You will take your Bibles and
turn back with me to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. The title of the message this
morning is, The Suffering and Glory of Sons. The scripture says in verse 17
of Romans chapter 8, And if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, notice this, if
so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. The children of God are here
said to be suffering children. Suffering children. He says, if we are children,
if we are heirs of God, if so be that we suffer with Him. Remember
that not all men are the children of God." This is a false statement
that has been perpetuated by mere emotionalism as to suppose
that all men are children of God. Now, all men are created
by God. All men are His creatures. But I tell you, not all men are
His sons. Not all men are His sons. Who then are the sons of God? In John chapter 1, it tells us,
as many as received Him, to them gave He the right, the power,
the authority to be called the sons of God. which were born."
Now these sons, they're born sons. Not of blood. Not by kinship. My son will not
be a son of God because he is my son. Neither will your children
be sons of God because they are your children. Not by born, not
by blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man. In other words, I can want my
child to be a son of God, but my will for my son will not make
him a son of God. Nor will the will of my son make
him a son of God. Not by the will of man, and not
by the will of the flesh. How are sons made? By the will
of God. That's how men become the sons
of God. That's how they have received
Christ and are able to receive Christ, to believe on Him, because
they are born not of the will of the flesh nor the will of
man, but of the will of God. So God makes sons. God makes
sons. God the Father from all eternity
has elected a people, predestinated them to be sons. Those are the sons of God. Those
that God has chosen. Chosen. Look down in verse 29
of this same chapter. talking about those who all things
work together, those that love God, those who are called according
to His purpose, for whom He did foreknow. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren, many sons. And we know Jesus Christ is the
firstborn, the only begotten of the Father by eternal generation. Jesus is the eternal Son of God,
distinct from the Father and the Spirit, yet one in deity,
one in will, one in purpose, one in essence. For there are
three, John says, that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Spirit. And these three are one. One. One God, manifest in three
distinct persons. And the Son, the Father, by sovereign
grace, purpose to save some of Adam's race. For what purpose? To be conformed to the image
of His Son. Jesus Christ. Now the word image
is the same word used in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 15, referring
to Jesus being the express, listen, image of the invisible God. Just as Jesus is the express
image of the invisible God, even so had God predestinated, God
foreordained. That some of Adam's race should
be made in the image of his son. Their eldest brother. Their eldest
brother, Jesus Christ. This is God's purpose. See that
children of God are not made sons by merit. You see, I'm not
a son of God because I earned it. And you'll never be a son of
God by your meriting that sonship. Let me ask you this, could any
of you merit to be my son? That's my son! That's my son! You could do all you want, you'd
be nice, I'd be glad, appreciate it. Of course, I'm just a wicked
man like you. I have no power to make you my
son. You see, sons are something God does, something God makes. Listen to what God says concerning
this. We are not made sons by merit,
nor are we made sons by will, because man is never willing. Listen to what God says. in 1st
Corinthians chapter 1. 1st Corinthians chapter 1, I'm
sorry, chapter 2. Chapter 2 and verse 14. Listen to this. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
unto him. Neither can he know them." Why? Because he is spiritually discerned. I know y'all used that word at
least twice this week, right? Discerned. Did you use that?
It just means judged. Who judged men to be neither
able nor willing to receive the things of God? You see, I'm not
the one judging men as able or willing or not willing to receive
the things of God. You know who judged? God did.
God, looking down from heaven, the Scripture says, among the
sons of men, He said, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God. They are all together become
unprofitable. There is none that doeth good,
no, not one. This is God's judgment. This
is God's judgment on us. That no man can do good or can
be merit God's favor by his works. A natural man can't receive the
things of God. They're foolishness to him. Neither
can he know them. So then, for man to receive the
things of God, God must do something for us. God must do something for you. Or you will die in your sins. Man, that puts us down low, doesn't
it? Yes. Because that's where you
are. That may not be where you perceive
you are. You may think yourselves, but
really God says you're not. For man to receive the things
of God, he must be born of God. God must create in you a new
nature, not new habits, not a new lifestyle. He must create in
you a new nature. He must create in you a new heart
so that you can receive the things of the Spirit. so that you can
believe on Jesus Christ. In 1 John chapter 5 and verse
1, a priest on this Wednesday, Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ, listen to me, is born of God. See then that believing on Jesus
Christ is not natural. Isn't that the common thought
today? That this is just something everybody can do. Man, this is
just so... I tell you, faith in Christ is
simple to understand. I can tell you how to understand
it, but you can't do it unless God gives you a heart to do it. Believing on Jesus Christ is
not a common thing. Now there are many who confess
this fact, that Jesus is the Christ. You believe Jesus is
the Christ, you, everybody, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. They
acknowledge it. It's not, it's common as a fact
of knowledge that Jesus Christ came into the world, He died
on the cross, and He rose again from the dead. That's just pretty
common knowledge. There are too many witnesses
for anybody to say otherwise. Some men in religion make a decision
to assent to this fact, and they call that faith. They say, well, because I decided
to believe this, therefore I'm born of God, because of my decision,
or because of some religious ceremony I went through. I don't
know how many times I accepted Jesus. I went down the aisle,
shook the preacher's hand, said the sinner's prayer, and went
back just as dead as I came down. There's no life in that. There's
no life in that. You can shake my hand and you
can tell me all kinds of things, but that's not going to give
you life. I can't give you life. God's Word says man cannot receive
these things. God judged that all men are dead
in trespasses and sin. So then faith in Christ is not
a result of man's will or decision, but of God's will to give that
man a new heart. God has, in His eternal covenant
of grace, promised to give His sons a new heart. Listen to this. You who are saved, you are saved
by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, which is all
a gift of free grace. Free grace. Unmerited favor. For we are His workmanship, skilled
craftsmanship, created. in Christ Jesus. Not because
of good works, but unto good works. And even our works, they
were foreordained of God that we should walk in them. Let me ask you, do you believe
that Jesus is the Christ? Do you love Him that begat? This is speaking of God the Father.
John said that. He that is begotten of God loveth
him that begat. This is the Father. Do you love
the Father who chose you, who predestinated you unto the adoption
of sons by Jesus Christ? Do you love Him? Do you love
Him that begat the Son? Do you love Him that begat you?
Gave you life? Also, John says, he loveth him
that is begotten of God, which is Jesus Christ, who has come
in the flesh. Do you love Him who endured the
cross, despising the shame? The wrath of God was upon Him. Do you love Him who has made
sin for us? Do you love Him? who actually
accomplished redemption. I say yes. Yes, I do. I love Christ my Lord and I believe
on Him who is my complete and absolute salvation. He is my
absolute salvation. He's completely all my salvation.
He's everything to me. He's everything. Behold, then, if that's you,
recognize that it is because you were chosen, redeemed, and
called to be the sons of God. And how is this evidenced? That
we should be heirs of God and join heirs of Christ? Then go
listen to your text. Listen to your text. If you're
children, if you're born of God, If you believe on Jesus Christ,
which is the gift of God's grace, then you are heirs of God. Join
heirs with Christ and listen to this condition. If so be we
suffer with Him. Suffer with Him. What does this
mean? If we suffer with Him. Is the
apostle saying that the condition of our sonship is based on the
amount of suffering that we do? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. It's not what he's saying at
all. If so be you suffer with him, all the sons of God, you
have suffered with him. You have. We were not only chosen to be
sons by sovereign election, but we were also to be sons of God
by sovereign action, in that God put us in union with
His Son. All the elect sons of God when
they were chosen of God. If I can even use that term,
when? Because eternity. Who can wrap your mind around
it? From eternity. God chose His people and with
sovereign love put them in union with Jesus Christ. With Jesus Christ. Go over to
Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1. I want you to make sure I'm not
making this up. This is not something I come up with all my own. I'm
not that smart. Just not. Look at verse 3. Paul blessing
God. He said, Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ. in Christ. All the spiritual
blessings of the sons of God are given to us concerning our
union with or in Jesus Christ. When did this take place? Verse
4, according as He hath chosen us, look at that word again,
in Him, in Christ, before the foundation of the world. To what purpose? Why would He
do that? Well, look at the next thing.
That, this is the end of it, that we should be holy, all of
His sons be holy without blame before Him. How should He do
this? In love. Having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children, how is He going to do it? By
Jesus Christ to Himself. And why? Why would God purpose
to save a people by His Son? According to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace. Do you see that God does all
things for Himself? For His own glory, God does these
things. So, child of God, born again
of the Spirit, called from death to life, called from unbelief
to faith in Christ. Consider that we were in union
with Christ from eternity. So then, no doubt, when He came
into this world, we were still in union with Him. When Jesus
Christ came into this world and was made a man, I was in Him. In other words, from Scripture
is that He became our federal head, our representative man. As Adam was a representative
and plunged us all into sin, even so Jesus Christ was a representative
man. He represented a people, even
those that God put in Him. And so as He walked according
to the law of God in the flesh, He obeyed the law of God, so
did we who were in Him. You see, we could not obey the
law of God because of the weakness of our flesh. Therefore, Jesus, in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemns sin in the flesh. For what purpose? Why did He
come into the world? Why did He obey the law of God
and die for sin? Verse 4 of chapter 8 of Romans
says, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us. In us. Because we were in Him,
that righteousness that He made is now in us. Is that not a glorious thing?
Is that not miraculous? He obeyed the law in perfect. For what purpose should the Son
of God be stricken, smitten, and afflicted? Why would the
only sinless man suffer such hatred and rejection and sorrow? Why should he who alone is pleasing
to God be forsaken of God? The Scriptures are clear. He
was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace
was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Healed. It pleased God to bruise Him. It pleased God to bruise Him
and put Him to grief, When thou shalt make his soul an offering
for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall see his children. Isn't
that great? Isn't that good news to you who
are our children? When Jesus Christ died, what
did God see? He saw his children dying. When
he died, you died under the justice of God. And when he rose again from the
dead, you rose in him. Now what were the chances of
you not coming to Him? Absolute zero. It was a hundred
percent possibility that you would come to Him. Why? This was His will for you. This was His will that you should
be His sons. That you should come. Child of
God, may the Holy Spirit use this truth to comfort you who
are in trouble, that we suffered with Christ, that it pleased
God to bruise him and satisfy his holy justice on our behalf. By Jesus' blood, are all the
sons of God. Listen to me. All the sons of
God. All the sons of God. All those
sons that have lived already and died. All of us who are now
living and believing on Him. And all of those that shall believe
on Him are redeemed from all their sins. And accepted with God. Accepted. This is how Jesus, with great
confidence, can say this. Go with me to John, listen to
what he says with great confidence. You know how he speaks in the
scriptures so confident, isn't he? He's sure of everything he
says. May God give us such faith to
see that we can be as sure as he is. Because it's his word.
John 6, verse 37. all that the Father giveth me
shall come to me." Is that not great assurance to
our hearts, child of God, to know that there will be none
given to Christ that are in union with Christ, that have suffered
with Christ, that will fail to come? None will fail to come. All that the Father giveth me,
listen to the confidence, shall come to me. There's no doubt
in this. You see, I'm not up here preaching
because somebody may come to Christ. I know this. His sons
will come. They will come. That's how I
have confidence to do it. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it. and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."
What assurance for any hesitant sinner! What assurance that is
for any hesitant sinner to come! If there is any hesitant sinner
who sees their worthlessness, Do you see your worthlessness?
Well, that caused me great hesitation, didn't you? I was unworthy to
come. See that we can by no means please
God. That may make you hesitant to
come. And yet, if you're hesitant,
but you hunger for righteousness, Do you long to be accepted with
God? Then listen, He will in no wise
cast you out. Those who come to Him, come now! Come you sinners, poor and wretched! Weak and ruined by the fall,
Jesus ready stands to save you. Full of pity, joined with power. Let not conscience make you linger,
nor of fitness fondly dream. All the fitness He requires is
to feel your need of Him. Come now. And if you don't come,
it's because you love your sin more than you love Christ. If
you don't come. And I'll tell you, if you reject
this, it'll be your own fault. God will judge you. I know this. God is sovereign. I've told you
that. I've declared that, and I've
proved that. But you're responsible. I'm not called to reconcile those
two things. I'm just called to declare them.
You're responsible. I tell you to come. This is our hope and joy and
peace who have come. Listen to this. He said, I will in no wise cast
out, for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but
the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will,
which has sent me, that of all which He hath given me, I should
lose how many? How many will he lose? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But we'll raise it up again at
the last day. You see how confident he is at this? He said, those
who are in me, I'm going to represent them, I will die for them, I
will raise them again, I will call them to myself, and I'll
lose absolutely none of them. None of them. He later tells them, My sheep
know My voice, and I give unto them eternal life, and no man shall pluck them out
of My hands. Is that not confidence? You bet
it is, because He is the only God and Savior, and this is our
hope who have been born again. This is our peace, that as He
suffered, we also suffered with Him. Isn't that so? If you've
been born again, you know this to be all your hope and righteousness. So then, if you have suffered
with Him, suffered with Him, in Him, in union with Him, then
you have this promise, you shall also be glorified with Him. Now, believers, as we journey
through this life, we who are in union with Christ,
We still suffer. We have suffered with Him for
the salvation of our souls. But I tell you, in this body,
we endure all kinds of afflictions and troubles. In other words,
Paul is also saying if you're in union with Christ, you're
going to suffer the same types of suffering that your Savior
endured. He endured the hatred of men. he endured rejection, and he
was despised of men. I tell you, if you preach this
gospel, you declare what I declare to you, you will be rejected
of men. I have been. I am. Even so, our Master told us we
would. He said, they hated Me, they
will also hate you. And not only will they hate you,
they'll persecute you for His name's sake. They'll do it in
the name of Jesus. I hear it all the time. And I'll tell you, we will not
only endure these, but all other kinds of suffering, not for our
salvation. Friends, your suffering has nothing
to do with your salvation. The Scripture just tells us that
we, through much suffering, shall enter into the kingdom of God.
But you have this promise, that when you suffer, listen to me,
He suffers with you. Now, is that not amazing? We
have not a high priest which is able to be touched with the
feelings of our infirmities. How much does He know of your
sufferings? I tell you, He's endured much
more than we have. So isn't He been kind to us who
suffer? And lastly, the end of our suffering
of the child of God shall end in glory. Seeing that Jesus has
come, as was foretold, that He would finish the transgression,
make an end of sin, make reconciliation for the iniquity, and bring in
everlasting righteousness, and seal up the vision, to anoint
the Most Holy. Jesus said, upon giving up the
ghost, it is finished. The work is done. The work is finished. Transgression's
finished, sin's finished. Everlasting righteousness has
been brought in. And God, having accepted His
anointing, His Son has anointed Him, raised Him from the dead.
and set him on the right hand of the majesty on high. Therefore,
believer, you child of God, your Redeemer liveth. And as he has been glorified,
so will you be glorified. The Apostle said this in 2 Peter
3, 9, the Lord is not slack concerning His promise. Don't you feel that
way sometimes? I do. I feel that way. My feelings
have absolutely nothing to do with this. He's not slack concerning His
promise. but is long-suffering to usward,
not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance."
Who are the any and the all? They are usward. They're us who
believe. They're us who are born again.
He's not willing that you should perish, but rather He is willing
that you be glorified with His Son. That you be finally conformed
to the image of His Son. I'll tell you, in the inner man
you are conformed to the image of His Son. You have the righteousness
of God in you, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you who believe. And
I'll tell you, when this body dies, one day it'll be raised
again, incorruptible, undefiled, it doesn't fade away, and then
we'll be able to worship Him forever, rejoicing forever with
the saints of God. I tell you, Paul said, we know
in part, but when we see him face to face,
we'll know him even as we are known. How much does he know you? He
said, the very hairs of your head are numbered. That's how
much we'll know him and be like him. I tell you,
do you want to be like Him? Do you desire to be like Him? Oh, that's what one day our promise
will be. So then, how is this suffering
then compared with the glory which shall be revealed? If we've
suffered with Him, and all our sins are gone, and the righteousness
of God is ours, and God is willing, God chose us, He redeemed us,
He called us, He keeps us, and He'll bring us to Himself, why
then do we doubt? Why then do we fear? Fear not. You sons of God, you born again
of God, for if you suffer with him, you shall also be glorified
with him. May God encourage you with this
and strengthen you. May God raise the dead. and give you faith in Christ. Let's stand. We'll be dismissed
in prayer.