PENTECOST 8 – July 26, 2020 – Romans 8:28-39
“THE BLESSINGS OF BEING GOD’S PEOPLE”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Romans 8. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- At times in the history of God’s Old Testament people, there were some who noted that it didn’t appear to be of any benefit to serve God. In the book of Malachi we read: “’Your words have been hard against me,’ says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping His charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
- To this God responded: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His Name. ‘They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.’”
- Now, this does not mean that all Christians become billionaires while all who reject Him stand on street corners begging. This does not mean that all Christians live to be 100, while all unbelievers die young. It is a bit more complicated than that. However, there are promises and assurances in our text in regard to “THE BLESSINGS OF BEING GOD’S PEOPLE.” We will explore this important and soul-strengthening reality! First:
I. God Has Always Blessed His People
A. Those Chosen By God In His Grace
Old Testament: “You are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out all the people who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set His love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the hand of Pharaoh.”
B. He Has Always Blessed Those Foreknown To Him And Predestined
Text: “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined.”
1. These He Called [effectively]
Text: “Those whom He predestined He also called.”
2. These He Also Justified – Declared To Be Righteous In His Sight
Text: “Those whom He called He also justified.”
3. These He Also Glorified
Text: “Those whom He justified He also glorified.”
4. These Are Conformed To Christ
Text: “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Statement: Now, being foreknown and predestined by God are not visible to the human eye. Nether is being justified – it is only documented and assured to us in Scripture. Our being “glorified” at this point is in progress, but is at times visible. John reminds us: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, but it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.” [1 John 3:2] Nonetheless it is also true that “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.” [2 Cor. 3:18]
Application: At the point of death, or on the day of Christ’s return, it will surely be plain and visible “THE BLESSINGS OF BEING GOD’S PEOPLE,” the benefit and advantage of those who love God! To be in harmony with God’s purpose for us, and to be fulfilling that purpose in our lives – wow! That is an amazing blessedness! And all of this comes to us purely by the grace of God, simply because He has “set His love on you and chose you for His treasured possession.”
Transition: Now the additional promises that follow are also great and glorious. However, we must understand that “all things working together for good” for God’s dear people, does not mean that “all things are going to be pleasant.” But it does mean that:
II. Everything Works For Good To God’s People
Text: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
A. God Is For Us
Text: “If God is for us, who can be against us? . . . It is God Who justifies us. . . . Christ indeed intercedes for us.”
B. None Of Our Enemies Can Overcome Us
Text: “Who can be against us? Who shall bring any charges against God’s elect?”
C. There Is Nothing That Can Cut Us Off From God’s Love, Care, And Protection
Text: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Statement: So, it is not just spiritual blessings and hope for the life to come that God has blessed us with, but also every physical blessing pertaining to life here below. As said earlier, this does not mean that we will not have troubles, trials, tribulations, or suffering. Rather, none of these things can ultimately harm us or separate us from God’s love. Rather, all of these things must ultimately be blessings to us. Always, God is for us, interceding for us!
Application: So, to the eye of man, the empirical eye of man, it may indeed appear that “It is vain to serve God.” The unbelieving may indeed ask “What is the profit of our keeping His charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?” Many indeed may conclude that “Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.” Such, however, is not the case at all.
Rather, God’s people of faith, informed by His Word and His many promises and assurances, know that no matter what kind of hardship they may be facing, it will ultimately turn out for their blessedness. Even if we cannot explain how in this lifetime, we will surely see it when fully glorified in the kingdom of heaven.
Conclusion: “You are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out all the people who are on the face of the earth. . . . the Lord set His love on you and chose you.”
That means that God will ever be demonstrating and proving in your life the benefit and advantage of serving Him in love! So let us rejoice in these assurances, and in God’s fulfillment of His promises in our lives! And let us be or good courage and strength of faith and heart!
God grant it to us all, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.