All Things for Good

What today we come to. I believe one of the great mountain peaks of Scripture Romans eight verse 28. It is rightly one of the best known on the best-loved verses and all of the Bible and you will find as I have found in the varying circumstances of life. Romans eight verses 28 through 30 that were looking at today is a very anchored to our souls we saw last week that the preceding verses versus 17 through 27 of Romans eight as we consider as we are systematically going through the book of Romans deals with the perplexing subject of suffering, so we must understand these words in that context I Paul is teaching us is installed elsewhere in Scripture that first, there is suffering and then there is glory and I believe in Romans eight verses 28 through 30 with approaching that glory.

We have seen that those who are following Jesus Christ, that those who are saved by the grace of God that those who are covered by this wonderful blood that flowed at the cross that that following of our Savior, does not render us immune from suffering.

Some of you here today, but in overwhelming situations. Some of you have had devastating new some of you are wondering how you're going to survive. And in the sufferings and trials and disappointments and unimaginable heartaches of this life. There are many things that we don't know that many things that we don't understand we don't know how things will turn out when were given bad news from our physician. You don't know how things will turn out when your husband or your wife worksite out of your home when you lose your job when a friend betrays you when you find your son or your daughter has hooked on drugs when disaster hits when your life is turned upside down. There are many things that we don't know many things that we do not understand people may glibly say it'll be okay.

You'll get through it. Don't worry, things will tonight for the better. But the reality is, things don't always turn out for the better. Sometimes they get worse, and these clich�s that people give to us know that well-meaning but really not all that much help and in the middle of her suffering and trials and problems of life and life is so hard sometimes isn't it that we ask many many questions and often others seem to be no answers to her questions. Why has this happened where is God in all of this, why has God allowed this. Why doesn't God do something about going to be so powerful and to be so loving, why doesn't God intervene.

Why doesn't God take a side of this darkness. While there are many many things that we we don't know we can all ask questions that really that are no answers to at least not answers that we can understand, but Paul is brilliant writer in Romans particularly in Romans six and seven and now in chapter 8 tells us there are many things that we do know Paul has said this previously.

You may recall, as we've studied the Scriptures he say several times. We know or he says I know our knowing and here in Romans eight verse 28 that is something that we do know the notice of the day we wants with freshness to hear the words of God.

I realize some of you know this best buddy buddy well, but I want you to units fresh from the living God, because here is a remarkable truth. For those of us who are following the Lord.

For those of us who love God in our struggles in their suffering in the disappointments. We are assured of this.

We know this, that God is at work and that God works all things together for good to those who love God and to those who are the called according to his purposes.

This we do know I want you to know that you believe that you believe that the purposes of God are being worksite in your life. In spite of the difficulties this is what the word of God is telling us today. Let stand and read Romans eight verses 28 through 30. Only three verses but powerful versus let's read them thoughtfully this morning. Read them with me and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined kind to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and those whom he predestined kind. He also called and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified event. Please be seated. Romans 810 versus 28 through 30. I we see from these verses very clearly that God is working on. God is working in all of the things for our good. Now, as I said, to understand these verses in the real force of them and the impact them in Paul's written very closely. Argument here in Romans eight at the context of verse 28 is suffering. If you have your Bible there and I hope you have Romans eight look back with me. In verses 17 and 18.

For example we saw this last week. Paul is telling us in verse 17 that if we are children of God, and we are then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, and we rejoice in that the Denny's is provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. Yes, followers of Jesus to suffer.

Does that surprise you. After all, the one that would following our Lord Jesus Christ knew about suffering as Martin Luther said, no man suffered like Christ. He suffered his eyes on the road to Emmaus to the disciples in Luke 24 verse 26, was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory. Peter writes in first Peter 111. He talks of the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories of the glories to follow.

He says in chapter 2 verse 21 Paul at Peter Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. In the context what is the example. The example is of suffer Christ suffered for you, and so when you suffer look to Christ.

He provides an example so that we may follow in his steps. Yes, we do suffer, you know that you know that I know that that being a follower of Christ doesn't mean that with immunized against suffering and Paul knows this is a man who suffered in ways that none of us suffered I'm sure in so many ways is an apostle is a follower of Christ, but he's telling us this wonderful truth that we know that God is at work for the good to believe that anyone who believe that that God is at work in your life for your good. I know this what the verse says we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. No, this is not a promise to be claimed for everyone. This is a promise for those who love God, love God and of God and of the Lord you really following Christ, yet is this magnificent promise is to those of us who love God and understand this. Paul is saying that everything yes everything in life is under the sovereign and perfect kind of God Douglas move in his helpful commentary in Romans says that God is the undergirding and directing force behind all the events of life.

I look back over your life. You discovered that the God is the undergirding the directing force behind all of the events of life is is what Paul is saying we know, for those who love God all things all things work together for good is tremendously comforting.

Isn't it that's tremendously reassuring that whatever the circumstances in my life with her.

The good or bad weather that had a figure for that I understand them or don't understand them. But God is all-powerful is working all things all things together for good for those of us who love him.

I was thinking about this past week of the complexity of all think how wise God is.

Think how powerful he is, think of how loving he is.

Then all of the complexities of life and all of the relationships in the millions and millions of people in the world that God is all-powerful God is so wise that he can work everything together for the good not been illustrators in a very strange women to show you a picture of an octopus.

This is for the children and adults can watch it as well is quite a creature, isn't it is a large central brain and its head has an octopus, you never thought about that but that is Dr. plus how many arms is in October. +8.

What a brilliant church, churches is got eight legs, but it has a unique network, you may not know this of court brains in every one of the eight legs by some of your difficulty coordinating two arms can imagine. Eight. I was the grandson play flag football yesterday. He's 10 and is playing in �10-�12 and the ball is strong and to enhance the catch are difficult can it be, but for little boys is difficult to coordinate just two hands, arms, imagine you go. Eight. And think of all of the suckers on the octopus is got hundreds of them and they're like Psalms to the octopus and so here is the octopi us maneuvering in the sea with eight arms and hundreds of Psalms and it doesn't very very well actually.

In this these octopuses are so smart that they can change the color they can change their texture to suit the seascape and so they can seemingly melt into oblivion with her arm can torsion's that they are hiding from their enemies. Think of the complexity and that sea creature so that it is working itself together for good and for survival. I think of think of her Greek caught his. Think of your life. Think of all the people in your life.

Think of all of the situations you in your life and then you interacts with your family and you interact with your brothers and sisters in Christ and you interact with all of the people that weren't coming. Think of the complexity.

It is mind blowing. Isn't it there is no computer in the universe that could do this. God is so smart.

God is so wise. He is all wise. He is he knows everything about everything and also he loves me. Paul has reminded us that we are children of God that God has adopted us into his family.

The guards in ways that are absolutely mind blowing is working all of the complexities of life in your life and mine and put all of his children. He's working them for our good.

Yes, through the suffering through the disappointment through the trials through the problems through the hardships and struggles and failures, gas and even your sin. God is so gracious that when you mess up when you blow it. God can take the evil in your life and use it for your good. What does the text say we know that for those who love God all things under glad that that is there all things work together for good, all things includes every circumstance of life, including the timing of events you sometimes think God is the timing wrong doesn't it doesn't work quickly enough for you by nature and on the impatient person, just minutes. It's time you acted, but God is so brilliant he is working so that the timing of the events and the intensity of the events are under his control, and this includes suffering we saw that in verse 18 we see that in verse 26. Remember last week we says likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness is going to say in verse 35 which were located in three weeks. He talks about tribulation and distress and prostitution, firemen and nakedness and danger and start God takes all of that all of that works for is that due to the one that we sometimes thing great is locked sing with me a great is our God a great you are, John Newton, the author of amazing Grace writes everything is necessary that God sends. Nothing can be necessary that he withholds for the providers in the everything you need. God is right there you want something God hasn't given your impatient. You want an answer to it on the husband or wife). When the child you want the job you want God to answer that prayer and he withholds it. Newton is saying rightly that nothing that is necessary for you. God withholds everything is necessary, but God. Since we believe that because God works all things together for good. If I God is so powerful that even when people say evil things about your and people do evil things against you, God uses them for your goods.

Amazing classic example of courses found in Joseph. Joseph had brothers that didn't exactly love them. In fact they wanted real them the right to kill them and then we decide not to go to Salomon so he sold into slavery in Egypt. Most of you know the story pretty bad to be betrayed by your own brothers and that an evil despicable act of his brothers. That's evil, God uses it for good, because God's timing right in Egypt.

God once a man of God and through increasingly hardship you know the story in Egypt as Joseph is thrown in prison. Terrible things are made false accusations, but God is at work. I got put some was a Prime Minister of Egypt, and when the end of the story in Genesis 50 when his brothers confronts him. You would've excused Joseph wooden Sheriff. Have you had sent his brothers packing, but no is a wonderful picture of our Lord is in three the forgiveness of reconciliation and then he says to the brothers in Genesis 50 verse 20 you meant it for evil but God meant it for good. What you did was terrible, but God meant it for good.

The supreme example of courses in the very death and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ as Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost in acts chapter 2.

He reminds the Jews that the Lord was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God is all in God's plan but hold them responsible. You kill them.

You put them on the tree they meant it for evil in light of that evil acts act of hatred against our Savior, God brings infinite good and blessing and salvation. You believe that I do so you don't understand why things happen, but we do know that God is at work and this truth gives us tremendous comfort. It gives us tremendous security that my life is in the hands of God is what it means to follow Jesus that nothing can happen in our lives apart from the sovereign purposes of God is in control of the rise and fall of the nations he's in control of the rise and fall of the spiral he's in control of the peaks of your life. Five points and is in control of the valleys of your life difficult is therefore better. No accidents with God. We mess up God never messes up God's timing is always perfect. God knows everything about everything will panic with God. No accidents with God. Jim's voice tells the story. I find it amusing that trust. When the two of you will. He says that he says in 1966 the Hindu holy man and mystic growl. I noticed he would walk on water. This attracted a great deal of attention and on the day set for the fee to great crowd gathered around a large pool in Bombay, India. When it was to cover the holy man prayerfully prepared himself for the medical and then stepped forward to the pool's edge, a solemn hush fell over the assembled observers growl glanced upward to heaven step forward onto the water and then immediately plummeted into the pool's depths spluttering dripping wet and furious. He emerged from the pool and turned angrily on the embarrassed crowd. One of you he said is an unbeliever.

So I get others is a good story when there is an unbeliever. Put your faith in anyone.

Put your faith in some guru. Put your faith in any human being. However Hawley however brights however intelligent. However, dependable, put your faith in anyone will be let down the mess up will make ridiculous claims and be unable to fulfill them but nothing surprises God put your trust in God got a 10 boom said that is no panic in heaven.

God has no problems, only plans you love that you got a problem. The problem to you. You can solve it was going to happen, not to God, no panic in heaven. God has plans glorious plan of salvation landlord was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, so we believe that nothing occurs outside the sovereign purposes and cared of God. No need to panic.

Brother no need to fear.

No need to worry.

I understand you don't understand all of God's purposes, but we do know policy this incredible truth which is so encouraging to us in our gracious heavenly father always knows best is working for your good. You say for what purpose read with me. In verses 29 through 30.

Paul tells us, for those to me for nearly also. Einstein to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and those whom he predestined he also called those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified was God's purpose. God's goal is to conform his children to the image of his son. Maybe it's time you change your goal in life.

Maybe you got the wrong goal you follow Jesus years ago to be like Jesus and God says that goal that predetermined goal of suffering is conformity to his son, Jesus, Christ, and that is certainly good, doesn't it, or the process of suffering may be very very painful. But the product is perfection Peter in first Peter talks about the refiners fire being on the refiners fire is very painful. Most of us have spent some time in the refiners fire and is very painful, very difficult, but through that God's purposes are being fulfilled in our lives as he molds us into the image of his son. Seneca said the jam cannot be polished without friction, not a man perfected without trials member the thorn in the flesh that was sent to Paul. Paul Fleming exalting himself in on thing of all is a particularly proud man but he would've been so God sent him something just a politician to keep him humble sent him the thorn in the flesh, and our Savior suffered. Not so that you will not suffer but that through suffering. You will be like him to get Jesus suffered. Not so that you will not suffer, but that through suffering, you will become like him and central to the purposes of God. Then Paul is saying here is to conform us to the image of his son is a wonderful thought. One day we're going to be preferably like God's wonderful son one day each one of us is going to be perfectly like Jesus. That's absolutely certain that's good beyond belief. John Nelson Darby rights and visit so I shall be like. I son you think of it, we so imperfect isn't sure that we're going to be like the son of God and visit so I shall be like my son is this the grace which he for me has one father of glory thought beyond all thought and glory to his own blast likeness brought. Yes, for those who are called according to his purpose policy. Nothing can prevent this goal be attained those for known those predestined those called those justified.

Paul is saying will be glorified and so Paul is writing to provide great comfort to the Christians at Rome, many of whom are being persecuted are suffering and is reminding them that God's purposes will be fulfilled in their lives.

In our final destination in here and also at the end of this passage, Paul is emphasizing this great doctrine of the eternal security of the believer and in the midst of our trials. This reality brings great comfort we have in these verses what has been called the five links in the golden chain of salvation. I like that. Five. I would say unbreakable links in the golden chain of salvation. This is what God does.

Here is why we can say that all things work together for good, was the first worked there is the link of foreknowledge. Verse 29. Those whom he foreknew I would. Does that mean with about four new means to know beforehand, I think of this in relationship to God and God knows beforehand what is what is going to happen is a going to happen.

Of course it's her nap God is God, you can perceive the future you can plan tomorrow you and I was going to happen tomorrow, but of God for knows full tomorrow as he does and what can happen in your life that is going to happen. Dr. Norman Geisler is with us this morning in volume 3 of the systematic theology rights since his foreknowledge is infallible you agree with that unit would agree with Dr. Geisler, you are not since his foreknowledge is infallible.

He's God. Whatever God for knows will indeed come to pass. You see, and on the phone like that don't you. I love that security isn't it.

And then, in this context, then the four moments to determine to choose beforehand. Our salvation is God's initiative.

John says we love these Paul is saying here. This is the promise to those who love God. John the apostle reminds us we love God because he first loved us that this love that God has for us is from everlasting to everlasting God loved me before I was born before noon he loved me when everlasting love and I will bask in the inseparable love of God that Paul is going to write about the end of the chapter for all of eternity. His love is from everlasting to everlasting, but we must understand this, that God's foreknowledge does not eliminate response was to be our response to the gospel by faith. Paul is emphasized that the these emphasize one thing in Romans he starts in chapter 1 verse 17 is a gives the theme, the just shall live by faith is going to say in chapter 10 � 13 that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved we are to place our faith in the Lord Jesus. God does not believe for us yesterday for knows of course he does. But the gospel comes to you and me and what are we to do it. As God takes the initiative. It is God who loves us, but we are to respond by faith and then there is the link of predestination is your don't know if I like that would let them know if I believe it will come on listen those whom he foreknew he also prayed that assigned to be conformed to the image of his son.

I love this word. This is God's goal for our salvation to be conformed to the image of his son with God during God's creating his wonderful family who will be like his son, the firstborn among many brothers brothers and sisters were all in the same family. We all have the same family resemblance.

This transformation which break which was begun at our salvation is going to continue whereby we become more and more like Jesus. But Paul is saying that those whom God foreknew he also prayed that assigned that they you and I are going to be like Jesus. And then there is the link of calling verse 29 for those whom he for new he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and those whom he plead that assigned. He also called this is the effectual call of those who will be saved, turn over to second Thessalonians, where we will see this very similar Scripture also written by Paul second Corinthians 2 verse 13 second Thessalonians 213, we always ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth to this, he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He, for, knows the predestinarians. He calls he is said that those who love God are more that direct the called according to his purpose. We have heard the call of God, and we have responded for me that Apple knows 12 years old.

As most of you know, all I had heard the gospel before I understood the gospel intellectually I had memorized many verses from the Bible but I had never had heard the call of God in my life and I did then come into me all you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest to hear the call of Christ for you to come to him as a boy of 12, I came, I had to call God calling me John and I came in I found in Christ brass forgiveness of sins and eternal life rest for my souls don't resist the call of God. Some of you have been coming to Calvary church for some time and using one day I'm running it say one day I'm in your right with God and you've heard the call of God, and somehow you're resisting it resistant. The Savior is with arms open his income to me and I will give you rest. Foreknowledge predestination calling and then verse 30 those whom he prayed that assigned he called and those whom he called, he also justified Paul as written a lot about justification was justification.

This is the declaration by God on guilty sinners. It is the future and validate given no carbonized in my life of the Falcons unbelievers would you think would happen when you stand before God I know was going to happen, I stand before God, because I am justified and justified a future verdict is aware given no he said it does because you're a good person. Your good pastor no no no not good person.

I'm not particularly good pastor. No, that's another reason at all. The words of the song that Jeffrey sang so well not of our words not of our merit. No, it is justification by faith here is a wonder of justification by faith in God looks down on you. The sinner and that is if you respond by faith. Yes without precious blood all of your sin is forgiven you and one's guilty your no declared innocent, but more than that the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to your account.

Robert Marty McShane puts it like this when I stand before the throne dressed in beauty. Not my own when I see the as I walked love the with on sinning heart.

Landlord shall actually know not sold and how much I owe this and that is the wonder of salvation that you don't need to wonder what will happen when you stand before God, because the question has been settled. The garden is infinite, marvelous grace for knows predestinarians calls and now he justifies us that the perfection of my Lord Jesus Christ is imputed to me. I'm clothed in his righteousness I know this, and Paul has emphasize that and I want to emphasize it. This justification is acquired by faith. It is true that God justifies us both going to say that in verse 33 and God to just devise but we are not justified until we believe that no matter saying well. Christ died for me and I'm I'm well, and he knows everything. No, there's got to be that responsive faith believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be sick. Why haven't you trusted Christ what what's holding you back, he will forgive your sins and cleanse you trusted him that we might've expected Fry had been right. In Romans, probably to show that I know a little bit of theology between justification and glorification. You know I would've put sanctification. These are three of the great words of on the Christian gospel justified when you justified this when you're saved or declared by God, justified, glorified that so future when we see Christ but between justification and glorification is our sanctification, what sanctification Paul has talked about it in Romans six becoming more and more like Jesus.

Our holiness, but notice what Paul does. This is marvelous and notice the words of those verse 29. Those whom he foreknew he predestinarians verse 30 those whom he predestined he called those whom he called he also justified those whom he justified he also glorified. No intermediate step here is wonderful. You getting the point. The final link is glorification and this is in the past tense. James Danny writes the tense of in this last word the last word of verse 30 glorified the tense and the last word is amazing. It's the most daring anticipation of faith that even the New Testament contains what the point from God's perspective, your glorification is as good as done.

If you have been justified. Every single person who has been justified will be glorified. Those who are for non-aptly � side same group, those who are predestinarians are called same group, those who are called are justified same group, those who are justified are glorified. Meantime, your nerves were becoming more and more like Jesus. I hope we are but one day, as John says we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is FF Bruce writes sanctification is glory begun glorification is sanctification consummated. We will be preferably like Jesus is this marvelous, the God's plan for his children stretches from E. Chandler, J to return it a dog lives. Of course, as we could say in an eternal now and our assurance of salvation and our security of salvation rests on the purposes of God. Yes is much that we don't know but we notice that God is not going to lose any single one of us that every shape will come safely to the eternal home. I give unto my sheep, says Jesus, eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one never perish, where all vying for eternity. This is the unbreakable chain of the hope of the gospel know that doesn't do something to you. I'm not sure what will that we are eternally saved in the purposes of God with these magnificent truths, but only for those who love God for those who are in the family of God. For those who been justified by faith. Paul said in Romans 623.

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our think of the wonder of salvation is saying to someone during the week. You know, when we evangelize we give and talk about their favorite weekly, sometimes give people a tremendous negative view of the Christian life because non-Christian things of the Christian life is one of all you can do this and you can't do that and you can throw a party without getting drunk. You think this is the height of human experience that drunk a party. Think of the wonder of being a Christian saved I'm eternally saved. And yes, life can be difficult even for followers of Christ, but he loves me. And Paul is going to tell us in the chapter. There's nothing that will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus will trust the Savior. Some of your old enough to remember the old watches numbers on the back of the watches and I'm not talking about these cool watches that some of you have I can afford one of them, but only got these I watches on, but in the old watch, you could look at the back and you see the wheels of it, an amazing thing is just look at the there were the whales and the going in different directions under spinning this way and that way but the remarkable thing is that the watches still keeping perfect time at the new life wheels of your life sometimes seemed to go in contradictory ways in ways that you never imagined in ways if the truth be told, you don't really like and you would do. Another way of a policy. I understand all of that. But God's timing is perfect. David said his eyes, for God, his way is perfect. God's way is perfect. His timing is perfect. God's clock is always on time and never runs late never too early or too late. You can absolutely depend on it.

If you try look at the back of it is I don't understand what is going on in my life God, why don't you do something about it policy and God has done something about it and is doing much about it. I realize that in life and in the experience of life. There is much that we do not know but we do know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to his purposes, and I do know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day we stand witnessing this is him and as we stand this old hymn I'm asking you to make a response.

If you don't know Christ was a wonderful opportunity to step forward. Come down and say today receiving Christ some of your difficult difficult circumstances. Today, what supports what your response is to say Lord I love you strengthen my faith. Thank you that your purposes are being worked out in my life. Don't rebel against God.

Don't be bitter, but to submit to his purposes father, we thank you for this great caught wind of the David.

David says great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. We often think of your greatness and creation and then suddenly we see your greatness there, but even more so, we see your greatness and salvation.

The plan of salvation was incredible plan and we realize that we just waiting in the in the shallows of your infinite grace and wisdom and power and love.

Forgive us fathers when we sometimes rebel against you. Forgive us when were bitter sometimes strengthen our faith there some here father desperately need the touch from the spirit in their life. Encourage them and bless them open the eyes of unbelievers that they will see the magnificence and the beauty of our Savior in his name we pray. Amen