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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr. Ivor J.W.Oakley (Strandtown Baptist
Church 27-11-1977)
Additional reading Ephesians 1:1-12
Also read RSV for Romans 8:28
So far in Romans 8 the teaching has been about the Holy
Spirit, but now there is a change and Paul is beginning to move to a great and
glorious climax. Last 12 verses of Romans 8 are sublime heights, unequalled
anywhere in New Testament.
Already touched on many glorious
aspects of Christian life. But now in 8:28-30, the great Spirit-directed mind
sweeps over whole counsel of God from an eternity that is past, to eternity yet
to come. Insistence on unchangeable, irresistible and invincible purpose of God.
Then he relates it to daily lives of the people of God. From vantage point of
eternity we are bidden to view our 70 short years here with all their ups and
downs. Then, in the light of the glorious purpose and plan of God, we are to
draw comfort, security and stability for our earthly pilgrimage.
Tremendous truths too great for our puny minds. Obviously to be balanced by men’s responsibility to repent, believe and obey. Often stress the man-ward side. Now other side of coin, the God-ward side.
Blessed golden chain. From eternity in past to eternity in future.
Whom he foreknew, them he
also predestinated…. also called….. also justified… also glorified. (8:29-30).
Staple diet of many a theological dictionary – foreknew, predestinated,
called, justified and glorified. Two things in eternity past – foreknew and
predestinated; Two things in experience of people here below – called and
justified; One thing in future – glorified.
It does not do to say that this merely means God knows beforehand, by looking into the future, who will accept Christ, and so predestinates them. God chooses those whom he knows will choose Christ. Here, no problem! Only wish the real problem was as easily solved. “Know” and “foreknow” have especial meaning. Love, choose, electing grace, forelove, regard with especial favour. Sets choice on them.
You only have I known of all families of the earth (Amos 3:2)
I never knew you (Matthew 25:13)
I know my sheep (John 10:14,15)
The Lord knoweth them that are his (2 Tim 2:19)
Obviously much more than being able to foresee what they will do in the future.
Foreordained. Mark out and set apart beforehand. Decreed and ordained salvation. These happened in eternity in past, before birth or creation.
Not just heard Gospel. Drawn by Holy Spirit, as Gospel was preached, to Christ for salvation. Personal, inward, effectual calling. Not just decide for Christ or give Christ their vote. Became convinced of sin, mind was enlightened, drawn by grace.
Forgiven. Righteousness of Christ is imputed to them. Declared and pronounced to be righteous before Law. Out of condemnation into acquittal, reinstatement, accepted in Christ.
Refers to resurrection at last day. Made perfectly like Christ. Resurrection body like his. Share glory in heaven with him eternally. Into his likeness. This has yet to take place (at his second coming) and yet Paul uses the past tense, as if it has already happened. Already sees us seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Hence so certain and definite. Final salvation is utterly assured. From God’s viewpoint, all is already accomplished. In our experience it will be finished at the second coming.
So here are Paul’s series of five undeniable affirmations. Like a chain with five unbreakable links – blessed golden chain. God is pictured as moving steadily on from stage to stage – from eternal choice, before he ever made the world, till final glorification of his people in heaven, in glorified and transformed universe.
This is strong meat. Full of mystery. Cannot understand? Who can? Yet simply states what all experience readily concedes – that salvation is all of God and all of grace. Not accident or bit of luck. If left to us, never would have been saved. From the first step to last – all of God
J.C.Ryle writing on John 6:37 says: “Election should never be stated nakedly and baldly without reminding those who hear it of Christ’s infinite willingness to receive and save all”. We are all bidden to come, and responsible to come. If not saved, it is not because we were not predestinated, but because we did not come. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:40). All glory to God in salvation, all blame to man in damnation.
Thus God’s eternal purpose –
creation of new race of people displaying creator’s glory, conformed to image
of Christ. Whole operation of God’s grace, that we should be conformed to
the image of his son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren (8:29).
He to be head, pioneer, leader of new creation and new race. First of new order
of beings.
As at the beginning God made man in his own image (which became defiled by sin), so now in sovereign grace God destined men to be conformed to image of his son. Son of God to be pattern, power and goal. Purpose was to take men who were marred, spoilt, ruined by sin, and transform and mould them to be just like his son. Reflect son in his character, beauty and perfection.
· He was consecrated to God’s will – so should we be
· Went about Father’s business – so should we.
· Towards men he showed all love, was gentle, kind and tender.
· No truck with evil or sin
· Purity, holiness and unselfishness in his pursuits.
· Conformed to Christ also in his glory. Our lowly body to be changed into new thing – like his glorious body. Weakness, pain, suffering to be replaced by strength, perfect health, glory and immortality.
· Is he exalted? So should we be.
· A king? So we shall reign.
· Full of joy? So our soul filled to brim with delights
· Heir of all things? We are also heirs and joint heirs with Christ.
· Whatever belongs to Christ will belong to us
Changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18)
When
he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John
3:2).
We were predestinated, not so that we should feel favouritism, sense of spiritual superiority, to produce spiritual prigs, and even less to argue and fight about this deep and glorious mystery. Rather, he has Chosen us that we should be holy (Eph.1: 4) - saved for holiness, Christlikeness, to bear family likeness, wear image of God, saved for character. Not just to avoid hell and perishing, but also to be made like Christ and spiritually transformed. Saved not only from hell, but also from sin. Need to see election and predestination in this light. There was a famous preacher who remarked that in his theological college days he heard many arguments about election, but never one about the purpose of election – obedience and Christlikeness.
These predestined people are
called Them that love God, the called according to his purpose (8:28).
For those people, and with God’s purpose of bringing us into conformity with
Christ, God works all things together for good (RSV).
The work of bringing us to be
conformed to God’s image begins, in our experience, when we are called and
justified. The Holy Spirit enters the soul, and begins to change and mould us.
This continues as we grow spiritually, and is completed at second coming when we
are to be like him and share perfection. Say goodbye to indwelling sin forever.
In forwarding this good purpose, God causes all things to
work together for good. We so often quote this text without regard to context.
We fail to relate it to God’s eternal purpose and to our being conformed to
Christ’s image. It refers to “all things” – not things taken
individually, but all things as they work together. For example, joy, sorrow…
any one of those things would destroy us, but not when working together.
They work together for good. Not
the worldling’s conception of good – ease, comfort, prosperity etc. But the
Christian’s good, as his supreme goal is to be like Christ. All things to help
to shape his character, teach him to depend on God, rely on Lord’s direction
and power, loving, patient, forbearing, men of faith, like Christ in all
relationships of life. Walk humbly with thy God (Micah 6:8). Grow in
grace (2 Peter 3:18). When biography is written we shall see that
black page harmonized with bright tone to achieve God’s purpose.
Not to ask about any particular
act of providence – is this for my goal? Not one thing alone which is for our
good. But one thing with another, and a third, and a fourth. All mixed together
– then they are for good. Jacob said All these things are against me
(Gen 42:36). Paul says “All these things are for me”.
Notice Paul says We know (8:28),
not we hope or we think. We know it from Scripture; we have assurance from God,
who stakes his word and character on the fact. We know from experience of
others. We know from previous experience. We know enough of God so far to say
that we recognize his purpose and guiding hand behind so much that has already
happened to us. We have seen disappointments turned into blessings.
So we face present circumstances. All has come through direction or permissive will of God. He moulds, by his gracious hands, the whole of our lives and events of lives. Accept this with submission and peace, without grumbling over our present lot. What is happening now is in God’s plan. Remember present tense used in 8:28, not “has” or “will”, but now all things are working together for us. Perhaps things may get worse for any one of us – yet the principle ever remains the same. We get peace and rest when we accept all things trustingly from the hand of God.
Our lives are part of God’s eternal purpose. Began in the past, to be completed in the future. God’s hand is on our lives. Cannot see the end at the moment, only see in part. Have God’s assurance and own experience that good purpose in all things. All things come from all wise and all-loving Father – so we must accept all that God sends. Receive what is revealed with submission, take comfort, encouragement and joyous assurance. Let troubled hearts cease here. Keep purpose of salvation before us. Hence look constantly at Christ, the model. Aim daily to draw on the strength he gives. Ask about every event – how does this help to conform me to the image of Christ? Commune much with him, and we will become more like him.
