Romans: Session 16
All right. Good morning. Great to see you all this morning outside in a, we had the It's kind of this spring weather in the fellas, coming back tomorrow. So we should go pretty good. So let's let's pray and get into a follower. I think you so much for the privilege. It is to Come Together by The, we don't take it for granted freedoms that we now have in this country. We don't know how long we'll have them, but we have them fact that we is Brothers and Sisters in Christ can come together and worship you in, to open your word and how have you instruct us from your word with an eternal truth? That's not available to anyone outside of other things. Bother this true that the world has is is a is a true that it changes daily, but you are truth is eternal and steadfast. And so so father we thank you for it and pray that you would help us to be able to glean a bit of the insights of of who we are in Christ and what we have to look forward to in the hope that we had. Even in the midst of Great Tribulation and pray that the holy spirit will be our teacher this morning Jesus name. Amen. Okay. So here we are at our main theme. Again, it always the righteousness of God, how it is, is revealed and we're in this section. And we're going to be finishing up this section this morning to Hope as a result of the righteousness by faith. Hope that we have. This is a steadfast. Hope. This isn't a boy I hope so. Hope this is I have hope in his reality of it. And here is where we are in our map starting next week we go into the the part on sovereignty Saturday is always an interesting things. What is a fascinating thing is always been one for discussion and in some of the classes that didn't you talk about the sovereignty of God, in some of the things that Tom, and I were talking about this morning, you know, but what God has determined, but God has destined to happen sometime. Really hard for us to understand but we'll be talking about that. But before we do that, let's look at a little bit of room. You last week. I talked about this phrase sons of God or sons of God. So what does it mean to be a son of God?
Okay, that's the worst song ever. We talked about the word son. And he said he was a Sons and Daughters of God. The lady's, right. He doesn't leave out the ladies though, because really, and there is, this is a place of honor, not a gender, not talking about gender here, a place of they would understand a son, to be one, who carries on the name, the one who inherits all that. The father has so many men, we back to Galatians. Remember when he saw the fact that we call all these people sons of God. They were no male nor female slave. No pain free. All those people are all sons of God. Ladies. You are sons of God. So along with that we were able to call God our Father Abba daddy the closest endearing phrase or word for with Father me can call the Creator, the university Charnel God, the sustainer of all things, we can call him. My brain is not capable. I am over all blue list to the reality, to the immenseness of what we have in price and I don't think we're going to get it until we get on the other side. You really get it. Yep, and with that, we have a says the spirits witness of our family relationship. So we have the Holy Spirit in this with us that we belong to the family of God. And of course, one with that. We are heirs with Jesus. Right joint. Heirs with Jesus prayers with Jesus, you get it can, can you fathom that? Not really, she rightly inherits, right? We jointly inherit whip Jesus. Wow, and then what that, of course will be glorified with Jesus. So that is what it means to be a son of God.
Adopted into God's family adopted. Yeah, that's right. We didn't come. Naturally, we were adopted into the family. Write. Yes. In about the second part. Well, it's actually more than second part of Chapter 8 and this is the Assurance of Hope. Again. Remember this word when the scripture uses the word, hope with regards to ask. We're not talking about uncertainty here. We're talking about certainty of something that we have not seen yet, but will take place absolute certainty. So if we close this chapter, we also are going to close this whole section. And are able to kind of like look back and looks back, and to see how from Romans 1:18 where we start talking about the gospel forward. We revealed write this in the gospel. So we have seen that we are of the people that were Sinners and said. Now have become what sinks Slaves to send now, what slaves to righteousness. We have condemned people that are now called sons of God. We are hopeless to hopefulness. This is an incredible journey. We taken through the book of Romans so far. I'm going to pick up some money, cuz we're going to want to look at. This wasn't just an afterthought of God. God damn, just create everything is, you know what, you know, it does not do fuel engineering, right? He doesn't take somebody's drawing and fix it and make it work God, before ordained all things. And all things are working absolutely to his Divine Purpose. And we'll talk about that. An intimate. Look at what God had in his mind before he created all things. Beautiful. Wonderful, lovely, greeting. I love it. Okay, for I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worthy. Comparing not worth comparing with the glory. It is to be revealed to us. For the creation weights with eager longing, for the revealing of the sons of God, for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of who subjected it in hope, that the creation itself will be set free from its bodies to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God for. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the Pains of childbirth until now, not only the creation, but we ourselves who had the first fruits of the spirit groan inwardly as we wake your goalie for the adoption at Sons. The Redemption of our bodies for in this hope, we were saying, now hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he sees. But if we hope for what we do, not see we wait for it with patients likewise, the spirit helps us in our weakness, but we do not know what to pray for. As we are, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and he was searched his heart's knows. What is the mind of the spirit, the spirit intercedes for the Saints, according to the will of God. And we know for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Very, very much loved. Very much quoted Birthright. For those who keep for knew. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of the Sun, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and Those whom, he predestined. He also called, and those, who he called. Play Justified and those can be justified. He also glorified, What? Then shall we say to these things if God is for us. Against us, he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him, graciously, give us all things. So who shall bring any charge against God's elect, it is God, who justifies? Who is he to condemned Christ? Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised? Who is it? The right hand of God. Who indeed is interceding for us? So, who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written for your sake. We are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. All these things. We are more than conquerors through him, who loved us for. I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers nor things present, nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Stop the class there. I just the meaning of that script. Find us. So, we're going to look at first the glory to be revealed in US.
So when we look at these things and we are looking at our present life. We're going to look at something that we call already not yet, and we're not going to get there yet. But there is this aspect of the glory that's coming. But where are we? We're right here. So we have something that we call suffering, one of my favorite toppings, right? Well like to talk about that. The suffering as he says, in, in verse 18 sufferings are not worth comparing. Okay, we're taking this comparison. Right? We've got this this chart. We've got the the assets on one side, the debits on the other side. I guess we're trying to compare things and he says, okay suffering seem like a lot of looking at suffering at this present time.
Closest Uno? That do we don't see it yet. The glory that is to be. Is not even comparable to the sufferings. Do we now have? He says, the supper is not worth not worth as much as The glory that is to be. He says his is suggestions or it's inevitable. It's coming everybody. And it will be revealed. Our famous word Apocalypto member, the Revelation is coming. So the fact is that we are suffering now, try to keep your mind focusing on the future. Right? Isn't that what the Hebrews 12:1 + 2 and says, you know, it talks about Jesus across that was before 5 to shame but it was the glory that was set before them to continue on with that cross. The glory that's coming is what is the help us in the suffering of this present time? Good now, hurry up. We've got the creation. The whole creation is waiting, right? For the reviewing, the Glorious, Liberty of the children of God, vacation of creation. Got those creation out there that God made and what happened to it? It was cursed. When did the Creations fall? It was our fault. We curse the creation and that's been growing ever since, right. So creation was made a curse by the fall of Man in the garden. Creation is waiting is waiting to be set free from this curse. The present condition of curse of the creation. It is not its final one. It is like a a mother trusted says groaning for labor paint, you know, it's in the labor, pains getting clothes getting close and it's more and more painful entire creation has a destiny that is planned by God and it long for it to be fulfilled.
On the last day of creation will be transformed and free from the effects of sin. Wow, and instantly become far, more beautiful, productive, been easy to live in than one ever, ever imagined. When we look out there. We see, can we see bugs and experienced all those things? And we look at this thing and we pay for is that it's our fault, but that's not the end do as we are waiting for the revelation of the glory that that the creation. Is also waiting to be a day when creation will be restored. And they beautiful. The curse will be Imagine that a glorious that will be how beautiful heaven will be like, God is creating a new Heaven, and a new Earth, where we reside on a curse on any more. The beauty of God's creation will be able to be seen for without any curse.
So with that, in mind that we also eagerly wait with perseverance for this hope so. God's people groan and long for the completion of his saving work. There's a tension that is seen between the already and not yet. So Christians already have the first fruits of the spirit. This is in verse 23, where we read. I can get my glasses focused here and I don't need creation. But we ourselves, we have the first fruits of the spirit. What that mean? First fruits of the spirit.
What's the first fruit in the Old Testament?
It was a priest Friday 8 and it was an offering. So, what happened? The people of Israel, they would plant. No grain, and then when the grain came up, the first fruits of that green was given as an offering to God, right? Is reality. What is he saying? The offering first fruits to God and Donna promise what? Hey, Harvest was going to call. You giving me the first Fruit Harvest is coming. What about the first fruits of the spirit? We've been given the first fruit of what's coming. The Holy Spirit has been given to us. As the scripture says, it's a guarantee that a down payment of what is coming. You know why we need the spirit because we can't hack it. We can't make it on this side of creation without but it is apart of the hope that we have. It's been given to us with a promise.
Oh, believe me. I'll tell you how Christians already have the first fruits of spirit, but they still wait for the day of the final adoption when their bodies will be fully redeemed. Are raised from the dead? The adoption has already occurred. In a legal sense, and they already enjoy many of its privileged, but here Paul uses adoption to refer to yet greater privilege of receiving perfect resurrect by self already not yet concept, right. So we already or sons of God. We've been adopted, we can call him Abba. We had the first fruits of the spirit that guarantee has been given to us, but that's pointing to the not yet. That's yet to come. Hallelujah. Awesome, unbelievably awesome. So with this Holy Spirit, which is the first fruits of what's coming. Why why do we need the Holy Spirit? Bow is the help of the holy spirit. So we, we do. We need to persevere in this present. Existence were waiting for that, not yet to happen. Right? We're waiting for that. It happened. So, this is where the Holy Spirit comes in. So the Holy Spirit, that's what he helps us in our weakness as we pray. That's an interesting phrase. The Holy Spirit helps in the first. I thought, well, that must refer back to, but Jesus is talking about in John chapter 1617 parakletos. That know the helper that comes once a different word. Interesting fact, this word. And I'll try to say it. Send an to LeBonheur my and there you go. Go to use two times in the scriptures, two times in the New Testament. That is a to the other time. It's here in the other time to see Luke 10:40. And thus, the idea was Mary and Martha and biting Jesus for dinner, and it would, but Marius was distracted with much serving and she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care? That my sister has left me to serve alone. Tell her to help me. There's word. There's work, used word. Is that there are there is something needed. There was some some assistance needed, and we can't make progress without this assistance. So the Holy Spirit as our first fruit was coming, is what it's been given to us to help us and make progress in this present time. And in specially with regard to what, what's the context you are. So what do we need for than anything? Else? Is know how to properly? Pray. So proper praying, scripture. Always involves. What the Holy Spirit.
What is the holy spirit out to be involved in prayer? Why can't we just pray?
Yep. Yep. So here's what what he says is by interceding for us as we pray. So explain to us how the Holy Spirit helps us to pray. He intercedes for us when we don't know how or what to pray ever been there. I don't know what the hell. I pray this situation. I really don't know what to do you. Holy Spirit. Would you pray for me? Would you intercede for me? Cuz I'm clueless. When it comes to these things.
health problems with Jaclyn recently and Alyssa waiting for K-LOVE, and
Spirit.
Yep.
I am so thankful that he helps us to prank and one thing about the Holy Spirit sprayer when he intercedes for us. Is that it will be done. Right? Why, because he praised according to the will of God. Everything is going good. Will of God will be accomplishment. We don't know. I will. what part of our First fruit that we have. Okay. So with that in mind, so think about we've come through suffering and groaning were waiting for the Revelation to take place of of the glory that set before us and so was creationist. In the meantime. We have the first through the spirit and that first food Spirit helps us to pray. This, we don't know how to pray and then we come to. This point is very famous point where we look at. the fact that all things work together for the good of this passage and Tom you use this over and over and over again, when you did the Book of Ruth Passage This is for those who love God called according to his purposes. It so I don't get it wrong it off. I did a lot of chips remember station in King James. So sometimes when I'm reading through that, you know, I'm saying the King James and it's not saying it that way. So I'm going to make sure that actually is I'm booked at the Greek text. This is almost a word-for-word translation, hear the ESV, how he put it. Even in the, in the order of things in the sentence, which I think is it is significant. I said I was and we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. For those who are called according to his purpose. Okay. So let's look at that. Those who are those Those who love God and those who are, what called, according to his purpose in between those days, all things work together for good. So this raises the link between those who love God and those who are called. According to his purpose is that helping us understand that this good is defined by God. Not us, and it is on packed in the next 2 versus. So those who love God. Are called gorgeous purpose? God is working all things for good. Okay. So we that are believers in Jesus Christ. We love God. And we have been called according to his purpose and God is allowing all things. And our allies. To work for good. This good. All right. I know we think. Good. Is what we think is good is designed for our benefit thing that all we know is what around us in the present circumstance. We don't know what's happening tomorrow. We're hoping we're learning from what happened. Yesterday was trying to piece all this together and we think we can go before God. That God. This is what's good for me. Go to saying no you who loved me and that are called according to my purpose. I'm going to Define. What is the good the all things in your life that are working for good. I'm going to find that for you. Yep. He says my ways are higher than your ways and I think you're good.
He gives us an understanding. Of this in what we call the Golden Chain of redemption. That's in the next verse. He's divining for us. He helps us understand this good so that we can have a clear overall picture. We're going to try to take the perspective and look at it from the view of God. Eternity to Eternity, right? Turn, E-Pass attorney Future. Okay, dick, you know that. I know you think this is good for you. But let me look at the overall view. Let me show you what I'm doing and that's what he doesn't versus 2933. Just read first Wynette for those were talking about, but those that were in a verse 28, those who love God and those are called according to his purpose for knew. He also predestined to be conformed, to the image of his son, in order, that he might be the firstborn of my many brothers. And Those whom there's a dose again when he predestined, he also called and those, he also whom he called. He also justified in those heels Justified, he will glorify. Okay, so there's a bigger picture here. Then we'll be even realize, right? There's a bigger plan here than what we can see in the present now and that involves God's foreknowledge. Okay, so I put together this little graphic about what we would call The Golden Chain of redemption. Here we see in this passage. Paul brings us from eternity past before. Anything was created to Eternity future. If we see any charge to pass, what did God do before knew us before nose and he elects. Now. Let us Define for knowledge. This is the big one. This is what people get hung up on. People say why I know it has to do with God's omniscience. He's all knowing when he doesn't, so he Productions them who are going to believe. But nowhere in scripture. Do we find this word used with regard to activity? God doesn't do things because of some activity of another. This is always in reference to relationship of people who God for knows this person. Those were talking about here as his children. Why?
I don't know. Has nothing to do with her. Actions are activities with the scripture tells us to write our actions and activities or that we are sinners with. There's none righteous. No, not one done. That was just God, nothing. We don't want anything to do with God on a row. So something has to happen to make that happen. Us to invade total depravity with his grace or no. One would be saved. So the reality of $4 is to be friend in to be acquainted with someone in a familiar way ahead of time.
Before we even meeting implying an exclusivity of choice relative to those and had yet know yet. They had done anything. He's not looking at action Tiffany's or what's going to happen. He just chooses them. Can we understand that? No? Do you know what? It was one time in my life? I thought I had to understand everything. There had to be some explanation about everything to God. We cannot understand the mind of God. So I'm okay to leave this with God. This is one of those. Secret things that are known only to God, I don't get it, but I believe it and that's okay.
So, we've got this eternity past. What did he do? He call Aji Alexis. Before knows us as his children. And then what does he do? He decides and design they plan for us, predetermined predestination and that plan for us is that every one of us individually that he for nose is going to be what conformed to the image of his son. And what is that plan look like individually? So when we talk about the good, cuz that's what we're talkin about, all things work together for the good witch, the good that we become conformed to the image of his son.
Email address. What did you do?
And Those whom he had to let where they answer that call. Yeah. They certainly will. Why will they answer that call? What does the Holy Spirit do? Equipment, generates. That makes us Ally. Damn you, come to How does he do it? He doesn't by the Holy Spirit by the gospel, the gospel, the gospel that person know that believe the gospel to respond and God justifies you declares the righteous for what price did in his life. And then he thinks he's okay, being conformed to the image of Christ. What is the, what is the process of being conformed to use of Christ? Sanctification and talk about that next week 6?
Now, the golden chain goes on the end. Eternity.
Beautiful. You get it. I can't get it. Lord. Help me to get it. Okay, you all remember this little graphic. I put together right of what God did and got elected. Chose his people to be safe. In time. There was the Gospel call sexual gospel, cough. The gospel regeneration, spirit of God made us alive. We received the gospel version, repented of our sins, put our faith in Jesus Christ declared righteous. By God. It is an imputed righteousness that was given to us from Christ. Baptized by the spirit into the family of God, opted members in God's family. And then throughout the Christians life. You're being Sanctified right condom. Coming like cry, where persevering remain a Christian throughout that time, we will persevere for the spirit of God is the first fruit given to us then death that wonderful. What it is going to be with the Lord? It is our exit from time. Into eternity and theirs were glorification. This is so unbelievably, exciting.
I got to come down on me. This is what we have. That Paul does something amazing here.
He just lost a series of challenges. Keep you get done something. So stupid so far. He's like it. I really believe her.
Mom, I can't believe I am coming before. You would repenting of the things that I did yesterday and the day before the day before that, you know, you ever have that. So what are we supposed to be thinking? So, Paul presents us with a series of challenges. These are put forth and it kind of rhetorical questions to help us understand the relationship that we have got to excuse or so off. He starts often. I think it is first 31. And he says, yes, what shall we say to these things? These things, the demonstrative pronoun, right? Begins these challenges and really ride will be referred back to the whole, the whole of what we talked about the far back to 1:16 movie star, talk about the gospel, all the way through these things. Nothing breaks in the whole display of free Grace, the loss centers in the letter. That's far. Okay. So what are we thinking? How are we to be? How do we need to maintain this? Hope you know, why is it that we believe in eternal security or the, what we would call the perseverance of the Saints?
What happens if you send the wake him up to you? You said, you know, you been tripping. 1st John now, if you keep on sending, you know, there's possibly a problem. There is try to go through these. I know it's going to be possible to try to go through this quickly. His son is on our side, verses 31 through 33. What's the first question for challenge? If God is for us? Who can be against us? That's in burst. God, is for us, who can be against us. So, how does he explain this? He Dells down. He says, God did not spare his own son. So if it is an effective echo of a at Genesis 22:12, I like this. This is the same phrase used in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Write Genesis 22:12 Sunset. He said do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him for now. I know that you fear God seeing you will have not withheld your son, your only son from me. What's an argument from the greater to the last of my son? But I didn't spare him. I forgot to give his son to Die For Us was the Supreme gift. An image of guaranteeing, the subsequent gift of everything else that we need for our full and final Glory. Go to spare his own son.
What else that means? There's just nothing greater. Then that God has guaranteed. He will give us everything else. the argument of Greater to the last, so, I think it's on a 33. So if God is for us, who can be against us, 12 different Oracle question, is no one, right? And then he will bring any charge against God's elect.
God, who justifies?
If God is the Supreme judge in the Supreme Court room. And he doesn't.
Condemn us and he declares us righteous. Who else is there? Double Clara.
Can you see what he's doing here? He's building up our confidence in what we have. When we played in the perseverance of the Saints, there's a good reason for it. Polish showing us. This is God, who is doing all this? And there's nobody greater than God. Okay. So Christ who died for us now, intercedes for us at God's right hand. So it is who is to condemn in 34. There's the next rhetorical question.
Christ, died. And was raised and seated at the father's right hand interceding for us in our place. So, there is no condemnation now because we are in Christ. There's nothing greater. So, who is he condemned?
So the next one is a, through such love, we are more than conquerors over all things. So first, 35, next rhetorical question, who shall separate us from the love of Christ. I need gives you a list of things. We said basically verse 35, No tribulation will be able to separate us from the love of Christ. Either tiles that are associated right now, in this physical world, when there is pain, when there was famine, when there was pestilence, that mean, God doesn't love us anymore. Know, that's what he's trying to tell you. In this present World. We've got All kinds of stuff. What does he want us to do? Look forward in. Hope there's a revelation of the glory.
There's nothing in this world. If you hurt today, if you have pain, you have sorrow, if we are persecuted, that doesn't mean that God doesn't love us and what the first because I hurt it. Just trying to tell you and show you that in the midst of all of this. He still loves us and there is a glory that is set before us and reverse and in the next verse he talks about insomnia. It's a quotation from some and I think those bursts see verse 36. Yes. 4:36 is a quotation from Psalm 40 R22 or it says yet. Not for your sake. We are killed all the day long. I guess we were sacred kill all the day long. We are we guarding test sheet for the slaughter and that verse shows that these trials will always be associated with God's people. Orange. If we think that we should live in a world where we are healthy wealthy and wise, or think differently, because the scripture Jesus we live, in this world. We're going to be suffering right, people. This world is under God and under Satan's control.
Turn it off.
This world is under Satan's control. We're not friends with Satan. So this world doesn't like us, right. In fact that hates us. So, he says these things in our lives, along with the reality of God's love. Makes us. What conquerors how do you become a conqueror? Will you take the phone and you win over them? How do you win over all of this stuff? You persevere you continue on in the love of God. Realizing that the love of God has done. What this is a part of the good, right? And what is the good, we said we're being what conformed to the image of Christ conformed to the image of Christ and eventually that conforming to the image of Christ will bring about being glorified with Christ. So that's what is happening. Why are we more than conquerors? How can we bring more Congress? Because we're looking at everything that's going on in this world is God has ordained it for our good.
And he goes on to say this no death.
No nor life nor angels or rollers things present or the future, things are hyped, or death, or anything else. In all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God may be trials associated with Supernatural World against. You know, what? We are more than conquerors. Cuz we're going to be here, over all that stuff. Nothing. No one can have any effect on us. Knowing can't remove us from the love of God. In fact, in these things. The love of God is revealed. I lost a loved one. I lost my job. I'm financially horrible, Straits. Here. Everything in my life is falling apart.
I have worked in this for your good and you are my child and you will persevere, you will. We will make it home. You will be entered into Glory with my son, who will inherit all that my son.
Right. Yes.
Absolutely.
Yep. Perfect. Enthralled. Yep.
Absolutely. Yes, baby. I will close with Romans 12:1 and to what you were just saying, it says, therefore since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses from people from chapter 11, nice to people of Faith, who stood the test. Let us lay aside every weight and sin, which clings so closely closely. Let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us looking to Jesus, the founder and Perfecter of our faith, that was set before him were talking about. We're in the trials of life. So the joy that is set before him. What did he do? The cross will never have to endure the shame and the seated at the right hand.
What is our destiny? That's how we will persevere in this life form. Given the first fruits of the spirit will continue on will make it. All right, I got to stop. All right, let's pray. Father. I thank you so much for this day, that you've given us so much with a great Assurance of the hope that we have at nothing. Nothing. Nothing will ever separate us from you. Love you. Love us and all that is happening to us. Is for her good. It's a it's a good that has been designed and defined before you created all things. We were in your mind in your heart, you predetermined, how we would be born and when we would be born and what it would look like when we got called by you and what it would look like in our lives that you have designed weather at the trials and persecutions and suffering, that we would become like your son, the Lord, Jesus Christ, and eventually you will bring us home and will be glorified, There's nothing greater than all of this, we worship you. We praise you. We adore you this morning. Help us as we go into the next service that our hearts will be filled with your presence in all of this. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you. Brothers sisters, will see you or going next week.