#1638 Romans 9 Part 1 Great Sorrow and Unceasing Grief

 

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9: 1-5 LSB

Romans 9: 1-5

When I entered seminary I believed in the freedom of my will, in the sense that it was ultimately self-determining. I had not learned this from the Bible. I absorbed it from the independent, self-sufficient, self-esteeming, self-exalting air that you and I breathe every day of our lives in America. The sovereignty of God meant that he can do anything with me that I give him permission to do. With this frame of mind, I entered a class on Philippians with Daniel Fuller and class on the doctrine of salvation with Jaymes Morgan.

In Philippians, I was confronted with the intractable ground clause of Philippians 2:13: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure,” which made God the will beneath my will and the worker beneath my work. The question was not whether I had a will, but the question was why I willed what I willed. And the ultimate answer — not the only answer — was God.

In the class on salvation, we dealt head-on with the doctrines of unconditional election and irresistible grace. Romans 9 was the watershed text and the one that changed my life forever. Romans 9:11–12 said, “Though they [Jacob and Esau] were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad — in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call — she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’”

And when Paul raised the question in verse 14, “Is there injustice on God’s part?” He says, no, and quotes Moses (in verse 15): “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” And when he raises the question in verse 19, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” He answers in verse 21, “Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?”

Emotions run high when you feel your man-centered world crumbling around you. I met Dr. Morgan in the hall one day. After a few minutes of heated argument about the freedom of my will, I held a pen in front of his face and dropped it to the floor. Then I said, with not as much respect as a student ought to have, “I [!] dropped it.” Somehow that was supposed to prove that my choice to drop the pen was not governed by anything but my sovereign self.

But thanks be to God’s mercy and patience, at the end of the semester I wrote in my blue book for the final exam, “Romans 9 is like a tiger going about devouring free-willers like me.” That was the end of my love affair with human autonomy and the ultimate self-determination of my will. My worldview simply could not stand against the Scriptures, especially Romans 9. And it was the beginning of a lifelong passion to see and savor the supremacy of God in absolutely everything. - John Piper from "The Absolute Sovereignty of God" What is Romans 9 about?

Vs. 1-2 I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart - You could understand these doctrines, yet I would contest not so well as you think, if you read, memorize and repeat the argument of election, but remain without sorrow and unceasing grief in your heart. It is easy to see the world God has called you out of spiritually and rightfully hate this system, rightfully hate the sin, but it was not for our goodness that Christ came to save us. He came to seek and to save the lost, to call sinners to repentance, and so if we truly love Him then we should have sorrow over our sin, and sorrow for the state of those living in slavery to it. Ephesus was commended on many fronts, much like some of our Reformed churches today. They went even further than many when it came to discernment, even outing the Nicolaitans, for which Christ praises them, but for all that, even their great loyalty to the Word of God, yet they had forsaken their first love. They were doing all the things that we should expect of those who believe, it is the minimum after all, that we are sound in are doctrine, correct error, hold up the Word of God above our own thoughts and feelings, but is it not pride when we look at those who don't know God and forget that except for His great love and mercy we wouldn't either? We have lost the marvel and awe of our own salvation, the being able to come into the presence of His Majesty without being consumed by fire, being rescued from that which we could not save ourselves. Notice how Paul starts the presentation of these great doctrines with sorrow for the lost of Israel, his brothers according to the flesh, those who now hate him. 

1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. 3Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.…

…4But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.… Revelation 2: 1-6

…135Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. 136My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed. 137Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.… Psalm 119: 135-137

…9Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God. 10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, 11so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance.… Isaiah 66: 9-11

…16Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. 17But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. 18Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”… Jeremiah 13: 16-18

The works of the Nicolaitans - A problem in Pergamum also, this heresy was similar to the teaching of Balaam. Nicolas means "one who conquers people". Irenaeus writes that Nicolas, who was made a deacon in Acts 6, was a false believer who later became apostate; but because of his credentials he was able to lead the church astray. And, like Balaam, he led the people into immorality and wickedness. The Nicolaitans, followers of Nicolas, were involved in immorality and assaulted the church with sensual temptations. Clement of Alexander says, "They abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats, leading a life of self-indulgence." Their teaching perverted grace and replaced liberty with license.  - J Mac from study Bible note Rev 2:6

V. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed - No one this side of eternity can truly comprehend the weight of such a statement, but this is the burden of Paul's heart for his lost brothers. I have thought about this statement many times throughout my Christian life, and it shouldn't be brushed off or passed over without assessing one's own view of the lost. We tend to go too far to the side of being in a bubble like separatist, hating not just evil, but people, though Christ has told us to love our enemies, and to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel. We treat it as a kindness to not bring up the gospel because we know that it will be controversial, and the reality of the word "enemy" will become too crisp. Paul is stating that he is willing, thank God it is not of him who wills, to be considered anathema, that is the Greek word which means "to devote to destruction in eternal hell". It always takes me a bit to recover from that, but look at the contrast, most of us aren't willing to be temporarily put out, bothered, rejected, scorned for even a minute. We are much quicker to raise up fists or stand on soap boxes then we are to pray for the salvation of those who would persecute us. I don't think Paul has lost his first love. I think he is finding his salvation more and more marvelous, almost unbelievable, definitely outside of himself. 

…31So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. 32Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” 33The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book.… Exodus 32: 31-33

V. 4a Who are Israelites - The physical descendants of Abraham, born from Jacob, whose name became Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. 

V. 4b To whom belongs the adoption as sons - God ransomed Israel from Egypt, covering them in the blood of the Passover, a picture pointing to Christ. 

…21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”… Exodus 4: 21-23

…19After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. 21“Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.… Jeremiah 31: 19-21

V. 4c And the glory, and the covenants and the giving of the law - Israel had a unique relationship to God in comparison to the rest of the world. The glory refers to God's presence, the Shekinah that went before them in a cloud by day, fire by night and indwelled the tabernacle. They received the unilateral covenant which God gave to Abraham and renewed with Jacob, and this was the name that Moses gave the people in Egypt, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the great "I am", the eternal Being, the Creator, the only true God. They had the law given to them through Moses, so they had many advantages in knowing God, the revelation of God, both the law and the prophets. 

10And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD 11so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 8: 10-11

…17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land— from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates — 19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,… Genesis 15: 17-19

V. 4d The temple service and the promises - The temple showed the approach, told the story of God's redemptive plan, showed man's inability to approach without being clean, and that there was a breach that could only be overcome by the life and death of another. 

Latreia - 5x in 5v - John 16:2; Ro 9:4; 12:1; Heb 9:1, 6. NAS = divine worship(2), service(2), service of worship(1).

Paul is referring to the service as seen in the tabernacle, offerings, and priesthood as found in Exodus and Leviticus, Moses recording for example God's promise… Precept Austin

"And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. (Ex 29:43, 44, 45, 46)

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.… Romans 4: 13-15

V. 5b From whom is the Christ according to the flesh - Jesus was born a Jew from the line of David. 

V. 5c Who is God over all - Another mention of Christ's deity. 

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3

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#1637 Romans 8 Part 5 Tip Toeing Through The Tulips

 

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction, or turmoil, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;

We were counted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 31-39 LSB

Romans 8: 31-39

So to recap Romans we saw in Romans 1-3 God's calling out and defining sin, and we saw also that all had sinned. In reformed circles we would relate this to what John Calvin called the doctrine of Total Depravity, men's fallenness and inability to raise himself from this. 

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [i]in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident [j]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for [k]a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed [l]forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is [m]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing [n]indecent acts and receiving in [o]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit [p]to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, [q]haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1: 18-32

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.… Romans 3: 9-11

So since men are all depraved, and the Bible goes even further to say that we are dead in our trespasses and sins, it is only by the will of God that any are saved. This brings us to the doctrine of Unconditional election, that since there was nothing redeemable in us, since we would by nature not want God, our salvation is dependent upon His wanting us, not for any foreseeable good in us, but because of His good will and pleasure.

…10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. 11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.… Ephesians 1: 10-12

28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.… Romans 8: 28-30

…10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”… Romans 9: 10-12

Limited atonement teaches that Christ did not die to make salvation a possibility for those who might believe, because we see the reality of such a claim to be unscriptural as in what we just read, "there is none righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." Jesus had to correct His disciples of this same confusion. 

…15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain— so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17This is My command to you: Love one another.… John 15: 15-17

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees—and the wolf snatches and scatters them— 13 because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, which are not from this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one [b]takes it away from Me, but from Myself, I lay it down. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 1: 11-18

Next we see God's irresistible Grace, the I in TULIP, that who He calls will come because He chose them before time. As we have gone over before, the dead don't will themselves to life, just like Lazarus, Jesus calls and Lazarus comes to life. We didn't make ourselves, and we are also not able to remake ourselves, we are not antonymous in our salvation or life. Everything belongs to the Creator. 

…36But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. 37Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.… John 6: 36-38

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”…

…28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 29For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. 30Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,… Romans 11: 25-30

And here at the end of Romans 8 we come to the P, or Perseverance of the Saints, the doctrine derived from Jesus' own words that none that the Father has given Him would be lost. It is not based upon the will of man, it is the Holy Spirit that keeps us and causes us to remain and bear fruit. None of Jesus' true sheep would be lost due to the Father's sovereign decree in election. Those that walk away were ever and always tares and not wheat. 

…37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.… Romans 8: 37-39

…39And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”… John 6: 39-41

18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.… 1 John 2: 18-20

More on TULIP

Vs. 31 If God is for us, who is against us - A great comfort, a present perspective based upon an eternal reality. If the Creator of the Universe is for us then why not just serve Him, trust Him regardless of what other men may say or do. If God is sovereign He is yet in control where we are not, even when things are seem to be crashing down upon us. He has even been so gracious to warn us of these things. 

17This is My command to you: Love one another. 18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.… John 15: 17-19

V. 32 He Who indeed did not spare His own Son - He has too much invested to let it fail. He is just and He has made a promise to His Son. It will surely come to pass.

Vs. 33-35 It is God Who justifies - Satan stands as our accuser all day long, but God has justified us through the life and atoning work of Christ. 

Vs. 36-27 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer - The Christian's resilience is even in death. They were being killed for belonging to Christ just like those in China and even recently in Nigeria. Death cannot separate us from God's love. 

Vs. 38-39 Nor rulers - Governments have come and gone throughout history. We have seen this and should not be surprised when they come for us again, regardless of where we live. North Africa enjoyed hundreds of years of Christian influence only to see it fade into a dark age. Syria was the same, Europe has thought itself too smart to believe in the true God and left a vacuum for apostasy to fill. America was founded on Christian principles even those that influenced the abolitionist and writers of the Constitution. They recognized human depravity and worked against it, but the more we have moved away from God the darker it has become. The church, for the sake of "unity", can no longer see stains in broad day light or embers burning in the dark. We need to humble ourselves and pray, stand up for what's right, but don't be afraid, He is coming back. 

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#1636 Romans 8 Part 4 Not Just Some Things

 

26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; 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. Romans 8: 26-30 LSB

Romans 8: 26-30 For Those Who Love God

V. 26 The Spirit helps our weakness - This takes us back to the groans of creation discussed in the last section. No one is born again into an adult, but a babe, and we know there is something wrong, we came as paupers, as sinners, as those in need. I dare say that people who don't realize that, who are satisfied with their own works, are most likely not born again, or very immature and not yet tested. We are made alive, infants though, and we yearn for more. Our sin bothered us as we came, but now we find more of it, and we wrestle, and it's no longer about God helping us find a good career, a spouse, a kayak; it's about a desire to be innocent, and just like the Creation, we groan and the Spirit helps us because we don't even know how to pray. Like the first Disciples, we ask, "Lord, teach us to pray."

A. T. Robertson says "The Holy Spirit lays hold of our weaknesses along with (sun) us and carries His part of the burden facing us (anti) as if two men were carrying a log, one at each end.

Weakness (769) (astheneia [word study]) means literally without strength and speaks of the state of incapacity to do or experience something. The infirmities here are not physical but spiritual. This refers to our human limitation due to sinfulness which produces a weakness that consists, at least in part, in that “we do not know what we ought to pray.” - Precept Austin

…3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.… Isaiah 53: 3-5

…18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.… Romans 6: 18-20

…2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.… James 4: 2-4

V. 27 According to the will of God - Sometimes it's better to say, not my will, but yours Lord, than to think that by a prayer of vain repetition you can somehow impose your will upon God. He already knows, and prayer isn't to motivate Him, but to help you come into His will, to acknowledge that some things are above your pay grade, and it is baby steps at first, very relational, paternal. 

…38Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” 39 Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.… Matthew 26: 38-40

V. 28 For those who love God all things work together for good - This offers hope beyond circumstances. It is a declaration of God's sovereignty in human history. Early on in Genesis we come to hear the plan of redemption. We see that Satan is not triumphant because he can do no more than God allows, and even at the fall, when man sinned against his maker, God yet promised the Seed of the woman. We see many pictures of this, including the story of Joseph, where his brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. He went from slavery to prison, and then finally to being a great ruler in Egypt, where he forgave his brothers and saved them along with many others from a famine in the land. As a born again believer this is great verse to memorize. It is there when you sit across the table from your enemy, when you have a tree fall on your truck, when the whole world seems to have gone mad, yet there is this peace here knowing that God is in control, that I deserved to die the first time I sinned, but God has provided a way for me to be free of it. This is the verse that sees victory in tragedy, that finds a voice to say, "so this is what we are doing today." God is not learning about anything, so He is not reacting to emergencies. Everything is in His hand. The pain we go through is often bringing us to the end of our selves. It causes us to cry out, and those that love Him have come to believe in Him, and those that believe have come to trust, to know, that this world, this pain, is fleeting. He is working all these things together for our good. 

…19But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this— to preserve the lives of many people. 21Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.… Genesis 50: 19-21

V. 29A Because those whom He foreknew - This isn't that He knew something about you, that as Arminians believe, that He looked into the future and saw that you would choose Him so therefore He chooses you. No, this is knowledge in the sense of intimacy, it is the same wording used for Adam knowing his wife, Eve, and the result of that was the birth of a child. It is relational, deeply intimate like marriage. No one comes that the Father hasn't called, we are all born spiritual still-borns, not knowing the true God, like Rebecca not knowing of Isaac. Abraham made a covenant with his servant, and his servant went to where Abraham directed him, and he found Rebecca, explained to her and her family the plan of Isaac's father, and the desire for her to leave the place she now lived and be married to Isaac. God calls us from eternity, a place I cannot even begin to imagine, and we come becomes He draws us, not because we are smarter, more able to figure things out, but because we are chosen and He is sovereign. We do not will to what we are not caused to want. The Scriptures are clear that we are at enmity with God, that no one seeks the truth, that we are all dead in our trespasses and sins. Lazarus did not will to live, no, Christ called Lazarus to come forth and the Spirit of God breathed life into those dead bones. 

…15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”… Romans 8: 15-17

I question whether we have preached the whole counsel of God, unless predestination with all its solemnity and sureness be continually declared.—6.26

I do not doubt that the Lord has settled, concerning every one of his elect, the exact time when they shall pass from death unto life, the precise instrumentality by which they shall be converted, the exact word that shall strike with power on their mind, the period of conviction which they shall undergo, and the instant when they shall burst into the joyful liberty of a simple faith in Christ. It is all settled, all arranged and predetermined in the divine purpose. If the very hairs of our head are all numbered, much more the circumstances of the most important of all events which can occur to us.

We are no believers in fate, seeing that fate is a different doctrine altogether from predestination. Fate says the thing is and must be, so it is decreed. But the true doctrine is—God has appointed this and that, not because it must be, but because it is best that it should be. Fate is blind, but the destiny of Scripture is full of eyes. Fate is stern and adamantine, and has no tears for human sorrow. But the arrangements of providence are kind and good.

"If there are so many that will be saved," says one, "then why do you preach?" That is why we preach! If there are so many fish to be taken in the net, I will go and catch some of them. Because many are ordained to be caught, I spread my nets with eager expectation. I never could see why that should repress our zealous efforts. It seems to me to be the very thing that should awaken us to energy—that God has a people, and that these people shall be brought in.

If any of you do not believe in the predestination of God, you will probably, in some hour of depression, ascribe your sorrows to cruel fate. The human mind is driven at last to this decision, that some things are beyond the control of man and his will, and that these are fixed by necessity. How much better to see that God has fixed them!

The foreordination of God in no degree interferes with the responsibility of man. I have often been asked by persons to reconcile the two truths. My only reply is, "They need no reconciliation, for they never fell out." Why should I try to reconcile two friends? The two facts are parallel lines. I cannot make them unite, but you cannot make them cross each other.

I believe that nothing hap-pens apart from divine determination and decree.

I do not believe that there ever would have been a man delivered from this present evil world if it had not been according to the will, the purpose, the predestination of God. It needs a mighty tug to get a man away from the world. It is a miracle for a man to live in the world, and yet not to be of it. I am sure it would never have been wrought if it had not been according to the will of God our Father.

We shall never be able to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination—the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people unto eternal life.

It is true that everything is predestinated, and that everything that happens is ordered according to the unfailing purpose and will of God. PA quoting C. H. Spurgeon

V. 30 He also called - Jesus clarifies this to His disciples. God is the cause of those that love Him. He takes people, those made in His image, an image that is marred and now distorted by sin, beings that hate their Creator, even pretend He doesn't exist, beings that pretend at autonomy, demand it, and He brings them to see their state, causes them to love His Son. 

…43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—… John 6: 43-45

More from John 6

V. 30b He also justified - We are justified by faith, not faith in the sense of merely believing something or wishing or working ourselves up, but by the object of that faith. It is not something that comes from us, it is a gift from God that we exercise upon the life and work of Another. It is not hope in our own thoughts or actions. It rest solely in Christ. He is the substance of our faith.

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

Spurgeon - "Notice that personal pronoun “he” — how it comes at the beginning, and goes on to the end. “Salvation is of the Lord.” This is so often forgotten that, trite as it may appear, we cannot repeat it too often: “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate Whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” You might suppose, from the talk of some men, that, salvation is all of the man himself; — that is free agency pushed into a falsehood, a plain truth puffed into a lie. There is such a thing as free agency, and we should make a great mistake if we forgot it; but there is also such a thing as free grace, and we shall make a still greater mistake if we limit that to the agency of man; it is God who works our salvation from the beginning to the end." - PA Spurgeon

…13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18: 13-14

…15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:15-16

He also glorified - One day we will not be as we now are. We will no longer live is this body of sin, but will have a glorified new form, incorruptible. This is what we and all Creation wait in eager expectation for.

…3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.… Colossians 3: 3-5

18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope… Romans 8: 18-20

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#1635 Romans 8 Part 3 Longing For Glory

 

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.  Romans 8: 18-25 LSB

Romans 8: 18-25 Glory and Anxious Longing

Well, I look over at you as a crowd tonight, and I really, honestly, by looking at you, can't tell which of you are the sons of God. Some of you I know are because I know you, but just looking at you, I can't tell and neither can anybody else. In fact, it's so difficult to tell, that we can't sort the wheat from the tares can we, and Jesus said don't try to do that.

You see, the glorious manifestation of the sons of God has not yet occurred. And the reason we can't tell is because you haven't received your glorified what? Body. And you have a body that looks, basically, like everybody else's. There's no real way to tell at this point because the glorious manifestation of the children of God has not happened. We are still subject to futility. We are, in fact, suffering in this present time and have not yet entered, according to Verse 18, "into the glory that is to be revealed in us." So it...it is not yet manifest what we are. I think about that so often, you know. We just go bouncing through life like everybody else, going down the freeway, driving to work, going to the store and shopping and purchasing things. We wander around wherever we are, at school or work or in the neighborhood, and they have no clue who we are.

They don't know that, in the truest and spiritual sense, we are extraterrestrials. We are citizens of heaven, aren't we? We do not belong in this world, but it is not yet manifest what we shall be. That's what he's saying. It is not yet manifest what we shall be. But when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Right? 1 John 3. And the world doesn't know. The time comes in God’s redemptive plan when He reveals who we are, and we are transformed by the rapture and the resurrection, and then we come back to this world with Christ, according to Revelation, in full blazing glory, and we reign with Him on the earth for 1,000 years, right?

That's what Scripture promises: That we're taken to glory and we return with Christ, pictured in Revelation 19 so magnificently there. We come back. Colossians 3 says the same thing, "We're going to reign with Him in glory." We come back in full blazing glory, coming out of heaven in blazing, glorious white. We come back to earth, and here we are fully manifest. So it is our return with Christ in full glory that is the time in which He establishes His millennial kingdom, and so the connection is made here very clearly.

The whole creation is waiting eagerly for the unveiling of the sons of God because that's the time when the curse will be removed. Inanimate and animate creatures are seen as if they were standing on their tiptoes, straining to catch a glimpse of the unveiling of the sons of God in their full glory because they know what that means. That means that the curse is removed, and the earth is restored to Edenic wonder and that all that we have hoped for and longed for has come to pass.

“Those who are wise,” speaking of believers in Daniel 12:3, just to get a little idea of what you're going to be like. “Those who are wise,” wise in terms of salvation, “will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven.” Wow. So when we come back, it's not going to be us as usual. We're going to shine brightly like the expanse of heaven. We're going to radiate the glory of God, and it is at that time when the saints come back to radiate that glory that the whole creation is wonderfully transformed, and there will be a renovated earth during the millennial kingdom and then there will be, at the end of the millennial kingdom, that renovated earth, just so you know, will be uncreated, and God will create the final state, which is a new heaven and a new earth, in which there will be no sin.

In the millennial, restored earth, there still will be unbelievers, as we know during the millennial kingdom and even a time for Satan to lead them in a great rebellion, as the book of Revelation points out. But nonetheless, that millennial kingdom will feature a restored earth. And the prophets are very clear about many of the features: the lion will lie down with the lamb, the desert will blossom like a rose, a valley will be cut right in the center of Jerusalem, and out of it, a great gushing river will feed water into the desert to make it blossom, all kinds of things. Natural enemies will become friends. If a person dies at the age of 100, they would die like a child. Life will be prolonged. The glory of the Lord will fill the earth. Truth will fill the earth. Peace will fill the earth. Wisdom will fill the earth. Righteousness will prevail. Christ will reign and rule, we along with Him. All of those features are delineated in the Scripture as part of that glorious kingdom.

Now, as we think about this creation groaning, there are four factors that I want to point out to you in the text, just four features that help us understand it, starting in Verse 20. "For the creation..." And they explain the thesis of Verse 19: "For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it."

The first point I want you to understand is the creation was subjected to futility or vanity. In other words, the whole of creation, as we know it right now, is subjected to mataiotēs, aimlessness, unfulfillment, futility, frustration. What does that mean? Well, the whole creation has no ability to reach the goal of its intended design. It cannot achieve what it was intended for. It is not able to fulfill its purpose. It can't be what God intended it to be. You say, well what did God intend it to be? Very simple; all of creation was made by God in six days to demonstrate and fully reflect His what? His glory. And it was able to do that, initially, and God looked at everything that He had made and said it's what? Everything was what? Good, everything. It was a pure and complete and fulfilled vehicle to manifest God’s glory, but it was, according to Verse 20, "subjected to futility." - J Mac from Creation Longs For Glory sermon archives

V. 18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us - Not only the suffering, but also the delights. It is easy to get caught up in the struggle, so much so that even those who are not struggling will invent one. Jesus told us that there would be persecution, and so we should expect that. I think in the west, and places like Japan and Korea, where there has been much success, the freedom to improve one's situation, we see a self inflicted sort of persecution, where people have a home, car, cell phones, food, but someone else has more than them, so they see themselves as suffering. In my country you can be deemed a persecutor just by being hypomelanistic and telling people the truth. It's still a better situation here than it is for 80% of the world, but even if it does reach the point of prison and the cross, Paul finds it trivial in comparison to coming glory. What is the finite really when you have gained a glimpse of eternity? 

…11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. 13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.… Matthew 5: 11-13

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones. 23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.…

…25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.… Hebrews 11: 22-27

V. 19 Waits for the revealing of the sons of God - The fall of humanity brought down all of that which was placed under his feet as well. Those who promote an old earth in their "Christianity" struggle at this very point, for death and all else destructive entered the world through sin; before sin there were no natural catastrophes, so no millions and billions of years of death as they claim. We and creation were designed to reflect the glory of God, so much was man to do this, that he is said to be made in the image of God. The image is so marred now, not just in it's body, but also perverted at it's very core, our thoughts and ideas about God, about nature, and even about love. 

17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight.… Isaiah 65: 17-18

15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.… 1 Corinthians 3: 15-17

…17“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3: 17-18

1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.… 1 John 3: 1-3

Vs. 20-21 In hope - God did not leave it as is, or you wouldn't be reading this right now. It is part of His divine decree, His sovereignty, that He made man in His image, made him a moral being, and gave man a choice. With that choice came the idea of a consequence, don't do this, or this will happen. So when man did what God said not to do, then it all should have ended there, but part of His glorious nature is that He is a redeemer, which Romans 8 will break down even more. Before time and space He predestined His redeemed. The Father called them, the Son paid for them, for the wages of sin was death and Christ became the substitute, the Just for the unjust, and the Holy Spirit gave regenerated them to repentance and salvation. The Spirit's work continues in our present sanctification as well. So God has never reacted to anything, and the creation waits in hope.

Isaiah also alludes to this futility recording that…

The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. (Isa 24:5, 6)

Note the verb is aorist tense (effectual action, past completed action, describes a definite historical event in the past) and passive voice (subjection of the subject, creation, from without, from an outside force, i.e., God). Thus we see that the creation did not subject itself. But you still might ask why punish the plants and animals, etc? After all they did not commit the sin. Irregardless, Sin is still the answer. Adam had no idea how devastating and far reaching would be the consequences of his sin (application - do we think about the effect of our sin on others before we commit it? Obviously it is not the same as Adam's sin, but sin nevertheless always effects others! Next time think before you jump!) When Adam disobeyed God Paul described what happened…

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- (Ro 5:12-note)

Sin entered the world and spread to all men and the effects of death spread to all creation because of Sin's entrance into the creation. In some way that I don't totally comprehend not only did the whole race fall into the bondage of sin and death, but the entire physical universe fell as well. Next time you see a beautiful rose, remember that it was Adam's sin that put the thorns on the rose. It was Adam's sin that made animals fear man and which brought predators and carnivores into being. - PA

Vs. 22-23 Even we ourselves groan - This grows as you grow and mature in the faith. You can see the circular reasoning of those around you, the incessant whining about things that are growing dim to you. You long for Christ's return, and those gone long for there new bodies. These are just full of infirmity, but it is a temple desecrated, unclean things have happened here. We want a world without sin, to enter into the fulness of our adoption.

…2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.… 2 Corinthians 5: 2-4

Vs. 24-25 But hope that is seen is not hope - The Bible tells us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, also that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, and again that faith is a gift from God. I didn't know all that I know now when I first came to believe, but God showed me enough to cause me to hope, and He regenerated my Spirit so that I could believe. Over the years it has become only deeper, this conviction about God and the Bible being the Word of God. I can see that when He said things of old that they came to pass just like He said it would, and this also helps my anxiety with present situations, because I know that in order to declare things like the coming of His Son, He had to send Him and be in control of history. It would not happen upon chance, God would have to act. I can't now see my glorified form, but I look forward to it with longing.

…18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.… Hebrews 6: 18-20

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