"Destiny Written Before Time"
Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 18 viewsBefore God called you, justified you, or began transforming you, He knew you. Romans 8:29-30 reveals that our lives are not accidents but part of God's eternal purpose. The Golden Chain of Redemption shows us that God is committed to completing what He began.
Notes
Transcript
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
HOOK
HOOK
"Was I an Accident or Was I Intended?"
"Was I an Accident or Was I Intended?"
Illustration
Most people spend at least part of their lives asking questions like:
Why am I here?
Does my life matter?
What is my purpose?
Is there more to my story than surviving and paying bills?
Some carry wounds from rejection.
Some feel defined by failure.
Some wonder whether their life has any real significance at all.
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The search for identity and transcendence is universal.
People long to know they matter.
The world tells us to invent ourselves.
The Word of God tells us to discover who God says we are.
Illustration
Imagine finding a strange tool in your grandfather's workshop.
You can guess what it's for.
You can experiment with it.
But the inventor knows exactly why it was made.
Likewise, God knows why He created you.
Transition
Transition
Our passage today, allows us to see our lives from God's perspective rather than our own.
BOOK
BOOK
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Point 1
Point 1
He Foreknew
He Foreknew
EXP:
EXP:
Paul begins not with salvation, faith, or calling.
He begins with:
"He foreknew."
In Scripture, knowing often speaks of relationship, affection, and personal knowledge.
God knew you before you knew Him.
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God is never learning new information about you.
God is never surprised by your struggles.
God's knowledge is personal, intimate, and DEEP on every level and every plane.
God's love preceded your response.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..."
— Jeremiah 1:5 (CSB)
We love because he first loved us.
Illustration
Parents often begin dreaming about their child's future long before that child can speak.
God's knowledge of us precedes our awareness of Him.
For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
Point 2
Point 2
God's Knowledge Produces Purpose
God's Knowledge Produces Purpose
EXP:
EXP:
Paul immediately moves from:
"He foreknew"
to
"He also predestined."
God's knowledge is never passive.
It is always connected to purpose.
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God creates intentionally.
God's plans are not reactions.
God's purpose existed before your mistakes.
God's purpose existed before your successes.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do."
— Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)
Illustration
An architect creates the blueprint before construction starts.
The blueprint exists before the building appears.
God's purpose existed before your life unfolded.
Point 3
Point 3
“The Golden Chain” of Redemption
“The Golden Chain” of Redemption
EXP:
EXP:
Romans 8:29-30 is often called the Golden Chain of Redemption.
Paul reveals God's redemptive work from eternity past to eternity future.
The chain consists of:
Foreknown
Predestined
Called
Justified
Glorified
This is a picture of God's commitment to complete His work.
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God is purposeful.
God is intentional.
God is faithful.
God finishes what He starts.
He “Foreknew”
He “Foreknew”
ERROR: A lot of people will try and explain this away by saying:
“God just knew ahead of time that you would choose Him, so He chose you.”
That’s not how that works.
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EXP:
God knew, those of us who are born again, before we knew Him.
We are born in Him and are therefore His children in the Spirit
There are some that He “never knew”
Matthew 7
“Depart from me, I never knew you”
“You workers of iniquity/lawlessness”
EXP:
EXP:
God knew every success.
God knew every failure.
God knew every wound.
God pursued us anyway.
He foreknew us as his born again children in every way.
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Many people fear God will reject them if He really sees them.
Romans 8 says He already saw everything and still loved you.
He has already seen all of our “ugly”
He “Predestined”
He “Predestined”
Meaning
Meaning
Paul defines predestination in the text itself.
Predetermined; preordained
"To be conformed to the image of his Son."
The destination is Christlikeness.
For many are called but few are chosen.”
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God's goal is transformation.
God's goal is maturity.
God's goal is sonship.
God's goal is becoming like Jesus.
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God is often more concerned with who you're becoming than what you're accomplishing.
He “Called”
He “Called”
EXP:
EXP:
God's purpose eventually intersects our lives through His invitation.
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EXP:
The Gospel is a call.
Conviction is a call.
The Holy Spirit calls us.
God calls us into relationship.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit."
— John 15:16 (CSB)
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We are not self-made Christians.
We are invited and chosen sons and daughters…if we persevere to the end.
if God is the Author of our faith, He will finish it.
We are BORN of the spirit, by the will of God ALONE.
12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
He “Justified”
He “Justified”
EXP:
EXP:
Through Christ, God declares us righteous.
Justification is a gift.
It cannot be earned.
It is based on Christ's work.
We stand accepted before God.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
— Romans 5:1 (CSB)
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You are not working FOR acceptance.
You are working FROM acceptance.
He “Glorified”
He “Glorified”
EXP:
EXP:
Paul speaks of glorification in the past tense.
Why?
Because God's purpose is certain.
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God finishes what He starts.
God sees the end from the beginning.
Your struggles are temporary.
Glory is part of your future.
"I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
— Philippians 1:6 (CSB)
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Your present circumstance is not your final destination.
The Unbroken Chain
The Unbroken Chain
EXP:
EXP:
Paul never says:
Maybe foreknew.
Maybe predestined.
Maybe called.
Maybe justified.
Maybe glorified.
The chain remains unbroken.
For those he foreknew he also predestined…And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
IF you are born again in Jesus, are repenting and believing, THIS IS YOUR IDENTITY
If you BELIEVE in your heart what God has declared to be true in your life as a born again believer, you are DANGEROUS TO THE ENEMY
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The enemy attacks identity because identity is connected to destiny.
He attacks purpose because purpose threatens his kingdom.
Illustration
A construction worker sees dirt, steel, and concrete.
The architect sees the finished building.
God sees the completed son or daughter while we see the mess of construction.
Point 4
Point 4
The Enemy Attacks Identity
The Enemy Attacks Identity
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One of Satan's primary strategies is identity theft.
If he cannot stop God's purpose, he will try to convince people they don't have one...
EXP:
EXP:
Rejection attacks identity.
Shame attacks identity.
Failure attacks identity.
Trauma attacks identity.
Lies attack identity.
If the enemy can get you to believe anything, other than what God has said, he’s got you!
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance."
— John 10:10 (CSB)
Illustration
Counterfeit money only exists because genuine money has value.
The enemy attacks identity because your identity has tremendous value.
He wants you to believe a false identity…a false narrative about yourself
LOOK
LOOK
What Does This Mean For Us?
What Does This Mean For Us?
You Are More Than Your History
You Are More Than Your History
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Your past is part of your story, NOT your identity.
Your past failures do not define you.
Your wounds do not define you.
God's purpose is greater than your mistakes.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
The Holy Spirit Confirms Our Identity
The Holy Spirit Confirms Our Identity
16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
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The Spirit reinforces our identity.
Sons and daughters think differently than orphans.
The Spirit continually points us toward truth.
Identity flows from relationship.
God's Purpose Is Greater Than Your Present Circumstances
God's Purpose Is Greater Than Your Present Circumstances
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways."
— Isaiah 55:8 (CSB)
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God's perspective exceeds ours.
God's timing exceeds ours.
God's plans exceed ours.
Faith trusts what it cannot fully see.
Illustration
A GPS sees the whole route while you can only see the next few feet of road.
God sees what you cannot.
TOOK
TOOK
1. Reject False Identities
1. Reject False Identities
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You are not your trauma.
You are not your failure.
You are not your diagnosis.
You are not your worst moment.
Question
Question
What label have I accepted that God never gave me?
2. Agree With What God Says About You
2. Agree With What God Says About You
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Identity comes from God.
Truth overrules feelings.
your feelings will have you in the ditch, if they aren’t tethered to God’s Truth
God’s Word overrules lies.
Heaven's perspective matters most.
Prayer
Prayer
"Father, help me see myself the way You see me."
3. Trust the Chain
3. Trust the Chain
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If God foreknew you, He has not forgotten you.
If God called you, He is still calling you forward.
If God justified you, He is not condemning you.
If God will glorify you, your story is not over.
When life feels uncertain, remember where the chain ends.
It ends in glory.
4. Live Like Purpose Is Real
4. Live Like Purpose Is Real
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Your life matters.
Your calling matters.
Your obedience matters.
Your future matters.
Challenge
Challenge
This week ask:
"Lord, where have I been living from my wounds instead of Your purposes?"
Write down every lie the Holy Spirit exposes and replace it with a truth from Scripture.
Closing
Closing
The Truth and identity of a born again believer:
Before you were born, God knew you.
Before you succeeded, God knew you.
Before you failed, God knew you.
Before you were wounded, God knew you.
And the God who foreknew you is the same God who predestined, called, justified, and will glorify you.
There are some to whom He will say in that day, “I never knew you”
"For those he foreknew he also predestined..." (Romans 8:29, CSB)
You are not an accident.
You are not abandoned.
You are part of a story that began in the heart of God and ends in His glory.
That is AMAZING.
PRAYER
