Good morning, everyone. I send greetings from Sovereign
Grace Chapel. And we're located close to Beckley.
If anyone knows where Beckley, West Virginia is, but we're located
close to there. But Walter Pendleton, who happens
to be my brother, is my pastor. He has been a pastor for about
37 years or so. And I'm thankful that, you know,
there's three of us that preach every Sunday there, and I'm thankful
that, you know, that walker and joe allow me the time to stand
up and proclaim my lord's name it's uh... a privilege i don't
deserve to be up here let me go and get started uh... if you would turn with me to
romans eight ronald a very familiar passage everyone's room Romans 8, and I want to begin
in 23. And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope, but
hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see
not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise, the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the
spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the
will of God. And here's where I want to concentrate
on. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
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. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,
them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. And I'm gonna stop right there
for right now. I want to give a little bit of
context leading up to this verse, which we just read some of it,
but those who at one time had the spirit of bondage to fear,
but they've been now given the spirit of adoption whereby they
can cry, Abba, Father, or Abba. Those are heirs with Christ,
children of God, it says. But we also read, these are those
who don't know how to pray. They don't even know what to
pray for, as they ought. We don't know what's best for
us, and we must trust God for that which he knows is the best
for us. The Spirit makes groanings for
us which cannot be uttered. But it also says here that we
are saved by hope, and hope that is seen is not hope. If you already
have something, there's no reason to hope for it. We hope for the
redemption of this body. It will come because we have
a good hope. That good hope is because God
has promised it and the faith of Jesus Christ carried it out
and made it so. But also the spirit knoweth our
infirmities. Why? This is the spirit of Christ. He has been touched with the
feelings of our infirmities. He makes intercession for the
saints according to the will of God. Then we come to verse
28, where we read that we know something. The Young's Liberal Translation
says it this way, and we have known. And then it says, all
things, and that's my title, all things. That is things in
the past, all things present, and all things in the future.
Maybe another way to say it might be a little bit better, but things
before the foundation of the world, things present, including
the creation of Adam up until now, and those things that will
be when Christ returns. All things. And that's what I
want to look at this morning as it concerns all things. Those
things purposed in Christ from before the foundation of the
world, those same things purposed being carried out in time or
from the creation to now, and those things purposed which will
be consummated one day. But I want to point out here,
and this is nothing new, others have said this and I'm just repeating
what others have said. When we look at this closely,
it does not say all good things. I think it's quite obvious that
all good things work together for good. This simply says all
things. This word used here simply means
all or the whole. The whole works together for
good. It works this way for a certain
people, here shown as them that love God. Who were they? Them that are called, and this
all according to his purpose, those who now cry Abba, or Papa. So let's take this verse, and
this verse will be my outline, verse 28. And I'm gonna go into
it in the reverse, if you will. So I have the following points.
His purpose, working together for good, and all things. His
purpose, number one. First of all, all things were
created by him, but also for him. He is what holds it all
together is what it says in Colossians 1. His purpose includes all things
because the verse here starts out that way. But what specifically
do we know from Scripture? What do we know is the purpose
of God? Turn with me to Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1. And you might as well keep your
finger there in Romans and in Ephesians. I'm going to kind
of go back and forth. There. Ephesians 1, I'm going to read
verse 6 for now. To the praise of the glory of
His grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Here my point is that all things
that take place and the end result of all things is the purpose
of God, and that purpose is to the praise of the glory of His
grace. That is the purpose and will
of God, that He might be praised. In the face of Jesus Christ,
who is full of grace and truth, that's where we praise God. So
based on this purpose, what does it also say here about his purpose
toward those who are made accepted in the beloved? Verses three
through five. Blessed be the God and father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. according as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according
to the good pleasure of his will." It is the will of the Father
that in Christ we were predestinated. to the adoption of children by
Jesus Christ is what we see in our text. And those are those
who have received the spirit of adoption. As it has been said
before, by Christ is how we get to God. It is by Christ that
we will ever stand before him. Christ is the only one that can
do this. He was the only one that could
touch man. and touch God and bring them
all together in himself. Just as it says here in Ephesians,
by Jesus Christ who himself, he is that which takes away the
great gulf between God and man. Another familiar passage in Romans
9 verses 11, we read of the purpose of God. For the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but
of him that calleth." The purpose of God according to election.
What is his purpose? His purpose is that being chosen
by God in Christ had nothing to do with works of the flesh,
but only of him that calleth. We have no reason to think God
chose us based on what we would do or what we have done, because
God tells us it is not based on what we did, good or evil. It goes on to say the following
in Romans 9, and hold your place in Ephesians there and turn with
me to Romans 9, Romans 9. Romans 9 and verse 16. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. I like to point this out. We
hear a lot of folks in our day that talk about man having a
free will. It's a lie. What does God tell
us right here? That even if you do will, it's
not up to your will. Even if you do work, it's not
up to your work. It's purely and solely based
on the will of God, whether you are in Christ or not. He is the
one that called. Those who can hear what this
is saying cry out just as the leopard did, if thou wilt, thou
can make me clean. It has nothing to do with what
I want, but everything to do with what he wants. We are left
to plead his mercy on us. We have another witness to this.
2 Timothy 1-9 reads, who hath saved us and called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began. We are not in control in any
way, shape, or form. We do one thing well. We sin
against the Holy God. But God's purpose, and by that
I mean His total, absolute control does not just include those who
are chosen in Christ and who would be placed in Christ. God
is in absolute, total control of all things. That's like saying
water's wet three times, as Scott Richardson would say. His purpose
also includes those who will never bow to him. Romans 9, 17
we read, for the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same
purpose have I raised thee up, that I may show my power in thee,
and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. No
matter who it is, the purpose of God includes all men. But for those whom he loves,
what is his purpose? Back to Ephesians 1, if you're
following along, 9 through 11. Having made known unto us the
mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness
of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him,
in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after
the counsel of his own will. So God's eternal purpose is what
drives things. It does not matter what I think
about them or what I feel about them. It's all according to his
will and it's all being carried out by his will. One more thing
that is said to be his purpose. 1 John 3, 8, we read, he that
commit a sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose, the Son of
God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
God's purpose is to destroy sin. Satan is said to be the father
of lies. Free will is a lie. So who does
this all work together for? Number two, work together for
good. So then his purpose is said to work together for good.
To them that love God. To them who are the called, is
what it says. What is it that is purposed of
God for those whom he calls which love him? Back in Romans 8, verses
29 and 30. Romans 8, verses 29 and 30. 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. Moreover,
whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,
them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Notice that all these things
are in the past tense. This is done according to what
God Almighty himself tells us here. Most of the time, I don't
feel this is so for me. But God said it, so it's true.
I know some like to say, God said it and I believe it, so
it's true. But that's not right. It's only
true if God says it. And it doesn't matter whether
I believe it or not. But I thank God it's not based on my feelings.
It is based on what he said and what he tells me. That all those
whom he has chosen in Christ and called by his grace, that
this will be true for all of them. There was a time when we
were born into this world, the scripture says we were born the
children of wrath, even as others. We had wrath just like everyone
else did. And we are told in Romans 5 verse
6, it says, for when we were yet without strength in due time,
Christ died for the ungodly. So these called are those who
are said to have been ungodly. In this flesh, we are still ungodly. I have nothing to boast in of
what I am as I'm born in Adam. There's nothing for me to boast
in. I was and am ungodly in this flesh. But this is not all it
says. Verse 10 of Romans 5 says, all
of these were enemies of God. It says, for if when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son,
much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. This
for if. at the beginning of this verse
is not an if of, it might be, and it might not be. But the
if is an if of comparison. Those who were enemies, the ones
spoken of here, were reconciled by the death of his son. The
comparison is to the salvation he is also wrought by his life.
Us, having been reconciled by his death because he rose from
the dead, we are saved by that life. My point here is the ones
that were in the mind and purpose of God are those who hated God
at one time. Most of this world, and even
myself at one time, would have told you, I don't hate God. But
because they, or because I, would not bow down to his son, I would
not believe his son as reconciling me to God. I was hating God. There is no in between. You either
love God or you hate God. If you love him, it's only because
he loved you first. God did not and does not love
everyone. And Christ did not die for everyone. But even his people behaved toward
him just as those to whom he did not die for. And that's my
point. But then what is said to work
together for good to these? All things, number three. All
things, those things purposed in Christ from before the foundation
of the world. Revelation 13, 8 we read, and
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. All will worship Christ one day.
Some do now, but all will one day. God's purpose was to exalt
himself in the saving of a people for his name. It was purpose
from the beginning that it would be God himself that would obtain
this salvation by his death on that tree. Ephesians 1, 4, we
read, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love. How would it be that we would
be without blame before Him in love? He would purge our sins
by His death. God and His purpose purposed
this all to take place. Him dying on that tree was the
crux for everything. It would all be to this purpose
an end, and the result would be a saving of a people for His
name. This all being to his honor and
glory because he does it all from start to finish. If he does
not do all the work and he leaves anything up to man to do by his
own power or will, then man has something to boast in. We are
taught in scripture that we have no confidence in this flesh and
that all boasting goes to him who hath delivered us from sin.
We have nothing to add. The us in Ephesians one, according
as he hath chosen us, but the us being his chosen people,
the election of grace as the scripture puts it. And it's the
same of we as we read in Romans 8, 28. But grace and works do
not mix. Those same things purpose being
carried out in time or from creation to now. This is one of those
things that I want to point out. But this does not say all good
things, it simply says all things. Now, we have several accounts
in scripture that give us an idea of the magnitude of this
statement that we are given here in Romans 8 of our text. But
let's just look at a few. First, let's think about this.
We read in Genesis that Joseph was hated by his brothers. They
were going to kill him, but he was put in a pit instead. And
then later they decided to sell him to the Ishmaelites. This
was the purpose of God. Not only this, but he was then
sold to Potiphar. This was the purpose of God.
Then Potiphar's wife lied on Joseph, accusing him of things
he did not do. The end result of this was Joseph
being thrown in prison. This was the purpose of God.
But the butler and the baker of Pharaoh were put in prison
and had dreams that Joseph interpreted. He asked them to remember him
when they were let out of prison. The baker was killed after he
got out, and the butler forgot about Joseph for two more years.
This was the purpose of God. Then he was made second in charge
of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He was about 18 years old when
all this stuff started happening, and now he's 30 years old. This
was the purpose of God. Then we read in Genesis 50, 20,
and this is after he is reconciled with his brothers, and they know
who he is. And they are afraid of what Joseph
might do to them because of what they have done. He says to them
in Genesis 50, 20, we read, but as for you, you thought evil
against me. But God meant it unto good to
bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive. It does not say that they meant
it for evil and God turned it to good. It says they meant it
for evil and God meant it for good. Joseph here tells his brothers
that they meant what they did to him for evil. And it was evil. But it also says God meant it
for good, and it was good. Again, it does not say God changed
it for good. It was good because God meant
it for good, and it was evil for them to do this because it
was evil. God is wiser than men. Men may
think they are thwarting God and what he is doing, but God
will have his way no matter what. He used this to do what we are
told in the scripture, it says, to save much people alive. Both
are true at the same time. Our deeds as fallen sinful men
to do things which are evil against our fellow man, but more importantly,
against the merciful God who created us. The scripture says
that even the wrath of man will praise him. Is this not what
he told Pharaoh? For this same purpose have I
raised thee up that I might show my power in you and my name shall
be declared throughout all the earth. God is in absolute sovereign
control. What was done to Joseph is a
picture of what was done to our Lord. All things do not work
together for good to those not chosen in Christ. All things
work together for good to his chosen and called out people.
It is all because of one more thing. And that's what I want
to show next. Turn with me to Acts 2. Acts
2. Acts 2 and verse 23. Acts 2 and verse 23. Him being
delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. What they did was evil in murdering
the Lord of glory. This all being done based on
the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. But it was the purpose
of God to do this, because it was the only hope for his people.
Verse 24 of Acts 2 says, whom God hath raised up, having loosed
the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should
be whole of it. Our merciful Savior was evil
and treated by man, of which my flesh was just like this. I did this when God brought his
glorious gospel to me before he had opened my eyes. I cried
out, I will not have a God like this. This is not fair is what
I thought. I thank God he did not leave
me there. God intends everything that happens to me as a child
of God for my eternal good. And all things, everything that
happens, whether we can see it or not, or whether we feel it
or not, is for our good. This is all because he purposed
it to be so. But now let's put some shoe leather
on it, as some put it. But turn with me to Acts 16.
Acts 16. This account just really amazes
me when I think about it as it pertains to this subject of all
things work together for good. Acts 16 verses 17 through 23. The same followed Paul and us,
and cried saying, These men are the servants of the Most High
God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she
many days, but Paul being grieved, turned and said to the Spirit,
I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her,
and he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that
the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and
drew them into the marketplace and to the rulers, and brought
them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly
trouble our city. and teach customs which are not
lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And
the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates
rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. And when they had
laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging
the jailer to keep them safely. So Paul and Silas are there,
and this little girl is following them around, and Paul gets vexed
with it, and he commands the spirit to come out of her. Well,
this was these men's game. That's how they made money, with
her divination, as it's called. So they were beaten, taken to
these magistrates, and they were beaten. And I'm assuming it was
with whips, because it says that they laid many stripes on them.
But they could have also been beaten with their fists as well. Keep in mind here we are talking
about all things working together for good. This is for good? What's happening here? I want
you to understand me here. All things work together for
good. It does not say that all things
are good. just that they work together
for good. Men intend evil. God intends
good for his people. But we can see in this passage,
so let's go on, that they were beaten and they were put in prison
and were put in stocks. They were chained up and placed
in a cell, which they could not get out of on their own. All
this is for their good. That is the good of his people.
But not only for their good, that is Paul and Silas's, but
it's also for the good of others to whom God manifests himself
to. Paul and Silas did not complain. And I don't want anyone to misunderstand
me. I'm sure Paul and Silas were not happy to receive stripes
and be placed in prison. It was not an enjoyable time
for them to have all this done to them. There was no happiness
in this, I'm sure, but there was joy. I can have joy even
when I am as grieved as I possibly can be. But my hope is in God,
in Jesus Christ. So what did Paul and Silas do?
Acts 16, 25 we read, and at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang
praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them. They had joy in the
Lord and prayed and sang praises to God. They even in the midst
of evil entreaties because of the name of Christ were still
enabled by God to sing praises to Him. For what purpose was
all this as we are revealed here? God was about to rock someone's
world. He was going to shake the very
foundation of one of His own so that that one would see imminent
death before Him. This forced him, and if God ever
meets you and deals with you, it will force you to him. And
there's no other place to go other than down, down, down. This forced him. What does he
cry out, this Philippian jailer, in verses 30? Sirs, what must
I do to be saved? All things work together for
good, Yes, all things work together for good to them that love God,
who are the called according to his purpose. My point in this
is for us to think about what God might be doing for one of
his as he is with us in these sufferings because of Christ. These things that are purpose
will be consummated one day. 1 John 3, 2 we read, Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we
shall be. But we know that when he shall
appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. There will be a day when we will
be with him. He is and ever shall be our light
and our life. He has purpose to carry it all
out, so that we will all be with Him and in Him. It is that hope
of the believer to lay down this flesh and be with Christ. What
did we read previously in Ephesians 1.10? That in the dispensation
of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one
all things in Christ. The whole purpose is to gather
all things that pertain to the purpose and will of God in Christ,
and all being one in Christ. We will one day rejoice and give
praise to God for all things He has done, Revelations 5, 8
through 10 we read. And when He had taken the book,
the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before
the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full
of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung
a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and
to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and
priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Knowing these things,
we should be comforted. So now we've went over some things
in scripture where we can see God has purposed all things to
honor the Son. He is in absolute control of
all things. Therefore, because of this, all
things work together for good to them who love God, who are
the called according to His purpose. So what is concluded by the Apostle
Paul from these things? So back to our text in Romans
8. And keep in mind, verse 28 says,
and we know, that we there are those who love God, and those
who love God are described as those called by God according
to His purpose. Those He foreknew, He predestinated
to be conformed to the image of His Son. He called them, He
justified them, and He glorified them. Romans 8.31, we go on and
read, 8.31 we read, What shall we say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us? There is a clear
answer from Scripture. There is no one but Him who controls
all things. God in doing all this is not
doing this to be mean to us, because what did it take in order
to make all things work together for good? Romans 8, 32. He that
spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things? He did not spare
his own son. Jesus Christ met with the wrath
of God in my stead and appeased that wrath. The waters of his
judgment have abated. In wrath, we find mercy. So it goes on further, verses
33 and 34. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. God justifies those who are
ungodly and enemies against him. Those whom he chose in his Son,
his Son being faithful to do the will of the Father. The we
spoken of in verse 28 are people who were enemies against him.
They are an ungodly people, but they are a saved people. So Paul
concludes even further through 35-39, we read, who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No matter what we see going on
around us, it is God who is in control of all of it. Men who
know not God and even we in this flesh do things that are evil.
This is what it all boils down to though. This is where the
but God comes in. But God sent forth his son to
be the propitiation for his people's sins. He works everything for
the good of his people. Men mean it for evil, but God
means it for good. Not the good of all mankind,
but a specific people. Those who have been chosen in
him before the foundation of the world. Those who have had
their sins purged by his death on that cross. Those who were
made righteous in him because he was made sin for them. Because
He controls all things, then I know it will be for my good
and for all those in Christ. We know all things work together
for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according
to His purpose. So what do we do? We praise His
name in all things because it is for our good. Amen. Dear old God, thank you. For
allowing us to meet here today, dear Lord, and even with your
stumbling, stammering lips, dear Lord, may we in some way give
praise to your name, dear Lord. Apply these words to our hearts
as we go forth from here, dear Lord. All these things we ask
in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you all very much
for having me. Me and Paula have enjoyed it
immensely and everything was in order and very fine. So thank
you very much.