Okay, if you’ve got a Bible, go ahead and go with me to Romans chapter eight. We’re in Romans chapter eight. The theme is the same. It is the assurance of the believer, and we’re just speeding right through this chapter, one word at a time. Because here’s the thing: why would you want to miss out on the depth of all that is intended in the thorough nature of the of the text by God for you? And so we don’t want to just blow through it. We want to soak in it and be able to deeply understand it. The title of this message comes directly from the text. It is “Predestined To Be Conformed” (Romans 8:28-29). “Predestined to be conformed”. This is directly in the text. Let’s read these two verses. This is Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. For those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew (covered that last week) He also predestined to be conformed (these are the two words we’re going to take today: predestined to be conformed) to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” So, we’re going to take those two words in order.
Here’s 1. Predestined
I want to know what the word is. Okay, what are we always after when we study the text? We want to know what the Bible says. We want to know what the Bible means by what it says, and we want to know what its implications on our life are, based upon the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. That’s what we want. We are not just after information; we’re after transformation. And you don’t just read this book; it reads you. And excuse me, as we go through some of these things that are not just hard to understand, because they’re really not hard to understand; they really aren’t. They’re hard to accept because something in the carnal mind wants to lift itself up and say no, it can’t mean that anything but that. And so, when we take this first word, predestined, let me just write this down here. It’s “pro-orizo”. That’s the Greek word. It’s divided into two words. “Pro” means beforehand. “Horizo” is a form of the word horizon. Does that sound familiar? Horizon. That’s where we get our word horizon. Now, what happens on the horizon? You have the Earth right here, and yes, it’s round. Don’t @ me. And you’ve got. Let’s just say the sun’s coming up. This is the sun. You thought it was going to be the dude with the fingers right there, didn’t you? No, I’m kidding. The sun’s coming up. This is the horizo. It is a demarcation between one space and another. It is a limitation. So, when you see that word “predestined” in your Bible, it literally-if you take it literally-it means to limit in advance. To limit in advance. This is the limitation, the horizo, but it was done pro. It was done beforehand. Thus, when you see the word “predestined”, it literally is saying something is limited in advance, and there is no other option. The markation has been drawn, if you will, and it was chosen before you. We’ll see this in the text. It happened pre, and so in other words, it’s a predetermined destination. That’s really all it is. It would be like if you got in a car with full self-driving, which I would recommend. Some of you really need it. I’m not looking at you, sir. I’m not looking at anyone. I need it. And you were to say, “Take me here.” And once you put that in, it locked it. That is a predetermined destination. That’s what predestination actually is talking about. That’s what it’s actually saying. It’s not saying that every single action, every single thought, every single motive, every single anything is going to be set by God. It’s saying the destination is set. Does that make sense? It is a predestination over someone’s life. I want to start with the example that we did even last week. That is Jesus Himself, specifically in three different places.
Here’s the first. This is in the very first sermon in the New Testament churches, Acts 2:22-23, Peter’s preaching. He says, “‘Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth. (So, there He is. He’s the subject) a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst as you know. This Jesus delivered up according to (look) the definite plan and foreknowledge (of who?) of God you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.’” You say, “Wait a minute, man did this?” Yes, you’re absolutely right. And guess who planned it? God did. God planned it. God planned the slaughter of His innocent Son as an atoning sacrifice for the sin of men and women who He would save. He planned it, and He foreknew it. So don’t give me this idea that foreknowledge is simply God looks down through history and He sees, “Oh, there’s a Jewish carpenter and He’s very righteous. I guess I’ll call Him Messiah.” That’s insane. No, in the foreknowledge of God, this definite plan was made. In other words, He was predestined to arrive at the cross. All roads led to the cross in Jesus Christ’s life here on earth. Here’s Acts 4:27-28 for the word used explicitly. Now, this is a prayer. They’re being threatened with persecution, so the people are praying. “For truly, in this city there were gathered (praying to God) together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel.” In other words, everyone who conspired to put Him to death, they did this. Look at verse 28, “To do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place (to limit beforehand).” Was there any other option for Jesus other than the cross? The answer is no. Why? Because it was predetermined. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world. In fact, the Bible calls Him the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. Because in God’s economy, if you will, when God decides and decrees, it’s going to happen. And I’m sorry if you grew up in a church with a weak little God that was presented as though He’s some feeble little beggar going, “Oh, please like Me. Please, I’m standing at the door and knocking,” and you’re misunderstanding this verse. That’s not the context of that verse. No, God determined He would do this. He determined that Jesus would go to the cross, and throughout His entire life, that’s where He was headed. That’s what was prophesied the Old Testament. That’s what was told to Mary that even her own soul would be pierced. They understood that something was coming, and Jesus spoke quite a bit about it. Here’s only one instance. This is John 12:27. This is Him speaking. This is Jesus saying this. He says, “‘Now is My soul troubled.’” Now is this a sinful trouble? No, no. This is Him having real emotions in His soul. Why? Why? Because He’s going to be beaten? Betrayed by friends? because He’s going to get a crown of thorns? No, because He’s looking at what He’s going to face when what is laid upon Him is the sin of all who He will die to save, and the separation from the Father. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” Do you know why God forsook Him on the cross? Because He put the sin of the world on Him. The sin went on the Lamb who takes away the sin, and the Father put the punishment on the sin. Thus, He is the propitiation for our sins. That’s what He had never experienced. That’s what He dreaded was the separation from His Father. From eternity past, why did He do it? So that you wouldn’t be rejected. He was rejected so we could be accepted in the Beloved. “‘And what shall I say, Father? Save Me from this hour. But for this purpose, I have come to this hour.’” A predetermined destination. Every single road led to it. You say, “Well, it sounds like Jesus didn’t have any choices.” He did, didn’t He? He had choices. He resisted the devil in the wilderness and throughout His ministry, did He not? Did He not stand things down and prop things up, as it were, giving affirmations at times to some rebukes to others? Of course, He did, but it was a predetermined destination. And throughout His life, no matter where He would start or finish, it would end right there. That is predestination. There is a destination decided in eternity passed for Him, and listen to me, the word is no different when it’s applied to you as a believer. No different at all.
In fact, to limited advance is a very common Old Testament theme. I’m going to show you one instance at least here. Psalm 139:13-16. This is David speaking, right? He says to God, “‘For You formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.’” What are you talking about, David? Well, here it is. Look at verse 15 and 16, “‘My frame was not hidden from You when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.’” This is a metaphor for that which is hidden. In other words, God’s handiwork is all who are born into mankind because they are the image of God. They bear the image of God. They bear the Imago Dei, even though they’re born dead in their trespasses and sins. Even though men go out and corrupt themselves and do all kinds of depravity and go downhill in depravity, like Romans one describes, they are they still bear the image of God in the sense that they have been created by Him. Are they all children? No, of course not. How could Jesus say “your father is the devil” to the Pharisees? Not all children of God, but we all do bear the image. We are image bearers of His. And then he makes this statement, and it’s true for you as well. Look at verse 16, “‘Your eyes saw my unformed substance.’” Wow! Saw the substance unformed, meaning You knew exactly what was going to be put together, whether proteins or DNAs or however that that would function at what area of development. That God was the one that saw it. “‘And in Your book.’” Did you know God has a book? “‘In Your book was written every one of them (every one of what?) the days that were formed for me (not by me) when as yet there was none of them.’” Do you know what this is talking about? You had predetermined where I was going. You had predetermined what I was going to be. You had predetermined that You would have me. That’s what he’s saying. When no days had started. So, my question is: What exactly was David doing when he was still unformed substance? Answer: nada. In español, por favor, bueno. “Well, if I’m predestined, what do I? What part do I play?” Nada. And you go, “Well, don’t you care that that upsets me?” Nada.
What about 2 Timothy 1:9? Picking up the sentence in the middle, but you’ll get the point of speaking about God. It says, “Who saved us (that’s God), and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works.” He called us to a holy calling, and it was not because of our works. Therefore, the calling of God did not depend on Him looking down through history and going, “Wow, what a good guy! I’m going to call him.” Had nothing to do with you. Had everything to do with Him. “Not according to our works, but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus. (When did He do it?) Before the ages began.” That’s before time. So, He knew me. Yes, if you were in Christ, He knew you, and that is very specific knowing. We covered that that word, that Hebrew word “yada”. We covered it last week. It’s a lovingly foreordaining word. And so, He knew you from eternity past.
Now let’s just take our minds back. What is the theme of Romans eight? It’s the assurance of the believer. He is driving it home. How could you mess something up that you had no part in starting, nor will you be the one who finishes it? You who think you’re holding on to your own salvation, that you can somehow slip away and as though He’s not strong enough to keep you. What do you think, or will you have a role in you raising you from the dead? What if you’re just bones and or dust by then? We don’t know when it’s going to happen. What are you going to be doing there? In your dust, you’ll be going, “I’m trying. I’m holding on. I’ve been faithful to the very end.” It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. You say, “Yeah, but Steve, it says those who endure to the end will be saved.” That’s right. Those who endure to the end will be saved. Why? Because those who endure to the end are saved, and that proves it absolutely before the ages began. Look at Acts 13:47-48. Now this is a story, the accounting of Paul and Barnabas telling the Gentiles that the gospel wasn’t just for Jews. Now this is unheard of, by the way, to the Jews back then. Unheard of. Why? Because the Jews were God’s people, and no one else. They were exclusive. God had said so, and so it was in the law. But when Jesus Christ comes, He lays down His life for all of His sheep, even those that were not of that fold, meaning Israel. Verse 47, he says, “‘For so the Lord commanded us, saying, (Look, this quote from God) ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Now, what is He doing? He’s giving them the gospel. This is a call. This is the gospel call, and it is the external gospel call, right? Because man’s doing it. Man gives the external gospel call. You’re hearing multiple times this morning. This is what this is what Jesus is. Who Jesus is. This is what He’s done. This is why He did it. They’re hearing the gospel call. You say, “Well, I wonder if they’ll choose to believe?” Well, it’s very interesting because we get an insight into what actually happens when someone hears the gospel and believes. Because look at the next verse; they’re very happy. “And when the Gentiles heard this, (they heard the good news) they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord (watch) and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” I have a question for you: Who appointed them? You know! God did. God did. Did they appoint themselves from eternity past? “I choose me. I choose you.” As though that were something, like you pre-existed back when it was God and God alone, and you were doing the choosing, and you were so noble that you got appointed. That’s ridiculous. Now, people have a problem with this. It starts to feel like you’re kind of getting crushed a little bit, doesn’t it? Some of you, it’s sound doctrine, and you’ve not heard it taught yet before. Maybe you’ve believed differently, and it’s like the walls are starting to close in on you. There’s like almost a pressure, not first service, but second and third. You know where the all the bad people are.
I want to read you a quote by Donald Barnhouse. It goes like this: It related to this exact doctrine: “Men are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, they will do anything, even to becoming (watch) very religious. Oh, if only they can retain master of their own wills and appropriate credit to themselves for some fancied salvation through efforts of their own strength. (In other words, they’ll do anything as long as they get some squeeze some credit out of it. He goes on) As long as the flesh is permitted the slenderest thread of merit, the barest root of self-help. Man will recite creeds, sing songs, bow in prayer, and go through long rituals of religion, but at the moment he is brought to utter bankruptcy and left naked before the sovereignty of God, he rises in a fierce hatred to defy the true God of the universe, who found the source of love in Himself and came alone to redeem man for himself in a chain of irresistible grace forged for us in eternity.” That is true. As long as man has left some sliver of nobility and thus his boastful pride, he’ll applaud, he’ll clap, he’ll sing. But when you tell him he has nothing to do with his salvation, only the sin that he brought to the table that required it. He’ll argue, say, “But I remember, I did. I repented of my sin and I believed.” Yes, you did. If you’re in fact in Christ, you did it because you were regenerated, because you were born again. Jesus made it clear: if a man’s not born again, he can’t even see the kingdom of God, much less enter into it. But boy, this this these are fighting words to some. You feel the pressure on it.
Let’s turn it up a little bit. Ephesians 1:3-5. Are we boiling yet? Anybody mad? Anybody got a steak knife? Hope not. Missed last week. That’s part of it. Paul writes this: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” What’s the blessing? I wonder. He goes on, “Even as He chose us in Him. (He chose us in Christ) In Him, when did He do it?) Before the foundation of the world.” There it is again. He did the choosing, and you didn’t exist yet. Before the foundation of the world. “That we should be holy and blameless before Him. (Now watch this statement) In love, He predestined us.” There’s the word, exact same word, pro-orizo, to limit beforehand. “In love.” “In love.” That’s the foreknowing. That’s the foreloving. “In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will (not according to our works).” Look down at the same exact chapter, Ephesians 1:11, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance (how?) having been predestined, according to the purpose of Him who works all things (not some things) according to the counsel of His will.” “Predestined.” Now, we’ve said the word a lot. I’ve showed it to you a lot in the Bible, and I guarantee you this weekend-if not in this room, then in the room in the next two services-but probably someone here too. You’re feeling squeezed, and it’s because I remember it well. It’s like something is gripping you and pressing you, and it almost feels when you start realizing this, it almost feels like there’s a threat to your own personhood. It’s like a pressure that comes around you, and the only thing I can encourage you with is this: don’t, don’t run from it, endure it, endure it. 2 Timothy chapter four says there’ll come a time when people will not endure sound doctrine. Why? Because it presses on you, and it feels very uncomfortable. It’s almost like, “But you’re making the world not make sense anymore. I need to believe I’m master of my own destiny. I need to believe that I’m master of my own fate. It’s the it’s the combination of the choices I make. Don’t take my identity away.” What’s being threatened is your pride and your boasting, and it it’s that means it’s still alive and well in the core of your being. But I want to explain it to you this way. Back in the late ’80s, I started hiking a lot, and I prepared to climb Mount Everest. True story, and just for the record I never did, but I did hike many exotic locations in Waco, Texas, but I knew because I had friends who were serious hikers, and I wanted to emulate them that you had to get the right boot. Now, back in the late ’80s, there were either German or Swiss hiking boots that you could buy. They were very expensive, and they were such that they were made of leather. The leather was incredibly tough, incredibly hard. And you’ve probably seen them. They had a bolstered toe, right? The welting was huge. The sole was quite thick and wide. The top came up. It had padding, and you’d lace it like that. And there was about 100 hour break in on these boots, and many times what people would do, and I actually did this with one pair. I would soak them in water for 24 hours, and just let the leather get incredibly wet, and then you take them and you put them on, and you tighten them as tight as you can possibly bear it, because they feel like they don’t fit because they don’t fit at first. But what actually happens over about anywhere from 50 to 100 hours of pain. Your feet are squeezed, they’re blistered, they’re achy. You can’t do it all at once. It’s just too painful. You had to carry around what’s called moleskin. You had to put it on your blisters, and you had to break these things in because the leather was resistant, and you had to overcome that. But let me tell you what: when you broke those boots in, they fit like a glove. You could tie them as tight as you could, and your foot was super stable, so that your footing was so sure when you put it on a rock, or if your foot tried to slip, your leg was-it was like welded down through your heel. That’s what this will do for you. It hurts to break it in. It hurts to put it on, but this is the surest joy you can have as a believer. That He chose. He foreknew. He called. He predestined. He saved. And thus, He justified, and thus He will glorify. And it is a security that once it once I’m just telling you, once it’s broken in, you would not part for it for anything. And it emboldens you to tell others, even in the face of you getting mistreated, because it often leads to that when you threaten someone’s pride at its root, and I’ll tell you this: people who reject what the Bible says are not humble people. They’re prideful people. They stand over the Bible and they tell it, “Ephesians 1:11. You can’t tell me that.” That’s prideful. You stand over the Bible, and someone is brought low under the Word of God when they finally get this get to see it, and they get the realization and the revelation, if you will, that they didn’t cause this, they didn’t start it. And I don’t know why you’d want to fight this because it’s the greatest assurance in the Bible that He started it. Thus, He’ll keep it. He’ll finish what He started. And you go to sleep at night. It’s totally different. You face hardships and trials, and it’s totally different. Thus, I’ll tell you, you might meet an Arminian who’s regenerate. You’ll never meet an Arminian who’s humble, because they hold on to that thread, and they’ll bow up. Try it. Push the button. I might be doing it right now. I got to look somewhere, Jim Bob. God bless you for sitting on the front row, persecution you endure. I wouldn’t want to tell you this if it wasn’t true. I want to labor for your joy as this wears on us. So, what are we saying? That God predestined you, and He did what? He eliminated every other option. He eliminated every other option. You are going to go to heaven if you are in Christ. If He has saved you, if you truly love the true God of the entire Bible, I’m telling you this: if you love Jesus Christ, if your affections have been changed, if He has changed your heart, are you perfect? No, but do you want to please Him? Yes. Do you wait for His return? Yes. Do you love the Jesus of the Bible? He did that in you. You’re going to heaven. You say, “You can’t say that with authority. What if I backslide?” If you leave the faith, it’s because you knew you were never of it. 1 John 2:19. That’s if you go out from among, you were never of it. Some attach themselves superficially for a season. That’s why the longer we walk with the Lord and the more trials and hardships we go through, the more steadfast we become, and the more confident we are that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it all the way until the day of Jesus Christ. There’s deep assurance here.
Here’s the 2. Conformed
Conformed. Let’s see the text one more time, Romans 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be (what?) To be conformed.” “To be conformed.” That is to be brought into the same image of His Son. “Conformed to the image of His Son.” Now there are like I’d like to say this to you: there are phases of this, if you will. There really are. There is salvation, there is sanctification, and then there’s glorification. Salvation is when? Salvation is when someone is born again. Their spirit is raised from the dead. They’re given a new heart. They’re given the Holy Spirit. They’re sealed for the day of redemption. They are a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold new things have come. Right? But does that mean their mind is renewed? No. Does that mean their will is constantly submitted? No. Does that mean their emotions never falter or lead them astray? No. It doesn’t mean that. That’s when they enter into what? Sanctification, and that’s the life of a disciple. Thus, Romans 12 tells us. Right? Don’t be conformed to the image of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. In other words, our mind starts to think biblically. Thus, our soul comes under submission to our spirit, and we start to live biblically. Our emotions follow suit as our will comes into account, and right, and begins to walk in humility, and abiding in Christ. And then, what happens last? Well, Jesus will one day return, raise us from the dead, and we’ll have a glorified body. This is what conformed actually means. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:49. Paul writes, “Just as we have borne the imagev(that’s that icon, right?) of the man of dust.” Who is “the man of dust”? That’s Adam. We bore his image, didn’t we? We do it right now. Do you look like Adam? You do. Do I look like Adam? You do. Ladies, don’t be offended. It’s talking about mankind in general. “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” And who is this? Yes, Jesus. That is the second Adam, or the last Adam. That is Jesus Christ. We’ll bear His image. That’s what it’s going to be. Even though we’re in Christ now, one day the entire thing will be completely renovated. It’ll all be brand new. Look at Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (look) who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” In other words, He’s got this. He’s got the power to be able to do that. He’s going to transform us. That’s going to be immediate. The Bible is very clear. In the twinkling of an eye, we’ll be changed. It will no longer be a process. It will be a wrap. It will be finished. You say, “What does that feel like?” I don’t know. You won’t sin anymore. Do you realize if you’re in Christ, there will be a last sin you ever commit? Hallelujah! Oh, the best thing about heaven is Jesus is there. The second best thing is your old man won’t be, and I don’t mean your dad. The flesh, the old man, the old nature, with all of its corruption and indwelling sin, like Paul describes in Romans seven, it will not be there. You will not be limited in loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you will be able to worship God rightly, eternally, as He ever reveals more and more and more of Himself, He’s never going to run out. There’s always going to be another reason to say, “I hadn’t seen that before.” And thus, to give Him worship, and thus to give him glory. That’s our destination.
Look at Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship (that’s talking about believers) created in Christ Jesus (that’s regeneration) for (what? For) good works.” This is in the here and now, isn’t it? Yep. Do you know you were created for good works if you’re in Christ? You say, “What are they?” I have no idea. I’ll help you discern it here in just a minute. “Which God did (what?) God prepared them beforehand that we should walk in them.” He prepared them and we walk in them. You say, “It sounds like God is making choices about my life.” Bingo, bongo. It’s true. “So, well, what’s the works that He prepared for me to walk in?” Well, I can tell you one of them. It’s whatever’s next. That’s why we say that around here. You take your next. What’s the next thing God wants you to do? “I don’t really know.” Don’t you though? If you’re seeking Him in the Word and you’re seeking Him in prayer and you’re connected to the body of Christ as you’re supposed to be, and if you’re not doing any of those, you now know you’re next. Get on with it. God is ever going to present the next thing for you to do and grow. Now, will there be a last thing? Yes, there will be a last thing, and your next will be what? Die. You say, “I don’t want that next.” Doesn’t matter. The human mortality rate still hovers at 100% And one day you’ll either see Jesus at your death or at His return. Wouldn’t it be cool if some here, meaning me, were alive at His coming? Wouldn’t that be great? Wouldn’t that be great? Like you never taste death. Like we literally meet Him in the air. Now the dead in Christ will rise first. Okay, we’ll give them that concession, and then we meet the Lord together in the air, never knowing what death was like. Oh, to see the body of Christ finally brought into glory at His second coming, His return to judge the living and the dead, to conquer His enemies. You’re going to make it. You’re going to be there. But right now, He has works for you, and He wants you to take your next. You say, “What is it?” I don’t know. For some of you, maybe it’s baptism. For some of you, maybe it’s repent to your spouse. For some of you, maybe it’s forgive someone who’s asked you to forgive them. For some of you, it’s surrender your wallet and stop being a person of greed. Right? Stop trying to serve God and money. For some of you, it’s covenant membership. For some of you, I don’t know what your next is. But God is faithful to show you what that is, and oftentimes it’s something that we are a little bit resistant. That’s why God says, “Keep doing it,” or He’s calling you to it. And by the way, He won’t want to talk about anything else but that. Can I tell you the discipleship hack that I gave my-? I got to disciple my older sister. She was she was born again when she was 43 years old. She moved in with us for several months, and Kelly and I got to disciple her. It was wonderful, and probably the greatest thing that I was ever told by my pastor, I got to tell her, and it was this: “Brenda, just give Him what He wants. Just give Him what He wants.” She’d struggle with something and said, “What is the will of God based on the Word of God?” Well, it’s this. Just give Him what He wants, and you talk about you talk about miracle grow for the Christian. I’m telling you, just give Him what He wants. Take the next. It’s works that He had beforehand, and He wants you to walk in it. Why? Because you are predestined to a destination, and He wants to order your steps in the journey. That’s total comfort. That’s such assurance.
Here’s how the process works. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18, we’re going to pick it up, kind of media res. Speaking about Israel. Speaking about Israel not understanding the Old Testament. They couldn’t see Christ in the Old Testament. That’s the theme here that we’re in. It’s the context rather. “But their minds were hardened (that’s Israel). For to this day, when they read the Old Covenant (what’s that? That’s the Old Testament. When they read the Old Testament, right? Because the New Testament wasn’t written yet. When this was drafted, it was being written) that same veil remains unlifted.” So, they have a veil that covers their face. They can’t understand what Genesis through Malachi says. They can’t because Jesus is the key to all of it. If you don’t have Him, you can’t read it right. You’re going to get it wrong. You’ll just see stories. Jesus is the key to the entire Bible. “The same veil remains unlifted because only through Christ is it taken away.” Look at he goes on. He says, “Yes, to this day. Whenever Moses is read.” Now what Moses is referring to is the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. But he’s encompassing the law and the prophets, all of it. It’s called the Pentateuch. So, whenever they read what Moses wrote, “A veil lies over their hearts.” Not their minds, but their hearts. And listen to me: if your heart’s not willing to know it, your brain will find a way to make it say something else. It’s true. The veil lies over their hearts. “But when one turns to the Lord.” By the way, this is regeneration. They turn to the Lord because the Lord turned to them. We know that because we read the whole of Scripture, not one verse at a time. “The veil is removed.” Okay, so the veil is removed. So what? So now they can see Jesus Christ in the Scriptures. So far, so good? This is sanctification, by the way. This is the process you’re in if you’re going to be transformed in the here and now. It says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is (that’s the Holy Spirit) there is freedom.” Now, let’s ask this question: freedom to do what? In the context of the verses, not in the freedom to dance like a charismaniac. Don’t think that way. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Freedom to do what? Freedom to understand the Bible in its proper context, in its authorial intent. Because Jesus Christ has removed the veil, now you see Him as the key to understand the whole of text, and the Holy Spirit is thus your teacher, and you are being enlightened. By the way, if He’s not doing it, no man can help you. But you see it? The veil’s removed, and now there’s freedom. And then finally, verse 18, “And we all (that’s all of us who’ve had the veil removed), with an unveiled face. (Here it is) Beholding (that’s looking at) the glory of the Lord.” How do you “behold the glory of the Lord”? Listen, you open the Scriptures and see Christ. That’s how. You behold Him by beholding Him in Scripture. This is not some metaphysical thing where you sit around in your chair and you soak for a while and you put on a special song and you light a candle and then Jesus appears, and you behold Him. Anybody tells you they’re doing that, and they say it’s actually happening. They’re a hypocritical liar. Jesus has given us the Scripture, and the Spirit is ministering through that. That’s what He’s doing. “Beholding the glory of the Lord our being (what? Look at this) transformed (this is the process, this is happening right now) into the same image (now, is it all immediate? No. It’s) from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” In other words, you are in the Scripture. You are reading and studying it prayerfully. And the Holy Spirit is ministering it to you. It’s calling out sin. You’re not just reading it; it’s reading you. It’s showing you what love looks like. It’s leading you to your next. You are a man or woman of the book, and every morning you’re found with your Bible, whether it’s a chapter or 10, and you are prayerfully saying, “Transform me, change me, renew my mind. Don’t let me escape. Don’t let me remain where I am.” And you carry that through the rest of your day. And when you read the news, you read it through the filter of the Bible. When you interact with a person who offends you, you hear that through the filter of the Bible. When you interact with loved ones or someone who’s needy, you do what? You interact with that through the filter of the Bible. You’re being transformed; it’s changing you. You were predestined for this, Christian. These are good works that you’re to walk in, and He’ll work discipline in your life until you see it come to fruition.
And then finally, in closing, you know what that means when a preacher says that? Means nothing. 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, (he’s talking to the church) we are God’s children now.” Right there, right now, right? We were raised from the dead, born again, and we’re God’s children now, being sanctified. “And what will be has not yet.” Already and not yet. Already and not yet. “We are God’s children now, and what will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him (why is that, Paul? Why will we be like Jesus?) Because we shall see Him as He is.” No longer through a glass darkly, no longer just in the ministry of the Spirit, but face to face, we will behold our Redeemer and enjoy the vision of God forever. That fast. If the hiking boots don’t fit right now, just hang in there. And by the time we exit Romans 11, I guarantee you’ll have been through all the blisters. You won’t need moleskin, and they’ll fit perfectly with the assurance of who God is and what He’s done for you.
KEYWORDS
Predestination, Conformity, Conform, Conformed Assurance, Salvation, Sanctification, Glorification, Foreknow, Foreknowledge, God’s Purpose, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Transformation, Good Works, Eternal life, Sovereignty, Mount Everest, Donald Barnhouse, Pro-orizo, Biblical Truth, Biblical Teaching, Bible Preaching, Expository Preaching, Gospel, Romans, Churches In Sherman TX, Churches In Grayson County TX, Churches In Texas
Speaker
Steve LeBlanc