
31:05
set
31:05
them
31:05
on
31:06
a
31:06
course
31:06
and
31:07
then
31:07
and
31:07
then
31:07
he
31:08
called
31:08
them
31:08
he
31:09
actually
31:09
did
31:09
the
31:10
work
31:10
of
31:10
calling
31:11
them
31:11
each
31:12
and
31:12
every
31:12
one
31:12
of
31:12
you
31:12
if
31:12
you
31:13
are
31:13
in
31:13
Christ
31:13
you
31:14
were
31:14
called
31:15
the
31:16
spirit
31:16
of
31:17
God
31:17
made
31:18
Christ
31:18
work
31:19
on
31:19
your
31:19
behalf
31:19
effectual
31:20
in
31:21
your
31:21
life
31:21
it's
31:21
a
31:22
doctrine
31:22
we
31:22
call
31:22
irresistible
31:23
grace
31:24
he
31:25
took
31:25
you
31:25
from
31:25
spiritual
31:26
death
31:26
to
31:26
spiritual
31:27
life
31:27
and
31:28
he
31:28
caused
31:28
you
31:29
to
31:29
believe
31:29
he
31:29
gave
31:29
you
31:30
that
31:30
gift
31:30
of
31:30
faith
31:31
that
31:31
Paul
31:31
talks
31:31
about
31:31
in
31:32
Ephesians
31:32
chapter
31:33
through
31:34
that
31:34
we
31:34
might
31:34
be
31:34
saved
31:35
through
31:36
it
31:36
John
31:38
chapter
31:38
15
31:39
verse
31:40
16
31:41
Jesus
31:41
says
31:41
you
31:42
did
31:42
not
31:43
choose
31:44
me
31:44
but I
31:45
chose
31:46
you
31:46
and
31:46
appointed
31:47
you
31:47
that
31:48
you
31:48
should
31:48
go
31:48
and
31:49
bear
31:50
fruit
31:50
altogether
31:53
humbling
31:54
we
31:55
sing a
31:56
song
31:57
out of an
31:57
old
31:57
Baptist
31:58
seminal
31:58
sadly
31:59
not in
32:00
our
32:00
current
32:00
Baptist
32:01
seminal
32:01
but in
32:01
an old
32:02
Baptist
32:02
seminal
32:02
called
32:03
my
32:03
Lord
32:03
I
32:04
did
32:04
not
32:04
choose
32:05
you
32:05
and
32:06
I
32:07
think
32:07
it
32:07
makes
32:07
some
32:07
people
32:08
really
32:08
uncomfortable
32:08
to sing
32:09
that
32:09
song
32:10
but
32:10
guess
32:10
what
32:10
the
32:12
words
32:12
of
32:12
Jesus
32:12
you've
32:15
got to
32:15
do
32:15
something
32:15
with
32:16
it
32:16
right
32:16
Jesus
32:17
says
32:17
matter
32:17
of factly
32:18
you
32:19
do not
32:19
choose
32:19
me
32:19
but I
32:21
chose
32:21
you
32:21
and
32:22
appointed
32:22
you
32:23
that
32:24
you
32:24
should
32:24
go
32:24
and
32:25
bear
32:26
fruit
32:26
the
32:27
response
32:28
to such
32:28
a thing
32:28
should
32:29
be
32:29
why
32:29
me
32:30
Lord
32:30
wretched
32:33
man
32:33
that I
32:33
am
32:34
why
32:35
me
32:36
it's
32:37
because
32:37
of his
32:38
loving
32:38
kindness
32:39
he desires
32:39
to express
32:40
in his
32:40
people
32:41
and see
32:42
his
32:42
people
32:42
come
32:42
to
32:43
Christ
32:43
likeness
32:44
that
32:44
Christ
32:45
would
32:45
be
32:46
honored
32:46
and
32:48
those
32:48
whom
32:48
he
32:48
called
32:49
he
32:50
also
32:50
justified
32:51
he
32:52
accomplished
32:52
the
32:53
saving
32:54
work
32:54
justified
32:55
by
32:56
grace
32:56
alone
32:56
through
32:57
faith
32:57
alone
32:58
in
32:58
Christ
32:59
alone
33:00
if you
33:01
look at
33:02
how
33:02
the
33:03
trinitarian
33:04
God
33:04
is
33:04
active
33:05
in
33:05
this
33:06
process
33:07
God
33:07
the
33:08
father
33:08
foreknew
33:09
and
33:09
predestined
33:11
Christ
33:12
completed
33:13
that
33:13
work
33:14
in
33:15
his
33:15
death
33:15
and
33:15
his
33:15
resurrection
33:16
and
33:17
the
33:17
spirit
33:17
makes
33:18
it
33:18
effectual
33:19
in
33:20
the
33:20
lives
33:20
of
33:20
all
33:20
who
33:20
believe
33:21
in
33:22
him
33:22
justified
33:23
by
33:23
grace
33:24
alone
33:24
through
33:25
faith
33:25
alone
33:26
in
33:27
Christ
33:27
alone
33:28
Romans
33:29
chapter
33:30
4
33:30
verse
33:30
4
33:30
and
33:31
5
33:31
now
33:31
to
33:31
the
33:31
one
33:31
who
33:31
works
33:32
his
33:32
wages
33:32
are not
33:33
counted
33:33
as a
33:33
gift
33:33
but as
33:34
his
33:34
due
33:34
and
33:35
to
33:35
the
33:35
one
33:36
who
33:36
does
33:36
not
33:36
work
33:37
but
33:37
believes
33:37
in
33:38
him
33:38
who
33:38
justifies
33:39
the
33:39
ungodly
33:39
his
33:39
faith
33:40
is
33:41
counted
33:41
as
33:43
righteousness
33:43
and
33:45
those
33:46
back to
33:46
verse
33:47
30
33:47
whom
33:47
he
33:48
justified
33:49
he
33:50
also
33:51
glorified
33:52
now remember
33:53
earlier in
33:53
chapter 8
33:54
we're
33:54
longing
33:55
for this
33:55
glorification
33:56
we're
33:57
longing
33:57
for
33:58
glory
33:58
that's
33:59
to be
33:59
revealed
33:59
to us
34:00
we're
34:00
longing
34:01
for
34:01
the
34:01
adoption
34:02
as
34:03
sons
34:03
and
34:04
this
34:04
renewal
34:04
of
34:05
our
34:05
bodies
34:05
but
34:05
here
34:06
Paul
34:06
states
34:06
it
34:06
as
34:07
a
34:07
completed
34:07
work
34:08
already
34:09
accomplished
34:10
by
34:11
Christ
34:12
remember
34:12
he's
34:12
comforting
34:13
us
34:13
yes
34:15
yes
34:16
this
34:16
life
34:16
will be
34:16
a
34:17
challenge
34:17
you
34:18
will
34:18
suffer
34:18
inside
34:19
and
34:20
outside
34:20
but
34:21
guess
34:21
what
34:22
God
34:23
will
34:23
complete
34:24
the
34:24
work
34:24
that
34:25
he
34:25
began
34:26
these
34:27
verses
34:28
are
34:28
all
34:28
about
34:29
God's
34:29
unstoppable
34:30
plan
34:30
to
34:31
pursue
34:31
his
34:31
people
34:31
to
34:32
the
34:32
end
34:33
and
34:34
this
34:34
text
34:34
is
34:35
contained
34:35
a
34:35
brief
34:36
order
34:36
of
34:36
salvation
34:39
the
34:39
main
34:40
point
34:40
of
34:41
which
34:41
is
34:41
that
34:41
God
34:42
acts
34:42
God
34:42
accomplishes
34:43
God
34:44
maintains
34:45
and
34:47
this
34:47
should
34:47
be a
34:47
great
34:48
comfort
34:48
to
34:49
us
34:49
so
34:51
our
34:51
confidence
34:52
God
34:54
providence
34:54
is
34:55
seen
34:55
in
34:55
this
34:55
text
34:55
and
34:55
our
34:56
confidence
34:56
in
34:56
God's
34:56
purpose
34:57
and
34:57
our
34:57
confidence
34:58
in
34:58
God's
34:59
plan
35:00
and I
35:01
hope
35:02
that you
35:02
share
35:03
in that
35:03
confidence
35:03
with me
35:04
this
35:05
morning
35:06
now
35:07
because I
35:09
just don't
35:09
know where
35:09
all of you
35:09
stand as
35:10
we read
35:11
these verses
35:11
and what
35:11
you understand
35:12
to be
35:13
true in
35:13
your
35:14
bulletin
35:14
and for
35:14
our
35:15
response
35:15
of
35:15
reading
35:15
this
35:16
morning
35:16
we
35:17
ask the
35:18
question
35:18
what do
35:18
we believe
35:19
about
35:19
God's
35:20
purpose
35:21
of
35:22
grace
35:22
and the
35:23
answer
35:23
to that
35:24
is
35:24
found
35:26
there
35:26
in
35:26
your
35:26
bulletin
35:27
this
35:27
is
35:27
from
35:28
our
35:28
current
35:28
statement
35:29
of
35:29
faith
35:29
and
35:30
this
35:30
answer
35:30
is
35:31
found
35:32
it's
35:32
borrowed
35:32
from
35:33
the
35:33
New
35:33
Hampshire
35:33
confession
35:34
of
35:34
1833
35:35
nothing
35:37
new
35:37
and novel
35:38
here
35:38
what did
35:39
those
35:39
Christians
35:40
believe
35:40
about
35:40
God's
35:41
purpose
35:42
of
35:43
grace
35:43
and
35:43
accompanied
35:44
!
35:44
with
35:44
it
35:44
is
35:44
roughly
35:45
50
35:46
references
35:47
!
35:48
if I
35:48
did a
35:48
quick
35:49
count
35:50
of
35:51
them
35:51
so
35:51
I
35:51
want
35:52
you
35:52
to
35:52
see
35:52
that
35:52
you
35:53
have
35:53
a
35:53
concise
35:54
statement
35:55
here
35:55
that
35:56
is
35:56
worth
35:56
your
35:56
consideration
35:57
and
35:58
your
35:58
study
35:58
you
36:00
may
36:00
not
36:00
be
36:01
able
36:02
to
36:02
wait
36:02
as
36:03
we
36:03
work
36:03
through
36:03
the
36:04
next
36:04
three
36:05
chapters
36:05
so
36:06
I'm
36:06
going
36:06
to
36:06
read
36:07
that
36:07
for
36:07
you
36:07
and
36:07
I
36:08
just
36:08
want
36:08
you
36:08
to
36:08
hear
36:09
it
36:09
and
36:09
I
36:09
want
36:09
you
36:10
to
36:10
perhaps
36:10
follow
36:10
along
36:11
and
36:11
I
36:11
want
36:11
you
36:11
to
36:11
consider
36:12
doing
36:13
some
36:13
study
36:13
on
36:13
your
36:14
own
36:14
as
36:15
you're
36:15
considering
36:15
these
36:15
things
36:16
we
36:16
believe
36:17
that
36:18
election
36:19
is the
36:19
eternal
36:20
purpose
36:20
of
36:20
God
36:20
according
36:21
to
36:21
which
36:21
he
36:21
graciously
36:22
regenerates
36:23
sanctifies
36:24
and saves
36:25
sinners
36:25
that
36:26
being
36:26
perfectly
36:27
consistent
36:28
with
36:28
the
36:28
free
36:28
agency
36:29
of
36:29
man
36:29
it
36:30
comprehends
36:30
all
36:31
the
36:31
means
36:32
in
36:32
connection
36:32
with
36:33
the
36:33
end
36:33
that
36:34
it
36:34
is
36:34
a
36:34
most
36:35
glorious
36:35
display
36:36
of
36:36
God's
36:36
sovereign
36:36
goodness
36:37
being
36:38
infinitely
36:39
free
36:39
wise
36:40
holy
36:41
and
36:41
unchangeable
36:42
that
36:43
it
36:43
utterly
36:44
excludes
36:45
boasting
36:46
and
36:46
promotes
36:47
humility
36:47
love
36:48
prayer
36:49
praise
36:50
trust
36:50
in
36:50
God
36:51
and
36:51
active
36:52
imitation
36:52
of
36:53
his
36:53
free
36:53
mercy
36:54
that
36:55
it
36:55
encourages
36:56
the
36:56
use
36:56
of
36:56
means
36:57
in
36:57
the
36:57
highest
36:58
degree
36:58
that
36:59
it
36:59
may
36:59
be
36:59
ascertained
37:00
by
37:00
its
37:00
effects
37:01
and
37:01
all
37:01
who
37:01
truly
37:02
believe
37:03
the
37:03
gospel
37:04
that
37:05
it
37:05
is
37:05
the
37:05
foundation
37:06
of
37:06
Christian
37:06
assurance
37:08
and
37:08
that
37:08
to
37:09
ascertain
37:09
it
37:10
with
37:10
regard
37:10
to
37:10
ourselves
37:11
demands
37:11
and
37:12
deserves
37:12
the
37:13
utmost
37:14
diligence
37:15
I would
37:16
draw your
37:17
attention
37:17
to a
37:18
phrase
37:19
toward
37:19
the end
37:19
there
37:19
that says
37:20
it is
37:20
the
37:21
foundation
37:22
God's
37:23
eternal
37:23
purpose
37:24
and
37:24
salvation
37:24
the
37:25
foundation
37:26
of
37:27
Christian
37:28
assurance
37:29
our
37:30
confidence
37:31
sits
37:31
upon
37:32
God's
37:34
sovereign
37:34
plan
37:35
for our
37:36
lives
37:36
so
37:37
I
37:37
hope
37:38
you'll
37:38
consider
37:39
it
37:39
and
37:39
wrestle
37:40
with
37:40
it
37:40
and
37:40
believe
37:41
it
37:42
in
37:44
closing
37:44
I want
37:44
to
37:44
read
37:45
to
37:45
you
37:46
the
37:46
rest
37:47
of
37:47
the
37:47
chapter
37:47
it's
37:48
very
37:48
difficult
37:49
to
37:49
stop
37:49
at
37:49
verse
37:50
30
37:50
and
37:50
not
37:50
go
37:51
on
37:51
and
37:51
Lord
37:52
willing
37:52
we'll
37:52
consider
37:53
these
37:53
verses
37:53
further
37:54
Christmas
37:56
eve
37:56
morning
37:57
Paul
37:59
says
37:59
this
38:00
what
38:01
then
38:01
shall
38:02
we
38:02
say
38:02
to
38:03
these
38:03
things
38:04
what's
38:05
he
38:05
talking
38:06
about
38:06
verse
38:07
29
38:07
and
38:07
30
38:08
what
38:09
then
38:09
shall
38:10
we
38:10
say
38:10
to
38:10
these
38:10
things
38:11
if
38:12
God
38:12
is
38:12
for
38:12
us
38:13
who
38:14
can
38:14
be
38:14
against
38:15
us
38:15
he
38:16
who
38:16
did
38:16
not
38:16
spare
38:17
his
38:17
own
38:17
son
38:17
but
38:17
gave
38:18
him
38:18
up
38:18
for
38:18
us
38:18
all
38:18
how
38:19
will
38:19
he
38:19
not
38:20
also
38:20
with
38:20
him
38:20
graciously
38:21
give
38:22
us
38:22
all
38:22
things
38:23
who
38:25
shall
38:25
bring
38:26
any
38:26
charge
38:26
against
38:27
God's
38:27
elect
38:27
it
38:28
is
38:29
!
38:29
God
38:30
who
38:31
is
38:31
to
38:31
condemn
38:31
Christ
38:32
Jesus
38:33
is
38:33
the
38:33
one
38:33
who
38:33
died
38:34
more
38:34
than
38:34
that
38:34
who
38:34
was
38:35
raised
38:35
was
38:35
at
38:35
the
38:35
right
38:36
hand
38:36
of
38:36
God
38:36
who
38:36
indeed
38:37
is
38:37
interceding
38:38
for
38:38
us
38:39
who
38:40
shall
38:40
separate
38:41
us
38:41
from
38:42
the
38:42
love
38:42
of
38:42
Christ
38:43
shall
38:44
tribulation
38:44
or
38:45
distress
38:45
or
38:46
persecution
38:46
or
38:46
famine
38:47
or
38:47
nakedness
38:48
or
38:48
danger
38:48
or
38:48
sword
38:49
as
38:49
it
38:50
is
38:50
written
38:50
for
38:50
your
38:50
sake
38:51
we
38:51
are
38:51
being
38:51
killed
38:51
all
38:52
the
38:52
day
38:52
long
38:52
we
38:53
are
38:53
regarded
38:53
as
38:54
sheep
38:54
to
38:54
be
38:55
slaughtered
38:55
no
38:56
in
38:57
all
38:58
these
38:58
things
38:58
we
38:59
are
38:59
more
38:59
than
38:59
conquerors
39:00
through
39:00
him
39:00
who
39:01
loved
39:01
us
39:02
for
39:03
I
39:03
am
39:04
sure
39:05
that
39:06
neither
39:06
death
39:06
nor
39:06
life
39:07
nor
39:07
angels
39:07
nor
39:07
rulers
39:08
nor
39:08
things
39:08
present
39:09
nor
39:09
things
39:09
to
39:09
come
39:10
nor
39:10
powers
39:11
nor
39:11
height
39:12
nor
39:12
depth
39:12
nor
39:12
anything
39:13
else
39:13
in
39:13
all
39:14
creation
39:14
will
39:15
be
39:15
able
39:15
to
39:15
separate
39:16
us
39:16
from
39:17
the
39:17
love
39:17
of
39:17
God
39:17
in
39:18
Christ
39:18
Jesus
39:19
our
39:20
Lord
39:20
let's
39:21
pray
39:21
together