WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 In September 1541, after having been expelled from the city three years earlier, John Calvin

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 was asked to return to Geneva.

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 And on that first Sunday, back in the pulpit of St. Peter's, what do you think John Calvin

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 did amidst this city that had sent him away and now begged for him to come back to fix

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 all their problems?

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 It would have been a great opportunity for Calvin to score some points, wouldn't it have been?

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 You foolish Genevans, how dare you send me away and now grovel at my feet?

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 That's exactly what Calvin didn't do.

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 Instead, he picked up his public preaching ministry exactly where he had left off three

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 years earlier.

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 He had been preaching through the Psalms, and when he got back in the pulpit, he picked up

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 right in the next verse as if nothing had ever happened.

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 As if to show that he saw that there was nothing more important than his task of feeding God's

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 people from God's Word.

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 Today, as we've been saying, is the Sunday when churches all around the world are celebrating

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 the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

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 And among many things, the Reformation was a recovery of the Word of God.

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 So, in honor of the Reformation, we're going to follow John Calvin's lead this morning,

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 and we're just going to pick up with the next verse that we've been preaching through.

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 We're in Romans 8, and we're going to trust that God's Word is going to do His work.

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 Today, we come to Romans chapter 8, verse 28.

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 That's page 944 in the Pew Bible.

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 Romans 8, verse 28, page 944.

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 And I'm going to read this verse in its broader context, starting actually in verse 16 and

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 ending in verse 30, so we can really catch the scope of what Paul is saying here.

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 So, Romans 8, let's start in verse 16.

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 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,

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 then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in

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 order that we may also be glorified with Him.

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 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the

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 glory that is to be revealed to us.

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 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

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 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected

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 it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and

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 obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

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 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until

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 now.

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 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan

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 inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

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 For in this hope we were saved.

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 The hope that is seen is not hope.

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 For who hopes for what he sees?

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 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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 Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

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 For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with

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 groanings too deep for words.

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 And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes

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 for the saints according to the will of God.

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 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.

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 For those who are called according to His purpose.

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 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in

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 order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

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 And those whom He predestined, He also called.

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 And those whom He called, He also justified.

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 And those whom He justified, He also glorified.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we ask that You would give us, by Your Holy Spirit, hearts, ears, eyes, to see and

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 hear and to know what You are speaking to us through Your Word.

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 Amen.

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 Oh God, we pray that Your purposes would be accomplished in our time together this morning.

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 For Christ's sake, amen.

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 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who

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 are called according to His purpose.

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 We've been seeing in the previous weeks that this whole section of Romans 8 that we just

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 read is meant to give us courage and confidence in the face of suffering.

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 Looking over this passage, we can see that Paul has shown us our future hope in verses

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 18 through 24.

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 The creation set free from its bondage to decay and made new.

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 Our own bodies set free from groaning in the resurrection.

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 And then last week, we saw that the groaning of creation and the groaning of our bodies is known

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 even to God as the Holy Spirit groans within us as He right now intercedes for us.

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 But here in verse 28, Paul moves from this inward work of the Holy Spirit within us outward

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 to the work of God right now in all things around us.

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 And we know, Paul says in verse 28, which is what he also said back in verse 22.

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 Did you catch that as we read it?

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 Verse 22 says,

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 For we know that the whole creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth.

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 We know creation is groaning and we are groaning within it.

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 But here in verse 28, we know something in addition to that, Paul says.

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 We know not just that creation is groaning, but that for those who love God, who are called

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 according to His purpose, we know all things work together for good.

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 Friends, here is a promise that for countless generations, the church has clung to and found

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 to be true.

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 And here is a promise that if you and I can grasp it and internalize it and cling to it,

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 it will be a comfort and a security and a foundation that will give us the greatest courage and confidence

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 through the darkest moments, through the deepest groanings.

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 How merciful is God to give us His Word, knowing that we need confidence and we need comfort.

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 And here this promise is given to us to do just that.

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 So to help us grasp, to help us internalize this promise this morning, what I want to do is unpack this promise

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 in sort of three steps.

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 So I want to take three angles on this promise in verse 28, and then we're going to conclude

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 by considering who this promise is for.

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 So first then, let's look at this promise.

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 What is it that we know here in verse 28?

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 What do we know that will give us such a security, such a ballast for life in this groaning creation?

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 First thing is that this promise says that it is God who works all things together for good.

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 We can know that God is at work no matter what circumstances we face.

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 Now, if you look again at the verse, you'll see that it literally says all things work together for good.

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 So you might think I'm sort of twisting Scripture right now by telling you that it's God who works all things.

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 But what does Paul actually mean here?

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 Does he mean that the events of your life just somehow in and of themselves magically happen to work together for good?

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 That the universe is conspiring for your happiness?

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 No.

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 It's quite clear for Paul, as for the rest of the Bible, that God is the one who is the real subject here.

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 In fact, if you look at the footnote in the ESV, or if you have the NIV, if you're reading that,

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 you'll see that some manuscripts and some translators have made what's implicit explicit.

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 It's God who is at work.

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 All things work together for good because God works them that way.

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 You see, there is a very personal, purposeful, passionate God at work in all things.

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 And contrary to popular spirituality, when you want something,

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 all the universe is not conspiring in helping you to achieve it.

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 No, what do we know?

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 We know that the creation is groaning.

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 It's eagerly longing to be set free from its bondage to corruption.

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 But in the midst of that groaning, God is at work.

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 He is not some far-off watchmaker who set the wheels of the universe spinning like some great machine

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 and now just watches it from a distance, uninvolved, detached.

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 No, what this verse is telling us is that God is intimately, actively, continuously at work.

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 One of the most enduring statements of faith to come out of the Reformation was the Heidelberg Catechism

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 written in 1563.

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 And this is how it speaks of this reality, this reality of God's providence.

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 Verse 27 of the Heidelberg Catechism says this,

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 what do you understand by the providence of God?

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 You have to love catechisms.

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 They ask these just simple questions, you know,

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 well, what's the providence of God?

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 Go, answer.

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 Well, thankfully, it gives us the answer because it's a catechism.

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 What do you understand by the providence of God?

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 And the answer is this.

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 It's the almighty and ever-present power of God by which God upholds, as with His hand,

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 heaven and earth and all creatures.

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 And so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years,

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 food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty,

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 all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but by His fatherly hand.

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 For my money, that's one of the most beautiful definitions of God's providence I've ever read.

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 Not by chance but by His fatherly hand.

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 You know, we may not ever know why, exactly, in the moment,

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 God allows certain things to happen in our lives.

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 Why this chronic sickness?

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 Why this hardship in my marriage?

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 Why this particular dream I've had has been shattered?

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 And the temptation is to think in those moments that God has abandoned you,

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 that it's all meaningless, that there's no purpose and there's no plan.

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 But our verse this morning stands as a bulwark against that particular form of unbelief,

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 saying that even though we may not know exactly why some things happen,

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 we can know that God is still at work,

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 that His fatherly hand is not tied behind His back,

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 that God is still the Almighty Creator and Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth,

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 that God has a purpose for our good,

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 even when we can't see it.

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 This is the first thing we know,

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 according to this promise, that God is at work.

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 Second, we know that God works all things together for our good.

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 Now stop for a moment and let that sink in.

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 All things.

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 In the 17th century, an English pastor named Thomas Watson

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 wrote an entire book on Romans 8.28,

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 the way only 17th century Puritans can do.

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 And he called that book a divine cordial.

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 Now it's usually published under the title,

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 All Things for Good.

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 And the first chapter in Watson's book is titled,

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 The Best Things Work for Good to the Godly.

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 Friends, have you considered for starters

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 that all things means all the good things in your life?

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 We often just take those things for granted.

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 Or we give ourselves the credit.

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 Or we just assume that that's how the world is supposed to work.

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 That's actually not the case.

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 Yes, this world was created very good.

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 But when sin entered the world,

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 creation was subjected to futility,

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 as verse 20 reminds us.

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 We Christians should not expect

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 that the world is going to be a nice, comfortable place.

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 So when events or circumstances happen to fall out beneficially for us,

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 even something as mundane as getting a regular paycheck

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 or having a church family to be a part of,

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 we must remember

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 that these are gifts of God's grace,

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 that God is at work to bring about these things.

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 These are not things we should take for granted

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 or give ourselves the credit for.

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 Instead, we should be responding with gratitude and joy to God.

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 But of course, all things includes not just the good circumstances,

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 but the bad as well.

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 Now, right up front, we have to be careful here.

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 You'll notice that Paul is not saying

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 that at the end of the day,

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 all things are good.

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 That's not what he's saying.

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 No, no.

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 Evil is still evil.

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 Injustice is still injustice.

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 Suffering is still suffering.

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 Sin is still sin.

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 All things are definitely in and of themselves not good.

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 But God in His infinite wisdom, power, and grace

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 works all things for good.

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 So we're not meant to take some weird pleasure in suffering

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 as if it's a good thing in and of itself.

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 We are meant to weep with those who weep

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 as well as rejoice with those who rejoice.

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 We're not supposed to run to suffering headlong

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 as if it's not really suffering,

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 and nor should we minimize the suffering of others,

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 perhaps by quoting this verse to them.

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 However, what this promise enables us to do

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 is to have courage and confidence

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 in the face of suffering when it comes.

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 We don't have to despair,

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 thinking that all is lost.

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 And we don't have to try to avoid suffering at all costs.

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 Rather, we can stand firm,

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 knowing that no matter what comes,

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 it can't ultimately thwart God's good purposes for me.

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 And in fact, this verse is saying something

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 even stronger than that, isn't it?

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 It's saying not just that suffering and hardship

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 can't thwart God's good purposes for me,

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 but that God will work even in my suffering

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 for my good.

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 He will take it up into His fatherly hands

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 and bring about my ultimate good.

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 The great Old Testament example of this

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 is Joseph in Genesis chapter 50.

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 If you remember that story,

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 you remember that his brothers sold him into slavery

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 out of jealousy and hatred,

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 leaving him functionally for dead.

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 And yet years later,

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 Joseph being reunited to his brothers

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 can say,

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 you meant evil against me,

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 but God meant it for good,

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 to bring it about that many people

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 should be kept alive as they are today.

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 Because Joseph ended up in Egypt

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 through his brother's cruelty,

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 he was able to rise to a position of authority

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 in the Egyptian empire

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 and preserve his family along with many others

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 from a devastating international famine.

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 And in preserving his family,

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 he preserves the promise of Abraham

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 that one day God would send a Savior for us all.

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 His brothers intended it for evil,

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 God meant it for good.

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 God works all things together for good,

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 the good and the bad events in our life.

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 That's the second thing we know according to this promise.

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 The third thing is this,

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 that God works all things together

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 for our good.

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 God isn't just at work in all things,

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 He's at work for our good.

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 But here we need to stop and ask,

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 what exactly do we mean by good?

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 Because we are very prone to define what's good

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 in very short-sighted ways.

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 Physical health,

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.860
 financial well-being,

00:17:44.800 --> 00:17:46.180
 maybe relational fulfillment.

00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:50.039
 But how does God define what's good?

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.980
 What is the ultimate and lasting good

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:57.100
 to which He's taking us?

00:17:57.099 --> 00:18:02.019
 Well, verses 29 through 30 answer that question.

00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:03.799
 Did you catch it?

00:18:04.959 --> 00:18:07.039
 And at the center of those verses

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.619
 is this,

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:13.939
 conformity to the image of His Son.

00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:19.480
 The good that God will bend

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.819
 heaven and earth to achieve,

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.559
 the good towards which God

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.179
 is providentially working

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:27.340
 every good and bad thing in your life,

00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:29.320
 the good that expresses

00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:32.360
 His eternal purpose for you,

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.580
 expressed and unfolded and revealed

00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:36.160
 in time and history is this,

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:38.519
 that you would be conformed

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:40.900
 to the image of His Son.

00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:49.320
 Now, if we put this in the context

00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:50.140
 of all of Romans,

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.940
 this is what we see.

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.519
 What does Romans teach us?

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.799
 We read it earlier in Romans 3.

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:58.119
 The good news is that through faith alone

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.279
 you have been justified.

00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.180
 You've been given Jesus' righteous record

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:04.039
 as a gift through the redemption

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:08.160
 and propitiation of His blood.

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:10.200
 Apart from your works,

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:13.460
 through faith you share His legal status.

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:16.039
 You are an adopted child of God,

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.420
 an heir of God,

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:21.079
 freely and wholly.

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:24.139
 And now we see,

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:26.059
 here in Romans 8,

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.859
 that God is at work

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.500
 in all things

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:32.599
 to actually make you

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:34.259
 and conform you

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:36.259
 and shape and mold

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.480
 and transform you

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.679
 from the inside out

00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:40.919
 into the likeness of Jesus.

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.619
 His purpose is at work

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:48.480
 to make you what you are.

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:54.319
 Do you see what that means?

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.880
 Have you considered

00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:59.039
 that Jesus Christ,

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.759
 while at the same time

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.920
 being fully God,

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:05.099
 is the most fully,

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:07.660
 truly human being

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:09.019
 who ever lived?

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.920
 If you and I were to go out

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.599
 this afternoon

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:15.420
 and find a basketball court

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.940
 in New Haven,

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.980
 there probably will be

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.700
 no one playing on it

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.480
 because it's raining outside,

00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.039
 but let's pretend

00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.640
 it wasn't raining

00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.380
 and it wasn't cold.

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.279
 And if we ask

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.480
 some of those young players

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.820
 who they wish they could be,

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.980
 who do you think

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.559
 they would say?

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.700
 Steph Curry,

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.779
 Kevin Durant,

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.860
 LeBron James.

00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:37.839
 I mean,

00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:38.859
 imagine being able to play

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.699
 like one of those guys.

00:20:41.179 --> 00:20:43.099
 LeBron James has like a 61%

00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:43.919
 field goal percentage

00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:44.419
 this season.

00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:48.019
 Imagine being able to make

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.559
 six out of every ten

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.779
 shots that you make.

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:51.959
 They go in

00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:52.779
 every time.

00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:53.059
 Boom,

00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.519
 boom,

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.000
 boom.

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:54.579
 That's one mess.

00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:54.839
 Boom,

00:20:54.979 --> 00:20:55.139
 boom,

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.419
 boom,

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:55.679
 boom,

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:55.919
 boom.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.219
 61% of the time.

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.099
 I mean,

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:58.659
 you might be good,

00:20:58.699 --> 00:20:59.559
 but you're not that good.

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:03.059
 Imagine the freedom

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.700
 and joy

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.259
 of being that good.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.639
 Imagine how much fun

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.240
 it must be

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.299
 to play basketball

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:12.399
 when you're LeBron James

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:13.119
 or Steph Curry,

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.659
 even if you get mad

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.899
 and throw your mouth guard

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.980
 at a ref every once in a while.

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.379
 Now,

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.960
 maybe basketball

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.639
 isn't your thing,

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:26.740
 but my bet is

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.599
 you know what it's like

00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.839
 to long to be someone

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.480
 you admire.

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:32.480
 that musician

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.399
 who performs

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.559
 so effortlessly,

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:37.460
 that work colleague

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:39.159
 who always tops

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:40.519
 last quarter's

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.519
 performance marks,

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.879
 that friend

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.519
 who just seems

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.399
 to have it all together

00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.039
 in all the ways

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.659
 you don't.

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.500
 But friends,

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.539
 here in the gospel,

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.960
 we see one

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.659
 who doesn't just

00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:55.799
 excel in the court

00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.559
 or in the concert hall

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.779
 or in the performance

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.259
 review,

00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.359
 here is the one

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:00.960
 who is not just

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.099
 the true artist

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:03.680
 or the true athlete.

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.720
 Here is one

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.720
 who is the true human

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:12.819
 who lives life

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.339
 at its best

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.720
 always

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:17.400
 and in every way.

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:20.600
 Here is what you and I

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:21.839
 were always meant to be

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.600
 and what all our other

00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:25.180
 longings to be like

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:26.460
 all those other people

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:28.860
 are just the shadow of.

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.600
 All those other longings

00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.559
 are just the shadow

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.700
 of our deep heart longing

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.380
 to be fully,

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.579
 truly human,

00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.579
 to be like Him,

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:40.039
 to know real freedom,

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.720
 to know real joy.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.720
 So friends,

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.359
 here is the promise

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.179
 of verse 28,

00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:50.119
 that God is working

00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:51.899
 all things together

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:54.359
 to make you like His Son,

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:57.759
 to make you at long

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.659
 last truly,

00:23:00.199 --> 00:23:01.919
 fully human,

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:04.019
 to make you noble

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.579
 and wise

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.740
 and loving

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:08.019
 and good

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.419
 and strong

00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:10.559
 and joyful

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.679
 and resilient

00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:13.079
 and kind,

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.479
 to make you

00:23:14.479 --> 00:23:15.399
 into a fitting

00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.619
 and proper

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.379
 heir

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.699
 of the new creation

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:19.979
 that God has in store

00:23:19.979 --> 00:23:20.839
 where we will reign

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.019
 with Christ forever.

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.559
 So you see,

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.439
 God working all things

00:23:28.439 --> 00:23:29.159
 together for our good

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:29.679
 doesn't mean that

00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.220
 we'll always see

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.119
 some sort of reversal

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:32.339
 of our bad circumstances

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.459
 into good circumstances

00:23:33.459 --> 00:23:34.119
 in this life.

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:34.799
 Rather,

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.819
 many things that we suffer

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.779
 will not contribute

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.519
 to our material

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.740
 or our physical good.

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.199
 But all these things

00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:41.139
 will work

00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:42.319
 for our ultimate good.

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.059
 They will refine

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.559
 our faith.

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.639
 They will strengthen

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.159
 our hope.

00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:47.299
 They will forge

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.119
 our likeness

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.859
 to Jesus.

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.480
 God isn't promising

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.180
 that believers

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.720
 are going to have

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.039
 more comfortable lives

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.980
 or experience

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.200
 less bad events

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.160
 than non-believers.

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.819
 But this verse

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.860
 is teaching us

00:23:58.860 --> 00:24:00.039
 that God will bring about

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.759
 through those events

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:02.259
 an even greater purpose

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.880
 and outcome

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.519
 that we will be like

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.319
 the King.

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.839
 We will be like

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.400
 the one who is

00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.220
 most perfectly,

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.299
 joyfully,

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.519
 freely human.

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.720
 That will be more

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.519
 and more like Jesus.

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.880
 So I wonder,

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.079
 friend,

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.620
 how do you define

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.640
 the good in your life?

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.059
 Do you define it

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.420
 by the number

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.000
 of close friends

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.660
 that you have,

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.039
 the number

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.759
 of healthy children

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.539
 that you have,

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.960
 the financial security

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.940
 that you've amassed,

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.980
 the physical health

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.759
 that you enjoy?

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.059
 Or do you define

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.980
 the good

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:43.440
 as radiating

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.120
 the character

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.039
 of Christ

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.200
 in all circumstances?

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.139
 And don't you see

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.899
 that that

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:53.220
 is where your

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.579
 real happiness is?

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.480
 Jonathan Edwards

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.220
 in one of the first

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.519
 theological paragraphs

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.559
 he ever penned

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.559
 said that holiness,

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.139
 Christ-likeness,

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.200
 is like being a flower

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.339
 in a field

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:11.099
 with your petals

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:12.940
 open to the sun,

00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:15.019
 releasing an aroma

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.059
 and a fragrance

00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.519
 of joy

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.339
 and sweetness,

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.500
 of basking

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.420
 in the pleasure

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:23.160
 of being beautiful

00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.680
 in God's creation.

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.019
 Don't you see

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.500
 that that

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.379
 is real lasting joy

00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.059
 that will stretch

00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:31.639
 into eternity?

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.279
 And if you see that,

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.059
 then don't you realize

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.920
 that Romans 8.28

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.940
 is God's promise

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:41.220
 that He has our ultimate,

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.819
 eternal happiness

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.359
 in mind.

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.599
 And that He

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.740
 is using all things

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.480
 to get us there,

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.660
 to make us

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.379
 like His Son

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.720
 so that the glory

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.200
 of the Son

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.139
 can be displayed

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.799
 like the firstborn

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.700
 among many brothers

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.299
 and sisters.

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.960
 So this is what we know,

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.660
 that God works

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.859
 all things together

00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.879
 for good.

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.339
 But now with the time

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.819
 that we have left,

00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.819
 we have to ask the question,

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:12.139
 who is this promise for?

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:15.140
 Is this promise true

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.759
 for everyone?

00:26:17.320 --> 00:26:18.000
 And if not,

00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:19.060
 how do we get in on it?

00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.460
 Because it sounds

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:20.960
 pretty good.

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.800
 Well, we see that

00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:25.440
 Romans 8.28

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.380
 is not talking about

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.320
 some superficial optimism

00:26:29.320 --> 00:26:30.940
 that everything tends

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:32.160
 to everybody's good

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.740
 in the end.

00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.520
 No, this promise

00:26:34.520 --> 00:26:36.340
 has a very definite scope.

00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:38.560
 It's for a particular people,

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.440
 and the objects

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.240
 of this promise,

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.039
 the recipients,

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.059
 the ones for whom

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.680
 it is true,

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.000
 are described here

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.900
 in two ways.

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.539
 And both of these ways

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.559
 are ways of describing

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.000
 genuine Christians,

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.960
 but they each bring out

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.240
 something very important.

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:53.420
 What's the first thing

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.480
 that we see in verse 28?

00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.420
 That this promise

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.980
 is for those

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:57.480
 who love God.

00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.440
 Now, as Paul has been saying

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.400
 over and over again

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.099
 in chapter 8,

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.400
 a genuine Christian

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.039
 is someone

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.759
 in whom

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.160
 the Holy Spirit dwells.

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.099
 That's what he's just

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:08.839
 been talking about

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:10.500
 in verses 26 and 27.

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.259
 And if you go all the way back

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.439
 to Romans chapter 5,

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.699
 Paul says that the Holy Spirit

00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:15.579
 is the one who comes

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:17.480
 and pours the love of God

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.240
 into our hearts.

00:27:19.459 --> 00:27:20.459
 And here in chapter 8,

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.139
 verse 15,

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.279
 it's the Holy Spirit

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.659
 who causes us to cry,

00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.959
 Abba, Father,

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.980
 in familial love to God.

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:28.539
 And again,

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.759
 right here in the immediate context,

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:31.099
 verses 26 and 27,

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.179
 it's the Holy Spirit

00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.539
 who intercedes for us

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:33.980
 with God,

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.519
 causing us to come to God

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.599
 in faith and hope and love,

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.259
 even when we don't have

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.259
 the right words

00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.039
 to know how to pray.

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.379
 And you see this

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.359
 across Paul's writings.

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.079
 In Galatians,

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.220
 the very first expression

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.539
 of the fruit of the Spirit

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.240
 is love.

00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.640
 So love to God

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.859
 is the distinguishing mark

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.879
 of the Christian.

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.400
 All who place their trust

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:55.940
 in Christ

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.779
 are filled with the Holy Spirit,

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.539
 and because of the Holy Spirit,

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.599
 we can at last

00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:03.319
 truly love God.

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:07.659
 But why does Paul

00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.539
 choose this way

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.659
 of describing

00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:10.480
 a Christian here?

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.599
 Why not say

00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.019
 that God works all things

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.319
 for those who trust in God

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.839
 or for those

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.700
 who hope in God?

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.779
 Why specify

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:21.259
 the love of God here?

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.259
 Well, think about it this way.

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:29.000
 Without the genuine love

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.579
 for God

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.659
 that comes from

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:31.419
 the Holy Spirit,

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:33.680
 it's hard to see

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.400
 how all things

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.200
 could work together

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.779
 for our good.

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.920
 How could that be?

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.640
 One writer made

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.320
 this observation.

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.100
 He said,

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.960
 outside of God,

00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:46.060
 we have the illusion

00:28:46.060 --> 00:28:47.940
 that we are self-made people

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.900
 who are in control

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.580
 of our lives.

00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:51.960
 When an unbelieving heart

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.320
 experiences a string

00:28:53.320 --> 00:28:54.039
 of successes

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.800
 and pleasures,

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:57.240
 it only reinforces

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.920
 that illusion

00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.039
 that we are in control,

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.200
 that we've made ourselves.

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.299
 And so it is

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:07.119
 that even good things

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:09.019
 can make the worst sins

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.039
 in the human heart

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.539
 grow

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.839
 and take over

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.899
 pride,

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.539
 overconfidence,

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:17.059
 self-righteousness.

00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:19.639
 In other words,

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:21.259
 without real love for God,

00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:23.180
 even good circumstances

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.420
 will produce terrible

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.159
 spiritual fruit

00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:25.799
 in our lives.

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:29.180
 not to mention

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.220
 bad circumstances,

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.000
 suffering,

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.579
 which apart from

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.220
 the love for God

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.879
 can produce bitterness

00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.700
 and despair

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:36.399
 and a victim mentality.

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.119
 But if there is

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.079
 genuine love for God

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.639
 in our hearts,

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.859
 then when good

00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.940
 circumstances come,

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.240
 they won't reinforce

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.980
 our pride

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.579
 because we know

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.220
 that all our good

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.079
 comes as a gracious

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.460
 gift of our loving God.

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.779
 And when bad

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.639
 circumstances come,

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.740
 it will humble us

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.599
 and increase

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.980
 our dependency on God

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:55.720
 and to long and hope

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.259
 more fully

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.259
 for His coming redemption.

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.099
 So love for God

00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:02.019
 is a critical piece

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.160
 in God working

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.180
 all things for our good.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.799
 It's the right disposition

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.680
 on our part

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.980
 created by the Holy Spirit

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.000
 for God to go about

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.079
 this work in our hearts.

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.559
 But that just presses

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.000
 the question,

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.380
 doesn't it?

00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:16.980
 Where does this love

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.480
 come from?

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.339
 You see,

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.339
 Paul is not talking

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.240
 about a love for God

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.160
 that we whip up

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:24.300
 in our own strength.

00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.000
 If that were true,

00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.940
 we'd all be goners

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:29.860
 because, friends,

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.759
 we know that even Christians

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.519
 don't love God

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.040
 as we should.

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.860
 Nor is Paul saying

00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:37.180
 that the amount of good

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.420
 that God promises

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.519
 to work in our lives

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.940
 depends on how much

00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.560
 we love God

00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:42.259
 from day to day.

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.700
 It's not as if

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:46.480
 you wake up in the morning

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.720
 and you're only hitting

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.440
 like a 4.5 out of 10

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.100
 on the love for God scale,

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.759
 so then God's probably

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.519
 only going to work

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.859
 some things together

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.459
 for your good,

00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.059
 sort of.

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.679
 It's not how it works.

00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:02.000
 When Paul says

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.919
 those who love God,

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.740
 he's talking about

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:05.459
 a fundamental change

00:31:05.459 --> 00:31:06.139
 that has happened

00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:07.119
 when someone

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.959
 becomes a Christian.

00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:10.839
 In Romans 5,

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:11.879
 Paul says that we've gone

00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.219
 from enmity with God

00:31:13.219 --> 00:31:14.439
 to love for God,

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:17.039
 but how does that happen?

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:21.500
 The second phrase

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.639
 in Romans 8.28

00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.519
 puts it this way,

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.720
 we've been called

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:28.059
 according to His purpose.

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.839
 Christians are those

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.720
 who love God

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:34.019
 because God has loved us first

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.779
 and because they've been called

00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:37.119
 according to His purpose.

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.759
 Now, when Paul uses

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:41.099
 the word call here,

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.839
 he means something

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.700
 much more

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:45.759
 than just the general invitation

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.940
 or call of the gospel

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:50.700
 as in what I'm doing right now.

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:52.480
 What I'm doing right now

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:54.440
 is the general call

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.019
 of the gospel.

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.019
 I am telling you

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.660
 that there is a God

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:59.000
 who is holy

00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:00.220
 and just

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.119
 and good

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.819
 and who has made

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:04.319
 each and every one of us

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.460
 in His own image

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:07.660
 to glorify Him

00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.819
 and love Him

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:10.319
 and enjoy Him.

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.759
 but because we have

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.079
 rebelled against Him

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:16.200
 and decided to find

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.879
 our glory

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.720
 and our enjoyment

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.559
 in anything else but Him,

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.639
 we stand under that

00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:23.019
 holy and good

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.079
 God's just

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.919
 wrath

00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:25.659
 for our sin.

00:32:27.159 --> 00:32:28.480
 But here, friends,

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.399
 is the good news

00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:32.480
 that instead of judging us

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:34.200
 for our sin,

00:32:34.439 --> 00:32:35.859
 God sends His own

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.639
 Son

00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:37.460
 in love

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:39.980
 to live a perfectly

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.020
 sinless life

00:32:41.020 --> 00:32:41.820
 on our behalf

00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:43.380
 and to go

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.360
 to the cross

00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:45.100
 to die

00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:46.000
 as a substitute

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.800
 for us

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:48.340
 in our place

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.540
 bearing the wrath

00:32:49.540 --> 00:32:50.960
 that our sins deserve.

00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:53.580
 And on the third day,

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.640
 Jesus rises

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.600
 from the grave

00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:56.480
 demonstrating

00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.440
 that the penalty

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.520
 that He paid

00:32:58.520 --> 00:32:59.600
 paid the price

00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:00.460
 in full

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.220
 and that there's

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.240
 nothing left

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.120
 for you and I

00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:03.640
 that we owe.

00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.980
 There's nothing left

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.660
 that we need to come up with

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.500
 in order to win

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.140
 God's favor.

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.599
 All that we need to do

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.559
 is turn

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:12.400
 from our self-dependence

00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:14.099
 and depend on Christ alone.

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.400
 Friends,

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.539
 that is the gospel.

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.059
 That is what Paul says

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:20.360
 is the righteousness

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:21.299
 from God

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:23.240
 that is ripping history apart

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.299
 and creating

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:25.059
 a new people.

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.480
 It's His power

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.920
 for those who believe.

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:30.860
 And this gospel

00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:32.220
 goes out to everyone

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.039
 everywhere

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.980
 with the call

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.880
 to repent

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.839
 and believe.

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.620
 But friends,

00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.839
 that call

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.680
 of the gospel,

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:42.920
 that's not what Paul's

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.599
 talking about here

00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.339
 in Romans 8, 28.

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.500
 He's talking about

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.380
 something

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:48.400
 that God does,

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.420
 not that we do.

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.500
 The call of God

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.680
 that Paul is talking about here

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.259
 is what happens

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.220
 when God takes

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.299
 this message

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.220
 of the gospel

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.460
 and by the Spirit

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:57.980
 works powerfully

00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.380
 in the hearts

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.220
 of the listeners

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.620
 to produce faith.

00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:01.679
 faith.

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.679
 It's when the words

00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:04.500
 become real

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.179
 to your heart

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:05.719
 and your heart

00:34:05.719 --> 00:34:06.699
 is stirred up

00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.599
 to believe.

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.000
 When suddenly

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.339
 it's as if God Himself

00:34:10.339 --> 00:34:11.719
 is speaking to you

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.139
 saying,

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.059
 come to me

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.519
 all you who labor

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.579
 and are heavy laden

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.819
 and I will give you rest.

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.139
 It's as if the risen Christ

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.819
 right now

00:34:18.819 --> 00:34:20.500
 is saying through my words,

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.460
 turn

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.699
 and come

00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:23.739
 and believe

00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.599
 the good news.

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:28.039
 and you can't help

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:29.440
 but respond.

00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:33.079
 Friends,

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:34.099
 perhaps even now

00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:35.639
 God is causing you

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.480
 to hear the message

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.420
 of His Son

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.500
 in that way.

00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:39.460
 You're starting

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.299
 to see something

00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:41.599
 you've never seen before.

00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:43.339
 As you consider

00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.360
 Christ crucified

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.599
 for your sins,

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.500
 risen for your justification,

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.019
 perhaps now you see

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.159
 for the first time

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.619
 what that is all

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.500
 meant to demonstrate,

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:54.320
 which is the love

00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.159
 of God for you.

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.820
 That God shows

00:34:58.820 --> 00:35:00.059
 His love for us

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.420
 and that while

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.880
 we were still sinners,

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.960
 Christ died for us.

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.179
 And if you see

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.880
 the love of God

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.820
 for you in Christ,

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.659
 then put your trust

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.219
 in Christ.

00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.320
 Later in Romans,

00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.179
 Paul will say this,

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:18.000
 if you confess

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.760
 with your mouth

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.800
 that Jesus is Lord

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.179
 and believe in your heart

00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.099
 that God raised Him

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.539
 from the dead,

00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:24.319
 you will be saved.

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.739
 For with the heart

00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:26.420
 one believes

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.360
 and is justified

00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.659
 and with the mouth

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.960
 one confesses and saves.

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.860
 For the Scripture says

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:32.279
 everyone who believes

00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:32.659
 in Him

00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:34.460
 will not be put to shame.

00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.360
 And friends,

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.139
 if that's true of you

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:40.679
 this morning,

00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:42.920
 if you've experienced

00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:44.839
 that effectual call

00:35:44.839 --> 00:35:45.400
 of God,

00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.500
 if you've turned

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.940
 from trusting in yourself

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:49.980
 to trusting in Jesus Christ

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.519
 as Lord,

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.840
 then the promise

00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.559
 of this verse

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.539
 stands for you

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:55.699
 and for all

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.440
 who will believe

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:58.179
 that all things

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.000
 work together

00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:00.039
 for good.

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.759
 After all,

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.719
 how could they not?

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:09.559
 Can God's purpose

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.800
 be thwarted?

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.679
 He has called us

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:15.759
 according to His own purpose.

00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.860
 Can the purpose

00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.880
 of God

00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:19.000
 be stopped,

00:36:19.200 --> 00:36:19.540
 friends?

00:36:20.560 --> 00:36:21.600
 My purposes

00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:22.580
 are stopped

00:36:22.580 --> 00:36:24.160
 all the time,

00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:25.880
 especially because

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:27.340
 I have three little children.

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:29.520
 They never let my purposes

00:36:29.520 --> 00:36:31.200
 be enthwarted.

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.800
 But thankfully, friends,

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.900
 you and I

00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:37.580
 are not God.

00:36:39.040 --> 00:36:40.760
 The Almighty Maker

00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:42.020
 of heaven and earth,

00:36:43.120 --> 00:36:44.100
 His purpose

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:45.539
 cannot be stopped.

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:48.380
 His purpose

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.699
 is to conform us

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.619
 to the image

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.659
 of His Son

00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:52.619
 so that Jesus

00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.739
 might be the firstborn

00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:54.860
 among many brothers

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.339
 and sisters

00:36:55.339 --> 00:36:56.019
 so that Jesus

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:57.319
 might be magnified

00:36:57.319 --> 00:36:58.900
 and known to be great

00:36:58.900 --> 00:37:00.039
 and seen

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.139
 as glorious

00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.759
 in the midst

00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.339
 of a people

00:37:02.339 --> 00:37:02.960
 who are shaped

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.920
 to look like Him.

00:37:04.219 --> 00:37:04.819
 And if this

00:37:04.819 --> 00:37:06.500
 is God's purpose,

00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:07.699
 how

00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:10.079
 will not

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:11.559
 all things

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.599
 work together

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.759
 for this end?

00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:16.299
 The reason

00:37:16.299 --> 00:37:17.059
 we don't believe

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.619
 this verse

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.059
 is because

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.779
 we don't believe

00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:19.440
 that God

00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.420
 is God.

00:37:22.799 --> 00:37:23.639
 How could

00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:24.440
 the great author

00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:25.599
 of all things

00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.719
 not bring

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:27.460
 his story

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.799
 to the conclusion

00:37:28.799 --> 00:37:29.599
 he has written?

00:37:30.819 --> 00:37:31.880
 It's like thinking

00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.699
 that Jane Austen

00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:33.719
 couldn't eventually

00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:34.699
 get Lizzie Bennet

00:37:34.699 --> 00:37:36.019
 and Darcy

00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:36.900
 together in the end.

00:37:37.339 --> 00:37:38.239
 How silly.

00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:38.319
 How silly.

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:43.720
 And how

00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:44.240
 will he not

00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:45.400
 arrange all things,

00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.980
 every detail

00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:48.460
 to that end?

00:37:51.660 --> 00:37:52.260
 Again,

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:52.900
 Jonathan Edwards

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.580
 put it this way

00:37:53.580 --> 00:37:54.240
 as a young man.

00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.460
 He said,

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.580
 every atom

00:37:56.580 --> 00:37:57.800
 in the universe

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:59.280
 is managed

00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.180
 by Christ

00:38:00.180 --> 00:38:01.600
 so as to be

00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:02.559
 most to the

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.240
 advantage

00:38:03.240 --> 00:38:04.380
 of a Christian.

00:38:05.080 --> 00:38:06.260
 Every particle

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:06.880
 of air

00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:08.460
 or every ray

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.260
 of the sun

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:10.940
 so that when

00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.320
 the Christian

00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:12.180
 comes to see

00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:12.760
 it in glory

00:38:12.760 --> 00:38:14.100
 he shall sit

00:38:14.100 --> 00:38:14.880
 and enjoy

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:16.060
 all this vast

00:38:16.060 --> 00:38:16.560
 inheritance

00:38:16.560 --> 00:38:17.760
 with surprising,

00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:20.140
 amazing joy.

00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:22.740
 All things

00:38:22.740 --> 00:38:23.400
 work together

00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:23.960
 for good

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.740
 for those

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.220
 who are called

00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:25.680
 according to

00:38:25.680 --> 00:38:26.080
 his purpose.

00:38:26.180 --> 00:38:26.560
 How could

00:38:26.560 --> 00:38:27.360
 it not be so?

00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.460
 The king

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.040
 of the universe

00:38:30.040 --> 00:38:30.820
 has died

00:38:30.820 --> 00:38:31.760
 and risen again

00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:32.300
 for you.

00:38:33.080 --> 00:38:33.860
 He has gone

00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.720
 into the groaning

00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.679
 and swallowed

00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.179
 it whole

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:36.919
 in the resurrection

00:38:36.919 --> 00:38:38.199
 to make you

00:38:38.199 --> 00:38:38.819
 his own.

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.819
 How will he not

00:38:39.819 --> 00:38:40.579
 then take all

00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.639
 things and turn

00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.579
 them to your good

00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.099
 so that you will

00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:43.739
 be like him

00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.639
 and enjoy him

00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:45.000
 forever?

00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:47.239
 Every atom

00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:49.239
 light

00:38:49.779 --> 00:38:50.039
 hearsay

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.199
 and

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:52.579
 turn

00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:53.379
 the

00:38:53.439 --> 00:38:55.219
utes

00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:56.059
 then

00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:58.019
 up

00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:59.759
 in the

00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:00.159
 sea

00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:00.699
 and

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:01.479
 use

00:39:01.479 --> 00:39:01.779
 enemies

00:39:01.779 --> 00:39:01.859
 into slut

00:39:01.859 --> 00:39:06.379
 of заним

00:39:06.859 --> 00:39:07.419
 hand

00:39:07.759 --> 00:39:08.279
 and

00:39:08.279 --> 00:39:09.039
 prevent

00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:09.539
 the

00:39:09.539 --> 00:39:10.199
 easy

00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:10.379
 power

00:39:10.699 --> 00:39:10.719
 and

00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.199
 lie

00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:11.579
 ways

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.319
 to

00:39:12.319 --> 00:39:12.339
 point

00:39:12.339 --> 00:39:13.199
 so that

00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:14.539
 can

00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:14.959
 hurt

00:39:14.959 --> 00:39:15.279
 and

00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:16.139
 extend

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.819
 spring

00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:23.820
 so

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:53.820
 so

00:40:16.820 --> 00:40:23.820
 so

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:27.820
 so

00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:31.820
 so

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:37.820
 so

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:43.820
 so

00:40:43.820 --> 00:40:47.820
 so

00:40:47.820 --> 00:40:51.820
 so

00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:57.820
 so

00:40:57.820 --> 00:40:59.820
 so

00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:00.580
 so