“ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD…” (Outline)
January 22, 2023 – Epiphany 3 – ROMANS 8:24-30
INTRO: What a blessing to know when our loving, heavenly Father makes promises the Lord God always keeps his promises. This is the powerful truth in our sermon text. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he changes his mind. Does he say something, and then not carry it out? Does he speak, and then not bring it about?” (NUMBERS 23:19). “ALLTHINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD...” = God’s promise that he fulfills. I. We patiently endure. II. We are freely justified.
I. ALL THINGS WORK…WE PATIENTLY ENDURE.
A. Verse 24. The faith of those who follow Christ is one of hope. Much more than an earthly hope.
1. This verse speaks of an eternal hope. Divine certainty. It is unseen. But it is real. Faith.
2. Believers in Rome would soon face persecution. All earthly hopes would be dashed.
B. Verse 25. The Lord wanted these believers to focus attention in the hope that came by faith.
1. God provided hope for them in the present. Faith eagerly looked to God’s future hope.
2. These believers would learn patient endurance in their persecutions. God’s gifts by faith.
C. Verse 26. “…the Spirit helps in our weakness.” Lord did not abandon these early Christians.
1. Verse 27. Spirit would intercede for the believers. Plead their case before God’s throne.
2. Roman government rejected Christians. God did not. Faith to believe. Pray. Endure.
D. The Lord uses the example of contrasts to help us understand his truth. Those things we see are not eternal. They do not last. All too often we put our hope in the things of this world. We spend our lives trying to make our lives secure with the worldly. Money. Success. Glory. They do not satisfy our dreams. Expectations. Hopes. Only the Lord God of Armies is able to fulfill our souls’ innermost needs. We can be and are sure that what the Lord promises he makes happen. How do we know this? “Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see…By faith we know that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what is seen did not come from visible things” (HEBREWS 11:1, 3). The Lord created everything by his word. His word is our sure hope that strengthens us.
E. We do face difficulties in our lives. Challenges arise. Problems present themselves. There may be times in our lives when we question the Lord. His wisdom for us. His love for us. It is a question we hear, “How can a loving God…?” People wonder what is happening when things do not go their way. “ALL things work together…” Struggles come and go. We know the Lord delivers us. Time and again. Our faith grows. “…you know that the testing of your faith produces patient endurance. And let patient endurance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (JAMES 1:3, 4).
F. The Lord does not abandon us. Our loving, heavenly Father is always with us. Helps us. Strengthens us. Day after day. Decade after decade. Right into eternity. We can reach out to the Lord anytime. Anywhere. With everything and anything. This is what the Creator of the heavens and earth wants us to do. “At every opportunity, pray in the Spirit with every kind of prayer and petition. Stay alert for the same reason, always persevering in your intercession for all the saints” (EPHESIANS 6:18). Prayer is our direct access with God. Whenever we may be at a loss for words, the Holy Spirit presents our requests to God. The Lord knows and hears our prayers even before we speak the words. We pray in the Spirit, by faith, for all believers. We want to keep on praying for others. Many in this world are being persecuted. Suffering. Pray for them. Pray some more. Others will be praying for you.
“ALL THINGS WORK FOR THE GOOD…” By faith we can, do, and will patiently endure.
II. ALL THING WORK…WE ARE FREELY JUSTIFIED.
A. Verse 28. Remember these believers in Rome would soon face terrible persecution.
1. “We know…” More than think. Or guess. Or suppose. KNOW!
2. “…all things work for the good...” Not a few things. Or some. Or many. ALL THINGS!
3. All things would work for the good for those who love God. God’s blessings for believers.
B. Verse 29. The Lord God knew these believers even before creation. Chose them as his very own.
1. God’s choice was for these believers to be his people. Be shown mercy.
2. God’s choice also made them members of his family: “…conformed to the image of his Son…”
C. Verse 30. What strength the Lord provided for these Christ-followers for the coming persecutions.
1. The Lord who created the heavens and the earth chose them. Called them. Justified them.
2. Their souls were bought and paid for by the precious blood of Christ. Saved by grace.
D. The Lord’s promises are always kept. God’s great love for his creation goes beyond our limited understanding. The Lord God created a perfect world. Adam and Eve had a free will. The Lord did not make them mere puppets on a string. Satan was, still is, the great deceiver. Father of lies. Always! Adam and Eve sinned. Broke the one and only command the Lord God gave them. Their loving, heavenly Father did not wipe them off the face of the earth. He promised them a Savior. Thousands of years later Jesus the Savior was born. Promise made. Promise kept. Always. “God our Savior …wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 TIMOTHY 2:4). Know God’s truth.
E. Too many get caught up in bad theology. Foreknew and predestination are too often misinterpreted words. Some add too much to God’s simple truth. Our text simply states that God called those he foreknew. Even before we were knit together in the womb the Lord called us by name. In other words, the Lord knew us even before we knew ourselves. Still does. What about the word predestination? It is more easily understood as chose. The Lord called us. The Lord knew us by name even before the world was created. Mind-boggling, isn’t it?!? The Lord chose us to be his own (predestination). The Lord’s love is meant for all people. Forgiveness is freely given to all people. “God our Savior …wants all people to be saved…” God’s truth in every generation for every nation. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people” (TITUS 2:11). Our Savior Jesus Christ is God’s grace for us. For all.
F. The question arises up again: “How can a loving God…?” Too many think and even teach that some are chosen for heaven. Others are predestined for damnation. Not true. (See previous passages above: 1 Timothy 2:4, Titus 2:11). Salvation is meant and chosen by the Lord for all people. Some people chose damnation for themselves. God’s truth is clearly written in his word.
“You have done all these things, declares the LORD. Even though I spoke to you again and again, you did not listen. I called you, but you did not answer” (JEREMIAH 7:13). God speaks. Some people do not listen. The Lord calls. Some still do not hear. Do not answer. One their own the wicked reject God. Truth.
CONC.: Rejoice and celebrate that our loving, heavenly Father keeps all his promises. They are fully completed in Christ. In our salvation. “Not one promise out of all the good promises that the LORD had promised to the house of Israel failed. They all came true!” (JOSHUA 21:45). “All things work together for the good of those who love God who are called according to his purpose…” In all trials God strengthens us to patiently endure. For eternity the Lord has freely justified us. Sins are forgiven. Heaven is our home. “ALL THINGS WORK FOR THE GOOD…” Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 3 rdgs.: ISAIAH 8:19-9:4; 1 JOHN 2:3-11; MATTHEW 4:12-23; (PSALM 27)
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