And as you know, we have been journeying through the book of Romans and without much ado, today we have a lot to cover, without much ado, let's turn our Bibles to Romans 8.

And we have been considering, the amazing grace of God, how God's love is so strong, so sovereign and so everlasting. It is because of the love of God, that's why we could say with confidence in Romans 8:28, that all things work together for good to them that love God, that our sovereign God, our loving God, our wise God, is synergizing everything together for the good of His people.

The good that he wants for us is that of Christ likeness and therefore, in our lives, whether you realize it or not, it is an ever flowing stream of blessings, pouring into us, changing and making us more like Jesus.

This week, I was sending out an SMS to our church to pray for our brother John. As you know, John Wong has had a stroke, a bleeding aneurysm. There are two aneurysms, in his circulatory system, in the brain. One burst, and therefore he was admitted some two weeks ago and when he was about to be discharged, and another one burst and he had to again go through emergency surgery some two, three days ago.

And so, I was sending out an SMS to the church, to ask you to pray for John. And I text something like this "John is going for an op to stop the bleeding. And I was keying in the words, the letters, I pressed something wrongly and it has an auto correct function and it goes, an op to stop the 'blessing'. I had a little smile that broke out on my face, because, I realized that there was a mistake. It would never happen, it could never happen, nothing that they do can stop the blessings of God flowing into my life and into your lives if you're those who love God and those who are called according to His purpose, because all things work together for your good. It's an ever constant flowing stream of blessings into our lives.

And so, it is a tremendously encouraging verse, in verse 28.

But, it is as if this is not good enough, God further deepens our base, strengthens our confidence in His promise in verse 28.

He moves on now in verse 29 and verse 30 to gird up your foundation. He says, this is why, you can know, all things work together for good, because this is the process of how God is going to achieve it.

Looking at verses 29 and 30, this morning, Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit says,

Rom 8:29,30

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.

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How do we know verse 28 is true? Verse 29 and 30, right before us, gives us the foundation. Without verses 29 and 30, verse 28, is just wishful thinking. But, here it is, God is gracious not only to tell you about His promise in verse 28, He is going to tell you His process in verse 29 and 30 and the process here, is an amazing one. It's a staggering one. It's a process that begins in eternity and that will end only in eternity.

Five words, in these two verses tells you the process and without guessing it is this.

Foreknow, predestinated, called, justified and glorified.

They are like five links in the Golden chain of redemption, five unbreakable chains, and this is the process of God and this is an amazing passage, because, this brings us first to heaven and then, allows us to come down to earth and eventually lifts us up again back into the heavens.

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As I have said, it's from eternity to eternity.

Have you gone traveling and on a holiday and been to a beautiful scenic site. Maybe you have been to the Grand Canyon, maybe you have been to the mountain ranges and when you got off the bus, the first thing that you behold is that staggering, breathtaking view of the mountain ranges. It takes your breath away, because there is so much, so glorious for us to see.

This morning, I am like a tour guide, I pray, by the grace of God, I can bring you to have a panoramic view of the plan of God for all human redemption. Now, so this is a grand theme and this is going to be a tough message. I say right from the beginning, this is going to be tough. You have to ride with me, you have to go along with me and I pray that God will give you the mind, the desire to see His beautiful plan for your life.

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Let me bring you, to a panoramic view of the eternal purpose of God for your life. It's amazing, it begins with the first word here, "For whom he did foreknow, ……"

So, it begins right here, the purpose of God begins with foreknowledge. The word foreknow, is the word "proginosko" in the Greek. Pro, means before hand, before time, ginosko means to know, in a sense to know intimately. Proginosko, occurs seven times in the New Testament. And what does it mean, you said. Well, it means to foreknow, because, it means to know before hand. Another word you may have for is foresight.

So, this is understandable. God knows before time, He knows about something even before the thing happened. That's the omniscience of God. It's reasonable. He knows all things, because He is omniscient and He is not bound by time. He is, Alpha and Omega and therefore, He knows all things for all times at any given point of time. So, He can know something even before it happens. So, foreknowledge includes the idea of foresight, knowing something before it happens.

But, if we were to stick to that limited understanding of foreknowledge, we would have missed the mark, because, that's not what Scripture teaches. Proginosko is not only to have foresight, but it is also to fore ordained. If I may put it this way, in the modern English word, it is to pre-determined. That's what foreknowledge is. You see, the word used in Acts 2:23

Acts 2:23

Him (Jesus), being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

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Scripture tells us that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is both a wicked act of man and the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. So, what you mean pastor by saying the foreknowledge of God, does it mean that God, the Father, eternity time past, simply knew that Jesus would go to the cross? Does it mean that somehow God, found out, later that Jesus is going to die on the cross? Hardly, the point here, is that Jesus was determined before time, in eternity, that he would be the Lamb of God that is slain before the foundation of the world.

Revelations 13:8

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So, what this is saying is, foreknowledge is pre-determination, fore-ordination. God knows, what is going to happen, foresight, because He has determined, it would happen this way, fore ordination, that's the meaning of foreknowledge, not merely foresight, it is also to fore ordain.

You see, the Bible tells us, that fore know, or foreknowledge is applied to those whom He knows, for whom He did foreknow. He knows who will be saved. It's not a mystery to God. He knows, who will believe, but these people whom He knows, are not because they, sort of make a decision later and God then says, "Oh, you would make a decision for me, therefore, I save you." No, it means, He predetermined, He foreordained those that would be saved.

The picture therefore, is not that of God, taking a pair of binoculars, looking down the corridors of time and say "see who will believe in Me, and then I choose them". It is to fore ordain, to pre-determine. Why? Because if God really is just doing that, just taking a pair binoculars and looking through the course of time and waiting for someone who would believe in Him, He would wait for all eternity and no man would come to Jesus Christ. None!, why, because the Bible tells us, there is none that seeketh after God. The Bible tells us, we are all at enmity with God, we hate God, we are blinded by Satan.

In fact, the Bible says we are blinded by Satan, in fact, the Bible tells us, we are dead in our sins. You kick a dead man, he doesn't respond. No man, that on his own, in his sinful flesh, would ever, ever come to God on his own, none.

You see, how the Lord Jesus Christ puts it. In John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him

in fact, Spurgeon is very cheeky here. He says,

“I’m glad God chose me before he saw me, because if he had waited until he saw me, he might not have wanted me.”

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The Bible teaches us, in

Acts 13:48

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

In Ephesians 1:4, that God hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.

Eph 1:4

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:

So, I say to you, that the word, foreknowledge, is not merely to have foresight, but to foreordain, to predetermine, to choose those who God will save.

Now, I know, when we teach this, certainly in a church like this, in the congregation like this, there will be questions and I want to help you in these questions, I am not trying to be intellectual, I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm not trying to be cute. I am trying to share with you what the Word of God simply says. But when these things come to us, it is hard to grasp. How can God choose, how? Wouldn't it have some contradictions in the Bible, so let me try my best to anticipate your questions and to answer them the best that I know how.

Number one question, when we teach that God chooses, foreordained those that will be saved, the number one question you have is this, is God the one then damning people to hell? Logical reasoning is this, if out of the sea of humanity, if God chooses some to be saved, election, choice, foreordination, doesn't it then mean that God has then chosen not to choose others to be saved and therefore, He is the one who is guilty of sending them to hell, He didn't save them. You get the reasoning?

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So, when we teach that God foreordains, this question pops up, "Is God the one then damning people to hell?" Wow, this is a tough question. Let me answer this question with another question and you will see the reason why. The sin of Adam and Eve, whose fault was it? Think with me, the sin of Adam and Eve, whose fault was it? Now, we all know, if you believe in God's absolute sovereignty, in a sense, God allowed it isn't it? I mean, God could have on day one, like I've always said, taken the snake and strangled it to death. God could have squashed his head, God could have done all these things to prevent sin, yet, but sin came, entered into the world, by Adam and Eve.

And so, we can say, God did it. But no, none of us today would put the blame on God, if you are informed by Scriptures, because the Bible never ever attributes the blame of the sin to God. It is clearly and squarely laid upon Adam and Eve with the choice they made.

So, the sin of Adam and Eve, whose fault is it? Scripture conclusively says, Adam and Eve's. Now, when man is damned to hell, whose fault is it? Is God the one to blame, affirmatively again, no.

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The Bible never attributes the blame to God, never. Although, our logical thinking would be, if God chooses some to be saved, it means He damned the others, no, that's not the way it is in the Scriptures.

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He chooses some to be saved, but those who were condemned in hell, it's because they have chosen to reject the Gospel and refuse to be believe in Jesus Christ. You see, the Bible tells us about the heart of God in this matter.

Eze 18:32

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth

Eze 18:32

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

When Jesus also was on this, this is what He said

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but you would not!

Mat 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

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There's that pleading.

Jesus, in Luke 19, shed tears for the city that would not turn, that would not repent.

Luke 19:41,42

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

The heart of God in 2 Peter 3, is that He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2Pet 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So, be careful of saying God damned and preordained people to hell. God preordained people to salvation, but man is damned to hell because they reject the Gospel and refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, you see.

You say, pastor, how do you reconcile that? I can't, I can't, let me say first of all, I can't reconcile that. But there are things in the Bible that we can't just reconcile in our limited, puny, human thinking. Just take for example the Trinity, anyone figured that out. Anyone figured how, Jesus can be 100% God and at the same time, 100% man, anyone? And so it is, how is it that God can choose some to salvation and yet at the same time, no blame is given to Him, attributed to Him for those who are damned in hell, I don't know.

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But God, is God. If He is love, I believe He is love. Is it unloving for God to then not choose everyone to salvation, I believe He is love, that settles it you see. Be careful about pushing human logic.

You see, they are thinking in some circles about double predestination. I don't see that in the Bible. Double predestination means, God predestinates someone to be saved and He also predestinated someone to be damned, I don't see that.

And, so let me answer this question, "Is God the one damning people to hell?" The answer is no. We are condemned because we have not believed in Jesus Christ.

It doesn't take away the sovereign will and act of God in pre-determination, in fore ordination. Now, I know you struggle with this and I think your mind is swirling already. But let it, maybe comfort you a bit that it also swirls in my head, I can't understand it, I don't think anyone has figured that out.

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But you see, it shouldn't dilute our teaching of what the Bible says. He did foreknow, He did preordained, no man can come to Jesus, except the Father draws him, yet at the same time, no blame can be attributed, ascribed to God, we are condemned because we have not believed in Jesus Christ.

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Question number two is this. Does it mean then, if God is sovereign and He chose us, then we don't have to evangelize. Hah, this is a good question isn't it? Hey, if God says, those who belong to Me, those who I have chosen, will be saved, then, I can probably sit back, relax, because que, sera sera, those will be saved will be saved.

Again, I answer this question with another question. If you believe in the sovereignty of God, does it mean then that you don't have to pray? I mean, He is sovereign, what. He's all in control, so, it means I don't have to pray. Does it mean then that I don't have to study the Scriptures and grow in Christ, because, ultimately I would be like Jesus. Does it allow for passivity and fatalism ? Absolutely no.

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Similarly, knowing that God, preordains, doesn't give us any excuse to slip into passivity or fatalism, none whatsoever. First of all, God commands us to preach the Gospel. Number two, we see the example of Paul and in his own life, Paul is the one who gives us Romans 8:29, but he is the same man that the Bible describes as being persuading, reasoning, disputing with people that they may come to Jesus. There is no contradiction in the mind of apostle Paul. In fact, I say, if you know the sovereignty of God in salvation, it encourages you to preach the Gospel, because there will be those whose hearts the Lord has opened.

If you believe that man is so corrupt and depraved in our sins, there is no chance a man can be saved, unless God is sovereignly working in men's hearts.

So, does it mean we don't have to evangelize? No, far from it. I believe we have to, in fact we should be encouraged to do so, knowing that God is sovereign in salvation.

Third question- how does God choose? God preordains, then how does God choose, what is His selection criteria ? Does God choose those who are handsome, that's why I see so many of you here (Laughter in the congregation), er, not quite. Does God choose those who are clever, does God choose those who are of good potential, does God choose those whose hearts are just nicer and better and gentler and humbler, is there such a word as humbler? More humble. What is the selection criteria of God.

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Look at what the Scripture says

Rom 9:11

(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;)

I see from this verse, it is not about what we do, nor what we will do, but it is according to His purpose. God selects based on His sovereign purpose.

Rom 9:15,16

Again tells us,

Rom 9:15,16

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

In other words, I believe today that God does not choose us based on who we are, but because of who He is.

In my own devotional reading in Deuteronomy 7:7, I read about how God chose Israel. Why did God chose Israel, why didn't He choose China or India or Americans, there were no Americans then but why did he chose Israel? Was it because they were the nicest people, was it because they were the largest nation? No, God says, I chose you because I chose you, according to His sovereign purpose. Not because of who we are but because of who He is.

You see, God has a purpose and a plan that is yet unknown to us in its details. Why would God even love me, why would God even love you, I don't know but He does. So, how does He choose us? Based on who He is.

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The next question is "How do I know I have been chosen?"

Now, that is an important question right? If God chooses those who He will save, then, how do I know if I am chosen today? Critical question. Let me point to you another point of view. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The offer is universal. In other words, Jesus didn't say "Go and find out if you are called, then come and talk to Me." No, He says, "This is a universal offer, whosoever believes John not perish, but have everlasting life."

It stands. John 6:37 ... him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Again, a universal offer. You see that again in Romans 10

Rom 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And then lastly in

... whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Rev 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The offer of God is given unconditionally to us, whosoever will. So, we need not today, default up with figuring, am I called or am I chosen or not. What is most important is, have I believed. That's the point, that's the balance of Scripture you need to strike. Knowing election, knowing fore-ordination does not absolve us of the need to put our faith in Jesus Christ.

So let me answer this question "So how do I know if I am chosen?" The better question would be "Have I believed?", because, whosoever believes will be saved.

So, we see these two parallel lines, God chooses, and we need to believe. Seems to be two parallel tracks that don't quite match, but they do, in the mind of God, not in ours, that's all.

So, in the mind of God there is that choice, sovereign choice of God and then there is a choice we have to make to believe in Jesus, we are accountable for that. It meets somehow, not understood by us today, but certainly, it matches in the mind of God.

But John 6:37 gives us a good point. It says, all that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

So we see, that those who come to Jesus are those who the Father hath given. At the same time they are those who will come to Jesus Christ.

Somebody picture it this way, coming to Jesus is like walking through a gate. On one side of the gate, there are these words, "Whosoever will come." And so, we walked through, we believe, we want to believe in Jesus, we make that choice of faith to believe in Him, we walked through the gate and now we are embraced by our Savior and we turned around and we see the other side of the gate that says "Chosen, before the foundation of the world."

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How do these two aspects meet, we know not, but they do in the mind of God.

The last question then, I think I confused you, but those who are seeking, you will know. But, maybe you'll be asking this question, "Pastor, why do you even teach this? You have spent 20 minutes, telling us about this and solving all these difficulties and why do you even bother to teach this, why don't you just skip this and move on, to something more practical, something more relevant?"

You know, sometimes when the Word of God is taught with regards to pre-ordination, fore-ordination and so on, you feel as if a grenade is thrown into a small tight room, it can explode any time and the preacher may be seen as someone who is, who is just a little bit out of touch, he's extreme, he's trying to be intellectual, he is trying to teach you chim things to impress you, and you see no point in it. So, this is a good question, why do you even teach this, what's the point.

Let me say to you why I teach it. Number 1, I teach this because, simply it is God's Word, I don't choose what I need to teach, I simply am committed to teaching and revealing what God Himself has to say. I am not in the business of trying to sweeten things or make things easier. I do try to make things understandable, the best a man can do. But at the end of the day, I respect the Word of God and if He sees it fit to put it in the Scriptures, it is right and needful for us to teach it.

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You see, the Holy Spirit could have taken out every teaching on election, He could have. It would not be a problem for Him if God determines it to be so. But, it is in the will of God for you to know and it is my responsibility therefore to teach. Though it may be complex, though it may really squeeze your brain juices, but it is needful. Number 2, I teach this because I believe that when we realize what this entails, it humbles us and it helps us in our worship. Jonah says, salvation is of the Lord. What does he mean? I believe it means, from the beginning to the end, salvation is entirely, the work of God. He is the Alpha, He is the Omega, He is the Author of salvation, so that no flesh can glory in His presence. I can't go to God in heaven and say, "God, You see, You save me because You saw through the tunnels of time, and saw a heart that would believe in You." There would be no one who would stand and boasts of that, because God is sovereign in His salvation, He chose me, and I am humbled, I am grateful. I worship Him for His love, He so loved me when I was yet a sinner, even before I was born.

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Thirdly, I think, when we know about God's foreknowledge, it encourages us in our evangelism. Far from stagnating, we are moving. Why? Because we know that there are hearts who God will open. In fact, I think it really does us a whole deal of good in evangelism when we understand this.

I think, number 1, it keeps us from having to use crafty words and sly techniques. Huh, he doesn't believe, so let me try to add a few things here, to sort of make him believe. I think, sometimes, preachers can turn into salesmen. You know how they are ? Buy this car. You mean not good enough, let me throw in a few tires, let me throw in leather seats and surround sound stereo, let me throw these freebies to you, come, buy the car. I don't have to, if I believe in the sovereignty of God in salvation. My sheep will hear My voice. And I am committed to preaching the Word clearly and truthfully and I think it encourages us in our evangelism. It encourages us to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, because, except a man be born again, by the water and of the Spirit, he cannot see God is sovereign and we need to trust Him and depend on Him.

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But lastly, I think we need to teach this because, it shows you of your future. You know what's the context here ? Romans 8: 28, 29, 30 is a irresistible moving of the mighty sovereign God, from stage to stage, in securing your glory, you see. And so, when we know it begins with God, not us, wow, I know He will not fail. He started it, He will complete it, I know He will finish this good work that He has begun. Tremendous security, in verse 29, to give you a confidence in verse 28, we know all things, do work together for good because He chose me, He makes no mistakes. And that's the point you see.

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So, my friends, I'm not in the business of skirting what is hard or what is complex. I think none of us should. We may not understand fully, but we certainly should not be cowering in fearfulness and not teach the Word of God.

So, this is the first link of the golden chain of redemption. I have spent so much time, let me assure you, the next four won't be as long, if that is of any comfort to you.

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The first link therefore is foreknowledge. The second link, is that of predestination, pre-destinate. What is the meaning of the second link, what is the meaning of pre-destinate? Foreknow, is proginosko. Pre-destinate is prohorizo. Pro, horizo. What is pro ? Before hand, horizo, sounds like? Horizon. Now, what is a horizon? Too many of us, we don't quite know what is horizon? Let me show you a picture of a horizon, where is the horizon? You see, it is not easy alright. There was a time I didn't know what is a horizon too. Horizon is not this nor this. Horizon is this line that separates the sky from the sea, because the horizon is the furthest boundary your human eye can see. That's why it is horizon. He refers to a boundary, it refers to a limit, it refers to a demarcation, it refers to a destination.

So, putting this word together, pro- horizo, what does it mean? It means, predestination is what God determines for us before time. You say, what is the difference between foreknowledge and predestinate. Foreknowledge refers to the who, pre-destinate refers to the where. The who and the where, the people and the purpose. So, God chooses for Himself before time, a race of people He would save, a number of people He would save, He knows. Words such as the fullness of Gentiles and so on, He knows those who are His.

And for these people, He now pre-destinate, He pro-horizo a destination for them, a destiny for them and you know what is the destiny? Where would you end, where would you arrive? The Bible tells us, He pre-destinate us to be conformed to the image of His Son. So, this is amazing, God chooses those who would be His and He predetermine that they will be like His Son. So, these are the two links that begins in heaven.

Now, let me move on to the third link, I said it would be faster. The third link here is that of call and here, the chain now dips down into Earth. What begins in eternity now intersects with time, what is in the mind of God now comes into your life. He foreknows, He pre-destinates, now, He calls.

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He calls, and the calling here is a bridge between the first two and the last two, it is the connecting point, it is where it intersects in your life. The call of God here, as I have mentioned and taught last week, is not a call that is made by man. It is not a general call. It is a specific, internal effectual call by the Spirit of God. We know that because it is applied later on, that these called are those that will be justified and those who will be glorified. So, it is an effectual call, the call of God.

It is as if I may put it this way, like how Jesus called with a loud voice or shouted with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" Now, before Jesus shouted, maybe they would have been other men who shout, (in a squeaky voice) Lazarus come forth (Laughter in the congregation). They shout until their voice is hoarse, but you know what, Lazarus would still be lying in his grave. Why? It was a general call without the power of God. But when Jesus Himself called, "Lazarus, come forth!" Lazarus came alive.

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The calling of God here is one that is attended with great power. Man is dead in his sins and until the Spirit of God comes to breathe life, there would be no salvation. But the call of God is where, the effectual working in the heart begins.

You see, the Bible tells us, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He's got to be given new life and that new life comes not from himself, but from the Spirit of the living God.

Again, the Bible says that, it is God, He quickens us, brings us alive. You see, the plan of salvation is drawn out in eternity by the Father, secured for us all by the Son on the cross, 2000 years ago and applied by the blessed Holy Spirit to you today. He quickens us and I think this is a fulfillment, clearly of the new covenant, promised in Scriptures, Ezekiel 36:26 where God says He is going to take away the stony heart and give you an heart of flesh.

Eze 36:26

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

It's a powerful calling of God. You know, it is not like God gives you a little nudge, "Hey, believe leh, quick believe !" As if, He needs to assist you, you are totally helpless. It is a powerful, decisive move by the Holy Spirit to take away your stony heart and to give you a heart of flesh. It is so powerful, it overcomes your unwillingness.

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You see, God doesn't force us or coerce us to salvation. He makes us willing, He overcomes our unwillingness, it is God who works in us, both to will and to do His good pleasure. That's the call of God. How does God call you today, practically? We know it is the call of the Spirit, the mighty moving of the Spirit of God in all hearts, but how does He calls you today? The Bible says, this is how He calls you. In Romans 10:13, 14

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how can they call, how can they believe in Jesus if they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher?

Rom 10:13,14

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

God calls you today, by the preaching of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. And I believe, in a time such as this, the Spirit of God can take His Living Word and call you to life, brothers and sisters and friends and visitors. He uses the preaching of His eternal word. 2Thess 2:13,14

……God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our Gospel.

Again, it is the Gospel, the Word of God that is applied by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that calls a man to come.

2The 2:13,14

……God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The chain comes onto earth, intersects with time, arrives at your life.

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But let's move on, the fourth link of this chain is that they would also be justified. This is the bulk of the teachings of the book of Romans in chapters, 1-5 and I think, it would have been rather familiar to you. But in order for God to pre-destinate you to glory, you must be justified because no sinner can stand in the sight of God. So there must be justification, to pronounce you sinless, guiltless, righteous, perfect, that's what it means. How do you get to that stage, can I earn my way there, can I work my way to be a sinless, perfect, righteous, guilt-free man. No, you can't, it has to be given to you, it has to be imputed to you, it has to be credited to you and God does it for you.

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He gives you the righteousness of Christ, He gives you the sinlessness of Christ, He gives it all to you. And when God gives it to you, do you know, potentially, there could be a scandal throughout the universe for all times, because, all of eternity would then say "God, how could You do that, they are sinners, how could You just close Your eyes and give them Your righteousness?"

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To prevent that scandal for all eternity, God poured out His eternal wrath onto His own Son, Jesus Christ, that He might be righteous who justifies us. A price is to be paid and so, Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us. For us, so that we who are sinners will be found to be righteous in Him. Tremendous justification, the work of God in His own Son.

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But finally, I move on to the last link. Them He also glorified.

I think, the theme of glory has been looked into in Romans 8 already. It is a comprehensive glorification, it includes a new body, a new inner being, of perfect holiness, righteousness, it includes an everlasting, communion with God, it includes the glory and inheritance that we share with Jesus, we are co-heirs, it is what it is, the full glory of God.

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But notice what is interesting here, is that it is spoken of in the past tense; none of us is really glorified yet, but it is spoken of in the past tense, as if it is already there, it's already done, why? Because, it is as good as done, friend. If God is the Sovereign One, mightily moving, irresistibly through the stages, He is the One working out His promises, it will be done. Therefore, it is in the past tense. There is a certainty to God's working. Are you confused? A process that begins in heaven, come to earth, returns to heaven. It's a panoramic breathtaking view of what happens in eternity and what would end in eternity. And let me tell you this, this is all the work of God. There is no if, there is no perhaps, there is no maybe. He says He foreknows, He pre-destinates, He called, He justifies, He glorifies, there is no loss. If He begins with 100 people in foreknowledge, there will be 100 people in predestination, they'll be 100 people in calling, there would be 100 people in justification, there's a 100 people in glorification, there would be no loss, no slippage, no one gets off the bus, because God is sovereign.

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It is not as if God has drawn up a plan and He sits back and relax and says, adopts a watch and wait attitude. No, He is sovereignly working it out in the course of human history, you see. This is what we call sovereign grace. The sovereign grace, the Author of salvation is given, but more than that, the power to believe is given and it is totally undeserved grace, totally undeserved and nothing is left to chance, nothing is left to the flippant, undependable will of men. God does it you see; sovereignly at work.

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I end with this thought.

John Stott

“Here then is the apostle’s series of 5 undeniable affirmations. God is pictured as moving irresistibly from stage to stage; from an eternal foreknowledge and predestination, through a historical call and justification, to a final glorification of his people in a future eternity. It resembles a chain of five links, each of which is unbreakable.”

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Sovereign, power, might of the Almighty God. This is the God we worship, not a God held hostage to the will of man. He is sovereign. So, these are the five stages, but can I say this, why? Why would God save us, why? This is a good question right, because Romans8 v28 gives me the promise, 29-30 give me the process, but let me tell you the purpose. What is the purpose of it all, so that you may have a ticket out of hell, so that you may be able to go to heaven, so that you may have joy, so that you may have peace, why does God move through the stages in this way, in the church, why? The Bible tells us, to be conformed to the image of His Son. Ah hah, you say this is the reason, God's reason for the plan of redemption is so that we may be made like Jesus. I say, that is true but that is only secondary.

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Let me tell you what is primary. The primary reason is that when we are conformed to the image of His Son, then Jesus might be the Firstborn among many brethren, firstborn what does it mean. In the culture of the Jews, it is familiar, the firstborn is the one who has the greatest preeminence, glory. Jesus is not firstborn chronologically, He's not the first to rise from the dead, but he is Firstborn in the terms of preeminence. He is to be set apart above all His brethren.

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Think about it, Jesus is glorified by the angels today, but unto which of the angels did He say, you are my son, you are my brethren? None, because angels are servants, ministering spirits and so, God's plan, God's purpose is that He will save a whole humanity, a whole race of redeemed, holy people who will be like His Son that they may give Him the glory. These are the people who have tasted of sin, who know the guilt and now they are loved with an everlasting love, graced with the grace on high and that flows out of them a joy and an appreciation, the angels couldn't. And with this redeemed mass of humanity, Jesus receives the glory that is due to His Name, that is why God is irresistibly moving through the stages, that is why all things will work to your good that you may be like His Son. It is ultimately for Jesus His Son. Salvation my friends, is not about you. It disturbs those who are not God's children, but if you are His, you can fully say, is about You, Jesus, it's about You. The Bible tells us, in Colossians

Col 1:18

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Phi 2:9-11

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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The purpose of redemption, is that Jesus would receive the glory and that God the Father who then also receive the glory. My friends, I have done my job as the tour guide and I pray the Spirit of God would allow you to drink in the panoramic beauty of the purpose and plan of God in these two verses, breathtaking, from eternity to eternity, your future is secure because of Jesus Christ. Let's bow for a word of prayer.

I appreciate today your attentiveness, I know it is tough, but my dear friends, this is too rich, too blessed to miss it, isn't it? I pray today, by the grace of God, His Spirit would draw you nearer to His heart, knowing that He is not an impotent, reactionary God. He is a God who is initiatory, He is sovereign, He is moving, irresistibly and because He is such a sovereign, loving God, my friends, you can have hope for the future, you can be secure in the knowledge that all things do work together, synergize for your good. Ah, my friends, I pray that the Word of God would stir within your heart, a spirit of humility and a spirit of worship for who He is. May all eyes turn to Jesus Christ today and I pray today for you, my friends, who are here, gathered maybe for the first time. You have been wondering, am I chosen or not, am I saved or not. My friends, the offer of God is still available for you today; Whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life. My friends, don't stay out of the grand purpose of God, come in, whosoever will, let him drink free.

Ah, friends, there is salvation in Jesus Christ, whosoever believes, I beg you, I implore you, I pray by the Spirit of God, He calls you today, but you do need to make that choice, you do need to believe, you do need to turn from your sin and say "Lord, I am a sinner, unworthy of salvation, but thank you for Jesus, Your Son, who went to the cross and I know He thought of me." He so loved the world that He gave you His Son. Would you come to Jesus today? Father, we thank You, our hearts are overwhelmed, we can't comprehend all, but whatever Your Spirit has deposited in our lives, would You water it, increase it, nourish it, that we would be people who would rejoice in Your sovereignty, Your grace, Your love. Father, You are perfect, You are love, You are justice, You are holy, You are wise and You are sovereign, we praise You for who You are. Would you be pleased today to do Your work in our lives and to draw those who have yet to believe, to come to Jesus and they would be careful to give You the glory and the praise that all eternity will be about, may Jesus receive the preeminence, may every knee bow. We thank You dear God we ask and pray all this in Jesus Name, amen. God bless.