I believe you are encouraged by the first three links of redemption – “foreknowledge”, “predestination” and “He Calls”. Let’s move on to 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 predestinate 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.

       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?” 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. And 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. 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 breath-taking 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 predestinates, 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.

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. “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.”

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 Romans 8 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. 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 pre-eminence, glory. Jesus is not firstborn chronologically, He’s not the first to rise from the dead, but he is Firstborn in the terms of pre-eminence. He is to be set apart above all His brethren.

       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 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 pre-eminence.

       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. 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, breath taking, from eternity to eternity, your future is secure because of Jesus Christ. Let’s bow for word of prayer.

       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. 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 pre-eminence, may every knee bow. We thank You dear God we ask and pray all this in Jesus Name,

Amen.

God bless.