WEBVTT

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 If you have a copy of God's Word or a bulletin, go ahead and turn with me to Romans chapter 8.

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 We're continuing on in our series of Romans, and we come to what, if you're a Bible reader, is probably a familiar passage.

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 If you're here as a visitor, you're probably like, those Presbyterians are always talking about this.

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 Let me assure you that you're simply getting the next section in God's Word.

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 As we march through Romans.

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 Romans chapter 8, verses 28 to 30.

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 This is the Word of the Lord.

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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,

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 in 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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 This is the Word of the Lord.

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we're thankful for Your Word to us.

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 We need Your help.

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 We need Your Spirit.

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 To drive out both distraction.

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 And to help us understand.

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 To help us apply Your Word to our hearts.

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 We pray that we might see Christ through them.

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 And it's in His name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Have you ever had a bad day?

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 Of course you've had a bad day.

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 But was your day like Alexander?

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 Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

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 Now, you might hear some chuckling because it's the title of a popular kid's book and also a movie.

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 I haven't seen the movie, so I can't speak for anything in it.

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 But I know in the book that Alexander certainly has a bad day.

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 He starts out by having gum in his hair.

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 Because he was chewing gum and he went to sleep.

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 And then his brothers win prizes in the cereal boxes that they eat.

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 Or they don't eat a box, they eat a cereal that the box has the prize in.

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 He doesn't get a window seat on his ride to school.

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 He gets in trouble for singing too loudly or poorly.

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 And he forgets a number while he's counting.

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 So it's not going well for him at school.

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 Have you had a bad day like Alexander?

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 Maybe not that bad.

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 But you've certainly been forgotten.

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 Like Alexander's friends who forgot him on the playground.

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 And then his mom who forgot the dessert in his lunch.

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 How could she?

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 Maybe you've not been like Alexander.

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 But you've had unfortunate circumstances.

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 Like you've had cavity at the dentist.

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 Like Alexander.

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 Or like Alexander, your mom takes you to get new shoes.

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 And you're thinking, yes!

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 Except they're the ones you don't want.

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 And they're uncomfortable.

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 And to cap it all off, you've probably never had to eat lima beans for dinner.

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 I don't really understand that one.

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 I love lima beans.

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 And then you're forced to wear train pajamas.

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 Oh man.

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 Maybe you like trains.

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 Maybe you like lima beans like me.

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 Maybe you don't really care if you sing poorly or off-key.

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 Or forget numbers at all.

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 But you've probably had a bad day.

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 Right?

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 You've all had them.

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 Now whatever those circumstances look like in your life, I can't know.

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 But the Lord knows.

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 But maybe you've not had a bad day.

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 But you've had a bad week.

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 You've all had those as well.

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 Maybe a bad season of life.

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 Maybe a bad year.

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 You've missed out on success.

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 You've not gotten the promotion that you were owed that you thought you deserved.

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 You don't have that relationship yet.

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 You're not married.

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 You don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend.

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 Maybe you've lost someone that you love.

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 Family.

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 A friend.

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 Maybe you've missed out on riches.

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 Maybe your mom forgot the lunch.

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 Or the dessert that was supposed to go in your lunch.

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 Whether they're trivial or great.

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 You've all had bad days.

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 Bad seasons.

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 Bad years.

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 Maybe you've inherited something.

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 Not riches.

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 But you've inherited the misfortune of your family name.

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 Maybe you've gotten the short end of the stick.

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 And you wonder how much more you can bear.

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 Lord, if this keeps going on, I don't know what I'm going to do.

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 I see no end inside.

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 I see no relief.

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 Lord, are you even there?

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 Do you care?

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 As I struggle with sin again and again.

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 Maybe it's suffering.

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 A bad diagnosis.

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 Of pain.

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 Of darkness.

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 Of fear.

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 Of failure.

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 Again, God reminds us that whether it's a bad day, a bad season, a bad year, whether it's trivial or great, that what?

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 He still reigns.

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 That's what Paul is reminding us in this text.

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 He reigns in these circumstances of life.

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 And he reigns also over the things that are most important.

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 Salvation.

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 But he reigns still.

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 And this morning, we're going to look at this text under those two headers.

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 If you're a Bible reader, this is a text that you're not unfamiliar with.

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 You might even have it posted on your mirror.

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 Because this is one of those texts that is familiar and brings comfort.

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 And if I'm honest with you, this is a topic about which I am most sure.

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 Now, as pastors, we get asked all kinds of questions all the time.

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 Whether it's from our own kids, people on the street, our neighbors.

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 And I will tell you, there are two things that I am extremely sure about.

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 One is God's word is true.

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 And the other is this text this morning.

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 It's at the heart of this text that God reigns.

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 First, let's look at the circumstances.

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 Remember that this verse, even if we have it plastered on our mirror or on a calendar in our kitchen,

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 those aren't bad things.

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 But it comes with some context.

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 There's something that goes before it and something that comes after.

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 And oftentimes, when we write it on a yellow sticky note or we put it on a scene, maybe in a calendar,

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 we lift it out of its context and it gets a little difficult.

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 It also gets difficult because this speaks to something that Alexander knows well,

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 that our own hearts know well, of whether it's a bad season, a bad day, or life is difficult.

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 It's something that we all know from experience.

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 It's something that we have experienced today, this week,

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 and we experience all the time when something doesn't go well.

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 And Paul says that as well.

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 He says about his own spiritual life.

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 Think about how far we've come in Romans.

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 As I mentioned, we're marching on in Romans,

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 and we've come to this point where Paul has been wrestling with his own internal sin,

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 not the circumstances out there, which we'll get to in a moment,

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 but the circumstances of life, how creation groans,

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 how sin affects all of life.

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 And until that point, when we are transformed, we wait with certain hope.

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 We wait for glory because we know it will come to pass, as Scott prayed.

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 And we've been given his spirit until then.

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 And in the midst of all of that difficulty and darkness and horrible, no good, bad days,

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 it makes us question the certainty of this hope.

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 It makes us question, does God really know?

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 Or is Thomas Jefferson and all those people that helped found our nation,

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 whether they had faith in Christ or not,

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 that God sets everything up and then walks away?

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 Paul has a very different view of that.

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 He says he reigns over all things in all circumstances.

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 Look with me at verse 28.

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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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 Now, when we look at this verse, there's two things that we have to keep in mind.

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 There's two kind of distinguishing marks.

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 The first is our status.

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 Status before God.

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 Not in the eyes of this world, but in God's economy.

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 Paul is clear from the outset that our relationship to God matters.

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 Love for God is kind of the dividing line in this verse.

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 He says, for those who love God, right?

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 All things work together for good.

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 Paul makes a big point that the condition of your heart and how we relate to him matters.

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 And that makes sense, right?

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 Because he spent the last couple chapters marching through the difference

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 between those who think they're justified by keeping the law

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 and those that are justified because God has revealed and opened their eyes to the gospel

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 and they love him in response.

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 And Paul is pulling forward this idea

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 that those who trust in God are marked by love for him.

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 Just as we read in the Old Testament, known by God and loving God are very, very similar.

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 Think back, even in Romans itself.

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 We see all this present suffering is transformed by what?

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 A future orientation to glory.

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 That only makes sense if we're adopted into God's family.

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 That future glory, that certain hope transforms what happens in the here and now.

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 And that's why Paul is calling it out.

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 There's wrestling with it, yes,

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 but we can't lose sight of what will happen in the future.

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 And it only makes sense if we love God.

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 Now the question is, do you love God?

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 Well, perfectly, of course not.

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 But do you love God?

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 Do you love him because he saved you?

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 Because you see the beauty of Christ dying on the cross

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 and the hope of the resurrection,

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 and in response, you love him?

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 If so, Paul is talking to you.

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 If not, Paul is not talking to you.

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 I know that seems really stark,

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 but the reality is it leaps off the page at us.

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 And he's going to qualify it here in a second

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 and say it's not just love for God,

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 but something further.

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 Now that's the first thing that we have to keep in mind

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 when we're talking about circumstances.

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 The second thing is the nature of these circumstances working together.

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 If that's true, that those who love God relate to all these circumstances differently,

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 then we have to look at how God rules over all these circumstances.

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 That doesn't change.

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 So what does Paul say here?

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 He does not say everything is easy for a Christian.

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 In fact, he kind of says the opposite.

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 He does not say success is your watchword.

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 He does not say that if you're a Christian,

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 if you put your faith in Jesus,

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 that you'll be wise and wealthy in the eyes of the world.

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 That your kids will never disobey.

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 That you'll be rich.

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 That you'll be famous.

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 That you'll be praised in the streets.

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 And yet, some of us think that.

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 And yet, that's pervasive in our day.

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 Because there's a version of Christianity,

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 and I would argue not Christianity at all.

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 In fact, Paul's experience is very much the opposite.

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 He's not wealthy, wise,

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 prison in all the streets, and all that stuff.

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 Right?

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 What does he get?

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 Not that.

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 There's a version of Christianity that says

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 if you put your faith in Jesus,

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 all of that will happen.

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 And the witness of Scripture is very much not that.

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 To be honest, that ceases to be Christianity at all.

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 But how does that help us for those that love God?

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 Instead, Paul says that all these things,

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 good things, fun things, sad things,

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 hard things, horrible things,

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 things that we don't want to say have happened,

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 all of those work together for good.

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 Now, they might not be good in and of themselves.

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 We talked about that in Sunday school this morning,

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 right before worship.

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 God uses things that are evil

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 for good,

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 for your growth and holiness,

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 for your dependence upon him as a father,

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 to increase your love for him,

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 to loosen our grip on this world

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 and all those things

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 that our hearts really, really want.

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 And seeing glory

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 is more important

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 than the thing that waits for us

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 after this world.

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 Now, if we're honest,

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 that's something that we see time and time again

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 in Scripture.

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 That God uses these things.

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 God uses difficult circumstances

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 for his own purposes.

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 Think of the example of Job as a person, right?

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 He loses all this stuff,

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 all these tragedies befall him.

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 And suffering is not isolated

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 to the wicked as his friends think,

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 but it comes home

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 to him, the righteous.

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 And that's where his friends struggle.

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 And that's where we struggle if we're honest.

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 We can't see through all the suffering

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 to the question

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 that our hearts really want to ask.

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 Why is this happening, Lord?

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 That example of Job is helpful,

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 but another one should come to mind

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 when we think about God

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 ordering all these things for good.

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 Think of the example of Joseph.

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 Joseph, yes, the son of Jacob.

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 He's thrown or sold into slavery in Egypt,

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 and he's falsely accused

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 and thrown into prison.

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 And instead,

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 not like the county of Monte Cristo

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 who wants to get his revenge,

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 what does he do instead?

00:15:11.599 --> 00:15:14.239
 He has reason to respond with revenge,

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:14.979
 but instead,

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.739
 God uses all of that evil

00:15:17.739 --> 00:15:19.079
 to do what?

00:15:20.119 --> 00:15:22.179
 We get this in Genesis 50.

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:23.759
 As for you,

00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:25.179
 he's speaking to his brothers

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.879
 who come groveling to him,

00:15:27.599 --> 00:15:29.419
 thinking that he's going to destroy them.

00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.559
 As for you,

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.219
 you meant evil against me,

00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.559
 but God meant it for good.

00:15:34.979 --> 00:15:36.039
 That's not saying

00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.259
 Joseph going to slavery in Egypt

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.059
 is good,

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.799
 but in the ultimate cosmic sense,

00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:44.219
 his grand design,

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:46.120
 he's accomplishing his purpose

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:48.019
 and using it in Joseph's life

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.740
 and the life of Israel,

00:15:49.859 --> 00:15:50.379
 his people.

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:53.019
 That even when it's evil,

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.679
 God uses it for good.

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:57.179
 And Paul echoes that same idea

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.240
 here in Romans 8.

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.379
 We should reflect Romans 8

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.980
 when we think about our own lives.

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.939
 It's not that these isolated actions

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.059
 are all good

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:11.200
 and we just paste over it

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.740
 with the veneer of happiness

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.439
 and smiling.

00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:15.120
 No, we can cry out

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.259
 that this is not good,

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.919
 but we have to know

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.259
 that God uses it

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.620
 for his purposes,

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:25.259
 for the good of those

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.340
 who are called

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.899
 according to his purposes.

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.679
 Now, is that different

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.019
 than those who love God?

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.120
 No, it's kind of like

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.399
 a parenthetical phrase

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.659
 that he's saying

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:37.399
 those who love God

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.580
 are also those

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.340
 who've been called

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.679
 according to his purposes

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:42.759
 at the end of verse 28.

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.019
 Paul's not describing

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:44.860
 a different person.

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:47.360
 He's describing the same person

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.320
 called for his purposes.

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.399
 That's the lived experience

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.039
 of a Christian.

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.080
 Loving God

00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:56.519
 is kind of the subjective

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.659
 description of it.

00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.039
 But from God's perspective,

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.419
 he's called them

00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:03.700
 into his kingdom,

00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.920
 into his purposes.

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.500
 If you think about it,

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.640
 that follows the pattern

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.480
 that we see in the life of Jesus.

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.420
 He's always calling people.

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.080
 Now, when we hear

00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:13.880
 the word calling,

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.380
 we think,

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.960
 I'm going to pick up the phone.

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.600
 Well, I'm showing my age

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.880
 by even picking up

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.700
 the phone like that.

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.039
 Maybe it's more like this, right?

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.880
 But I pick up the phone,

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.160
 and what happens?

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.759
 Either that person answers,

00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:27.140
 or they hit ignore.

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:29.500
 And we think of calling

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.100
 like that,

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.259
 that it can be ignored.

00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.279
 But instead,

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.360
 we need to have the idea

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:34.440
 of calling of Jesus

00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.880
 saying to Lazarus,

00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.440
 and come forth,

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.460
 and calling him

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.500
 is something happening.

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.819
 It's not calling

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.900
 and being dismissed.

00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.460
 It's calling

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:46.299
 and it coming to pass.

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:50.680
 Just as Jesus calls forth

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.279
 Lazarus,

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.779
 his disciples,

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:56.319
 he calls them

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.539
 to follow him.

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.660
 Now,

00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.420
 I don't know where

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.559
 that finds you this morning.

00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.599
 If you've got drug in here,

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.180
 my friend,

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.700
 and you're like,

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.640
 man,

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:05.940
 those Presbyterians

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.140
 are always talking

00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:08.700
 about how God reigns

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.759
 and calls people.

00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.440
 But again,

00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.840
 this is straight

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.700
 from the text,

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.720
 and it's really,

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:16.160
 really clear.

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.279
 There's a call

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.819
 in each of us,

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.960
 to each of us,

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.380
 that cannot be ignored.

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.400
 There's a call

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.500
 to put your faith

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.059
 in Jesus

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:29.600
 that we must obey.

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:32.599
 And when we do,

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.519
 all of those things

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.459
 work together

00:18:35.459 --> 00:18:36.539
 for good.

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.240
 Follow the call

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.379
 of Jesus this morning.

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.379
 In the call of Jesus,

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:44.000
 there's this pattern

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:46.059
 of transformation.

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.759
 And when we look at it,

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.339
 we see

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:51.619
 that lives change.

00:18:52.959 --> 00:18:54.419
 That Joseph's life,

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.179
 his circumstances,

00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:57.639
 don't necessarily change,

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:59.160
 but God uses them

00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:00.300
 to accomplish

00:19:00.300 --> 00:19:01.160
 his purposes

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.740
 for his people.

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.920
 And the same

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.960
 is true for us

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.460
 as individual Christians.

00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:08.040
 We're not called

00:19:08.040 --> 00:19:08.740
 to ease.

00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:10.920
 We're not called

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:12.540
 to avoid suffering,

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.340
 even though that's

00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:14.220
 what we want to do.

00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.800
 But God

00:19:16.800 --> 00:19:17.820
 transforms it

00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:18.560
 for good.

00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:21.660
 And that's why

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.300
 we can speak

00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:23.100
 with certainty

00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.080
 that whatever

00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:25.560
 comes to pass

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.159
 in our individual lives

00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:28.919
 is certain

00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:29.779
 because of God.

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.659
 And we'll return

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.519
 to that in a moment.

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.519
 Now,

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.460
 that doesn't change

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.039
 the fact that

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.720
 that's really

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.639
 stinking hard.

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.659
 But Paul means it

00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:39.379
 as a comfort

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.419
 in our lives.

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:42.119
 So why,

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.419
 then,

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.339
 do we struggle?

00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.480
 We struggle

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.859
 because maybe

00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:46.899
 we don't believe that.

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.259
 We struggle

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.960
 against sin

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.960
 in our own hearts.

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.960
 Or maybe we're

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.960
 like Alexander

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.079
 where we can slip

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.059
 into complaining

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.279
 and discontent.

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:57.379
 But when we do so,

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.240
 we deny

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.379
 a fundamental truth

00:19:59.379 --> 00:19:59.879
 of doctrine.

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.240
 We deny the fact

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.859
 that God

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.599
 is reigning

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.440
 as a king

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.919
 over all these things.

00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:06.559
 And what happens

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.220
 is we get

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:09.700
 a view of God

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.839
 that's not king,

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.559
 but he's a school janitor.

00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:13.539
 He's just kind of

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.119
 cleaning up

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:15.279
 all of our messes.

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:17.099
 That is not the view

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.539
 of God

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.619
 that Paul gives us.

00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:20.200
 The picture here

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:20.919
 is definite,

00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.200
 deliberate,

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.039
 and ordered,

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.400
 a king ruling

00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.680
 over all things

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.299
 and people.

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.160
 The second thing

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.400
 we can't forget

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.140
 is that life

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.860
 is hard.

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.420
 Circumstances

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.580
 and things that happen

00:20:35.580 --> 00:20:36.799
 are often evil

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.799
 and the result

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.400
 of sin.

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.400
 And the Christian

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.299
 life is hard.

00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:42.720
 We know that enough

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.319
 from what Paul

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.120
 has said so far.

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.880
 He struggles

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.100
 internally with sin,

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.779
 but he has a sure

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.940
 and certain hope.

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.940
 The other thing,

00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.220
 and this is really

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.480
 popular in our day,

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.039
 we often want

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.100
 to avoid sin

00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:58.019
 because we think

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.720
 if we're a Christian

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.860
 we will not suffer.

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.440
 Paul tells us

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.140
 that's not true.

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.720
 But there's this voice,

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.400
 really it's a recovery

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.320
 of this voice,

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.160
 that says suffering

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.059
 is the purpose.

00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.980
 It's kind of this recovery

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:13.019
 of this modern stoic idea.

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.400
 Suffering is not the goal.

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.539
 The goal is glory.

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:19.000
 There's some truth,

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:20.359
 some common grace truth

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.799
 in this,

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.839
 that we should work hard

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.619
 and do things like that

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.920
 in stoicism

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:27.159
 and these other voices.

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.299
 But suffering

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.299
 is not the goal.

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.139
 Paul reminds us

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.859
 the goal

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.899
 is glory.

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:35.180
 And suffering

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.019
 is transformed

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.859
 when we keep

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.759
 that in mind.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.759
 So God reigns

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.740
 over circumstances,

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.799
 transforming them

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.859
 from things

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.639
 that just seem

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.159
 random

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:46.120
 and inconvenient

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.300
 or evil.

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.060
 And Paul tells us

00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.820
 he uses them

00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:50.320
 for good.

00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:51.740
 What else

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.980
 does God reign over?

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.019
 He reigns

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.820
 over salvation.

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.740
 Now I said earlier

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.700
 that when we lift

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.040
 Romans 8.28

00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:02.420
 and the following

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.259
 verses out,

00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.600
 we often shed

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.779
 29 and 30.

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.720
 We don't put

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.660
 29 and 30

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.320
 on a calendar

00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:08.980
 in our kitchen

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.019
 and we often

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.000
 don't put that

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.380
 on a sticky note

00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.080
 on our mirror.

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:15.199
 And when we lift

00:22:15.199 --> 00:22:16.519
 it out of context,

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.199
 I love this line.

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.059
 An angry pastor

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.579
 has argued

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.439
 that we remove

00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:21.179
 the teeth

00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.139
 of this promise.

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.639
 We hold on

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.339
 to the comfort

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.399
 but it doesn't

00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.179
 feel comforting

00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:27.939
 because we don't

00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:28.799
 bring the oomph

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.339
 with it.

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.279
 The oomph

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.779
 is from 29 and 30.

00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.079
 And we neglect

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.539
 the great theology

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.659
 that should hold

00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:37.759
 us fast

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.039
 in 29.

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.439
 This is what

00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.000
 Paul says.

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.539
 For those

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.559
 whom he foreknew,

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.079
 he also predestined

00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:46.599
 to be conformed

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.299
 to the image

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.180
 of his son

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.039
 in order

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.940
 that he might

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.180
 be the firstborn.

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.039
 Now you might say

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.660
 if you got drug

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.380
 in here this morning,

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.299
 you Presbyterians,

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.140
 you Reformed people,

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.859
 you Protestants

00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.819
 are always talking

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:59.259
 about God reigning

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.400
 in predestination.

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.660
 Again,

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.980
 it's here in the text.

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.220
 Now inevitably,

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:05.920
 I won't say

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.859
 everything that there

00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.720
 is to be said

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.220
 about this verse.

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.680
 The good news is

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:13.259
 Romans 9-11 does

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.319
 and we're going

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.039
 there soon.

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.940
 This is a movie trailer.

00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:19.039
 It's a little snippet.

00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.660
 It's a teaser

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.680
 of what's to come.

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.720
 That God is working

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.100
 not just in circumstances,

00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.759
 but in the most

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.700
 important arena

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.660
 in salvation

00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.360
 of our souls

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.620
 and our own lives.

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.880
 And he begins

00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.480
 this verse

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.539
 with a reaffirmation

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:36.960
 of foreknowing.

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.359
 If you were paying

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.119
 attention to our

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.940
 Old Testament reading

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.399
 this morning,

00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.500
 we talked about

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.359
 God knowing.

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.980
 God knowing

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.460
 and God loving

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.420
 are very closely related.

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:49.039
 But what did it say

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.779
 when it talked

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.379
 about Israel?

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.879
 God didn't love them

00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:52.420
 because they were

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.220
 great and mighty.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.879
 He didn't love them

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.539
 because they would

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.700
 do the right thing.

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.339
 He loved them

00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.839
 as one has said

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.480
 even though

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.379
 they were deaf,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.720
 even though

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.519
 they were dumb,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:05.339
 and disobedient.

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.879
 It's not as if

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.259
 God looks to the future

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.759
 and says,

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.579
 man,

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.200
 you're deaf,

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.519
 dumb,

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.460
 and disobedient.

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.920
 I love you.

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.740
 And of course

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.660
 that's what he says

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:19.160
 because he loves them

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.839
 not because of

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.619
 what they've done

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.720
 or will do,

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.839
 but because of

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.079
 his action.

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.759
 We are deaf,

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.359
 we are dumb,

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.460
 and we are disobedient.

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:39.139
 God knows that

00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:40.639
 and God loves them.

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.980
 God knows that

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.680
 about us

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:44.359
 and loves us

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.940
 anyway.

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.440
 That's what he means

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.420
 by predestined.

00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.839
 Because if we're up

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.400
 to us,

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.079
 the deaf,

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.460
 dumb,

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.519
 disobedient ones,

00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.539
 we go our own way.

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.639
 We trip and fall

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.660
 over our own shoelaces

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:57.740
 in the cosmic sense,

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.720
 in the big things

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.139
 of life,

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.220
 in the little things

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.740
 of life.

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.720
 Now what is not

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.859
 meant by this verse?

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.120
 It's not meant,

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.180
 as many have done,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.460
 and many tried to do,

00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.640
 in saying that God

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:12.059
 sees all these things

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.680
 in the future

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.779
 and loves you

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.779
 because of all these

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.599
 things that you will do

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.120
 in the future.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.940
 No,

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:18.079
 he loves you

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.059
 even though

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.859
 you're all those things,

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.480
 deaf,

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.220
 dumb,

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.200
 and disobedient.

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.620
 He doesn't look forward

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.000
 and say,

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.059
 you put your faith

00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.559
 in Christ

00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.140
 and that's why

00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.640
 I love you.

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.440
 Instead,

00:25:30.040 --> 00:25:31.020
 he loves you

00:25:31.020 --> 00:25:32.080
 because he's God

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.920
 and loves you

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:34.400
 and knows you.

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.320
 He doesn't look forward

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:39.020
 and say,

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.400
 on account of your faith,

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:43.040
 because you chose him.

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.240
 No,

00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:44.840
 that's not what

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.620
 this verse says.

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:47.640
 There have been many

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.920
 who've tried to do justice

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:49.759
 to that idea

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.100
 by kind of reworking

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.720
 the language.

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.500
 And this is really clear.

00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.480
 And it's really clear

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.160
 because if we're up to Paul

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.059
 or up to you

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.940
 or up to me,

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.099
 we would fail.

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.980
 Unless we think

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:06.680
 in this broader context,

00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.860
 Paul is talking about

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.640
 the certainty

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.779
 that's secured

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.900
 by God himself

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.640
 of this future glory.

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.819
 The future glory

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.180
 that transforms us

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.940
 from this earthly body

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.799
 into one

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:20.259
 that is like

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.559
 the image of his son.

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.079
 That's what he says.

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:25.299
 that Christ might have

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.199
 many brothers.

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.079
 The firstborn

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.879
 of many brothers.

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:31.099
 It's secured by Christ

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.980
 and we're transformed

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.899
 to look like Christ.

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.559
 That's the driving point

00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.339
 of verse 29.

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.480
 That's the driving point

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.279
 of Romans 8.

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.059
 That there's a future glory

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.679
 that's coming

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:42.000
 that's been secured

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.240
 by God himself.

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.939
 And it doesn't depend

00:26:44.939 --> 00:26:46.199
 upon you

00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:47.279
 because

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.059
 you're not really trustworthy.

00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.859
 I'm not really trustworthy.

00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:53.479
 because I often love sin

00:26:53.479 --> 00:26:54.679
 more than I love

00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.579
 Christ.

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:59.219
 But what greater privilege

00:26:59.219 --> 00:26:59.659
 is that

00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.859
 to be counted

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.579
 as brother

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.719
 to Christ?

00:27:03.719 --> 00:27:04.659
 Think about that.

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.479
 The great hope

00:27:06.479 --> 00:27:07.319
 that we have.

00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:09.579
 The certain hope

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:11.399
 that will be transformed

00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.799
 into the image

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.399
 of his son

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:14.439
 has been secured

00:27:14.439 --> 00:27:15.719
 by God himself.

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:20.500
 It's not simply

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.559
 God moving

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.700
 as a first mover

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.600
 in the transformation

00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:24.539
 of his children

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.680
 and then we pick it up

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.720
 all along.

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.759
 What does he say?

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:30.079
 In verse 30.

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.380
 And those whom

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.259
 he predestined

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.720
 he also called.

00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.539
 And those whom

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.059
 he called

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.039
 he also justified.

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.140
 And those whom

00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:37.920
 he justified

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.980
 he also glorified.

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.420
 It begins

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.360
 at his choosing

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:44.139
 and then he calls

00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.539
 not like on the phone

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.179
 for a call

00:27:46.179 --> 00:27:47.159
 that we can dismiss.

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.759
 But he beckons us

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.439
 from death

00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:51.119
 to life.

00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.819
 What he starts

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:54.019
 he completes

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.939
 and it lands

00:27:54.939 --> 00:27:56.479
 at glorification

00:27:56.479 --> 00:27:58.279
 being made perfect.

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.099
 No more sin.

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.299
 No more darkness.

00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.379
 No more sadness.

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.279
 If you notice

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.259
 in all of this

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.579
 who does it depend on?

00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:08.619
 Not you.

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.240
 Not me.

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.519
 Not our neighbor.

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.779
 But it depends

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.460
 on God.

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.400
 All of this.

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.519
 God is the one

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.579
 who's doing the work.

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.440
 He predestined.

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.839
 He called.

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.259
 He justified.

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:24.819
 He glorified.

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.920
 That's an important

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.940
 reminder for us

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.740
 that our lives

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.660
 are not really

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.539
 about us.

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.420
 It's about God.

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.400
 And a story

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.059
 of salvation

00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:36.099
 is no different.

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.319
 That he is the one

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:38.019
 walking out

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.700
 these purposes.

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.779
 Because if it were

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.379
 up to us

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.160
 we would fail.

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.420
 my life

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.339
 my salvation

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:46.119
 is not about me.

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.740
 Your life

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.940
 is not about you.

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.039
 It's about God.

00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.240
 The most important

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.500
 things in our lives

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.200
 the most important

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.759
 thing

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.779
 is God

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.279
 and the work

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.160
 that he's doing.

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.400
 Now Paul

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.220
 is not saying

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.619
 this as a corrective.

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.099
 It's really important

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.400
 here.

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.420
 He's saying it

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.279
 as a comfort.

00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:08.660
 As a reminder

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.460
 of the hope

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.700
 that we should have.

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.840
 Because when we

00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.819
 deny this

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.740
 and we think

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.519
 back to Romans

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.100
 8 28

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.000
 and we don't

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.640
 have God

00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.519
 as reignings

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.580
 sovereignly

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.519
 over circumstances

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.740
 in our salvation

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.900
 everything that

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.920
 we walk through

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.819
 becomes

00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:25.420
 not just a trial

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.920
 but a double trial.

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.019
 We're wrestling

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.940
 with did I make

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.860
 a mistake here?

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.539
 Yes you made a mistake.

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:33.140
 That always the answer.

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.759
 But should I have

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.279
 done something

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.740
 differently?

00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.920
 Did I mess up

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.660
 God's plan?

00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:39.600
 No!

00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:43.220
 God reigns supreme

00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:44.779
 and when we lose

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.539
 sight of that

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.100
 we kind of

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.480
 lose sight

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.140
 of all

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.019
 of these things.

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.039
 But God

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.860
 has promised

00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:54.140
 to us

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.320
 he's called

00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:55.940
 each of us

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.900
 to worship him

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:58.220
 and follow him

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.860
 in faith

00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.880
 in the midst

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.840
 of circumstances

00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:02.539
 that he's

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.319
 working together

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.399
 for our

00:30:04.399 --> 00:30:04.859
 good

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.919
 his glory

00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:08.240
 but he provides

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.980
 us comfort

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.839
 in the midst

00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.379
 of that.

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.619
 Comfort

00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.619
 because he

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.539
 has secured

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.699
 that future

00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.279
 glory.

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.459
 That's the

00:30:16.459 --> 00:30:17.179
 reminder he

00:30:17.179 --> 00:30:17.859
 gives us.

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.379
 Often

00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:21.879
 in our worship

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:22.519
 we remind

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.199
 our hearts

00:30:23.199 --> 00:30:24.039
 with the words

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:25.000
 of not

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.599
 the shorter

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.199
 catechism

00:30:26.199 --> 00:30:26.480
 but the

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.859
 Heidelberg

00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.480
 catechism

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.639
 and ask this

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.099
 question

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.939
 what is your

00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.799
 only comfort

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.459
 in life

00:30:31.459 --> 00:30:32.179
 and in death

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:33.559
 that I am

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.199
 not my own

00:30:34.199 --> 00:30:35.339
 but belong

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.559
 body and soul

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.219
 in life

00:30:37.219 --> 00:30:38.000
 and in death

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.539
 to my faithful

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.399
 Savior Jesus

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:40.939
 Christ.

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.519
 He has fully

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.379
 paid for all

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:43.939
 my sins

00:30:43.939 --> 00:30:44.319
 with his

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.159
 precious blood

00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:46.299
 and has set

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.939
 me free

00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:47.419
 from the

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:47.919
 tyranny

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.639
 of the devil

00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:50.299
 and he watches

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.740
 over me

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.619
 in such a way

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:53.899
 that not a hair

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:54.459
 can fall

00:30:54.459 --> 00:30:55.240
 from my head

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.740
 without the will

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.639
 of my Father

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.319
 in heaven

00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:59.579
 in fact

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.679
 all things

00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:01.460
 must work

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.919
 together

00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.799
 for my

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.379
 salvation.

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.659
 God reigns

00:31:05.659 --> 00:31:07.259
 and he reigns

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.539
 now.

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.419
 Let's pray.

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.379
 Lord we're

00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:11.980
 thankful for

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.500
 the reminder

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.379
 from your word

00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.240
 even when things

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.899
 are difficult

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.859
 that you're

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.599
 working all

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:18.839
 things together

00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.519
 for good

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.359
 for those

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.960
 that are called

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.720
 according to

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:23.700
 your purposes

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:25.140
 Father

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.920
 me remind

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.519
 our hearts

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.059
 in the midst

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:28.819
 of discomfort

00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.900
 in the midst

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.660
 of trial

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.559
 and suffering

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.259
 that I

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:33.220
 have

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.220


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00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.740
 have

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.759
 that I

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.039
 have

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.759
 that I

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