seated, have your Bibles, if you will, take them and turn over to Romans chapter 8 this morning. Romans chapter 8 this morning. What a great chapter of the Bible. Some people, you know, say this is the greatest chapter in the Bible. Every chapter is great, but certainly Romans chapter 8 is a wonderful, wonderful chapter in the Bible. It begins with no condemnation. and ends with no separation. Eternal security is found right there in Romans chapter 8. I love it. And it's a great, great chapter in the Bible. I read the story, kind of an interesting story. There was a man who moved into a retirement community to spend the rest of his life there. And it wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among these residents that he was staying with. And there was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him as well. And so they spent a lot of time together. They talked a lot together. And finally one evening he thought to himself, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna propose this individual. And so he proposed this lady and he asked her to marry him. The next morning he woke up and he remembered his proposal, but he couldn't remember what her answer was. So he went to her and said this, he said, I'm really embarrassed. He said, I proposed to you last night, but I can't remember if you said yes or no. And she said, oh, thank goodness, he replied. She said, I remember saying yes, but I couldn't remember who asked me. You know, we come to a new year and we have a lot of things on our plate, a lot of things that are going on, and oftentimes we forget the main thing. We forget the most important things. Oftentimes in our life we have a lot of issues, trials, tribulations, troubles, life in general. And oftentimes, in the process of everything that's taking place, we forget and we lose sight of what is most important. I want to talk today, if I may, for just a little bit about the grace of God. And, of course, we can look at grace. Grace is an interesting thing. You know, a lot of people try to define grace by G-R-A-C, God's riches at Christ's expense, and that certainly is a way to do that. Grace, we could define it in a lot of ways, but it's the unmerited favor that God, through his love, hath extended to us. Grace. I don't know about you, we have all these things going on in life, and sometimes we forget about God's goodness. We forget about God's love. We forget about the grace of God. So I want to look at that, if I may, this morning. Romans chapter 8. Look, if you will, at verse 28. You probably know a lot of these verses here. Romans chapter 8 verse 28. The Bible says this, and we know. A lot of times we forget those first few words. A lot of times people say something maybe to this effect, all things work together for good to them that love God, but we forget those first few words that are so important in the Christian life, and we know. As a Christian, as a child of God, if we're truly in touch with Him and know, having fellowship with Him, we know that all things work together for good. to them that love God, to them who are 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. What shall we say to these things, if God be for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 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. 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 heights, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What a wonderful book. What a wonderful chapter. As I said before, it starts with no condemnation. and it ends with no separation. It's a wonderful chapter. Some say it's one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, and it certainly is. But I want to speak on this wonderful subject, if I may, this morning, and maybe it'll be a reminder to us about the grace of God. If it was not for the grace of God, where would we be? Let's ask the Lord to bless. And Father, we're so thankful for this day you've given us. We're thankful for your blessings. We're thankful for the opportunity that we have to look at your word this morning. Lord, we have a lot of things going on. There's a lot of things that are coming up, a lot of things on our mind this morning. Lord, we certainly think of pastor and, Lord, the trials and the troubles, the tribulations that he is going through, and I pray that you would be with him during these difficult times. Lord, as we look at your word today, and Lord, help us to be reminded of the wonderful grace of Jesus. And I pray tonight, this morning, excuse me, that I wouldn't say anything that I shouldn't say. I pray that I would be led by you. And again, we'll thank you so much for it in Jesus' name. Amen. There was an individual by the name of Martin Luther. You may not know who he is. He wrote many songs. In some of the songs we sing even today, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. He was part of the Reformation, a lot of different things about him. But Martin Luther was an individual that was prone to periods of deep depression. One day during one of those times of deep depression, he came from downstairs, he came to the breakfast table to find his wife making him breakfast and that was not what was odd. What was odd was that his wife was dressed in black garments. She looked as if she were going to a funeral. Luther asked his wife who had died and her response to him was quite interesting. When he asked that question, she said, God died. Luther raised his voice in disgust and said, these words, woman, that is blasphemy. To which she replied, it is no more blasphemy to say that God is dead than it is to live as though God were dead. Luther got the point and certainly he repented of the foolishness that he had in his mind. Let's be honest, sometimes with us as individuals, life seems as if it's starting to close in on us. Sometimes we have a lot of things going on in life, there are trials, there are troubles, there are difficulties, and you say, I'm doing great, I'm doing fine, just hold on, give life a little bit of time, and we all go through those difficult situations when it seems as if life is closing in. Sometimes we forget about the goodness of God, sometimes we forget about God's love, sometimes we certainly forget about His grace. And as a result of that, we find ourselves in a place that we should not be. I have a question for you this morning, and the question is simply this, what is life all about? Have you ever asked yourself that question before? What is life all about? We're here for just a short time, and then we die. The older I get, the more I realize the certainty of death. The Bible says it's appointed for men once to die, and after that, the judgment. So, life is short, then we die. At best, life is a puzzle. Oftentimes in life, there are things that we do not understand. Do you ever have questions in your mind, why? In the right way, you ask God, why? Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to members of my family? Why is this happening? When we ask that question, we just don't understand. Sometimes we look at circumstances in life and we find out the older we get that a lot of times there are circumstances that we certainly just cannot control. But there are good times too. There are joy unspeakable and full of glory moments. There are good times. There are bad times. Life is full of mystery. Life is full of Misery. Life is full of magnificence and sometimes life just doesn't make sense. You ever been there before? I think if we're honest with ourselves, we've all been there. We've all had questions. Why does God allow this? Why are these things happening in our country that we live? There are questions, there are misery, there are good times, there are bad times. And as you come to Romans chapter 8, it seems as if God brings an incredible sense to all that we see in life. In it all. Through it all. We see the wonderful, amazing, and the incredible grace of God. Maybe you've heard a phrase like this before. Why is it that bad things happen to good people? Have you ever thought something like that before? Why is it that God allows me to go through certain situations? Why is it that bad things happen to good people? But I think if we were to ingest, if we were to digest that phrase, it really doesn't make any sense. Because as you go through the Word of God, you find out in reality, there really are no good people. There really isn't. Can I give you a phrase or a verse as it is written? You know the verse. There is none righteous, no not one. Let me give you another verse, Romans chapter three, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. When I was in college, there was a preacher from, yes, older, older fellow, I think he was close to his 90s, and I'd be in college, he would speak oftentimes in our college chapel, and he would walk that walkway, and I'd go by, and he'd look at me and he'd say something like this, how are you doing? And I'd say, I'm doing good. And then he'd in his sarcastic remark at the age of 90 would say this, the Bible says there is none that doeth good. There is none that doeth good. The Bible says there's none righteous, no not one. The Bible says for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So really the question we shouldn't ask is, why is it that bad things happen to good people? Maybe the question we should ask is this, why do good things happen to bad people? Why is it that good things happen to bad people? And the simple reason is this, because of the grace of God. In fact, I believe as we look at this passage of Scripture, there are several things that show us God's divine plan. There are several things that show His incredible promise to those who love God, to those who are saved. Can I share them with you very quickly? We'll look at the first one is this. We see that we are distinguished by His purpose. Look at Romans chapter 8, look at verse 28. Romans chapter 8 and verse 28, the Bible says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, get this now, and to them that are called according to His purpose. I am distinguished by God's purpose. Get that as we read the verse, it's not my purpose, it's not my desires, it's not what I want in life. I should be distinguished by God's desire, God's purpose for my life. One cynical professor once said this, he said, youth is a blunder, manhood is a struggle, and old age is a regret. And a lot of people have that thought pattern. A lot of people, as we pass them day by day, have that thought in their mind. But may I say this morning that the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says this, God has a purpose. God has a purpose for everything. You say, what is God's eternal purpose? What is the internal purpose of God? Why did God create the universe? Why did God create Adam and Eve and everybody that came after? Why did Jesus step out of heaven and come to this earth? Why did the Lord Jesus Christ suffer and bleed on a cross? Why did He raise from the dead? Why did He ascend into heaven? Why did He forgive our sin? Why are we here? What is the eternal purpose Can I give you really a secret? No, it's not a secret. It's all over the Bible. What is the purpose of God this morning? What is His purpose for us? His purpose is to make us like Lord Jesus Christ. That's His purpose. You go over to Romans chapter 8 verse 28 as we look at it says and we know that all things work together For to them that love God and to them that are called according to his purpose and that but look at verse 29 It says this for that word for there is connecting verse 28 with verse 29 for whom he did for know He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. What is his purpose? That we might be conformed to the image of God. What is his eternal purpose? To make a generation of people like his son. When God created Adam and Eve in the garden, You look at it, He created him in His image. He did so, so that we could know Him. So that they could know Him. So that they could worship Him. So that they could fellowship with Him. We know what took place in the garden. We know that there was sin that took place in the garden. Why did Jesus come to the cross? To restore that image. You say, how does He do that? Romans chapter 8 shows us, it shares with us. He does it by regeneration. You say, what is that word regeneration? Well, there's a lot of meanings for regeneration, but spiritually speaking, that word regeneration means this. It means a new life. When we are saved, He has made us partakers of the Holy Ghost. Ephesians chapter 2, the Bible says, Even when we were dead in our trespasses and sin, hath He quickened us. What does that word quicken mean? It means to make alive together with Christ. And then it ends with this, for by grace are you saved. So he makes us back into his image by regeneration. Not only that, but by sanctification. Each day we are to become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ. When I was in college, one of our final papers that we had to do, we had to write on a subject, and it had to be like 25 pages. Now, I know as you look at me, you think, this guy right here is a book writer, but I'm not. It's not my thing. I don't sit down like some people. I think I'll write a book. I just don't do those type of things. And so I was trying to think of what would I do, and I thought, well, sanctification. Sanctification is a wonderful, wonderful thought. I have been sanctified, I am being sanctified, and I will be sanctified. I am moving to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. I will be sanctified. He is trying to restore us into His image. He does it by regeneration, He does it by sanctification, and He does it by glorification. When Jesus comes, He will make us like the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, our goal in life is not to be like somebody here. When I was a teenager, that was the motto. I want to be like Mike. Remember that? Like Mike, not like Mike Smith for certain, that was not there. But I want to be like Mike. I want to be like this individual. I want to be like that individual. That is not our goal here on earth. We're not to become like so-and-so. My goal is not to become a better Baptist. My goal is not to become a better citizen. My goal in life is not to be happier and have a more fulfilling life here in Finley, Ohio. My desire, my goal, my purpose in life should be to be more like Jesus. That should be my desire. It's not God's desire to make you more wealthy and more healthy and to be more popular. It is God's desire to make us like the Lord Jesus Christ. And by the way, God's purpose for your life will be fulfilled. You can bank on that truth. Philippians chapter 1, the Bible says this in verse 6, being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it. until the day of Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 8, as we saw here, the Bible says, for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed into the image of his Son. It's already settled that we will be like Jesus. It's predetestined there. It is determined in heaven that Nathan Star is going to be like Jesus. Now, can I pause here for a moment? God has never predestined me to go to hell. Never. God never predestined someone to go to hell. Predestination, as we see here, does not deal with loss. It deals with a saved individual. It is God's desire to make me like His Son. He has predestined me to be conformed into the image of His Son. When Jesus sees me receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as His Savior, He predestines me to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean I don't make choices, good or bad. I make choices every day. To be honest with you, it seems like more of my choices are bad choices than good choices, but I try. Last Monday, the Lord worked in the situation, we were headed to the airport. We were in the van and the Lord just kind of touched our hearts, maybe this wasn't the right situation, and that we were literally off the exit, sitting at a gas station, praying if the Lord wanted us to go to Oklahoma City. He turned around and came back and we can see the Lord working in that situation already. But, you know, if let's say I was headed to Oklahoma City, I went to Detroit Airport there and it was headed to Oklahoma City and I got on the airplane, I have a lot of decisions I can make. I'm the type of individual that pushes the button over and over again. Hey, if I'm paying for it, I want all the free drinks I can get, right? I'll take, just keep, you know, keep the soft drinks going, keep them coming. I make a lot of decisions on that airport. I decide if I'm going to get a drink. I decide, hey, I'm going to take a nap. I'm a nap taker on an airline. I decide if I want the air blowing on me or if I don't want it blowing on me. I make a lot of decisions in that airplane. However, when the airplane takes off from Detroit to Oklahoma, it is predestined. or that airline's going to land. I made a lot of decisions on that plane, but there was one great big decision. I was going to go from Detroit to Oklahoma City. Now, I make a lot of decisions in life. But there's already one big decision that has been made, and that is this, that we are to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. It is predestined. You say, I just can't quite get my mind around predestined. I understand, I can't quite either. But it's like one individual once said, he said, I don't really understand electricity, but I don't sit in the dark all day trying to figure it out. And I'll tell you this right now, I have been predestined to be conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. So I am distinguished for a purpose. When I got saved, it was not just to sit sour and soak and go, no, God has saved me for a purpose. And that is to be conformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only that, we see, but I'm also directed by His providence. Look, if you will, at verse 28. The Bible says, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them that are called according to his purpose. And we know that all things work together for good. There's that word for there again. That word for means that we're moving toward a goal. We're moving toward an object. That word providence means that we see ahead of time. The providence of God sees ahead. All things work together for good because of God's providence. God knows what's going to take place. God knows what we need in our life. And so we as individuals, we are directed by his providence. I read a story many years ago. There's a fellow by the name of Henry Ford. You know who he is. He was a manufacturer of the Model T and certain companies came and they were bidding on making the transmission for his automobile. Those bids specify that the transmission had to come in a certain size wood box with the holes being in a certain place on the wood box. That seems kind of weird. The bidder thought, that's definitely different. Who cares where the holes are in the box that the transmission is being shipped in? It made no sense, but one company wanted the job, so they said, hey, we'll do it. We'll ship your transmission in a certain size box and we'll put the holes exactly where you want them in the box. And they won the bid. When Henry Ford got the boxes with the transmission, he took the transmissions out of the boxes and then used the boxes as the floorboard. They were the right size and the holes were in the right spot, so it didn't cost Mr. Ford anymore to make the floorboard. That's the idea of providence. When Mr. Henry Ford was just looking ahead and he was making provision. God looks ahead and he makes provision. That is providence. We may look out there and say, things just don't make sense. But can I tell you something? God is in charge. God knows what is taking place. God is in control. And so because He is in control, I do not have to necessarily live by explanation, but I do live by the promises of God. I may not understand everything, and I may not live by appearances, but I live by God's Word. Why? Because I know as a Christian, as we see in this verse, that all things work together for good to them. that love God. You say, what about all the problems in our world today? We get that question on occasion. We'll come to somebody, we'll be witnessing to them, sharing the gospel with them, and talk about how the goodness of God, talk about the grace of God, talk about the mercy of God, and they may throw a question out there, well what about all the hatred out there today? What about all the perversion? What about all the murder? What about the terrible things that are going on in our world? Is that God's will? Well, 10,000 times no. It's not God's will. Man has a free will, and even where God does not rule, God overrules in things. And Romans chapter 8 verse 28 does not say that all things are good. All things are not good. If you don't believe that, just look at our news, look at what's going on in our world. Not all things are good, but we know that all things work together for good to them who love God. The point is that not all things are good. The point is this, God is good. Ephesians chapter one, the Bible says this, in whom we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. So I am distinguished by his purpose. I am directed by his providence. Very quickly, I'm defended by his power. Look, if you will, at verse 31. The Bible says, what shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? That word for there, we see it again, literally has the idea of God being in our place. He died for us. He is our substitute. It literally means God is in our place. What a wonderful thought! I am defended by His power. If someone comes against us, you know what that really literally means? They are coming against Almighty God. If God before us, who can be against us? Now, oftentimes, we allow Satan to cause doubt. We allow him to put questions in our mind. In fact, you go through the pages of scripture, Satan's really good at that. Go all the way back to the book of Genesis. Yea, hath God said. And so, oftentimes, in our troubles, and in our trials, and in our struggles, Satan puts these questions in our mind. But can I encourage you with this? Hey, we have the power of God. With Job, he did the same thing. He questioned Eve. He even questioned God. Satan answered the Lord and said, does Job fear God for naught? What an interesting thing. But the fact is this, if Christ be in our place, who can be against us? You know, really, I have some questions I'd like to ask God, or excuse me, ask Satan today. If God be for us, who can be against us? Look at the will of verse 31. What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? No intimidation! When Satan puts some kind of thought in your mind, and you can't do that, and look at you, look at how you struggle, look at how you mess up here and there, hey, encourage him with this thought, if God is for us, who can be against us? No intimidation whatsoever. Isaiah chapter 41, the Bible says, for I, the Lord thy God, hold thee up in thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee. I love this, he says, fear not, Thou worm of Jacob. What an interesting thought. He relates to some individual as a worm. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty good partnership. We have individuals in here today that they make partnerships, and they have a job, and they might partner with somebody else, and before they just partner with somebody else, they check their credentials. Yeah, what about this guy's financial situation? What about his work ethic? What about his honesty? Before they jump in and join in a credential with somebody else, they check their credentials. But think about this, what a great partnership we have. A worm and God. That's pretty interesting. That's a pretty good partnership. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be a worm on God's side than a mighty raging elephant on my own side. He said, don't be afraid, you little worm. I am with you. Hey, there's no intimidation. When Satan comes to you and tries to whisper something in your ear and say, hey, if God before us, who can be against us? Not only that, another question I would ask him was this. What would God ever withhold? Look if you will at verse 32. The Bible says, he has spared not his own son. but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? No intimidation, no deprivation. If God gave his only son Jesus, can I tell you something? I don't have to have any doubts. I don't have to go through life and intimidate. I don't have to go through life and, oh, hey, hey, God gave his own son. God gave us the greatest gift, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. While we were yet sinners, the Bible says, Christ died for us. He even gave us the greatest gift we'd even ask for. He gave Jesus. If He gave Jesus, why would He withhold anything else? If God gave the first gift, God gave the best gift, everything else comes with Jesus. And because of this, I have no intimidation. I have no deprivation. You know what else I'd ask Satan is this, who can lay any charge against me? Look, if you will, at verse 33. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? No incrimination. As you go through the Bible, you'll find out that Satan is the great accuser of the brethren. He's really good at that. Romans chapter 12, verse 10, the Bible talks about Satan. It says, the accuser of the brethren is cast down. And then it says this, you're going to love this, which accused them before the Lord day and night. Talk about somebody that's against you. Day and night, he's accusing you. And the Bible says here, how can someone lay a charge against us? In fact, as you go to Colossians, the Bible says, according to that book here, that he took all things out of the way and he nailed it on the cross. No intimidation, no deprivation, no incrimination. Colossians chapter 2, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. So I would ask Him, who can lay any charge against us? I would ask Him, who can condemn us? Look at verse 34, the Bible says, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dieth, yea, rather it is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans chapter 8, the verse 1, thou that thou there is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus died for us. He's ever making intercession for us. Hebrews chapter 7, the Bible says, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God. seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for us. Satan comes to you with a question, you ask him that question, who can come against us? What would God ever withhold from us? Who can lay any charge against us? Who can condemn us? I like this one, who can separate us from the love of God? Look, if you will, at verse 35. The Bible says this. 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 counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Tribulation, you have that. Distress, you have that. Persecution, you have that. Famine, nakedness, peril, sword. No, nothing is going to separate me from the love of God. I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful for His grace. I'm so thankful for the grace of Almighty God. I am distinguished by His purpose. I am directed by His providence. I am defended by His power. I'll close with this. I am delighted by His presence. Look if you will at verse 38, the Bible says, for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths, nor any creature shall ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The darkest night, the loneliest road, death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things that are present, things that are to come, heights, depths, other creatures. There's nothing that's going to separate me from the love of Almighty God. I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for God's grace. There's so many definitions, and the thing that I find interesting is this. Every definition that man comes up with when it comes to God's grace just doesn't do God's grace merit. God's grace is so great. So wonderful. And maybe as we go through this new year, who knows what we have ahead. We look at things and maybe the future looks exciting. Maybe there's new ideas that we are ready to implement. Maybe we're going through struggles. We don't know what this year is going to bring. But can I encourage you with this? God's grace is always there. God's goodness and God's love, it's always there. And when problems come, and they will this year, and when struggles come, and they will this year, remember God's grace. God's grace. Let's bow forward and pray. Father, we're so thankful for your grace. Where would we be if it wasn't for your grace? I think the answer is very simple. We know where we'd be if it wasn't for the goodness, the grace of God. Lord, as we come to this new year, new struggles, new problems, new things that will arise, Lord, help us not to forget about your goodness and your grace. Lord, maybe today we just need to come to the altar and say, Lord, I'm so thankful for your grace. Where would I be if it wasn't for the grace of God? There's a lot of folks out there today, a lot of needs in this auditorium, a lot of struggles, a lot of problems. Lord, I pray that you just help them to remember your grace. I pray now you'd bless the invitation. We'll thank you for it in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's all stand with our heads bowed.