The gospel is great assurance for the believer because in the gospel we know that nothing can take us, or separate us, from Christ. Although it is an uneasy theological concept, predestination gives us this assurance. In Romans 8 Paul speaks of our predestined assurance before the Father because of Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross and through the resurrection. It is truly wonderful to know that nothing will take us away from the blessed hope we have if we are truly in Jesus Christ.

And Romans 8 gives us an insight into our future. As predestined people then future glory is ours because God has planned it as such. Paul tells us that this earth is groaning with sin and will one day pass away. But this groaning must be endured so that we can know the glory of heaven. John Bunyan in hymn encourages us to keep going in the faith so that we will know the full blessings of our salvation.

Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

When I was a child I couldn't wait for Christmas and I couldn't

2

wait for birthdays and I couldn't wait for

someone to come home from their holidays.

3

What have all three things got in common?

4

Presents.

5

What are you gonna bring

me home from your holidays?

6

Where can I find the Christmas presents

and birthday presents and even if they're

7

wrapped how can I take the tape off

even with a steam iron so that I can see

8

what's inside and carefully put it back

together again so no one would know?

9

Particularly with Christmas and

birthdays, what's the fun in that?

10

What's the fun in waiting?

11

Well, I thought there was no fun.

12

I didn't like the surprise.

13

I wanted to know what I was getting.

14

And so when the day ruled round to

receive whatever gift was coming, of

15

course it wasn't always as good as the

gifts that did come that surprised you.

16

And in a way that's, that's a story

that covers what we're looking

17

at in Romans 8 in these last

number of verses this evening.

18

Because we're back in Romans having had a

bit of a break again, just like Genesis.

19

Uh, but we're in a passage that

includes many familiar verses.

20

Verses that we've possibly learned

over the years, but certainly that

21

we've heard, read, and preached on.

22

And it's a message in this

section about waiting.

23

Waiting in all kinds of scenarios.

24

Waiting because this world is

not a pleasant place and we have

25

to wait until the Lord returns.

26

Waiting again because we don't see,

we don't see the hope, or we have

27

hope in what we don't see because if

we did see it then we wouldn't hope.

28

So we have to wait and we

have to be a waiting people.

29

As we know the heart of the gospel

is found in Romans chapter 8.

30

And so as we go through this, we'll be

thinking of the assurance that God gives

31

that He is greater than the world and

that His promises will last forever.

32

We're not to be like the children

who want to get to the presence

33

long before they're due to receive

them because we have to wait.

34

We have to be patient people as the

psalmist says, wait on the Lord.

35

And so as we look at this, there are

three natural sections in this passage.

36

And we begin in verses 18 to 25

thinking about future hope, which

37

is a helpful section heading in

the ESV translation of the Bible.

38

And one of the reasons why we can

identify so easily with Paul and his

39

teachings is because he's just like us.

40

Whenever we read of Paul's life story,

particularly in the Acts of the Apostles,

41

and whenever he gives personal testimony

in his letters, we can identify with him.

42

Because we see that he, too, had

troubles in life just like us.

43

Now, of course, he faced more

than any of us would want to face,

44

but in these we see his humanity.

45

He was a normal person, living

out the Christian faith.

46

He was run out of town, he was flogged,

he was imprisoned, and he was shipwrecked.

47

None of us here will

have had to face that.

48

But look at what he says in verse

18 as he focuses on the future

49

promise that God has given him and

to all his people about eternity.

50

He says, For I consider that the

sufferings of this present time

51

are not worth comparing with the

glory that is to be revealed to us.

52

And we shouldn't be surprised

by this perspective from Paul.

53

In the previous section, he's considered

what it meant to be heirs with Christ.

54

And this is what he said

in just a verse prior.

55

He said, And if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,

56

provided we suffer with him, in order

that we may also be glorified with him.

57

So that's where Paul's come from.

58

He recognizes that we must

suffer as God's people.

59

But then he bursts open and says,

For I consider, though, that those

60

sufferings at the present age are not

worth comparing to the riches and the

61

glory that is to be revealed to us.

62

See, at the heart of the Gospel

is a message that takes us from

63

this present world to eternity.

64

That's what the Gospel does.

65

Our focus is not that we are

saved for the here and now.

66

Yes, we are to undertake good works.

67

We're created for good works, that we

might proclaim the truth of the gospel

68

and demonstrate the love of Christ.

69

But our salvation is not

just to make life easier now.

70

The gospel is about the assurance

of our eternal presence with God.

71

That's what, and that's why Paul explains

the world as he does in verses 19 to 22.

72

There's a song that we learned a couple

of years ago, and we sung it last Sunday,

73

so that's why we're not singing it this

week, by Ben Slee, entitled Creator God.

74

And it actually sums up, it's closing

four lines, sum up this section very well.

75

Because he says, And so we wait

in eager expectation, And join

76

the song that all creation groans.

77

Lord, haste the day, Decair is slain

by glory, The day you call your sons.

78

I've often thought that those last

four lines that we sing encapsulate

79

this passage from Romans 8 very well.

80

Because sometimes we don't know

what to do when we hear the line

81

that all creation is groaning.

82

What does that mean?

83

It means that all creation

is not what it should be.

84

You know what it's like if you

wake up tomorrow morning and you're

85

in the wrong side of the bed.

86

You're gonna groan about it.

87

Maybe because you've hit the

wall, you know, and you don't

88

normally go out that side.

89

But you know what I mean?

90

If you wake up cranky, you're gonna

groan, and you're gonna moan about

91

it, and we're all guilty of it.

92

Well, that's what creation is like.

93

It's not what it was meant to be.

94

Creation, and us as humanity, and in

fact every part of creation, because

95

of the consequence of sin, is groaning.

96

And the reason why we groan

is for something better.

97

If you do wake up tomorrow and you

get out on that wrong side of the

98

bed and you're moaning and you're

groaning, you're hoping that you'll get

99

over it and probably everyone around

you will be hoping you get over it.

100

Because we want to get back

to what we should be and what

101

the day should have been.

102

You see, this world was not made

to last and neither were we.

103

The image is one of groaning.

104

heaving towards an end.

105

That's why we continue to declare

that this world is not our home.

106

So don't get too comfortable in it.

107

It will fade away.

108

And Paul continues in verse 23,

the reality that we are like.

109

And there in verse 23, he says, and not

only the creation, but we ourselves who

110

have, who have the first fruits of the

spirit grown inwardly as we wait eagerly.

111

The adoption of sons, the

redemption of our bodies.

112

There is a weariness to this

world and we must feel it too.

113

In Christ, we are people

who are being transformed.

114

We join with creation, and

we groan, waiting the day our

115

transformation is complete, and we

are fully redeemed for all eternity.

116

And so Paul concludes this section

with what seems to be a riddle.

117

He says in verses 24 and 25,

For in this hope we were saved.

118

Now hope that is seen is not hope,

for who hopes for what he sees?

119

But if we hope for what we

do not see, we wait for it.

120

The hope that Paul is speaking of

is the certainty that we will end

121

our time in this world and wake up

in eternity, perfect and redeemed.

122

But we can't see this.

123

It is unseen.

124

We can't determine it through reading

an instruction manual or looking

125

into a crystal ball or by reading

a horoscope to tell the future.

126

We trust in the words of Jesus,

and as such we wait patiently.

127

As Hebrew 10 verse 23 tells us,

Let us hold fast the confession

128

of our hope without wavering,

for he who promised is faithful.

129

Let me ask you, are you holding fast?

130

Eagerly awaiting the return of Christ?

131

Perhaps you were, but you aren't now.

132

It seems that he's taking his

time, and the lure of the world has

133

greater appeal and perceived promise.

134

Don't give up.

135

Keep going.

136

Because Christ will come back,

and he will bring his people.

137

The race is worth running, because

the finish line will be in sight.

138

Christ will come, and he will take us.

139

That's where Paul begins, so that we

would know a future glory, that even

140

though we face things that we would

never ordinarily choose to face, we

141

face them with future glory, because

it is a hope, the hope of the gospel.

142

That takes us from this

world to all eternity.

143

And so moving on to verses 26 to 30,

we see the strength of the spirit.

144

And Paul very quickly brings us

into the focus of the comforter.

145

Let's remind ourselves of

why the new Testament speaks

146

so much of the Holy Spirit.

147

In John chapter 14, in verses 16 and

17, Jesus tells us of the coming of

148

the Holy Spirit, and I will ask the

Father and he will give you another

149

helper to be with you forever.

150

Even the spirit of truth whom the

world cannot receive because it

151

neither sees him nor knows him.

152

You know him, for he dwells

in you and will be in you.

153

And again, in Acts chapter 1 and verse

8, Jesus says, But you will receive

154

power when the Holy Spirit has come

upon you, and you will be my witnesses

155

in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and

Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

156

We're given the Holy Spirit as a gift.

157

And this gift is sent to help

us to be followers of Jesus.

158

That's what Paul tells us in this passage.

159

The Spirit leads us.

160

The Spirit challenges us.

161

The Spirit directs us.

162

In these verses, Paul says that it is the

Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses.

163

And he links a particular

weakness to the Spirit.

164

in prayer.

165

We don't know what to pray for.

166

And we might think, of course we do.

167

We see all the trouble of the world

and that encourages us to pray.

168

Well, Ian Duguid says this, One of

prayer's great challenges and hindrances

169

is human indecision and ignorance.

170

Paul frankly acknowledges it.

171

We do not know what to

pray for as we ought.

172

This limitation tempts

us to prayerlessness.

173

You see, we need to be a people who pray.

174

To pray at home.

175

To join with others on

a Wednesday evening.

176

To pray in midweek.

177

To join in prayer before

the services on Sundays.

178

to engage in prayer in worship.

179

But we make decisions that hinder us

from these moments and these times

180

and in what we should be praying for.

181

But we can take hope.

182

Because even the shortest of prayers

and indeed the longest of them as

183

well are interpreted on our behalf.

184

The Holy Spirit is fully God.

185

So it is God's will that

the Spirit intervenes for us

186

according to his very will.

187

And this is done in a loving way

because the Spirit is our comforter.

188

And Paul in verse 28 continues his

encouragement by stating, And we know

189

that for those who love God, all things

work together for good, for those who

190

are called according to his purpose.

191

And we can take, quickly take this

verse out of its context and use

192

it as a stand alone verse that

covers anything we want it to mean.

193

But it comes as part of this

section, so what does it mean for us?

194

Well, this verse is pointing us

not only to the verses to come,

195

but also to the verse just before.

196

God is sovereign, and as such nothing

escapes him or falls from his view.

197

He has ordained all things, and

his purposes through his people

198

will fulfill his plan of salvation.

199

And the assurance comes in verse 29.

200

And often we don't like verse 29

because of the word that's used in it.

201

Predestined.

202

We often interpret predestination

as if we are robots without free

203

will, yet the Bible speaks of both.

204

Predestination is not a baseball bat to

be used in theological debate, rather

205

it is to be the assurance that once we

are gods, we, he will never let us go.

206

Again, Paul assures us of this, and

says that when we are called according

207

to his purpose, we are conformed and

shaped to the image of his son, so

208

that we will be his first fruits.

209

And this is, it's wonderful.

210

It's a wonderful calling to be Christ's.

211

Because once we are

his, we are always his.

212

And again, Paul runs off this section

in verse 30 by saying, And those whom

213

he predestined he also called, And those

whom he called he also justified, And

214

those whom he justified he also called.

215

glorified.

216

When we are Christ's we

receive the full package.

217

We are justified here

and now through Jesus.

218

Daily we are strengthened by the

Holy Spirit and we are and will be

219

glorified because of all of this.

220

You see how lovingly

the Father cares for us?

221

Do you see what he's done?

222

That he wants us to embrace, to know

that we are justified, to know that we

223

are redeemed, that we are strengthened

by his spirit day and daily, and

224

that yes, we are glorified now, and

225

Whether you believe yourself to

be predestined by God or not,

226

take hope in the Holy Spirit.

227

Because the Spirit is not the

third wheel of the Trinity.

228

The Holy Spirit is God and

as such we must be attentive.

229

One of the creeds of the church

that I tend to read occasionally

230

is called the Athanasian Creed.

231

And in it there's a very specific

line that talks about the Holy Spirit.

232

And how the Holy Spirit is not

distinct from the Father nor the Son.

233

That the Holy Spirit is part

of the Trinity, not some

234

minor piece, but fully God.

235

Just as the Son is fully God, just

as the Trinity is one yet three.

236

And so we must pay attention

to the work of the Spirit.

237

And so the question may be,

well, how do we do this?

238

Well, we read Scripture and

see how the Spirit speaks to

239

us through the Word of God.

240

We pray privately and corporately and

allow the Spirit to lead us for what

241

we should be praying for and have the

assurance that we are heard in heaven

242

through its intercession for us.

243

And we simply allow the Spirit to lead us

in what aligns with Scripture because the

244

Spirit will not work outside of Scripture.

245

Any sense that we have that

does not comply with Scripture

246

is not from God and is not the

true working of the Holy Spirit.

247

How open are we to the

leading of the Spirit?

248

And at times you can't articulate it.

249

It's not as if there's going

to be a plane in the sky with a

250

banner floating along its back.

251

There's something within us that

we know is simply right when the

252

Spirit leads us and speaks to us.

253

Always, always within Scripture,

will you listen to the Holy Spirit?

254

Will you allow the unction

of the Spirit to guide you?

255

That's, that's a great old

word, unction, but it's true.

256

Something we cannot explain, but

yet we know it real and true.

257

And don't think you can fool yourself

or fool God by saying this is of the

258

Spirit when it's not, because you won't.

259

That's why we read Scripture, not just

on a Sunday, so that we will know for

260

sure that we can test the Spirit and know

exactly what is true and what is not.

261

Be open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

262

Because Paul says it is the

Spirit who is the comforter.

263

It is the Spirit who works on our behalf.

264

And so we must be open

to how the Spirit leads.

265

When we come to the final

section of this chapter, and

266

it looks at God's eternal love.

267

And this is one of these sections

that reads as if Paul can't

268

get the words out quick enough.

269

He begins with a familiar question.

270

What then shall we say to these things?

271

Well, what is your response?

272

That's what he's asking.

273

After everything I've taught you, he

says, well, how are you going to respond?

274

And let's remember how he started.

275

He said, For I consider the

suffering of this present time

276

are not worth comparing with the

glory that is to be revealed to us.

277

And so he continues by asking, What

then shall we say of these things?

278

If God is for us, Who can be against us?

279

And this is a great question that

Paul is asking because the answer

280

is simply no one can be against

us if we are in Christ Jesus.

281

Verse 21 details that God has

given us his son to save us.

282

This not only demonstrates God's love

in salvation, but also that he is good

283

towards us and will be gracious to us.

284

Paul goes on in verse 33 by

asking, Who can bring any

285

charges against God's people?

286

The elect.

287

And again, no one.

288

And Paul points us to Jesus in verse 34.

289

Which I should have somewhere.

290

Who is to condemn?

291

Christ Jesus is the one who died.

292

More than that, who was raised,

who is at the right hand of God,

293

who indeed is interceding for us.

294

Because of Christ's victory over the

grave, we need not fear this world.

295

Nothing will snatch us away

from God if we are truly His.

296

Paul goes on to list the

sufferings of the present time.

297

Tribulation.

298

Distress, persecution, famine,

nakedness, danger, and sword.

299

These sound like issues that

we continue to face today, here

300

and right across the world.

301

But these, as difficult as they are, will

not separate us from the love of God.

302

These are the consequence of sin and

the consequence of the fallen world.

303

But God is greater than the world

and he will have the victory.

304

Amen.

305

And Paul goes on to quote Psalm 44

and verse 22 to drive his point home

306

that the world doesn't change and it

continues to be against God's people.

307

And this is a central verse in a

lengthy psalm that cries out to

308

God for help because his faithful

people are suffering persecution and

309

God does not seem to be responding.

310

In fact, the next verse of the

psalm explains or exclaims, wake up!

311

Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

312

Rouse yourself.

313

Do not reject us forever.

314

And so we come back.

315

We come back to the, that first

section that we looked at where we

316

might feel it's not worth going on.

317

Where this life of faith is tiresome

and God doesn't seem to be working

318

or moving in the ways we would like.

319

This is part of the testimony of God's

people through all generations because

320

it's in the hymn book of his people.

321

Amen.

322

It's not something new that humankind

has thought, but God is not slow.

323

God works exactly in his own time

because God knows what is best for us,

324

for all his people, and for his gospel.

325

And so in verse 37, by way of

concluding all of this passage,

326

we get an affirmative knew that

nothing will separate us from God.

327

We will not be taken down by these

things that are a consequence of sin.

328

We are more than conquerors, not in

ourselves, but in Jesus Christ and

329

listen to how Paul finishes this passage.

330

For I am sure that neither death, nor

life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things

331

present, nor things to come, nor powers,

nor height, nor depth, nor anything else

332

in all creation will be able to separate

us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

333

Isn't that an amazing statement

for Paul to finish on?

334

Isn't it amazing what

he says about our God?

335

That the love of God is so great towards

us that nothing will separate us from it?

336

Is this the love you knew?

337

Is this the love you want to know?

338

Because this is Paul being

confident in God's eternal love.

339

Nothing will separate us from

him because he gave his one

340

and his only son to die for us.

341

And so is this your confidence tonight?

342

Are you sure that nothing

will separate you from God?

343

Or perhaps you do want this for yourself.

344

And so you're asking, well,

how can I get this assurance?

345

How can I be certain that when I lay

down to sleep tonight and wake up in

346

the morning, I will be confident that

nothing will separate me from God's love?

347

And the answer comes, it is Jesus Christ.

348

Because we are to turn to Jesus.

349

We are to stand firm in him and stand firm

in his love because he will lead, he will

350

protect, and he will guide as he prepares

us for future glory, living each day in

351

the strength of the spirit and having

great confidence in his eternal love.

352

As I was getting ready to come out

tonight, I was listening to the radio.

353

And a hymn came on the radio that brought

me back to my childhood because it's a

354

hymn that we not only learned in Sunday

school, but that we sung in Sunday school.

355

You will have heard of John Bunyan.

356

John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's

Progress, and Pilgrim's Progress is

357

exactly what it says in the title.

358

It is the journey of a pilgrim,

of a Christian, who comes to know

359

Christ and have his burden removed,

but as he journeys to the celestial

360

city, he is tempted along the way

on the path that he should walk.

361

And parents and grandparents, if you have

the opportunity, get a, get a copy of

362

Pilgrim's Progress if you don't have one.

363

And there's some newer

versions in, in modern English.

364

Buy it and give it or sit and read it

with your children and grandchildren

365

because it's a wonderful story

that links back to scripture.

366

Bunyan wrote it as he faced the gallows.

367

It was a vision given to

him by God, he will say.

368

And from it came a hymn.

369

He who would valiant be, or

who would true valor see.

370

And the second verse goes like

this, and forgive the old English.

371

Who so beset him round with dismal

stories, Do but themselves confound.

372

His strength the more is, No lion can

him fright, Heal with a giant fight, But

373

he will have a right, to be a pilgrim.

374

And verse three begins, Hobgoblin

nor foul fiend can daunt his spirit.

375

He knows he at the end shall life inherit.

376

Then fancies flee away.

377

He'll fear not what men say.

378

He labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

379

I would sing it for you because

I was singing it at home.

380

And I thought, what a, what a hymn

that encapsulates what it means

381

to be on this journey of faith.

382

And maybe as a child I loved verse 3

because it's talked about a hobgoblin.

383

I mean we didn't have too many of

those in Cady, I don't know about

384

Anna Long, but it's all about image.

385

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend, no

matter what comes we are safe in

386

Christ and we need to know this.

387

You need to know this.

388

So that tomorrow, no matter what you

face, whatever diagnosis the doctor will

389

bring, whatever trial and tribulation

family members may come with, whatever

390

you will face, the hobgoblins and

foul fiends of your life, do not

391

despair, because there is future glory.

392

There is strength in the

Holy Spirit for the moment.

393

and the day, and there is great

confidence in God's eternal love

394

that will see us through this world

and bring us to the next faithful

395

pilgrims of our loving Savior.

396

Is this your life?

397

Is this what will be contained in

that great red book that Michael

398

Aspel will bring and present to you?

399

That in it, a hymn such as the

one I've just quoted, will be the

400

journey that you will have taken.

401

It may not be the easiest of journeys,

but it is the safest because it is

402

a journey that will lead you home.

403

Will you rise and will you follow

Christ and will you know him tonight,

404

tomorrow, and all the days he gives

you so that you will not fear and

405

you will stand in his strength.

406

I genuinely and truly hope you will.

407

Let's pray.

408

Our Father God, we

thank you for your word.

409

And we acknowledge that in this heart

of the gospel that Paul wants to

410

communicate to us, he, he doesn't always

make it plain, but we thank you that

411

we can read it in our own language.

412

We thank you that we can understand it.

413

And we can learn from it

so that we can live it.

414

And Father, thank you that your word is

given to us so that we may indeed do that.

415

Live it out as we walk before you, before

the face of God, as your pilgrims on

416

that journey that will lead us home.

417

So make us faithful, we pray.

418

And may we follow you and

know your great strength.

419

In Jesus name.

420

Amen.