1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,760 It is so good to be here with all of you today. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,119 And as has been mentioned, we do appreciate everyone for being 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,080 here and I've enjoyed worshipping with you so far. 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,440 And as always is the case, I do consider it a privilege to speak 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:20,880 concerning the Word of God. And as I have announced, today's 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,160 sermon is going to be found in one passage, one verse. 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,320 It's actually a verse that's often misapplied today, but it's 8 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,480 really a tremendous, unbelievable blessing and it's 9 00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:37,760 found in Romans chapter 8 and verse 28 where the apostle Paul 10 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,160 wrote. And we know that all things work 11 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,440 together for good to those who love God, to those that are 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:52,000 called according to His purpose. Before we get into that though, 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,600 remember last time I mentioned to you that the Apostle Paul 14 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,200 mentions 5 unbelievable blessings to help the Christian 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,400 be sustained in life? And I'm just going to say I 16 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,600 realize life is filled with hard times. 17 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,120 It really is. Sometimes people have things of 18 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,080 greater degree that is before them than others, but really 19 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,720 when it comes to life, there's just hard stuff. 20 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:19,680 I was talking to a lady the other day. 21 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,920 She was telling me we were talking about a little girl. 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,600 It was a very tragic situation, but a little 3 year old girl was 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,040 killed in a horse accident and it was terrible. 24 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:32,600 We were talking about life a little bit. 25 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,600 She started to cry and she said, you know, she said she had five 26 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,880 miscarriages in her life too. And we were talking about what 27 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,080 it means to lose a child. And I actually shared some 28 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:47,080 things with her and she said you know what, she summed it up and 29 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:53,080 she summed it up right. She said this is just life. 30 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,280 So the point is, what are we going to have in our life to 31 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,560 sustain us while we journey toward heaven? 32 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,760 Paul gives 5 unbelievable blessings in Romans chapter 8 33 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,720 that's going to help us through even futility and suffering. 34 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,560 And the first one that we noticed, and we're going to be 35 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:18,000 very quick about this, this is review and introduction #1 is 36 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,160 hope. Paul says we were saved in this 37 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,520 hope. But hope that is not seen, that 38 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:28,000 is seen is not hope for why does 1 still hope for what he sees? 39 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,920 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it 40 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:36,440 with perseverance. What does hope really mean? 41 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,600 Remember that faith and hope are similar in that they both are 42 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,120 trusting God. And you need both. 43 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,480 And by the way, faith actually gives you hope. 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,280 So both of them are necessary in life. 45 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,080 They're both similar in that they both are trusting God. 46 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,720 They're different in that faith trusts God in the present, but 47 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:00,520 hope trusts God for the future. So what's it actually mean? 48 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:02,760 It literally means to look forward. 49 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,400 Now, if hope is going to be a blessing in our life, it has to 50 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,240 involve 3 very important features in order to be a 51 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:16,840 blessing #1A future orientation based upon a deep desire that's 52 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,840 going to give us one day a tremendous benefit. 53 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:25,000 So to express hope is really to wait expectantly for what is 54 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,320 good. I didn't make this point last 55 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,320 time. I'm going to make it now. 56 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,000 Hope is not postponed disappointment. 57 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,320 In other words, something bad's going to happen, but there's a 58 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,720 period of time in my life before it happens. 59 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,160 So during that period of time, that's a period of hope. 60 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:47,760 It's kind of like my sister Louise. 61 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,760 I told some of you that are lifers with me back all the 62 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,040 years may have heard this illustration, but my sister 63 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,640 Louise, we're watching a football game. 64 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,120 We were kids. Our team was getting crushed by 65 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,600 4 touchdowns. I was mad. 66 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,480 Louise was thinking on the bright side, as Louise always 67 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:05,560 did. She's the kind of person that 68 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:07,960 would catch a fish that apologized to it for doing so. 69 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,840 OK, wonderful person, sweet person. 70 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:18,640 I was kind of rotten, so I was disgusted, she said. 71 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,600 There's two minutes left. Listen, there's two minutes 72 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,840 left. The other team has the ball, 73 00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:26,840 it's first down, they're running out the clock and we're down by 74 00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:29,480 4 touchdowns. We have no chance, she said. 75 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,760 Well, there's two minutes left. There's still hope. 76 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,960 No, that is postponed disappointment. 77 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,240 That is we only had we got 2 more minutes before we have to 78 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,240 be disappointed. So in context of this hope, what 79 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,800 does it actually mean? It means this life with all its 80 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,720 challenges can never rob. Get this please, the believer of 81 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,400 his salvation, as long as he chooses to abide faithful in 82 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,360 Christ, Tragedy after tragedy cannot steal the Christian's 83 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,160 future home in heaven For him, none of the external forces on 84 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,800 earth like heart breaks, sorrows, disappointments, 85 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,640 problems and difficulties that a believer will suffer. 86 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:17,040 We'll be able to remove him from the peace and safety and 87 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:22,480 security of the arms of Jesus as long as he chooses to remain 88 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,680 faithful to the Lord. 1 commentator put it like this. 89 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:32,040 In summary, he said, yes, we've been saved, but do not expect 90 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,360 perfection in paradise yet. It will come, but in the 91 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,720 meantime, do not be discouraged and do not give up. 92 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,440 No wonder hope is one of the five unbelievable benefits and 93 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:51,280 blessings that God has given us to sustain us in life as we go 94 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:53,840 through sometimes debilitating losses and things that we 95 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:55,640 endure. And that's blessing number one. 96 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,600 Blessing #2 it's the intercessory work of the Holy 97 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,880 Spirit. When we pray, notice again, 98 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,280 we're talking about weaknesses. We're talking about hard times. 99 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:06,880 We're talking about difficulties. 100 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,480 We're talking about what happens when you're at the end of your 101 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,080 rope and you don't know where to turn. 102 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,920 That's the context so far. Get more into that in just a 103 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,880 moment. But notice blessing #2 blessing 104 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,200 number one is hope. Blessing number 2 is the 105 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,480 intercessory work of the Holy Spirit, verse 26. 106 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:28,440 Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not 107 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,600 know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself 108 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:34,960 makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be 109 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,320 uttered. Verse 27 Now he who searches the 110 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,440 hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes 111 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,160 intercession for the Saints according to the will of God. 112 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,320 We studied this in great detail. We're not going to do it again. 113 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:53,160 Just to summarize, when in my weakness I don't know what to 114 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:57,000 pray for, my human spirit groans. 115 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:03,640 The Holy Spirit hears the unutterable groanings of my 116 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,360 soul. He takes those unutterable 117 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,240 groanings. The Holy Spirit does to the 118 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,920 Father. The Father understands. 119 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,480 He's the one that searches the heart, but he understands 120 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:19,120 because he knows what the mind of the Holy Spirit is, because 121 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,080 the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the Saints 122 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,480 according to the will of God. Unbelievable blessing. 123 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,640 That's blessing #2 All right, now here's our sermon. 124 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,720 Blessing number three, one verse. 125 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,360 And we know that all things work together for good to those who 126 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:42,040 love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 127 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,920 And before we get into this passage, let me just say there's 128 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:47,960 actually a bearing, as I mentioned a moment ago, 129 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:55,600 misapplied passage today, one interpretation that really is a 130 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,400 misinterpretation. I'll prove this is that is that 131 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:04,520 this passage means this every single individual circumstance 132 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,920 in my life is going to work out together for good. 133 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:14,680 If all I do is love God and I'm called according to his purpose. 134 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,360 So people say because everything's going to work out. 135 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:19,880 I love God, so everything's going to work out. 136 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,760 So don't worry. Look on the bright side, it's 137 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,560 going to all work out. That's interpretation #1 138 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:36,880 interpretation #2 God will turn every negative circumstance that 139 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,000 is in my life and make it positive. 140 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:45,040 If I love God and I'm called according to His purpose. 141 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:50,520 Now I got to say, can God make any negative circumstance into a 142 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,440 positive? Can God do that? 143 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,800 Yes. Don't ever limit God. 144 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,200 But this passage here is an absolute. 145 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,240 It's talking about all things. We'll get to what all things 146 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,400 mean in just a moment. So what does that mean? 147 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,000 Will God turn everything in every circumstance into a 148 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,160 positive? No, not necessarily. 149 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,520 God can do that. In fact, there's many Bible 150 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,880 examples where what man meant for evil, God meant for good. 151 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,080 Chris has been talking about Joseph. 152 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,840 A perfect example. I'll be very brief. 153 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,720 Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. 154 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,360 Kind of a bad circumstance, wasn't it? 155 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,760 That's a bad thing. He was falsely accused later on 156 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,760 by Potiphar's wife. That's kind of bad too, isn't 157 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,560 it? In Genesis chapter 41, the 158 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:45,000 scripture says that he named his first born son Manasseh. 159 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Which means God has made me to forget all the trouble of my 160 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,560 father's house. In other words, in Genesis 161 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:55,520 chapter 41, he made the determination in his mind, I'm 162 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,560 not going to be negatively influenced by what my brothers 163 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:03,720 did to me. Genesis chapter 45. 164 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,320 He's about to be reconciled with his brothers. 165 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:11,040 Now this is after the fact. Notice Genesis 35 and five, but 166 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:15,000 now do you therefore be do not therefore be grieved or angry 167 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,600 with yourselves because you sold me here for God sent me before 168 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,280 you to preserve life. Then in Genesis 50 and verse 20, 169 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,560 but As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for 170 00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:32,960 good in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many 171 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,880 people alive. You know, there's other times 172 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,880 where God uses the wrath of men to praise him. 173 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,280 In the Bible, many examples. All these things are true. 174 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:51,400 It's also true that if we have the right attitude, we can take 175 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,920 a negative circumstance and we can actually get a positive from 176 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,000 it. We can do that. 177 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,120 That's a choice. That's a choice. 178 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:09,720 You know, also, I suppose if a person is really looking, you 179 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,720 can even find good in every negative thing, or maybe for the 180 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,800 most part, most negative things. I don't know, like, for example, 181 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,240 something very bad can happen to you, but you handle it really 182 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,440 well. You don't blame God. 183 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,680 You're a person of faith. You demonstrate that to other 184 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:28,360 people. Other people are encouraged by 185 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:29,800 that. Other people are lifted up by 186 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,200 that. Other people are strengthened by 187 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:32,840 that. You have a great influence. 188 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,320 That's good, isn't it? That's a negative circumstance 189 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,120 in your life that became positive. 190 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:43,880 That's all true. And while these things are true, 191 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,800 this verse in Romans 8 and 28 is not a circumstance. 192 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:55,040 It's an unbelievable promise and an unbelievable blessing. 193 00:11:55,280 --> 00:12:01,400 So this passage does not teach special Providence if you love 194 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,840 God and every circumstance will work out for good because of 195 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,080 your love for Him. Because you know what, folks? 196 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:12,640 I think we would all agree sometimes things just don't work 197 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,800 out good. That's the case. 198 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,200 So Paul had something else in mind in the context of Romans 199 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,440 chapter 8 and verse 28. Keeping that in mind, let's 200 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,240 study together this unbelievable passage. 201 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:33,120 Remember, this is the third of the five blessings and benefits 202 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,360 that are given to encourage believers through the 203 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,920 difficulties of life. And the first thing that Paul 204 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:44,320 says is I love this. And we no, you know, there's 205 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,920 similar language in first John. He said, I'm writing these 206 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,320 things to you that you may know that you have eternal life. 207 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,640 Now, the same author that gave the assurance is the same one 208 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:54,960 that gave the conditions. We know that. 209 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,880 But the word known means to know for certain. 210 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,920 That's the same concept here. What Paul is saying is, and we 211 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,400 know for certain what he's about to say. 212 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,960 Now, there's a difference between knowing and perception, 213 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,000 a big difference. How do we know the things that 214 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,800 he's about to say? And how do we know about the 215 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,680 blessings and benefits that God gives us in this life to sustain 216 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:23,520 us in this life? How do we know it? 217 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,880 By the testimony of God's Word. That's how we know it. 218 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:35,480 I got to tell you, if there's no basis for my belief and it's 219 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,640 just what I think, then it's what you think is what the 220 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,400 person thinks everybody thinks and there's no foundation or no, 221 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,960 there's nothing to base it on. Then really it becomes 222 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,520 speculation. You're speculating, you're 223 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,200 wanting it to be somewhere, but there has to be a level of 224 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,480 standard. It's God's word. 225 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:54,240 How do I know anything from God's word? 226 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,640 For example, our faith is based upon God's word. 227 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,880 Romans 10/17. So faith comes by hearing and 228 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,720 hearing by the word of God. I got to tell you there is a 229 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,360 great, I don't like this word. I don't know how to put it, not 230 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:14,480 movement, but there's a better word trend in our society today. 231 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,400 I'm talking about all over society. 232 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,040 You know what people are doing? They're doing their best to try 233 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:24,480 to get back to the Word of God. Everything that we do 234 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,800 foundationally has to be based on something. 235 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,040 Our faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 236 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,800 So if that's the case, how do I know about the unbelievable 237 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,960 blessings that are going to come to me as a child of God to 238 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,280 sustain me only through the Word of God? 239 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,200 2 passages and we have to be quick. 240 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,240 First Peter chapter one, look at this incredibly encouraging 241 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,600 passage. First Peter one beginning in 242 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,600 verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of 243 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,560 our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy, 244 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,760 has begotten us again to a living hope through the 245 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,400 resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance 246 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:06,560 incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, 247 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:11,200 reserved in heaven for you. If that's not encouraging to 248 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,280 you, I don't know what can be. You know that song about Jesus 249 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,440 Christ, our living hope. It's one of my favorite songs 250 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,280 that we sing. Unbelievable. 251 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,440 How do we know though? That's a song that was written 252 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,040 about a fact. How do we know that Jesus is our 253 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,800 living hope? By the testimony of the Word of 254 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,840 God. Here's another one. 255 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:37,080 Second Peter chapter 1 beginning in verse 3 as his divine power 256 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,440 has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness 257 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,600 through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue by 258 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,120 which have been given to us exceeding great and precious 259 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:52,000 promises that through these you may be partakers of the divine 260 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,240 nature. Having escaped the corruption 261 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,480 that is in the excuse me, the world through lust unbelievable 262 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,200 blessings. How do we know these things? 263 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:03,840 By the testimony of the Word of God. 264 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:08,800 So how do we know this Paul? What did he say specifically? 265 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:15,240 Blessing #3 All things work together for good. 266 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,160 You know the phrase in our English translations, All 267 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:24,240 things, those two words. I checked and it's found around 268 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:32,800 200 times in the Scriptures, and the phrase is limited and rarely 269 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:38,440 means things without limit. So we think all things and we 270 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,520 think it means everything. So in other words, everything's 271 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,600 going to work out, but it's actually a very limited phrase 272 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,880 in all 200 times in the Scriptures. 273 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,400 So in order to understand it, you have to find out what the 274 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:54,440 context is, to include what all things truly are. 275 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,640 By doing that, you know what we're going to do? 276 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,120 We're going to use the Holy Spirit's outline and go back 277 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,040 about 10 verses and let the Word of God tell us what the context 278 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:08,680 is about all things. Romans 8, beginning in verse 18. 279 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,599 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time 280 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,880 are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be 281 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,359 revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of 282 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:22,720 creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 283 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,720 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but 284 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,440 because of Him who subjected it in hope, Because the creation 285 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,840 itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption 286 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,840 into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 287 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,440 For we know that the whole creation groans and laborers 288 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,040 with birth pangs together. And to now not only that, but we 289 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,480 also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves 290 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,320 grow within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption of the 291 00:17:55,320 --> 00:18:02,400 redemption of our body. So Kaufman says this is sum it 292 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,200 up. I know there's a lot of words 293 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,920 here. This is what it means. 294 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:13,640 All things in context include sufferings, sorrows, 295 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:18,240 infirmities, and everything else of a discouraging and calamitous 296 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:22,400 nature which might befall God's child on earth. 297 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,280 The phrase for good cannot mean earthly prosperity. 298 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:32,040 It cannot mean earthly success, bodily health, or any other 299 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,640 purely mortal benefit, but is rather a reference to the 300 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:40,160 eternal Felicity of the soul. So whatever might happen to the 301 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,720 Christian in this life, absolutely nothing can happen to 302 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:48,240 his saved inner self. This is true because God is able 303 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:53,320 to overrule every circumstance in such a manner as to compel 304 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:58,040 its contribution to the eternal redemption that awaits the child 305 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:07,040 of God. Verses 37 and 39 of Romans 8 306 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,360 provide context and limitations of all things. 307 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:15,120 I love this passage here. Yet in all these things we are 308 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:17,160 more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 309 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,280 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 310 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,440 principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to 311 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:28,000 come, nor height, nor death, nor any other created thing, shall 312 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,600 be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ 313 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:36,160 Jesus our Lord. Please notice, Paul is not 314 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:41,080 saying the following. He is not saying that everything 315 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,560 that happens to a Christian is good or good for him. 316 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:47,680 That's number one. He's not saying that. 317 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:53,040 Number 2, He is also not saying that God causes everything that 318 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:59,240 happens to a Christian #3 he is not saying or teaching universal 319 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,680 optimism that everything's going to turn out all right for 320 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:07,440 everyone in every case. What he is saying? 321 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,640 Please get this. That we are promised that 322 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,800 everything that happens to a Christian can ultimately work 323 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:20,640 together for his spiritual benefit. 324 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:29,280 I don't know about you, but I kind of like that idea better. 325 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,960 I know sometimes circumstances in life are not going to work 326 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:40,640 out, so rather than having the promise that everything you're 327 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,520 going through right now is going to get good, I'd rather have 328 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,080 everything I'm going through now is going to ultimately work 329 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,600 toward. My spirits will benefit. 330 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:57,400 We'll get to hell. So why will these things work 331 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,480 together for good here? It is because no power on earth 332 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,880 or under the earth can steal him from his eternal salvation that 333 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:12,080 comes to him through the gospel. Therefore, whatever evil or 334 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,120 misfortune or whatever physical ill or persecution that befalls 335 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:19,600 the believer, he can still take comfort and the surety of his 336 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:25,000 eternal salvation as long as he remains faithful to the Lord. 337 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:37,080 Now that is benefit #1 but if you ever stop to consider that 338 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,440 what you may be going through in life or the difficult things in 339 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:45,920 life could actually be doing some good for you on the journey 340 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,160 along the way. You know, one of my favourite 341 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:54,000 encouraging passages, a passage that we learn that whatever 342 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,200 happens to us, it'll help us serve God more effectively as a 343 00:21:58,200 --> 00:21:59,480 result. And it's found in Second 344 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:04,120 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 17, the apostle Paul says for 345 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:07,960 our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for 346 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:12,120 us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 347 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,440 Once you look at that word right there, affliction, please. 348 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,600 And I'm going to say something. And maybe you're saying he's 349 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,520 going to talk about something now and has nothing to do with 350 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,160 his lesson. Where's he going? 351 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,600 No, I'm not. This has everything to do with 352 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,040 my lesson. This has everything to do with 353 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,080 this point. Please hear me. 354 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:39,840 I don't know when it began, but for centuries science and 355 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:44,200 Christianity have been at odds. And it really shouldn't be 356 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,800 because true science doesn't contradict the Bible and the 357 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:51,640 Bible doesn't contradict true science. 358 00:22:52,840 --> 00:23:00,320 What happens is, is when a man has a man made scientific 359 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:05,600 theory, often times that may violate or contradict the Bible. 360 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:07,800 Give you an example? I'm not an expert on all this 361 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,880 stuff, but I'll just say this like Darwinian evolution. 362 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,040 And I'm saying that because Darwin was born in the early 363 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,400 1800s and he lived till I think 1888 or something like that. 364 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,040 OK. And we know about Darwinian 365 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,400 evolution, which by the way, later on in his life, he said it 366 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:25,440 was the following of a young man. 367 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:26,880 But you know, just put that out there. 368 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,280 Darwinian evolution, big divide between science and 369 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,880 Christianity. And sometimes people today say, 370 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,960 wait a minute, there's two things and they have nothing to 371 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:40,560 do with each other. So I'm either going to be 372 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,040 scientific and be in science or I'm going to be God fearing and 373 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,120 be a Christian. Doesn't have to be that at all. 374 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:50,720 It's kind of like going to the doctor, man, I'm not wearing my 375 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,520 knees out praying. And man, I've been doing it 376 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,440 lately, but I'm trying to go to some doctors too. 377 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:04,120 That is science and God, I believe in that. 378 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:13,640 In 1866, in an effort to try to close the divide between science 379 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,680 and the traditional scientific theories, like of Darwinian 380 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:24,280 evolution in the 1800s, there was a movement that came in to 381 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,520 try to bring together science with the Bible or with God. 382 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:35,200 In other words, how can we look at modern science and connect it 383 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:40,600 to ancient Bible healings? So the movement came in in 1866 384 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,680 and you know what? It's called Christian Science. 385 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,880 Unfortunately, that's why I put the word affliction here. 386 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,920 One of the major premises of Christian Science is there's no 387 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,760 such thing as affliction. There's no such thing as pain. 388 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,880 There's no such thing as evil. It's just the perception of it. 389 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,920 So if you change your perception, there is no bad. 390 00:25:11,120 --> 00:25:13,760 I try really hard sometimes not to be sarcastic. 391 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,800 Sometimes I don't try not to be, but sometimes. 392 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:19,400 But I'm, I'm not trying to be sarcastic. 393 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,040 I'm really not. But folks, that's absurd. 394 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,640 That's not Christian and that's not science. 395 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,160 It's not true to its name. Like I like to say, it's like 396 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:32,640 Grape Nuts. You have any Grape Nuts? 397 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,280 Not true to its name and it ate grapes and it ate nuts and it 398 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:39,400 tastes like dark. You might as well go take a hunk 399 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:43,720 out of a tree. Not true to its name. 400 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,000 So anybody that would say there is no such thing as affliction, 401 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:54,280 it's just perception of pain is not Christian and not science. 402 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:01,120 Paul said our light affliction. Why did Paul by way of his 403 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:04,040 perception called the affliction light? 404 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,200 I'm going to tell you something. I want time to go into it. 405 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:07,760 He acts a pretty heavy affliction. 406 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,320 One time he said, I bare in my body the marks of the Lord 407 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:14,680 Jesus, the literal marks of Jesus being beaten for the cause 408 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,680 of Christ, terrible things that happened to him in his life, 409 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:19,080 right? Yeah. 410 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:21,440 He calls affliction light. You know why? 411 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:26,600 Because it is temporary. It is for a moment when compared 412 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,400 to eternity. So in his perception, he says, 413 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:34,960 man, I can, I can do this. And I got to tell you, I can do 414 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:36,360 anything for just a short amount of time. 415 00:26:36,360 --> 00:26:39,200 If you know it's going to end, you can too, right? 416 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,360 So Paul said that's perception, but there's more. 417 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,000 There's an unbelievable secondary benefit to the 418 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,360 negative things that happen. First benefit is these things 419 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:51,200 that we already noticed. These things cannot take away 420 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:54,520 our eternal salvation if we remain faithful to the Lord #2 421 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,400 in a secondary sense, all things are going to work together. 422 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,960 How these things are going to work together for my spiritual 423 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:06,960 good, by working for us a far more exceeding and eternal 424 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:11,280 weight of glory. Wow. 425 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,000 By the way, this doesn't mean I'm going to have a better 426 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:15,400 mansion. It doesn't mean I'm going to 427 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,240 have a greater reward. Guess what we get according to 428 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:18,960 Matthew 20? We get the same penny. 429 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,520 We get the same reward. No matter how long you're a 430 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,640 child of God, no matter how long you're a Christian, you get the 431 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,400 same reward. That's it. 432 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,680 And I don't know about you. I've said this before. 433 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,400 I'll be a street sweeper in heaven. 434 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,880 I just want to go, and if there's only one way to squeeze 435 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,560 in, I'm going to squeeze in. But you know what? 436 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:42,040 That's not biblical. It says we're going to have an 437 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,520 abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom. 438 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:45,880 Man, We're blowing the doors off. 439 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:52,080 It's going to be great stuff. Ain't that a blessing? 440 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:59,320 What this means is we will have a greater capacity to praise, 441 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:04,640 serve, honor, and glorify God not only in this life but also 442 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,640 in heaven. And that's the eternal part. 443 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,520 In other words, suffering or our willingness to submit to it 444 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,160 enlarges our capacity to serve God. 445 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,560 Peter put it this way first. Peter one beginning in verse 6. 446 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,920 He said in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little 447 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,360 while if need be, you've been grieved by various trials that 448 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:30,480 the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than 449 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:34,280 gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire may be found to 450 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:40,280 praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 451 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:48,400 So remember, our response and our reaction matters too, how 452 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:54,400 you handle things, Kaufman said. So the reaction of the child of 453 00:28:54,400 --> 00:29:00,080 God or his response to the ills of mortal life must be one of 454 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:05,800 patience, submission, humility, prayer, love, hope and faith. 455 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:10,240 Even adversity of the severest kind must be made to yield its 456 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,960 precious fruit in the heart of the Christian. 457 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,960 It has been proved, get this again and again by Christians, 458 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,280 that prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament. 459 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,520 Adversity is the blessing of the new. 460 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:30,040 It's going to make us better. It's going to make us greater. 461 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,160 I don't want to do this because my mother-in-law loves Tom 462 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,480 Brady. She's a big fan. 463 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,320 But Tom Brady said you want to know the secret. 464 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:51,920 He said it's not about the wins, it's about how you handle the 465 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:56,760 losses. I got to give him his credit. 466 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:03,000 I believe in that. That is what makes a difference 467 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:08,320 in your life. So working together for good 468 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,280 speaks of a situation in which God is surely at work on the 469 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,960 Christians behalf. True, but it also speaks of a 470 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,920 situation in which the same person's reactions to life's 471 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:25,600 woes is a controlled response. As the poet, an anonymous poet, 472 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:31,320 once wrote, some ships sail east and some sail West by the self. 473 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,920 Same winds that blow. It's the set of the sails and 474 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:39,880 not the gales that determines the way they go. 475 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,200 Now, the promise that all these things are going to work 476 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:48,680 together for good are limited to two phrases. 477 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:55,160 One, to those who love God. What does that mean? 478 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:59,120 What's it mean to love God? Well, let's let Jesus answer 479 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:03,320 that in John chapter 14 and verses 15 and 21. 480 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,520 If you love me, keep my commandments. 481 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:11,720 Then in verse 21 Jesus said he who has my commandments and 482 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,320 keeps them, it is he who loves me. 483 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:18,160 And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will 484 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:23,800 love him and manifest myself to him in first John chapter 5 and 485 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,240 verse 3. For this is the love of God, 486 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,640 that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not 487 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,960 burdensome. Second John 6, This is love that 488 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,960 we walk according to his commandments. 489 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:44,840 Even Jesus said Luke 6 and 46 And why do you call me Lord, 490 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,120 Lord, and do not the things that I say? 491 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:49,280 So how do you know if you love God? 492 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:52,200 Jesus says you know that you love God by keeping my 493 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,680 commandments and my commandments are not burdensome, they're not 494 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,640 difficult. Jesus says, why do you call me 495 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,320 Lord? Lord and think you have a 496 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,560 relationship with me and don't do the things that I say. 497 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:10,000 So loving the Lord or loving God is to listen to him, follow him 498 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,840 and obey him. Just as simple as that. 499 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:18,600 So these blessings apply to those number one who love the 500 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:24,720 Lord and #2 to those who are called according to His purpose. 501 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,480 Who's this? How is 1 called according to His 502 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:33,080 purpose? Moses E Lard in his commentary 503 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:38,560 on Romans said this. Those that are called is simply 504 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,200 another mode of designating the saved. 505 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:45,920 It's an expression those that love God are descriptive. 506 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:50,640 It and the expression those that love God are descriptive. 507 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:53,440 Not of different persons, but the same. 508 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:58,440 The two clauses also express important facts in their lives. 509 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:03,200 So the called are the saved and the saved are the called. 510 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:08,360 OK, how are we called? By what? 511 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:12,400 Second Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 14 to which he called 512 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:17,000 you by our gospel. What gospel? 513 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:21,120 Romans 116 For I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it 514 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,480 is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. 515 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,920 For the Jew 1st and also for the Greek or the Gentile. 516 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,520 Jesus said it this way. I love this. 517 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,680 One of my favorite passages, Matthew 11, beginning in verse 518 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,080 28. Come unto me, all you that labor 519 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:39,480 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 520 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:43,760 Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly 521 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,360 at heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. 522 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:49,840 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 523 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:54,640 That's the call through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 524 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:02,520 That's the invitation. OK, Those that answer the call 525 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:10,000 are the ones that are called according to His purpose. 526 00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:18,440 Second Timothy 1 and 9 who has saved us and called us with a 527 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:22,120 holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his 528 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,920 own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus 529 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:29,600 before time begins. So the calling is not a special 530 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,960 independent calling. It is not an it is not a 531 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:37,000 circumstantial calling. Those that are called folks, 532 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,440 this is great. Those that are called are the 533 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:47,440 saved or all Christians. Isn't that better than just wait 534 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,880 a minute, I got to wait if this promise in Romans 828, I got to 535 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:51,679 wait till I'm specially called individually. 536 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:58,040 Hope he picks me. No, we're called by the gospel. 537 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:02,280 Our response to the gospel determines whether we're the 538 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:06,520 called in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 539 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:12,840 Christians baptized believers. Now if all the called if all are 540 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:16,040 called by the gospel, then why are Christians distinctively 541 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:22,560 described as the called? Notice this. 542 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:26,200 I know it's wordy. It was God who took the 543 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:30,120 initiative in salvation. We know that man sinned in the 544 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,160 garden. God had a plan, a get back plan 545 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,840 to bring man to man back to him, and it was Jesus Christ. 546 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:42,280 It is true that Christians have believed the gospel and obeyed 547 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:43,600 it. That's our part. 548 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:47,240 It is also true that Christians love God. 549 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:49,760 How do you know you love God? By keeping His commandments. 550 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:54,800 But salvation does not come to them, because they've long 551 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:58,000 sought after God and at last have found Him. 552 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:03,160 No, He first loved us first. John 4/19 He gave his Son for us 553 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,520 while we were still in our sins. John 316. 554 00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:10,560 Romans 5-6 through 11. So God called us to himself by 555 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:14,520 the gospel, and invited us to become a part of his family by 556 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:18,160 obeying that gospel. Therefore all who become 557 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:22,680 Christians are designated as the cult. 558 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:28,680 So to be called according to God's purpose means to be called 559 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,280 by the gospel according to God's plan that he made back before 560 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:34,960 the world began. You know, it's amazing before 561 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:38,280 the world began. And I'm not going to get into 562 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,840 predestination all that stuff. I'm just going to say this I'll 563 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:42,760 just tell you what it really means. 564 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,880 God predetermined, not specific individuals that will be saved 565 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,280 that take away your freedom of choice to come to him because 566 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:52,520 Jesus says come unto me all of you that labor and are heavy 567 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:53,360 laden. I'll give you a rest. 568 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:59,760 All, all all right. Unbelievable. 569 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:07,800 When the gospel call goes out to the world, it's for everybody. 570 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:15,240 God from the foundation of the world, predetermined the kind of 571 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:18,160 a person that would be saved. You know what that's called? 572 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,920 A Christian. Jesus said that no one comes 573 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:23,600 under the Father except through me. 574 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,440 You know what? There are irrefutable facts 575 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,560 about Christianity by salvation. You know what? 576 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,040 Number one, you can't go to heaven without Jesus. 577 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:32,920 You need Jesus. I don't care who you are. 578 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:37,520 Jesus is the answer. You need Jesus #2 It is only the 579 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:39,360 blood of Christ that takes away your sins. 580 00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:41,680 That's number two. That is an irrefutable fact. 581 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,080 Irrefutable fact #3 it's when you're baptized for remission of 582 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:51,440 sins, do you contact the blood? I know that for a fact, but 583 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:52,920 everybody's called by the gospel. 584 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:58,520 The ones that respond to it are considered the cult. 585 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,720 And when you are, you got a great blessing. 586 00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:06,280 Romans 8 and 28, first Peter chapter one. 587 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:11,240 I'm almost finished beginning in verse 18, knowing that you were 588 00:38:11,240 --> 00:38:14,280 not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from 589 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:17,000 your aimless conduct received by tradition from your Father's, 590 00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:20,520 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without 591 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:25,120 blemish and without spot. He indeed was 4 ordained before 592 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:29,440 the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in these last 593 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:34,360 times unbelievable. We read John 316 but understand 594 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:37,880 before the foundation of the world, God had determined I'm 595 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:41,880 sending Jesus to die for the sins of the world. 596 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,800 That was always the plan. And by the way, it wasn't Plan 597 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:48,680 B. It wasn't oh oh man, messed up 598 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:49,920 in the garden. I got to have it back. 599 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,360 No, it was always the plan. The Bible says known then to God 600 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:55,800 are all his works even from the beginning. 601 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:01,280 It was always the plan. Jesus has always been plan A, so 602 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:06,120 before the foundation of the world, when God made his plans 603 00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:09,840 for man, he determined he would approve those who would choose 604 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:14,520 of their own free will to be in Christ. 605 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:25,440 Wow. In conclusion this morning, what 606 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:27,320 are the things that are going to work together for good? 607 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:32,040 In summary, specifically, remember the context refers to 608 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:36,320 spiritual good. What's going to work out context 609 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:38,440 going to have hard times, going to have pain, going to have 610 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:41,040 suffering, going to have stuff, all that's leading even to your 611 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,800 physical death, right? What? 612 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:48,200 What's number one thing going to work together for good? 613 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:52,040 Eternal salvation, as long as we continue to remain faithful to 614 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:57,040 the Lord #2 regardless of all those negative things that 615 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:01,200 cannot separate us from the love of Christ, not going to happen. 616 00:40:02,720 --> 00:40:08,200 And #3 the trials and hard times in life will work together for 617 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:12,880 our spiritual good to give us patience and a greater capacity 618 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:18,240 to serve, praise and honour God in the life that we're living 619 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:19,840 now. So. 620 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:23,480 Five unbelievable blessings in Romans 8 to sustain us through 621 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:27,200 the difficult times in life. Number one's hope can't imagine 622 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,880 life without that Number 2, the intercessory work of the Holy 623 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:34,640 Spirit that we noticed and #3 our lesson today all things are 624 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,160 going to work together for good to them that love God are called 625 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:41,600 according to his purpose. Next time when it's my turn is 626 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:49,920 #4 if God is for us, who can be against us? 627 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:54,920 Man, we got God. My dad used to say, me and God, 628 00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:59,240 we're a majority. And then #5 it'll be the last in 629 00:40:59,240 --> 00:41:01,000 our little series. I just keep going in these 630 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:07,680 little series having fun. The last one, verse 34, how 631 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:14,440 Jesus as our advocate intercedes for us at the right hand of God. 632 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:18,240 I'm going to tell you something. If you look at all these 633 00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:22,600 unbelievable blessings, I'm not saying that life isn't hard. 634 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:24,240 I said life's hard. I'm just saying this. 635 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:29,240 We got this. There's no reason why we should 636 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:32,720 be weak and there's no reason why we should give up, and 637 00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:40,280 there's no reason why we should ever give up serving God or give 638 00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:43,720 up on life or whatever. Now we got all these wonderful 639 00:41:43,720 --> 00:41:45,600 blessings if you're a child of God. 640 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:48,640 OK, Now Tanner mentioned something to me the other day. 641 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:50,160 I did not know this, but Tanner, I looked it up. 642 00:41:50,160 --> 00:41:53,040 You're right. He's right. 643 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:55,920 I looked it up before I put it on the screen to make sure I was 644 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:57,800 it was right. Not that I doubted you. 645 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:02,160 But anyway, Tanner said, Dad, do you know how many times the 646 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:03,800 phrase don't be a phrase in the Bible? 647 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:07,360 I said no, I really don't. He said guess. 648 00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:21,680 I said I don't know, couldn't guess. 365 how many days of the 649 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:28,200 year are there? I don't think that's an accident 650 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:32,800 at all. Do not be afraid. 651 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:38,760 One for every time, one for every day of the year. 652 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:44,800 You know why? That's next time, if God be for 653 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:49,800 us, who could be against us? And remember and remember God 654 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:53,000 will never leave us nor forsake us. 655 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,400 And by the way, if in our spiritual life and it happens, I 656 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,640 get it, We sometimes drift and get weak and sometimes we feel 657 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:01,040 away from the Lord. You know what, I get it, It's 658 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:04,920 life happens to everybody. But just remember, if you don't 659 00:43:04,920 --> 00:43:08,320 feel close to God, it's not because God left you. 660 00:43:09,240 --> 00:43:14,760 It's because we kind of got kind of busy kind of drifted God 661 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:17,640 never leaves us. Stay tuned. 662 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:21,920 That's next time all these blessings are though for or for 663 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:24,320 Christians so we want to extend an invitation to anyone that's 664 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:27,400 not a Christian today steps to become one of very simple. 665 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,160 You got to hear the word of God. Romans 10/17 we noticed this 666 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,440 passage. Faith comes by hearing, and 667 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:35,600 hearing by the word of God. Then you got to believe with all 668 00:43:35,640 --> 00:43:37,200 your heart. Hebrews 11 and 6. 669 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:40,520 Without faith it's impossible to please Him, for he who comes to 670 00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:44,160 God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those 671 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:49,320 who diligently seek Him. Then what I got to change, I got 672 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:51,440 to repent of my sins. Acts 17 and 30. 673 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,440 Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands 674 00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:58,600 all men everywhere to repent. Then I must be willing to make 675 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,720 the greatest confession of all, that Jesus Christ is the Son of 676 00:44:01,720 --> 00:44:03,160 God. Acts 837. 677 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:05,680 Then Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may, 678 00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:10,560 and he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the 679 00:44:10,560 --> 00:44:13,080 Son of God. Upon taking those steps, you're 680 00:44:13,080 --> 00:44:16,200 a fifth candidate to go to the point of salvation and be 681 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:19,560 baptized for the remission of your sins. 682 00:44:19,560 --> 00:44:22,680 Mark 16/16. He who believes in his baptized 683 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:26,360 will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. 684 00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:31,160 Is it necessary first Peter 321 the light figure where the even 685 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:35,400 baptism does also now save us, not the putting away the filth 686 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:38,840 of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God by 687 00:44:38,840 --> 00:44:40,600 the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 688 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:43,080 If you've never taken those steps of obedience, we would 689 00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:45,760 love to assist you in that. Maybe you have another spiritual 690 00:44:45,760 --> 00:44:49,280 need that you need to convey. If we can assist you in any way, 691 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:51,840 come forward while we stand and while we see.