Well, good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in Romans chapter 8.
!
Romans 8, 28-30. Let's briefly put our attention on verses 26 and 27 and then we will press on.
Our third point for last week's sermon was, the Spirit groans for glory.
Verse 26 and 27 say,
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
So verse 26 begins,
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
Paul says,
Likewise, just like the creation groans for glory,
which was the first point, verses 19-22,
and Christians groan for glory, verses 23-27,
the Spirit groans for glory as a help to us in our present weakened state.
God the Spirit, with groanings too deep for words,
prays to God the Father on our behalf.
The communication between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit,
and the need for their communication is a grand mystery for us.
But it happens nonetheless.
And Paul is communicating something of this mystery to us here for our comfort.
For the Christian, those who hope for what we do not see,
verse 25, namely, our adoption as Son,
the redemption of our bodies,
this thing we call our glorification,
we wait for it with patience,
by the power of the Spirit who intercedes for us,
when we don't know what to pray,
and He always, as God,
prays according to the will of God.
So we can be sure that the intercessions of the Spirit
are answered with the power and presence of our Trinitarian God.
Now, this is as brief as I think I can be concerning these two verses,
and maintain faithfulness to the great comfort that they should bring us.
But that is the point.
That is where Paul has been driving us to,
as we live in the in-between,
the already and the not yet.
The Spirit groans for glory,
our glory,
and He groans on our behalf.
So don't underestimate the significance of this truth.
Whether you feel it to be true,
or experience it to be true,
if you are in Christ,
it is true.
The Spirit of God
prays for your hopeful,
patient perseverance
in the faith.
We have such an advocate with us
as we live in these days.
Which brings us
to today's text.
I'm sorry if that was too brief for you,
but I really want to spend some time
on verses 28 through 30.
So before I read it,
let me remind you, beloved,
that this is God's Word to us.
It was written for His glory
and our good.
And so we would all do well
to listen to it
in order to believe its promises
and obey its commands.
And we know
that for those who love God,
all things work together for good
for those who are called
according to His purpose.
For those whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to be conformed
to the image of His Son
in order that He might be
the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom He predestined,
He also called.
And those whom He called,
He also justified.
And those whom He justified,
He also glorified.
Now Paul begins verse 28
with the phrase,
And we know.
We join with creation
and the Spirit
in groaning for glory
with hope and patience.
And then Paul says,
And we know.
Every other world religion
sets the locus of salvation
on the adherent,
their devotion,
their affections,
their works.
Christianity is altogether different.
If you are a Christian,
then you place all of your confidence
not on yourself,
but on God's gracious working
on your behalf.
We are saved by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in the personal work
of Jesus Christ alone.
What is it that we know?
Let's consider this confidence
that Paul says we have.
This confident knowledge
in the following three points
that emerge from today's text.
So, number one,
we'll consider our confidence
in God's providence.
Number two,
our confidence in God's purpose.
And number three,
our confidence in God's plan.
Bonus points for alliteration
this morning.
Number one,
our confidence in God's providence
we see in verse 28.
Right?
And we know
that for those who love God,
all things work together
for good.
Before I say anything
on this point,
I want to first define
the word providence.
It's likely a word
that you have heard before.
It's not a word
that we find in our text,
although it's an idea
that is found here.
Providence is God's
purposeful sovereignty.
God is sovereign,
which means that
he is the ruler of everything
and that he possesses
the power to rule
over everything.
It's a statement of him
as a being.
God is sovereign.
Job expresses this reality
in Job 42.2
where he says,
I know you can do all things
and that no purpose of yours
can be thwarted.
There's the sovereignty of God.
I know that you can do all things
and that no purpose,
now here's his sovereignty
in action,
in providence,
can do no purpose of yours,
can be thwarted.
God powerfully reigns.
He is sovereign.
And in verse 28,
we see God's sovereignty
expressed providentially.
It has purpose.
Right?
It's not aimless,
but it is aimed at
something
for
a people.
God's providence
is always
active
on behalf
of his people.
Notice that Paul
qualifies in this verse
a particular
people.
It's
those
who
love
God.
In verse 23,
he called Christians
those who have
the first fruits
of the Spirit.
Here he says,
those who love God.
If we can recall
all that Paul has said
in this letter thus far,
this phrase
should not surprise us,
although it may
because it's been a while
since we've studied
the rest
of the letter.
In Romans chapter 5,
verse 10 and 11,
Paul says,
says,
if while we were
enemies,
we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son,
much more now that we are
reconciled shall we be saved
by his life.
More than that,
we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now
received
reconciliation.
You see there,
this idea,
we who were once
haters of God,
his enemies,
have,
by Jesus' death
and life,
been made
those who rejoice
in God,
those who love
him.
I hope and pray
this morning
that you are
one of those
who love God,
that his character
and his ways
are desirous
to you.
You have affections
for God.
I hope and pray
this morning
that you have
the confidence
to say,
and we know,
because what we know
is a precious,
precious truth.
It's an incredible
thing to know
all things
work together
for good.
Now,
Paul does not say
that all things
are good,
but he is saying
unequivocally
that God
providentially
accomplishes
his purpose
through the means
of all things.
And this is a
comprehensive
statement.
When Paul says
all things,
he means
all things.
And we need
not question
this.
And we know
all things
work together
for good.
If you are
a Christian
and anything
and everything
that happens
in your life
is being used
of God
for your
good.
All of
the joys,
the sorrows,
the pain,
the tragedy,
all of the
positive
prognoses,
all of the
negative
prognoses,
all of the
successes,
all of the
failures,
all of the
gains,
all of the
losses,
all things.
Let's not
forget that
God is
working good
in the good
matters of our
lives.
We are really
ready to
forget that.
But this
truth finds its
particular comfort
in the troubling
matters of our
lives.
That's where
we find
Paul's mind,
right,
considering the
trouble that this
life will bring
us as followers
of Jesus
Christ.
I want to
read to you a
hymn that you
may be familiar
with called
God Moves
in Mysterious
Ways.
It's a hymn
about providence.
It was written
by a man named
William Calper,
an 18th century
British poet,
a joy to read,
I commend him
to you,
and a man
who dealt
with chronic
depression the
entirety of his
life,
wrestled often
with the
assurance of
his faith.
I know that
he attempted
suicide at
least once.
Depending on
who you read,
there may have
been some
other occasions
for it.
And he
penned this,
it happens to
be in your
hymnals,
hymn number
88, if you
care to look
at it now or
at some other
time.
Listen to what
he wrote.
God moves
in a mysterious
way, his
wonders to
perform.
He plants
his footsteps
in the sea
and rides
upon the
storm.
Deep and
unfathomable
minds of
never-failing
skill, he
treasures up
his bright
designs and
works his
sovereign will.
Ye fearful
saints, fresh
courage take
the clouds
ye so much
dread, are
big with
mercy and
shall break
in blessings
on your head.
Judge not the
Lord by feeble
sense, but
trust him for
his grace.
Behind a
frowning
providence, he
hides a
smiling face.
His purposes
will ripen
fast, unfolding
every hour.
The bud may
have a bitter
taste, but
sweet will be
the flower.
Blind
unbelief is
sure to
err and
scan his
work in
vain.
God is
his own
interpreter, and
he will
make it
plain.
God
sovereignly,
providentially
works for
our good
in all
things.
Remember
that Paul at
the end of
chapter 7 has
expressed anguish
in his battle
against his
flesh.
He has
acknowledged that
we will suffer
in this life
in chapter 8
and verse
17.
He has
given to us
perspective in
chapter 8
and verse 18
where he
says,
For I
consider that
the sufferings
of this
present time
are not
worth comparing
with the
glory that
is to be
revealed to
us.
He's going
on to talk
about the
groaning of
creation and
ourselves and
the spirit
longing for
all things
to be made
new.
And now
he gives
to us this
confident
comfort in
verse 28.
all things
work together
for good.
But what
is this
good?
Some people
use this
idea as a
pleasant
platitude that
leaves people
guessing at
what the
good might
be.
Kind of
floated out
there.
Well, God
uses things
for good and
then we spend
time looking
for the good
whether we're
in the midst
of the
suffering or
we try to
look back
on the
suffering and
often it's
hard to
find.
Paul doesn't
leave us
wondering.
He doesn't
leave us
guessing.
He again
qualifies the
recipients of
God's providence
as those who
are called
according to
his purpose.
What purpose?
If we're
reading carefully,
this purpose
must be the
good that he's
referring to
and we
don't need to
guess at what
God is doing
providentially for
his people.
So we have a
confidence in
God's providence.
We also see
secondly our
confidence in
God's purpose.
Notice this in
the last half of
verse 29.
He said,
those who
before knew,
he also
predestined,
what?
This is the
purpose,
to be
conformed to
the image
of his
Son in
order that
he, the
Son, Jesus
Christ, might
be the
firstborn among
many brothers.
What is
God's purpose
as he works
providentially in
our lives?
That we
would look
more and
more like
Christ to
the praise
of Christ.
Note with
me the
phrase to
be conformed
to the
image of
his Son.
God says
to Israel
in Leviticus
19 and
verse 2,
you shall
be holy
for I,
the Lord,
your God,
am holy.
And the
law emanates
from this,
showing us
what it
means to
be holy.
It's
something that's
asked of
God's
people.
Peter cites
this verse
in 1 Peter
chapter 1
and verse
16 to
make the
very same
point.
We are
to be
like God
in holiness,
but how
is this
possible?
By being
conformed
to the
image of
his Son
who is
God.
The author
of Hebrews
in chapter
1 verse
3 says,
Jesus is
the radiance
of the glory
of God
and the
exact
imprint
of his
nature.
Progressively
becoming
like Jesus
by the
power
of the
Spirit.
This is
how we
keep this
command.
You can
note
chapter 8
verses 2
through 11
is all
about this
active
sanctifying
process
in our
lives,
moving us
from one
degree to
another
of glory,
of holiness.
So God
providentially
uses all
things in
our lives
to bring
about our
holiness.
This is
the point.
This is
what he's
at work
doing.
This is
that purpose
that Paul
refers to.
He is
persistently
pressing
in this
direction
because he
loves us
and he
means for
our lives
to glorify
him.
It is
his
providential
purpose in
your life
if you
belong to
him and
he will
not fail
to accomplish
his purpose
for you.
I hope
we can
join with
Paul
this text
and elsewhere
like Philippians
chapter 1
and verse 6
where he
writes to
the Philippian
Christians,
I am sure
of this,
that he
who began
a good
work in
you
will bring
it to
completion
at the
day
of Jesus
Christ.
He says
there,
I am
confident
and I
know
that he
who began
the work
will
definitely
complete
the work.
But the
high aim
of your
Christlikeness
is not
ultimately
you.
You
certainly
receive
benefit
as you
grow
in
holiness.
But notice
the higher
point that's
going on
here.
In order
that
Jesus
might be
the firstborn
among
many
brothers.
Firstborn
is used
figuratively
here to
refer to
the position
of
privilege,
preeminence,
or supremacy.
Commonly
used in
this way
in the
scripture.
So,
we are to
look more
like Christ
in order
that Christ
might be
privileged,
preeminent,
supreme.
Another
place,
Paul writes
this,
Colossians
chapter 1
verse 15
and following
Jesus
Christ
is the
image
of the
invisible
God,
the
firstborn
of all
creation.
Certainly
Paul doesn't
mean there
that he
was
created,
no.
He's
preeminent,
he's
supreme,
he's
privileged
above
all
creation.
For
by him
all
things
were
created
in
heaven
and
on
earth
visible
and
invisible
whether
thrones
or
dominions
or
rulers
or
authorities
all
things
were
created
through
him
and
for
him
including
us.
And
he
is
before
all
things
and
in
him
all
things
hold
together
and
he
is
the
head
of
the
body
the
church
he
is
the
beginning
the
firstborn
from
the
dead
that
in
everything
he
might
be
preeminent
for
in
him
all
the
fullness
of
God
was
pleased
to
dwell
and
through
him
to
reconcile
to
himself
all
things
whether
on
earth
or
in
heaven
making
peace
by
the
blood
of
his
cross
so
we
are
to
be
conformed
to
the
image
of
a
son
so
that
Christ
will
be
magnified
so
God
works
all
things
together
for
good
the
good
that
we
would
look
more
and
more
like
Christ
to
the
praise
of
Christ
what
an
absolute
comfort
this
is
we
have
our
perspective
aimed
where it
needs
to be
right
when
we're
thinking
rightly
everything
that
comes
our
way
all
of
the
troubles
of
this
life
are
meant
to
bring
about
a
greater
good
for
us
to
the
glory
of
Christ
this
momentary
life
right
this
present
momentary
suffering
that's
not even
worth
comparing
with
the
glory
that
is
to
be
revealed
to
us
when
all
of
the
details
of
this
difficult
life
press
down
on
you
will
need
this
comfort
perhaps
you
have
already
needed
it
perhaps
you
need
it
now
I
guarantee
in
your
life
you
will
need
it
press
on
in
pursuit
of
Jesus
Christ
you
will
suffer
in
this
world
what
do
we
do
when
we
suffer
we
need
a
robust
theology
of
suffering
and we
found
such
richness
here
in
Romans
8
for
those
times
I'm
grateful
across
the
years
just
by
grace
becoming
committed
to
verse
by
verse
exposition
of
the
Bible
working
through
and
seeing
people
sent
out
from
here
going
places
getting
terribly
ill
overseas
coming
back
to
us
suffering
great
loss
and
having
people
say
thank
you
for
teaching
me
to
suffer
and
don't
think
that I've
suffered
in the
way
that
many
people
have
suffered
and
so
you
ask
the
question
well
how
have
I
done
that
and
it's
just
that
we've
taught
the
Bible
and the
Bible
teaches
us
how to
suffer
and to
suffer
well
J.I.
Packer
once said
this is
on the back
of your
bulletin
this morning
if you
ask
why is
this
happening
no light
may come
and I just
want to
insert
at that
point
I think
specifically
why is
this
happening
is what
he means
why is
this
happening
no light
may come
but if
you ask
how
am I
to
glorify
God
now
there
will
always
be
an
answer
so
we
have
reason
to
have
confidence
in
God's
providence
and
confidence
in
God's
purpose
working
all
things
that
we
would
look
more
like
Christ
for
the
praise
of
Christ
and
we
should
have
confidence
in
God's
plan
so
we'll
see
this
at
the
beginning
of
verse
29
as
well
as
verse
30
verse
29
the
first half
says
for
those
whom
he
foreknew
he
also
predestined
goes on
to say
to be
conformed
to the
image
of a
son
and
verse
30
and
those
whom
he
predestined
he
also
called
and
those
whom
he
called
he
also
justified
and
those
whom
he
justified
he
also
glorified
now
there
are
some
hot
words
in
these
two
verses
they're
words
that
many
pastors
don't
touch
too
hot
to
handle
words
that
have
been
highly
contested
vastly
ignored
and
grossly
misunderstood
before
I
proceed
to tell
you
that
the
words
foreknew
and
predestined
mean
just
that
I
want
to fix
your
attention
on
why
Paul
is
using
these
words
to
communicate
these
truths
as we
study
the
Bible
we
have
to
study
the
Bible
in
its
context
it's
altogether
possible
to
believe
something
to be
true
and
to
believe
it
wrongly
it's
also
very
possible
to
see
something
taught
and
because
you
can't
reconcile
it
with
other
things
to
reject
it
as
true
so
the
context
always
matters
greatly
Paul
here
is
not
trying
to
pick
a
theological
fight
he
is
not
working
to
open
up
some
soteriological
debate
in fact
he
is
going
to
spend
chapters
9
10
and
11
working
out
the
implications
and
answering
the
objections
to
the
truth
stated
in
verses
29
through
30
there's
a lot
of
ink
spent
on
the
thing
that
he's
saying
right
here
in
verse
29
and
verse
30
he
is
going
to
go
to
great
effort
to
defend
these
doctrines
why
contextually
just think
for a
moment
why
why is
he
pressing
these
truths
God's
sovereignty
in our
salvation
to the
forefront
right now
it's because
he wants
to root
our
confidence
in our
future
glory
in
God's
plan
God's
word
and so
we can't
ignore
what it
says
we
can't
just
pass
over
it
because
it
makes
us
uncomfortable
it's
not
there
for
that
it's
there
for
our
comfort
and so
Paul
says
for
those
whom
he
foreknew
he
also
predestined
another
place
he says
it
this
way
Ephesians
chapter
1
and
verse
4
the
father
chose
us
in
the
son
before
the
foundation
of
the
world
that
we
should
be
holy
and
blameless
before
him
this
word
foreknew
is a
compound
word
that
means
more
than
simply
knowing
something
before
on
its
surface
that's
what
it
seems
to
be
communicating
but
it's
more
than
that
because
the
Bible
uses
the
idea
of
knowing
someone
in
terms
of
special
intimacy
Paul's
picking
up
that
language
in
this
compound
word
right
an
example
Old
Testament
Genesis
4
and
verse
17
Adam
knew
his
wife
Eve
they
became
one
flesh
right
elsewhere
Matthew
New
Testament
example
chapter
1
and
verse
25
right
Mary
became
pregnant
having
not
been
known
right
loving
intimacy
Paul
is saying
that God
has a
predetermined
love
for those
he plans
to call
his
own
and
this
is a
vast
truth
and it
is one
that should
be altogether
humbling
!
and bring
about
great
gratitude
for God's
loving kindness
towards people
who deserve
hell
who have
been his
enemies
who have
no good
possession
of
ourselves
and yet
God
in his
loving
kindness
has
saved
us
those
he
foreknew
he
also
predestined
and this
word means
to mark
out a
point
or determine
beforehand
the result
for every
person
who belongs
to God
so he
foreknew
us
and he
set us
on a
course
right
a
definitive
result
that would
come to
pass
in our
lives
it is
not
possible
to dance
around the
meanings
of these
words
and stay
faithful
to the
text
I know
they raise
a ton
of
questions
Paul
knows
that they
raise
a ton
of
questions
and they
are
questions
that should
be
wrestled
with
for sure
we should
ask the
questions
and we
should
go to
the text
to find
the answer
to the
questions
and we
should
settle
in
when all
of the
complexity
doesn't
quite
get
solved
for us
I hope
that you
will
engage
with
Paul
as we
study
the
next
three
chapters
it will
take
some
time
to be
sure
in the
meantime
I hope
you ask
lots
of
questions
we can
talk
much
about
this
but
we
cannot
deny
that if
we are
to have
the
confidence
that Paul
here
states
we are
to
have
then we
must
be
confident
in
God's
plan
beloved
this
is a
pillow
for your
weary soul
to rest
upon
you find
yourself
living
in the
tension
of this
world
the already
and the
not yet
as you
suffer for
the name
of Christ
as you
battle
against
your
flesh
you
need
to know
that God
will finish
what he
started
it
depends
on
you
very
little
it
depends
greatly
on
him
you
will
not
weather
well
the
storms
this
life
will
assail
you
with
apart
from
an
anchored
confidence
in
all
that
God
has
guaranteed
for
you
in
the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
Christ
for
as
many
people
as
have
rejected
these
truths
and
been
angry
at
me
in
the
process
I
will
not
grow
tired
of
continuing
to
proclaim
them
for
those
who
will
believe
and
find
the
comfort
found
in
them
I
love
you
too
much
to
not
be
clear
about
what
the
scripture
says
about
God's
plan
in
your
life
so
I
just
won't
I
have
nothing
novel
to
say
there's
a lot
of
novelty
out
there
a lot
of
people
trying
to
dance
with
these
kinds
of
theological
concepts
we
do
well
to
look
to
the
church
of
the
past
to
see
what
they
believed
about
these
things
to
deal
with
the
text
plainly
as
God's
word
and
understand
why
might
we
be
taught
these
big
and
grand
truths
so
that
we
would
be
comforted
and
so
that
we
have
a
place
to
rest
in
the
mighty
hand
of
our
God
verse
30
says
those
whom
he
predestined
he
also
called
so
prior
to
the
foundation
of
the
world
he
had
knowledge
of
a
people
and
he
set
them
on
a
course
and
then
and
then
he
called
them
he
actually
did
the
work
of
calling
them
each
and
every
one
of
you
if
you
are
in
Christ
you
were
called
the
spirit
of
God
made
Christ
work
on
your
behalf
effectual
in
your
life
it's
a
doctrine
we
call
irresistible
grace
he
took
you
from
spiritual
death
to
spiritual
life
and
he
caused
you
to
believe
he
gave
you
that
gift
of
faith
that
Paul
talks
about
in
Ephesians
chapter
through
that
we
might
be
saved
through
it
John
chapter
15
verse
16
Jesus
says
you
did
not
choose
me
but I
chose
you
and
appointed
you
that
you
should
go
and
bear
fruit
altogether
humbling
we
sing a
song
out of an
old
Baptist
seminal
sadly
not in
our
current
Baptist
seminal
but in
an old
Baptist
seminal
called
my
Lord
I
did
not
choose
you
and
I
think
it
makes
some
people
really
uncomfortable
to sing
that
song
but
guess
what
the
words
of
Jesus
you've
got to
do
something
with
it
right
Jesus
says
matter
of factly
you
do not
choose
me
but I
chose
you
and
appointed
you
that
you
should
go
and
bear
fruit
the
response
to such
a thing
should
be
why
me
Lord
wretched
man
that I
am
why
me
it's
because
of his
loving
kindness
he desires
to express
in his
people
and see
his
people
come
to
Christ
likeness
that
Christ
would
be
honored
and
those
whom
he
called
he
also
justified
he
accomplished
the
saving
work
justified
by
grace
alone
through
faith
alone
in
Christ
alone
if you
look at
how
the
trinitarian
God
is
active
in
this
process
God
the
father
foreknew
and
predestined
Christ
completed
that
work
in
his
death
and
his
resurrection
and
the
spirit
makes
it
effectual
in
the
lives
of
all
who
believe
in
him
justified
by
grace
alone
through
faith
alone
in
Christ
alone
Romans
chapter
4
verse
4
and
5
now
to
the
one
who
works
his
wages
are not
counted
as a
gift
but as
his
due
and
to
the
one
who
does
not
work
but
believes
in
him
who
justifies
the
ungodly
his
faith
is
counted
as
righteousness
and
those
back to
verse
30
whom
he
justified
he
also
glorified
now remember
earlier in
chapter 8
we're
longing
for this
glorification
we're
longing
for
glory
that's
to be
revealed
to us
we're
longing
for
the
adoption
as
sons
and
this
renewal
of
our
bodies
but
here
Paul
states
it
as
a
completed
work
already
accomplished
by
Christ
remember
he's
comforting
us
yes
this
life
will be
a
challenge
you
will
suffer
inside
and
outside
but
guess
what
God
will
complete
the
work
that
he
began
these
verses
are
all
about
God's
unstoppable
plan
to
pursue
his
people
to
the
end
and
this
text
is
contained
a
brief
order
of
salvation
the
main
point
of
which
is
that
God
acts
God
accomplishes
God
maintains
and
this
should
be a
great
comfort
to
us
so
our
confidence
God
providence
is
seen
in
this
text
and
our
confidence
in
God's
purpose
and
our
confidence
in
God's
plan
and I
hope
that you
share
in that
confidence
with me
this
morning
now
because I
just don't
know where
all of you
stand as
we read
these verses
and what
you understand
to be
true in
your
bulletin
and for
our
response
of
reading
this
morning
we
ask the
question
what do
we believe
about
God's
purpose
of
grace
and the
answer
to that
is
found
there
in
your
bulletin
this
is
from
our
current
statement
of
faith
and
this
answer
is
found
it's
borrowed
from
the
New
Hampshire
confession
of
1833
nothing
new
and novel
here
what did
those
Christians
believe
about
God's
purpose
of
grace
and
accompanied
!
with
it
is
roughly
50
references
!
if I
did a
quick
count
of
them
so
I
want
you
to
see
that
you
have
a
concise
statement
here
that
is
worth
your
consideration
and
your
study
you
may
not
be
able
to
wait
as
we
work
through
the
next
three
chapters
so
I'm
going
to
read
that
for
you
and
I
just
want
you
to
hear
it
and
I
want
you
to
perhaps
follow
along
and
I
want
you
to
consider
doing
some
study
on
your
own
as
you're
considering
these
things
we
believe
that
election
is the
eternal
purpose
of
God
according
to
which
he
graciously
regenerates
sanctifies
and saves
sinners
that
being
perfectly
consistent
with
the
free
agency
of
man
it
comprehends
all
the
means
in
connection
with
the
end
that
it
is
a
most
glorious
display
of
God's
sovereign
goodness
being
infinitely
free
wise
holy
and
unchangeable
that
it
utterly
excludes
boasting
and
promotes
humility
love
prayer
praise
trust
in
God
and
active
imitation
of
his
free
mercy
that
it
encourages
the
use
of
means
in
the
highest
degree
that
it
may
be
ascertained
by
its
effects
and
all
who
truly
believe
the
gospel
that
it
is
the
foundation
of
Christian
assurance
and
that
to
ascertain
it
with
regard
to
ourselves
demands
and
deserves
the
utmost
diligence
I would
draw your
attention
to a
phrase
toward
the end
there
that says
it is
the
foundation
God's
eternal
purpose
and
salvation
the
foundation
of
Christian
assurance
our
confidence
sits
upon
God's
sovereign
plan
for our
lives
so
I
hope
you'll
consider
it
and
wrestle
with
it
and
believe
it
in
closing
I want
to
read
to
you
the
rest
of
the
chapter
it's
very
difficult
to
stop
at
verse
30
and
not
go
on
and
Lord
willing
we'll
consider
these
verses
further
Christmas
eve
morning
Paul
says
this
what
then
shall
we
say
to
these
things
what's
he
talking
about
verse
29
and
30
what
then
shall
we
say
to
these
things
if
God
is
for
us
who
can
be
against
us
he
who
did
not
spare
his
own
son
but
gave
him
up
for
us
all
how
will
he
not
also
with
him
graciously
give
us
all
things
who
shall
bring
any
charge
against
God's
elect
it
is
!
God
who
is
to
condemn
Christ
Jesus
is
the
one
who
died
more
than
that
who
was
raised
was
at
the
right
hand
of
God
who
indeed
is
interceding
for
us
who
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ
shall
tribulation
or
distress
or
persecution
or
famine
or
nakedness
or
danger
or
sword
as
it
is
written
for
your
sake
we
are
being
killed
all
the
day
long
we
are
regarded
as
sheep
to
be
slaughtered
no
in
all
these
things
we
are
more
than
conquerors
through
him
who
loved
us
for
I
am
sure
that
neither
death
nor
life
nor
angels
nor
rulers
nor
things
present
nor
things
to
come
nor
powers
nor
height
nor
depth
nor
anything
else
in
all
creation
will
be
able
to
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
let's
pray
together