something  

of  the  magnificent  grace  of  God  in  it  all  and  through  it  all.  A  man,  not  long  
ago,  wrote  a  book.  The  title  of  the  book  is  Why  Do  Bad  things  Happen  to  Good  People?  
Well,  that’s  a  very  wonderful  title,  but  I  don’t  like  it  really.  I’ll  tell  you  why:  folks,  first  of  all,  
there  are  no  good  people.  The  Bible  says,  “There  is  none…good,  no,  not  one”  (Romans  
3:12).  I  don’t  know  whether  you  believe  that  or  not,  but  that’s  scripture.  I  mean,  in  and  of  
ourselves,  there  are  no  good  people.  “All  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  
God”  (Romans  3:23).  “There  is  none…good,  no,  not  one”  (Romans  3:12).  
So,  let’s  just  take  that  question,  and  turn  it  over,  and  ask  not,  “Why  do  bad  things  
happen  to  good  people,”  but  friend,  “Why  do  good  things  happen  to  bad  people?”  That  
is  the  grace  of  God.  I  mean,  everything  good  that  has  come  to  us  is  the  grace  of  God,  in  
spite  of  our  sins.  Why  do  good  things  happen  to  bad  people—to  sinners  such  as  we?  
Well,  we’re  going  to  find  a  divine  plan,  an  incredible  promise.  And,  there  are  four  things  
today  I  pray  the  Holy  Ghost  will  write  upon  your  heart  indelibly,  will  etch  upon  your  
consciousness  and  cause  to  reverberate  through  your  being—four  wonderful  truths,  
things  that  are  true  about  you  if  you  have  come  to  know  Jesus  Christ  as  your  personal  
Lord  and  Savior.  Write  four  things  about  yourself.  

I. I  Am  Graced  by  His  Purpose

Write,  first  of  all,  “I  am  graced”—“I  am  graced.”  I’m  taking  the  word  grace  and  making  a  
verb  out  of  it.  I  am  graced  by  His  purpose.  Begin  in  verse  28  and  look  with  me,  if  you  
will:  “And  we  know”—“we  know”—“that  all  things”—not  some  things,  all  things—“work  
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called”—now,  watch  it—
“according  to  his  purpose”  (Romans  8:28).  God  has  a  purpose.  Now,  you  know,  Disraeli  
said  that  “youth  is  a  blunder.  Manhood  is  a  struggle.  Old  age  is  a  regret.”  That’s  the  
voice  of  a  cynic.  But,  what  is  the  voice  of  the  Apostle  Paul?  He  is  saying  that  God  has  a  
purpose.  
Now,  what  is  His  purpose?  Why  did  God  create  the  universes?  Why  did  God  plan  
Planet  Earth?  Why  did  God  create  Adam,  and  Eve,  and  all  their  progeny?  Why  did  the  
Lord  Jesus  step  out  of  Heaven  and  come  to  this  earth?  Why  did  He  suffer,  bleed,  and  
die  upon  a  cross?  Why,  as  we  said,  did  He  walk  out  of  that  grave?  Why  has  He  
ascended  back  to  the  high  hills  of  Glory?  Why  has  He  forgiven  your  sin?  Why  are  we  
here?  What  is  the  eternal  purpose  of  God?  You  want  to  see?  Well,  we’re  graced  with  
His  purpose,  and  we’re  going  to  find  out  what  it  is:  it’s  to  make  it  like  Jesus.  That’s  it.  
You  say,  “Is  that  it?”  That  is  it.  Look  at  it  again  in  verse  28:  “the  called  according  to  his  
purpose.  For”—that  connects  verse  29  with  verse  28—“For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  
also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son”  (Romans  8:28–29).  
What  is  God’s  eternal  purpose?  It’s  to  make  a  generation  of  people  like  Jesus—“to  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son”  (Romans  8:29).  

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 That  is  why…  Well,  why  does  God  want  us  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  
Son?  Well,  when  God  created  Adam  and  Eve  in  the  first  place  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  
He  created  them  in  His  image—that  is,  so  that  they  could  know  Him,  and  worship  Him,  
and  fellowship  with  Him.  And,  why  has,  since  that  image  has  been  marred,  why  did  
Jesus  Christ  come  to  the  cross?  To  restore  that  image.  And,  He  does  it,  first  of  all,  by  
regeneration,  when  we’re  saved  and  we’re  made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And,  He  
does  it  by  sanctification,  as  we’re  being  made  more  and  more  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
And  then,  one  day—hallelujah!  Thank  God!—when  Jesus  comes  in  glorification,  we  will  
be  made  just  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  
Now,  you  want  to  find  out  how  you’re  doing  in  your  Christian  life?  Would  you  like  to  
check  up?  Question:  Are  you  becoming  more  like  Jesus?  That’s  it.  Are  you  becoming  
more  like  Jesus?  Not  like  Adrian;;  not,  “Are  you  becoming  a  better  Baptist?”  not,  “Are  
you  happy  in  Bellevue?”—no,  the  question  is,  “Are  you  having  God’s  purpose  being  
fulfilled  in  you?  Are  you  becoming  more  like  the  Lord  Jesus?”  Now,  God  is  not  primarily  
concerned  about  making  you  healthy,  or  wealthy,  or  popular.  God’s  plan  is  that  you  be  
more  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Now,  if  these  other  blessings  of  health  and  wealth  
come,  give  God  thanks.  
“Well,”  you  say,  “Pastor,  what  if  God’s  purpose  in  me  is  not  going  to  be  fulfilled?”  
Friend,  it  will  be  fulfilled.  Bank  on  it.  You  have  been  graced  with  God’s  purpose  “and  he  
[who]  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you  will  perform  it”  (Philippians  1:6).  Look  in  verse  30.  
Look  at  it—look  at  it:  “Moreover  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also  called”  
(Romans  8:30).  Now,  look—go  back  to  verse  29;;  I  skipped  that  one:  “For  whom  he  did  
foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son”  (Romans  
8:29).  Now,  did  you  know  that  it’s  already  settled  you’re  going  to  be  like  Jesus?  It  is  
predestined  that  you’re  going  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus;;  it  is  determined.  It  has  been  
determined  in  the  counsel  halls  of  eternity.  God  has  said,  “Adrian’s  destination  is  
already  predetermined;;  he  is  predestined  to  be  like  Jesus.”  
Now,  let  me  just  pause  right  here  and  say,  parenthetically,  “God  never  predestines  
anybody  to  Hell—never.”  That  was  a  good  place  for  an  “amen.”  God  never  predestines  
anybody  to  Hell.  Predestination  does  not  deal  with  the  lost;;  it  deals  with  the  saved.  
“Whom  he  did  foreknow,  [them]  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  
of  his  Son”  (Romans  8:29).  When  God  sees  me  receiving  Christ  as  my  personal  Lord  
and  Savior,  He  predestines  me  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Those  that  He  
foreknows,  He  predestines.  And,  predestined  means  it’s  already  done  in  the  heart  and  
mind  of  God.  
You  say,  “Well  Adrian,  does  that  mean  you  don’t  have  any  choices?”  I  make  choices  
everyday—some  good,  some  bad,  some  neutral.  I  was  just  on  an  airplane  coming  back  
from  Salt  Lake  City,  and  on  that  airplane  I  made  a  lot  of  decisions.  I  could  read  this  

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magazine,  or  work  on  that  sermon,  or  make  up  my  mind  whether  I  wanted  cranberry  
juice  or  Diet  Coke,  whether  or  not  I  wanted  to  eat  the  sandwich  they  offered,  which  I  did  
not,  and  all  of  these  other  things.  I’m  making  all  of  these  decisions;;  they’re  my  
decisions.  But,  wait  a  minute,  when  that  airplane  took  off  from  Point  A  and  it  landed  over  
here  at  Point  B,  there  was  a  predestined  place  where  that  airplane  was  going  to  land.  
Now,  I  made  all  these  other  little  decisions,  but  while  I’m  making  all  of  these  other  little  
decisions,  there’s  one  big  great  decision  being  made.  I’m  going  from  there  to  here.  Now,  
granted,  I  know  that  every  illustration  has  its  weaknesses.  That  plane  could’ve  gone  
down  before  it  got  here,  could’ve  blown  up,  or  the  pilot  could’ve  been  hijacked  and  all  of  
that.  But,  I’m…just  don’t  make  the  illustration  work  harder  than  I  want  it  to  work.  What  
I’m  trying  to  say  is  just  simply  this:  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  those  airplane  people,  and  
that  pilot,  and  all  of  that,  I’m  on  board  making  a  lot  of  little  decisions.  But,  there’s  one  
great  big  overarching  decision  already  been  made—and  that’s  the  way  your  life  is.  
You  might  make  a  lot  of  decisions.  Folks,  today,  you  can  scratch  your  ear  or  not  
scratch  your  ear.  But,  I’m  telling  you  what—God  is  going  to  make  you  like  Jesus.  It  is  
predestined.  You  have  been  graced  with  God’s  purpose,  and  He  says  we  know—we  
know—that  this  is  happening.  That’s  what  he  says  here.  Look  at  it  in  this  passage  of  
scripture—in  verse  28:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good”  (Romans  
8:28).  This  is  something  that  is  obvious.  
You  say,  “Well  Pastor,  I  really  don’t  understand  predestination.”  Well,  that  makes  
two  of  us.  That  makes  all  of  us,  because  you  don’t  understand  it.  Vance  Havner  said  
(we  love  to  quote  Vance  Havner)—he  said,  “I  don’t  understand  electricity,  but  I’m  not  
going  to  sit  around  in  the  dark  until  I  do.”  Friend,  you  don’t  have  to  understand  the  Bible.  
You  better  start  believing  the  Bible.  It’s  not  a  book,  first  and  foremost,  to  be  explained;;  
it’s  a  book,  first  and  foremost,  to  be  believed.  And  so—listen,  folks—what’s  it  all  about?  
Why  do  good  things  happen  to  bad  people?  Number  one:  we  have  been  graced  with  
His  purpose.  We’re  going  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  no  matter  what  else  happens.  

II. I  Am  Guided  by  God’s  Providence

Number  two—write  this  down.  First  one:  I  am  graced  with  His  purpose.  Secondly,  I  am  
guided  by  God’s  providence—I  am  guided  by  God’s  providence.  Now,  how  does  God  
fulfill  His  purpose?  By  His  providence.  Look  in  verse  28:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  
his  purpose”  (Romans  8:28).  Now,  notice  it  says,  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  
together  for  good”  (Romans  8:28).  For  is  a  preposition  and  this  particular  preposition  in  
the  Greek  language  means  that  we’re  moving  toward  a  goal.  It  implies  movement  
toward  an  object.  And,  God  has  a  goal  in  mind.  
Now,  we  talk  about  providence.  What  is  providence?  That’s  a  word  we  often  use—

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providence.  Well,  our  English  word  providence  comes  from  two  words—pro,  which  
means  “ahead  of  time,”  and  video.  We  know  about  the  word  video—vide,  “to  see.”  So,  
providence  means  “to  see  ahead  of  time  and  to  make  provision.”  That  is,  God  sees  the  
event  before  it  ever  gets  here,  and  that’s  what  we  call  providence.  God  just  simply  sees  
ahead  of  time,  and  He  moves  everything  toward  the  goal  that  He  has  in  mind.  All  things  
are  working  together  for  good,  toward  that  good,  because  of  God’s  providence.  
Years  ago,  I  read  about  Henry  Ford,  who  bought  the  first  Ford  automobiles.  And,  his  
classic  automobile  in  that  day  was  the  Model  T  Ford.  That  came  even  before  the  Model  
A  Ford.  And,  according  to  the  article  that  I  read,  old  Mr.  Ford  was  so  shrewd  that  when  
he  ordered  the  transmissions  for  his  Model  T  Fords,  he  said  to  those  who  bid,  “I  want  
you  to  box  these  transmissions  in  certain  sized  boxes.  I  want  the  screw  holes  to  be  in  
certain  places.  I  want  the  wood  to  be  of  thus-­and-­such  character  and  quality.”  And,  they  
said,  “Well,  the  old  guy’s  eccentric.  It  really  doesn’t  matter  how  you  box  the  
transmission.  But,  we  want  the  bid,  so  we’ll  box  the  transmissions  this  way  because  he  
didn’t  make  the  transmissions;;  somebody  else  made  the  transmissions.”  So,  when  they  
got  there  to  the  Ford  factory,  they  unboxed  the  transmissions  for  the  Model  T  Ford.  But,  
you  know  what  he  did  with  the  boxes?  They  were  cut  perfectly  for  the  floorboards  on  the  
Model  T  Ford.  The  screw  holes  and  everything  in  place,  and  all  he  had  to  do  was  take  
the  boxes.  He  got  the  other  folks  to  make  the  other  floorboards  for  him,  and  they  were  
free.  Well,  old  man  Ford  was  just  looking  ahead  and  making  provisions.  That’s  what  
God  does.  God  makes  provision.  We  call  that  providence.  
Now,  we  may  not  understand,  just  like  those  people  who  were  boxing  up  those  
transmissions  did  not  understand.  And,  a  lot  of  times  appearances  may  be  deceiving.  
Now  folks,  put  this  down,  if  you  don’t  get  anything  else  down:  we  do  not  live  by  
appearances;;  we  live  by  promises.  Appearances  are  deceiving.  We  don’t  live  by  
explanations;;  we  live  by  promises.  Even  when  God  does  not  rule,  God  overrules.  Now,  
there’s  a  lot  of  evil  in  the  world.  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  God  causes  all  things.  That’s  not  
what  this  verse  says.  
As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  was  reading  in  our  paper  yesterday—the  day  before  yesterday,  
I  believe;;  sometime  this  week—of  a  young  man  (a  teenager)  in  Pearl,  Mississippi,  who  
perpetrated  a  horrible  crime—brutally  murdered  his  mother;;  then  went  to  Pearl  High  
School;;  and  there,  with  a  rifle,  shot  and  killed,  I  believe,  two  students  and  wounded  
seven  others.  As  I  read  about  that  in  the  newspaper,  I  was  particularly  struck  with  what  
this  young  man  said  there  in  the  courtroom.  He  said  (quote),  “Everything  that  happens  
has  a  reason.  It’s  God’s  will.”  Now  friend,  I  want  to  tell  you  God  did  not  will  that  boy  
killing  his  mama.  God  did  not  will  that  boy  carrying  that  rifle  to  high  school.  Don’t  get  in  
your  mind  that  everything  that  happens  is  God’s  will.  Rape  is  not  God’s  will.  Murder  is  
not  God’s  will.  Racial  hatred  is  not  God’s  will.  Perversion  is  not  God’s  will.  Adultery  is  

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not  God’s  will.  Sodomy  is  not  God’s  will.  It  is  not  God’s  will.  Man  has  a  will,  and  man  has  
an  evil  heart.  But,  you  see,  even  when  man  does  evil,  where  God  does  not  rule,  God  
overrules.  And,  God  is  still  in  charge  of  all  of  this.  
Now,  sometimes  there’s  sin  that  God  just  overrules.  And,  some  of  those  people  in  
those  families  that  are  suffering  because  of  what  that  young  man  did,  if  they  know  the  
Lord,  God’s  providence  is  still  going  to  rule  and  God  is  going  to  take  care  of  those  
precious  families.  And  then,  sometimes,  you’ll  know  that  God  will  engineer  by  His  
providence  circumstances  that  look  evil  to  us,  but  they’re  not  evil.  God  just  has  that  
wonderful  plan.  
Somewhere,  years  ago,  I  read  about  a  farmer  who  had  a  great  big  brush  pile  out  
there  of  brush  and  debris  that  he  was  going  to  burn.  And,  when  he  came  out  there,  he  
saw  that  a  little  bird  had  built  a  nest  in  that  brush  pile.  Well,  he  knew  he  was  going  to  
burn  it.  That  was  a  bad  place  for  that  little  bird  to  build  a  nest,  so  the  farmer  destroyed  
the  nest.  When  he  came  back  days  later,  he  found  out  that  the  bird  was  rebuilding  the  
nest  in  that  brush  pile.  The  farmer  went  out  there  and  destroyed  the  nest  again.  I  think  
he  did  it  three  times;;  and  finally,  the  little  bird  gave  up.  But,  I  can  just  imagine  that  little  
bird  going  home  and  saying  to  his  mate,  “I  just  don’t  know  what’s  happening.  I  don’t  
know  why  all  these  things  are  against  us.  I  don’t  know  why  every  time  that  we  try  to  
build  a  nest  it  gets  destroyed.”  Well,  there  was  an  unseen  hand  that  was  doing  
something  that  that  bird  may  have  thought  was  bad  but  was  really  good.  
I  read  also  of  a  boy  who  had  a  twisted  foot,  and  the  boy  had  to  walk  on  the  side  of  
his  foot  like  that;;  and  he  was  handicapped.  His  father  was  a  loving  man,  took  that  boy  to  
the  best  orthopedic  surgeons  and  specialists,  but  they  said,  “No,  we  can’t  do  anything.  
All  of  his  life  he  will  walk  on  the  side  of  his  foot.”  Well,  that  father  would  not  give  up.  He  
began  to  study.  He  took  his  self-­prescribed  course  in  orthopedics  and  medicine  and  
began  to  study  about  bones,  and  ligaments,  and  sinews.  And,  he  decided  he  was  going  
to  straighten  his  boy’s  foot  even  if  the  doctors  would  not.  And,  he  worked  and  built  a  
box,  and  in  that  box  he  put  some  screws  that  went  into  that  box  that  could  be  tightened  
from  the  outside,  and  padded  those  screws  on  the  inside,  and  put  that  box  on  that  boy’s  
foot  and  began  to  tighten  those  screws  until  the  boy  cried  out  in  pain.  He  said,  “Son,  I  
love  you.  Just  trust  me.”  That  night,  the  boy  went  to  sleep  with  that  wooden  box  on.  The  
next  day  he  got  up,  and  the  father  tightened  the  screws  a  little  more;;  and  the  boy  would  
cry  out  in  pain,  and  the  father  would  comfort  him.  And,  the  boy  had  to  go  around  with  
that  big  box  on  his  foot.  But,  there  came  a  time  when  the  father  said,  “Son,  I’m  going  to  
take  the  box  off  of  your  foot  now.”  And,  he  took  the  box  off,  and  the  foot  was  straight.  
That  father  had,  through  love  and  tenderness—and  yet  causing  the  boy  some  pain—
had  straightened  that  foot.  And,  the  boy  put  his  arms  around  that  father  and  said,  
“Father,  I  love  you.  Thank  you.  It  hurt;  it  was  painful,  but  thank  you.  Thank  you  for  what  

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you  did.”  That  father  had  a  purpose  in  what  he  did.  
Can  you  imagine—can  you  imagine—some  school  kids  who  are  ridiculing  a  boy  
whose  father  is  a  surgeon,  and  they  say  to  that  boy,  “Your  father  is  a  mean  man”?  “Why  
do  you  say  my  father  is  a  mean  man?”  “Your  father  puts  people  to  sleep  where  they  
can’t  even  help  themselves,  and  then  he  puts  them  on  a  table  and  cuts  them  open.  
Then  he  takes  things  out  of  them,  throws  them  away,  and  then  he  sews  them  up.  And,  
when  they  wake  up,  they  cry;;  they’re  in  pain.  Your  father’s  a  mean  man.”  You  know,  
some  people  accuse  our  Heavenly  Father.  Did  you  know  that?  They  accuse  our  
Heavenly  Father  because  they  don’t  have  any  more  sense  than  those  students  who  
might  be  accusing  the  son  of  that  surgeon.  No,  sometimes  there’s  evil;;  and  where  God  
does  not  rule,  He  overrules.  And,  sometimes  the  things  that  God  does—they  don’t  seem  
to  be  good  to  us,  but  they  are  good.  
Young  Joseph—17  years  he  was  suffering.  His  brothers  had  sold  him  into  slavery.  
You  remember  the  caravan  of  Ishmaelites  that  bought  young  Joseph?  He’s  carried  into  
Egypt;;  and  there,  he’s  lied  about  by  Potiphar’s  wife,  and  he  languishes  in  prison.  But,  he  
finally  becomes  a  prime  minister  of  Egypt.  And,  here’s  a  great  verse  for  you—Genesis  
chapter  50  and  verse  20:  Joseph  is  talking  later  to  his  brothers:  “But  as  for  you,  ye  
thought  evil  against  me;;  but  God  meant  it  unto  good,  to  bring  to  pass,  as  it  is  this  day,  to  
save  much  people  alive”  (Genesis  50:20).  It  was  God  that  brought  that  caravan  of  slave  
traders.  It  was  God  that  caused  the  famine  in  Israel,  and  it  was  God  who  overruled  the  
lie  of  Potiphar’s  wife.  Friend,  listen—listen  to  me  very  carefully:  don’t  read  Romans  8:28  
to  say  that  all  things  are  good.  All  things  are  not  good.  There  are  some  terrible  things  in  
this  world.  The  point  is  not  that  things  are  good;;  it  is  that  God  is  good—that  it  is  God  that  
is  good.  
As  a  matter  of  fact,  put  in  your  margin  “Ephesians  1,  verse  11”:  it  says,  “Being  
predestinated  according  to  the  purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  
of  his  own  will”  (Ephesians  1:11).  And  so,  here’s  the  first  thing  I  want  you  to  write  
down—look:  I  am  graced  with  His  purpose.  I’m  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  Number  two:  I  am  
guided  by  His  providence,  God  is  working  all  things  together  (Romans  8:28).  That  word  
working  is  the  Greek  word  that  we  get  our  English  word  synergy  from.  There  is  a  
synergy  of  divine  energy,  where  God  is  working  all  things  together  for  good.  Robert  
Ketchum  said,  “God  is  too  good  to  be  unkind  and  too  wise  to  make  a  mistake.”  

III. I  Am  Guarded  by  His  Power

Now,  here’s  the  third  thing  I  want  you  to  write  down.  We’re  trying  to  answer  the  
question,  “Why  do  good  things  happen  to  bad  people?”  Well,  number  one,  I’m  graced  
by  His  purpose.  He’s  going  to  make  me  like  Jesus.  Number  two:  I  am  guided  by  His  
providence.  He  is  working  all  things  together  for  my  good  and  His  glory.  Number  three:  

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write  down,  “I  am  guarded  by  His  power”—“I  am  guarded  by  His  power.”  Now,  look  in  
verse  31:  “What  shall  we  then  say  to  these  things?  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  
us?”  (Romans  8:31).  
Now,  there  are  a  lot  of  people  who  would  like  to  be  against  you.  Don’t  get  the  idea  
that  this  world  will  honor  you  if  you  serve  the  Lord  Jesus.  This  world  will  break  your  neck  
if  it  can.  But,  just  remember  this:  If  God  be  for  you—if  God  be  for  you—and  that  word  for  
literally  has  the  idea  there  of  God  being  in  your  place.  He  died  for  you.  He  died  as  your  
substitute.  It  doesn’t  only  mean  that  “if  God  is  on  your  side”;;  it  literally  means  “if  God  is  
in  your  place”—If  God  be  for  you,  if  God  is  your  substitute  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  if  He  
is  in  your  place,  who  can  be  against  you?  Think  about  it:  whoever’s  coming  against  you  
is  really  coming  against  the  One  who  stands  for  you.  
Now,  Satan  wants  you  to  doubt.  Satan  wants  you  to  have  questions  in  your  mind.  
Did  you  know  that  Satan  loves  to  put  questions  in  your  mind?  Did  you  know  Satan  loves  
to  ask  questions—insinuating  questions?  The  first  time,  as  we  see  him  in  the  Garden  of  
Eden,  as  he  crawls  his  slimy,  corroding  path  into  the  pages  of  history,  he  says  to  Eve,  
“Yeah,  hath  God  said”  (Genesis  3:1).  It’s  a  question.  It  was  a  question  there  that  was  to  
inculcate  doubt  in  the  heart  and  the  mind  of  Eve.  “Hath  God  said”  (Genesis  3:1).  Well,  
he  even  has  the  audacity  to  ask  God  questions—insinuating  questions:  “Doth  Job  
[serve]  God  for  nought?”  (Job  1:9).  I’d  like  to  ask  the  devil  some  questions.  
I’m  going  to  give  you  five  questions  right  now,  out  of  the  Word  of  God—five  
questions  the  devil  cannot  answer.  Now,  what  we’re  talking  about  is  this—that  we  are  
guarded  by  God’s  power.  And,  when  you  see  these  five  questions  that  Satan  cannot  
answer,  then  you’re  going  to  say,  “Thank  God!  Hallelujah!  No  matter  what  happens,  I  
know  that  God  is  watching  over  me.”  
A. No  Intimidation
All  right,  look,  here’s  the  first  question  in  verse  31:  “What  shall  we…say  to  these  things?  
If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  (Romans  8:31).  That  is  question  number  one.  
Write  down  “no  intimation”—“no  intimidation.”  Remember,  God  is  in  our  place.  Jesus  
died  for  us;;  and  so,  when  Satan  comes  to  intimidate  us,  he’s  literally  coming  against  
God  Himself.  Last  Friday,  I  really  enjoyed  this  scripture—Isaiah  41,  beginning  in  verse  
13:  “For  I  the  LORD  thy  God  will  hold  thy  right  hand,  saying  unto  thee,  Fear  not;;  [for]  I  
will  help  thee”—now,  watch  this—“Fear  not,  thou  worm”—W-­O-­R-­M—“thou  worm  
Jacob,  and  ye  men  of  Israel;;  I  will  help  thee,  saith  the  LORD,  and  thy  redeemer,  the  
Holy  One  of  Israel”  (Isaiah  41:13–14).  Now,  that’s  a  pretty  good  partnership—God  and  a  
worm.  Friend,  I  tell  you  what,  I’d  rather  be  a  worm  with  God  on  my  side  than  be  a  bull  
elephant  all  by  myself.  Hadn’t  you?  He  said,  “Don’t  be  afraid,  little  worm.  I  am  with  you.  
God  is  with  you.”  Now  listen,  devil,  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question:  “If  God  be  for  us,  who  

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can  be  against  us?”  (Romans  8:31).  That’s  it.  If  God  is  in  my  place,  I  may  be  a  worm,  
but  He’s  the  Almighty.  
B. No  Deprivation
Second  question  I  want  to  ask  the  devil—and  it’s  found  in  verse  32;;  look  at  it:  “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?”  (Romans  8:32).  Devil,  I  want  to  ask  you  that  question.  Put  
down,  dear  friend,  not  only  “no  intimidation,”  but  “no  deprivation”—“no  deprivation.”  I  
mean,  listen,  if  God  gave  Jesus,  I  don’t  have  to  doubt  any  more  promises.  I  mean,  He  
loved  me  enough  to  give  His  Son.  I  want  you  to  see  the  logic  of  what  Paul  is  talking  
about.  Paul  has  great  logic.  He  says—listen,  “[For  if  he]  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  
delivered  him  up  [freely]  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  [also]  with  him…freely  give  us  all  
things?”  (Romans  8:32).  Now  friend,  if  He  would  give  the  great  gift  of  Jesus  while  we  
were  sinners,  what’s  He  going  to  do  for  us  now  that  we’re  His  children?  If  He  gave  the  
great  gift  when  we  didn’t  even  ask,  what  will  He  give  for  the  asking?  I  mean,  if  He  gave  
Jesus,  would  He  withhold  anything  else?  
If  you  were  to  say  to  me,  “Adrian,  can  I  have  your  son?  I  want  to  take  you  firstborn,  
Steve”…  “What  do  you  want  to  do  with  Steve?”  “Well,  I  want  to  lie  on  him,  beat  him,  
abuse  him,  strip  him  naked,  and  nail  him  to  a  cross—that’s  what  I  want  to  do  with  him.”  
“No,  you  can’t  have  my  son—no,  you  can’t  have  my  son.”  But,  suppose  I  loved  you  
enough  for  whatever  reason  and  said,  “Yes,  you  can  have  my  son.”  And  then,  you  said,  
“Can  I  have  his  basketball,  and  his  bicycle  also,  and  his  blue  jeans?”  I  say,  “Are  you  
kidding?”  If  I  give  you  my  son,  do  you  think  I’d  withhold  the  basketball,  the  bicycle,  and  
the  blue  jeans?  Friend,  “he  [who]  spared  not  his  own  Son…how  shall  he  not  also  with  
him  freely  give  us  all  things?”  (Romans  8:32).  I  mean,  if  God  gave  the  best  gift—the  
best  gift—everything  else  comes  with  Jesus.  And,  there  is  no  intimidation.  “If  God  be  for  
us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  (Romans  8:31).  There  is  no  deprivation.  
C. No  Incrimination
Now,  here  is  another  question  I  want  to  ask  you,  Mr.  Devil.  Here  is  the  third  question.  
It’s  found  in  verse  33—look  at  it:  “Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God’s  elect?”  
(Romans  8:33).  Write  down  “no  incrimination.”  The  devil  would  like  to  blame  you.  He’s  
the  accuser  of  the  brethren.  Now  it  doesn't  say,  uh,  who  would  like  to  charge  us.  It  
literally  means  who  is  qualified  to  do  so.  Satan  will  try.  Revelation  chapter  12  verse  10  
says  he  is  “the  accuser  of  [the]  brethren”  (Revelation  12:10).  But  friend,  how  can  we  be  
condemned?  Who  can  lay  any  charge  against  us,  when  Colossians  tells  us  that  He  took  
all  those  things  out  of  the  way  and  nailed  them  to  the  cross?  (Colossians  2:14).  And,  
when  He  died,  He  said,  “Paid  in  full.”  And,  God  will  never  bring  us  into  double  jeopardy.  
And,  “blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin”  (Romans  4:8).  So  now,  

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watch—look  at  it:  no  intimidation—“If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  (Romans  
8:31).  No  deprivation—if  Jesus  died  for  us,  “how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  us  
all  things?”  (Romans  8:32).  Watch  it:  no  incrimination—“Who  is  he  that  can  lay  any  
charge  to  us?”  (Romans  8:33).  Nobody—nobody—can  lay  a  charge  against  any  child  of  
God.  
D. No  Condemnation
And  then,  here’s  another  question  I  want  to  ask,  Mr.  Devil.  It’s  found  in  verse  34:  “Who  
is  he  that  condemneth?”  (Romans  8:34).  Paul  is  full  of  questions,  isn’t  he?  I  love  these  
questions.  “Who  is  he  that  condemneth?”  (Romans  8:34).  Write  down  “no  
condemnation”—“no  condemnation.”  Now,  there  are  a  lot  of  people  who  will  try  to  
condemn  you.  Have  you  ever  been  told  to  go  to  Hell?  Live  long  enough,  somebody  will  
tell  you  that.  Come  up  close,  I  want  to  tell  you  something:  you  don’t  have  to—you  don’t  
have  to.  Why?  Because  this  verse  begins—this  chapter  begins,  “There  is  therefore  no  
condemnation  to  [those  who]  are  in  Christ  Jesus”  (Romans  8:1).  We  have  been  saved.  
You  see,  the  only  One  who  would  be  qualified  to  condemn  us  is  the  One  who  died  for  
us,  and  the  Bible  says,  “He  ever  [lives]  to  make  intercession  for  [us]”  (Hebrews  7:25).  
And,  certainly,  the  One  who  died  for  us  and  makes  intercession  for  us  is  the  only  One  
who  could  possibly  condemn  us,  and  He  is  not  going  to  condemn  us  because  it’s  very  
clear  here  in  the  Word  of  God:  “Who  shall  lay  any  thing  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”  (Romans  8:33–34).  Do  you  know,  if  somebody  tells  me  to  go  to  Hell,  do  you  know  
why  I’m  not  going?  Because  there’s  One  with  a  nail-­pierced  hand  at  the  right  hand  of  
the  Father  praying  daily  for  me.  “He  ever  [lives]  to  make  intercession  for  [me]”  (Hebrews  
7:25).  
E. No  Separation
All  right,  now,  here’s  the  fifth  question  the  old  devil  can’t  answer,  and  I  love  these  
questions:  “Who  shall  separate  us?”—look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  35—“Who  shall  separate  
us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  
nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword?”  (Romans  8:35).  Devil,  what  can  separate  me  from  the  
love  of  Christ?  Satan  says,  “Oh,  I’ll  tell  you  what  can  do  it:  tribulation  can  do  it;;  distress  
can  do  it;;  persecution  can  do  it;;  famine  can  do  it;;  nakedness  can  do  it;;  peril  can  do  it;;  
sword  can  do  it.”  I  say,  “Devil,  you’re  bluffing.  Nothing  can  do  it.”  He  doesn’t  say  these  
things  are  not  going  to  happen  to  us.  They  happened  to  Paul;;  they  may  happen  to  you.  
But,  these  things  don’t  separate  you  from  the  love  of  Christ;;  they  draw  you  all  the  closer  
to  the  Lord.  
Now,  you  think  about  these  five  questions.  I’m  talking  now,  dear  friend,  about  the  

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fact  that  we’re  guarded  by  His  power.  There  is  no  intimidation.  There’s  no  deprivation.  
There’s  no  incrimination.  There’s  no  condemnation.  There’s  no  separation.  And,  God’s  
people  said  “amen.”  Listen  folks,  this  is  why  good  things  happen  to  bad  people.  It  is  
called  the  grace  of  Almighty  God.  

IV. I  Am  Gladdened  by  God’s  Presence

Now,  let’s  move  on  to  the  last  of  these  four  truths  I  want  to  write  upon  your  heart.  
Number  one:  I  am  graced  by  God’s  purpose.  Number  two:  I  am  guided  by  God’s  
providence.  Number  three:  I  am  guarded  by  God’s  power.  Number  four:  I  am  gladdened  
by  God’s  presence.  Look,  if  you  will,  in  verses  38  and  39.  Paul  dips  his  pen  in  golden  
glory  right  here.  I  mean,  Romans  8  is  the  heart  of  the  whole  thing,  friend,  and  this  is  the  
climax  of  the  heart  right  here.  Look  at  it:  “For  I  am  persuaded”—here  he  is;;  here’s  the  
old  Apostle  Paul.  He’s  coming  to  the  end  now,  folks.  Nothing  has  ever  been  written  in  all  
literature  more  glorious  than  this—“For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  Nor  
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord”  (Romans  8:38–39).  
No  matter  where,  the  darkest  night,  the  most  lonely  road—death  can’t  separate  me  
from  His  love.  Life  can’t  separate  me—angels,  principalities,  powers,  things  present,  
things  to  come,  height,  depth,  and  in  case  you  left  out  anything,  nor  any  other  creature.  
Friend,  when  you  have  sorrow  and  sickness,  He’s  there.  He’s  never  stopped  loving  you.  
Paul  does  not  say  that  these  things  will  not  happen.  He’s  saying,  “No,  in  all  of  these  
things—not  in  the  absence  of  all  of  these  things,  but  in  all  of  these  things—we’re  more  
than  conquerors,  not  that  we  kick  a  field  goal  the  last  three  seconds—super-­conquerors  
over  all  of  these  things.”  
Many  in  this  building  will  have  cancer  before  you  die.  You’ll  go  to  the  doctor;;  the  
doctor  will  say,  “You  have  cancer.”  I  want  to  tell  you  some  things  that  cancer  cannot  do.  
We’re  listening.  We  have  some  people  right  now  who  have  a  malignancy  gnawing  away  
in  their  body.  Let  me  tell  you  what  cancer  cannot  do:  cancer  cannot  cripple  love;;  cancer  
cannot  shatter  hope;;  cancer  cannot  corrode  faith;;  cancer  cannot  eat  away  peace;;  
cancer  cannot  destroy  confidence;;  cancer  cannot  kill  friendship;;  cancer  cannot  shut  out  
memories;;  cancer  cannot  silence  courage;;  cancer  cannot  evade  the  soul;;  cancer  cannot  
reduce  eternal  life;;  cancer  cannot  quench  the  Spirit  of  God;;  and  cancer  cannot  lessen  
the  power  of  the  Resurrection.  That’s  how  limited  cancer  is,  friend.  I  want  to  tell  you,  
“death,  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present  nor  things  to  
come,  nor  height,  nor  depth  nor  any  other  creature  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  
love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord”  (Romans  8:38–39).  Isn’t  that  great  
news?  

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 You  know,  the  Indians—the  Indians—when  a  young  boy  would  come  to  the  age  
when  it  was  time  for  him  to  become  a  brave,  to  go  from  a  little  boy  into  a  young  brave,  
they,  in  some  Indian  tribes,  they  would  do  this:  they  would  take  that  boy  out  into  the  
deep  forest  where  there  were  wild  animals  and  predators,  and  they  would  draw  a  circle  
on  the  ground  out  there  in  the  middle  of  the  forest.  And,  they  would  take  that  little  Indian  
boy  out  there  and  then  put  him  in  that  circle.  And,  they  would  say,  “Son,  you  are  to  stay  
in  that  circle  by  yourself  in  these  deep  woods  all  night  long.”  Then  they  would  go  off,  
and  the  little  boy  would  be  there  in  the  circle.  He  could  hear  the  coyotes,  the  hoot  owls;;  
he  could  hear  the  screeches  of  the  wild  creatures  out  there.  And,  he’s  there,  surrounded  
by  all  of  that  danger,  by  himself,  in  that  circle,  forbidden  to  leave  that  circle.  And,  the  
little  Indian  boy  would  get  on  the  ground  and  would  just  tremble,  and  whimper,  and  cry,  
’till  finally  about  two  in  the  morning  he’d  drop  off  to  sleep  out  of  sheer  exhaustion.  In  the  
morning,  when  the  sun  would  come  up,  that  Indian  boy  would  look  up  and  there,  
standing  outside  that  circle  with  a  drawn  bow,  would  be  his  father,  who’d  been  there  all  
night  long  watching  over  him.  And  friend,  there’s  a  circle—there’s  the  circle—of  God’s  
grace,  the  circle  of  God’s  love.  God  means  you  no  harm.  He  wants  to  grow  you.  But,  I’ll  
tell  you,  standing  outside  that  circle  is  Almighty  God  our  Father,  watching  over  us.  
Aren’t  you  glad  that  good  things  can  happen  to  bad  people  like  we  are?  We’re  
graced—we’re  graced  with  His  purpose.  He’s  going  to  make  us  like  Jesus.  We’re  
guided  by  His  providence—“that  all  things  [are  working]  together  for  good  to  [those]  that  
love  God”  (Romans  8:28).  Oh,  precious  friend,  we’re  guarded  by  His  power.  There  are  
five  questions  the  devil  can’t  answer  because  of  the  power  of  God.  And,  we’re  
gladdened  with  His  presence,  for  there’s  nothing  that  can  separate  us  from  the  love  of  
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  Glory,  hallelujah!  

Conclusion  
Let’s  bow  our  heads  in  prayer.  Heads  are  bowed,  and  eyes  are  closed.  Now  friend,  I’ve  
been  talking  to  the  children  of  God  today,  to  those  who  love  God,  the  ones  “who  
are…called  according  to  his  purpose”  (Romans  8:28).  And,  I  believe,  right  now,  that  
there  are  some  of  you  who  say,  “I  want  to  step  into  the  circle  of  God’s  love.  I  want  to  be  
His  child.  I  want  to  receive  Him  as  my  Lord  and  Savior.”  If  you  do,  I’d  like  to  lead  you  in  
a  prayer.  While  heads  are  bowed  and  eyes  are  closed,  would  you,  right  now,  pray  this  
prayer  out  of  your  heart,  if  you  want  to  know  Jesus?  Now,  if  you’re  not  sincere,  it  won’t  
do  you  any  good  at  all.  But,  if  you’re  sincere,  don’t  let  your  weakness  or  your  fear  keep  
you  from  praying,  because  He  loves  you.  He  died  for  sinners;;  He  didn’t  die  for  good  
people.  He  died  for  people  like  we  are.  And,  good  things  can  happen  to  bad  people  
when  they  trust  Jesus.  
Would  you  pray,  “Dear  God,  I  am  a  sinner.  My  sin  deserves  judgment,  but  I  want  

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mercy.  Jesus,  I  believe  You’re  the  Son  of  God.  I  believe  You  paid  for  my  sin  with  Your  
blood  on  the  cross.  I  believe  that  God  raised  You  from  the  dead.  You  promised  to  save  
me  if  I  would  trust  You.  I  do  trust  You”—tell  Him  that—“I  do  trust  You,  right  now,  with  all  
of  my  heart.  Come  into  my  heart,  Lord  Jesus”—pray  that  prayer—“Come  into  my  heart,  
Lord  Jesus.  Forgive  my  sin.  Cleanse  me.  Save  me”—pray  that  from  the  depth  of  your  
heart—“Save  me,  Lord  Jesus”—pray  it—“Save  me,  Lord  Jesus”?  
Did  you  ask  Him?  Then,  pray  this  prayer:  “Thank  You  for  doing  it.  I  don’t  look  for  a  
sign.  I  don’t  ask  for  a  feeling.  I  stand  on  Your  Word.  You’re  now  my  Lord,  my  Savior,  my  
Master,  my  God,  my  Friend.  Begin  now  to  make  me  what  You  want  me  to  be,  and  give  
me  the  courage  to  make  it  public”—pray  that—“Give  me  the  courage  to  make  it  public.  
Don’t  let  me  be  ashamed  of  You.  In  Your  name  I  pray.  Amen.”  

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 The Chemistry of the Cross
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: September 26, 1976

Main Scripture Text: Romans 8:28–29

““And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
ROMANS 8:28

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Certainty of It
II. The Completeness of It
A. The Best Things Work Together for Good
B. The Worst Things Work Together for Good
C. Sin Works Together for Good
III. The Cause of It
IV. The Condition of It
V. The Consequences of It
Conclusion

Introduction
Take the Word of God, if you will, this morning, please, and open to Romans chapter 8.
I want us to think together today on this subject: “The Chemistry of the Cross.” And
we’re reading verses 28 and 29: “And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the 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” (Romans 8:28–29).
Our Father, we thank You for this word, and we pray that You will anoint our hearts
as we endeavor to preach it. Dear Father, not only our hearts, but our minds, our lips,
our ears. Energize our will to do Your will. For Jesus’ sake, amen.
Sodium is a deadly poison. Chlorine is a poison. But sodium chloride compounded
together is table salt. Salt is necessary for life. It is amazing how the chemist can put
together certain elements, and even how nature blends together certain elements, and
how the pharmacist sometimes takes certain medicines and certain chemicals that, in
themselves, would be poison. But he puts them by the precise proportions into his
crucible, and he mixes them, and gives to us what could, in their own native state,

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cause harm.
I want us to think about “The Chemistry of the Cross.” Do you remember there, in
the fifteenth chapter of the book of Exodus, when the children of Israel were coming out
of the land of Egypt, and they were going on into the Promised Land, out of the land of
bondage, into the land of blessing? They came to a place called Mara, where the water
was bitter. And God said to Moses, “Moses, cast a tree into that water.” Moses cut down
a tree, threw that tree into the water, and the bitter became sweet (Exodus 15:25).
There was a divine chemistry that turned that bitter experience into a blessed
experience; and, it was when a tree was cast into the water. The cross, to me, is that
tree that transforms all of the bitter experiences on this pilgrim journey into something
that is sweet and blessed.
God describes “The Chemistry of the Cross” in Romans chapter 8 and verse 28:
“And we know that all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28). Now some of
these things, by themselves, are not good at all. But when God compounds them in the
crucible of His love and by the chemistry of the cross, He makes something very
wonderful and very glorious out of everything that happens to you and happens to me.
There’s nothing bad, ultimately, that can happen to you, if you’re a child of God and are
on your way to Heaven. That’s a glorious truth. I want us to learn three or four things
about this glorious truth.

I. The Certainty of It
First of all, I want you to look at the certainty of it. Verse 28 says: “And we know”—
there’s no doubt. There’s no happenstance, here. There’s no maybe, here—“And we
know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). This
is not conjecture. This is not vague opinion. This is a promise of God.
F. B. Meyer is one of my favorite authors. F. B. Meyer said this: “If any promise of
God should fail, the heavens would clothe themselves with sackcloth; the sun, moon,
and stars would reel from their courses; the universe would rock; and a hollow wind
would moan through a ruined creation the awful message that God could lie. But God
can’t lie.”
All of the promises are “yea and amen” in the Lord Jesus Christ. “And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). You say, “Well,
Brother Rogers, it doesn’t look like it’s so good for me, right now. I am having
tremendous difficulty. I have a sickness. I have a problem. I have a financial need. I
have a spirit of depression. I don’t see how you say that can be good.” Well, it may not
look good, right now. But friend, you better wait until God has finished.
I love the ocean. My blood is about 75% salt water, because I was born in West
Palm Beach, Florida, and pastored on the east coast of Florida all of my life, before you

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folks were so kind as to let me come here and be your pastor. I miss the surging sea. I
guess, when a man is born in the mountains, he sometimes misses the mountains. And
I miss the ocean. I just like to watch the waves come up on the shore of the sea.
There’s a great spiritual lesson there, in the waves and in the tides. A poet put it this
way—and I think it’s one of the grandest poems that has been pinned to give a spiritual
truth:

On the far reef the breakers recoil in shattered foam,

While still the sea behind them urges its forces home.
Its song of triumph surges o’er all the thunderous din:
The wave may break in failure, But the tide is sure to win!

The reef is strong and cruel upon its jagged wall.

One wave, a score, a hundred, broken and beaten, fall.
Yet in defeat they conquer, the sea comes flooding in,
Wave upon wave is routed, But the tide is sure to win!

Oh! Mighty sea, thy message in clanging spray is cast.

Within God’s plan of progress it matters not at last
How wide the shores of evil, How strong the reefs of sin.
The wave may be defeated, But the tide is sure to win!

You see, God has too much invested in you to let you lose. God has a great
investment in you, and He’s not going to let it go. The Bible says, in Philippians chapter
1, verse 6: “He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it” (Philippians 1:6). You
were born to win. God is not going to let you go. God is going to see to it that all things
work together for good for you, because you love the Lord.

II. The Completeness of It

Now the second thing I want you to notice: not only the certainty of it—“we know” —but,
I want you to notice the completeness of it—“we know that all things work together for
good…” (Romans 8:28).
A. The Best Things Work Together for Good
So many times, when we read this, we only think about the worst things, but the best
things work together. For, this a glorious service; it’s working for good. Isn’t this a

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wonderful book? It’s working for good. Wasn’t that thrilling music? That’s working for
good. And all of the good things that God does for you, everyday—that’s working
together. God daily loads us with benefits.
Count your many blessings;
Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done (Oatman, Jr., Johnson).
B. The Worst Things Work Together for Good
But wait a minute. Not only the best things work together for good, but also, the worst
things work together for good. The things that you said were calamities, the things that
you said were disastrous, the things that you said that brought ruin: God said, “It’s going
to be blessing to you.”
Now you may not be able to see it, right now. Let’s just take a little safari through the
Bible, and let me point out some texts that may illustrate what I’m talking about. Turn, if
you will, to Jeremiah chapter 24. What would happen if—God forbid—what would
happen if the Russians were to take over the United States, and communism would
prevail here? Would that ruin God’s plan for your life? Now we ought to do all that we
can do to keep that from happening. But suppose it did happen. Suppose our country
were subjected to a foreign power, and suppose our churches were closed. Do you
think that would thwart the plan of God? Look in Jeremiah chapter 24, verse 5. God is
speaking to his people, Judah: “Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Like these
good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive of Judah, whom I
have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans”—now, notice the next three
words—“for their good” (Jeremiah 24:5). God allowed His ancient people, His chosen
people, Judah, to be carried away into the land of Babylon, as slaves in a wicked and
oppressive land. And God said, “I did it for their good” (Jeremiah 24:5).
Now dear friend, God may do something like that to America, for our good. We sing
“God bless America.” Why should God bless America? Because over 50% of the
world’s divorces take place here, and we have 6% of the world’s population? Because
we have three times as many taverns as we have churches? Is that why God should
bless America? Because our crime rate is a disgrace of civilization? Is that why God
should bless America? Because of the pornographic literature that is disbursed in every
major city, including Memphis, Tennessee? Is that why God should bless America?
Well, God may bless it, but He may not bless us the way we think. We have been
cursed with blessings. He may bless us with cursing. He may send some calamities, as
He said to His ancient people, Judah. We’re not God’s darlings. We’re not better than
Judah. But God ruled it all. And God said, “If it happens, it will be for your good”

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(Jeremiah 24:5).
All right. Now watch: Not only did God do that with Judah, He also did it with David.
Turn to Psalm 119, verse 71. David was a man after God’s own heart. I love to study
about David. But David had some difficulty in his life, from time to time. And I want you
to look in verse 71—Psalm 119 and verse 71. Listen to the testimony of David: “It is
good for me that I have been afflicted”—is there somebody listening who has a
sickness? Somebody listening who has an affliction? Have you ever said it is good that
you have been afflicted? David did—“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I
might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). God had a lesson He wanted to teach David.
But for some reason, He could not get David’s attention. Somebody has well said, “We
never see so clearly, as when we see through eyes that have been washed with tears.”
David’s affliction worked together for his good. “It is good for me that I have been
afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71).
Let’s go on. Look in the book of Genesis, chapter 50—the last chapter in the book of
Genesis. And I want you to read what Joseph said. You know? You talk about a fellow
who had a hard time? Why, Joseph—my soul—Joseph, who loved the Lord. Do you
know what happened to Joseph? He was thrown into a pit by his brothers. He was
betrayed. He was sold as a slave. He was cast into prison—languished in prison, there,
for two years. He was lied on by Potiphar’s wife. It looked like everything was working
together for bad, to Joseph. But later on, this same Joseph, through his abasement,
found advancement. And through all of these events, Joseph became the Prime
Minister of Egypt and was used by God to save his brethren.
And I want you to notice this passage of Scripture here, in Genesis chapter 50, and
look in verse 20; Joseph says: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me”—he’s talking
to his brothers—“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). God knew
what He was doing when Joseph was cast into that pit. God knew what He was doing
when Joseph was lied on by his brethren. God knew what He was doing when Joseph
was disgraced. And had he been like the modern weak Christians, he would have said,
“Where is God? God has forsaken me.” But God was in Heaven, working out Romans
8:28, that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
The same thing is true about King Manasseh. Turn to 2 Chronicles chapter 33, for a
moment, in the Word of God. Old King Manasseh, who was a mighty king, was taken
from his throne and was cast into chains—2 Chronicles chapter 33, beginning in verse
11: “Wherefore, the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of
Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to
Babylon.” Notice verse twelve: “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD,

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his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto
him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to
Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD, he was God” (2
Chronicles 33:11–13). Now Manasseh’s iron chains were better for Manasseh than his
golden crown. It was good for Manasseh that he was pulled from his throne. It was good
for Manasseh that he was put in chains. It was good for Manasseh that he was carried
away into Babylon. Because, his eyes were opened. He learned some spiritual truths
that he could not have learned any other way. You see, God’s providence is a strange
teacher. It gives the test first, and then, the lesson. And God tested this man, and God
tried this man. But God gave him a lesson that he learned—the great truth God wanted
him to learn. And I’m just simply saying that God works together all things.
Look in the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. It wasn’t good, in
and of itself. Nobody wants a—that’s literally the word—a stake in the flesh. He prayed,
and asked God to take it from him. But God didn’t take it from him. And God said, in 2
Corinthians—the 12th chapter, and the 9th verse: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my
strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul says, “Well, wonderful;
I’ll glory in my infirmity.” You know? Some people say, “What can’t be cured, must be
endured.” Paul said, “What can’t be cured, can be enjoyed. I glory in my infirmity. It
makes me more like Jesus.”
C. Sin Works Together for Good
All things work together for good. But not just the good things work together for good,
and not just bad things work together, or things of suffering, but even sin works together
for good. And now we’re going to get pretty deep right here, for just a moment. “But,”
you say, “Brother Rogers, if I, as a Christian, sin, is that good?” No, it’s not good. And if
you sin, you’re going to suffer for it. And if you sin, God will chastise you for it. But even
that sin and that chastisement will work together for your good. There is nothing that
can happen to you but that it will work together for good for those who love God, “who
are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
When Simon Peter betrayed the Lord, he cursed, and swore, and denied he knew
the Lord. Jesus said, “Simon, before the cock crows, you’re going to deny me three
times. But I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail and when you are converted
strengthen your brethren” (Matthew 26:34). And God took Simon Peter’s failure, God
took Simon Peter’s sin, and God so taught Simon Peter a lesson that God used him to
teach many others the same lesson. Isn’t it wonderful how God cuts the devil off with his
own sword? Isn’t it wonderful how God uses the axe the devil sharpens? Isn’t it
wonderful that even when we sin and though God has to chastise us, God still makes
that work together for our good?

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 You see, that’s the reason the book of Hebrews says: “Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be…” (Hebrews 12:11). When my dad used to whip the daylights
out of me, I never did say, “Hot dog, I’m getting another whipping.” I never did say that.
But when my father was here, last week, I looked out at him with pride and admiration. I
thank God for a father who said, “Son, you can do this, and you can’t do that; and if you
do the wrong, you have me to reckon with.” I’m glad for that. “Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
And I tell you, my dear friend, that God will take sin, or anything that ever happened,
and, if you’re a child of God, though He may chastise you, “all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
(Romans 8:28). The completeness of it.

III. The Cause of It

Now we’ve noticed the certainty of it; we’ve noticed the completeness of it—“all things
work together for good” (Romans 8:28). Now I want you to notice, thirdly, with me, if you
will, not only the completeness of it, but I want you to notice the cause of it. Because, in
the King James Version, it’s not quite as clear as it is in some other translations.
Literally and, I think, theologically and, with good exegesis, this can be translated: “God
works all things together for good.” Not that all things work together for good, but God
works all things together for good.
It is not that things just sort of fall in place; it is that the sovereign God puts them in
place. And everything that happens is not God’s will. For example, people perish and go
to Hell. But the Lord “is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). You see, God
allows certain things, because God has given to man a free will. But you see, when it
comes to a Christian, I may do things that are not God’s will, and I may do things when I
get out of the rule of God. But where God does not rule in my life, God will overrule. And
God still takes the things that may be wrong and works them together for my good and
His glory. God is the One who brings order out of confusion. God is the One who brings
harmony out of disharmony and discord. And we need to understand, when we get
discouraged—and I know I’m speaking, today, to some of you who are discouraged—
some bad things are happening to you, and you’re going around moaning, and
groaning, and complaining, like God is dead. I want to tell you: God, right now, is over it
all. And it is God who is able to work all things together for your good.
Martin Luther, the great reformer, one time, got so discouraged and so melancholy,
he set himself alone in his room, and he would not talk to anyone. He was so downcast.
Things seemed to be going against him on every turn. And he just refused to let
anybody encourage him. And he got into a state of depression and melancholy, until his

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friends were fearful for his health. His wife, Catherine—he called her “Katie”; we’d call
her “Kathy.” Kathy, one day, decided what she would do. She put on black gloves, a
black dress, a black hat, and a veil, just exactly as they wore to a funeral in that day,
and she came in to see Martin. When he looked at her, he said, “Kathy, whose funeral
are you going to? Who has died?” “Oh,” she said, “Martin, didn’t you hear? God is
dead.” Martin Luther looked at her, and he said, “That’s blasphemy. God is not dead.”
She said, “Martin, that’s the way you’re acting.” And he never forgot that lesson. Martin
Luther said, “O God, forgive me.” This same Martin Luther wrote:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.

A mighty fortress is our God. The cause of Romans 8:28 is this: that it is God who is
working all things together for good.

IV. The Condition of It

Now the fourth thing I want you to notice: not only the cause of it, but I want you to
notice the condition of it. Because, all things don’t work together for good to all people.
But notice what it says—Romans [Link] “And we know that all things work together for
good”—or, God works all things together for good—“to them that love God” (Romans
8:28). That’s the condition of it, friend. This is not a blanket promise. The despisers and
haters of God cannot claim this privilege. Those of you who may not be Christians, don’t
you think that I’m speaking to you, because I’m not. I want you to be a Christian, and I’m
speaking to you in that way. And those of you who are here and not saved, I want you
to be saved, but I don’t want you to misapply this text. I don’t want you to think that this
just applies to everybody, everywhere. It’s very clear, very plain. All things work together
for good to those who love God—to those who love God, who are lovers of God
(Romans 8:28).
One man said, “He who does not love God is a beast with a man’s head.” Do you
love God? I say, do you love God? I’m not asking you, “Are you a Baptist?” Much less, a
Bellevue Baptist, or a church member. I want to know: Is the love of God in your
bosom? Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost? Have you
received God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your personal Savior and Lord?
Other people may preach better than I. Other people may pray better than I. Other
people may give more than I. Other people may be able to serve with more talents than

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I. But nobody can love God more than I can. And nobody can love God more than you
can. And brother, when it comes to loving God, we’re all the same. And that’s what God
wants. God wants us to love Him, and that’s something you can do as well as I. And
that’s something I can do as well as you. And we can all love God. And when we begin
to love God, it’s then that God begins to work all things together for good: our good and
His glory.
Now let me tell you something, friend. I want you to listen. If you’re a Christian, all
things work together for good. But if you’re not a Christian, then good things work for
your harm. Are you listening? While for the Christian, who loves God, evil works for
good, for wicked ones, who don’t love, good works for evil. Did you know that the things
that bless others will hurt you, if you’re not saved?
Did you know this sermon will hurt you? Did you know it’s dangerous to come to
church? You know, you’ll get wounded by this sermon. I say, you’ll get hurt by this
sermon, if you don’t love God and don’t intend to love God. This sermon will hurt you.
And even a service that’s supposed to work together for good will work together for
harm to those who don’t love God. You see, the gospel is a sword. It cuts both ways:
either to salvation or condemnation. And if you don’t let the word I preach bless you,
God will make the word I preach judge you. Did you know that? Jesus said, “When you
preach, if someone won’t hear you, ‘shake off the dust of your feet’” (Matthew 10:14).
And Jesus said that very dust will be used against in the Day of Judgment (Mark 6:11).
You see, the gospel is a sword that cuts both ways: It is a savor of life unto life; it is
savor of death unto death. And the wind that blows one ship into the harbor blows
another ship upon the reef. It’s not the gale, but the set of the sail, that determines
where the ship will go. And some come here with their sail set wrong. And the same
wind that brings others into the harbor will be used to judge them.
Jesus is not a blessing to some of you. Jesus will be a curse to some of you. I say
He’s good; but if you’re not saved, that good will work for your evil. Jesus said He’s like
a stone (Luke 20:17). Jesus is either a foundation stone or a stumbling block. Now if
you’re saved, Jesus works together for your good. But if you’re not saved, Jesus works
for your ill. Jesus said, “Some folks will stand upon that stone, and on other people that
stone will fall” (Luke 20:18). Jesus Christ is a door. He’s either a door that lets you in, or
He’s a door that shuts you out. Jesus Christ will either be your Savior or your Judge.
Now if you’re saved, all things work together for your good. But if you’re not saved,
good things work together for evil. What about prayer? Did you know, when a wicked
man who doesn’t know God prays, it nauseates God? Did you know that the prayer of a
wicked man is sin? The Bible says, in Psalm [Link] “let his prayer become sin.” Now
boy, a man that doesn’t love God is in a mess. I say, friend, he’s in a mess. If he doesn’t
pray, he sins; if he does pray, he sins. What’s he going to do? I mean, he doesn’t love

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God, and even his prayer is an insult to God. He has the audacity to pray to a God that
he doesn’t love. Their prayer shall be an abomination. Why, your sacrifice. You’ll say,
“I’ll come to church on Sunday morning. I’ll give the God I don’t love something.” Well, if
you do, God will judge you for it. Proverbs 15, verse 8: “the sacrifice of the wicked is an
abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 15:8).
Now if we come, and we put our offering in the plate—if we love God—God accepts
it, and God takes that offering, and works it together for our good. God takes that
prayer, and He works it together for our good. God takes the Savior; He works it
together for our good. God takes the preaching; He works it together for our good. I tell
you, God takes sin, suffering, sorrow, anything, and, if you love God, it works together
for good. But if you don’t love God, the things that seem to be good work together for
evil. And I tell you something, friend: We ought to love God. We just ought to love God.
You’re not going to get by without loving God and having everything else cool. You
ought to love God. That’s the condition of it: “to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

V. The Consequences of It
Now let me go on and conclude the message, this morning, by talking about the
consequences of it, the consequences of it. Go back to Romans 8, verse 28. The
condition of it is that we’re to love God. And then, when we do love God, and God starts
to work all things together for our good, what are the consequences of it? Now so many
people still misinterpret Romans 8:28. Here’s a way some people think about Romans
8:28 (all things working together for good): They have a blow out, and they say, “Oh
well, there must be a sale on tires.” That’s not what God is talking about. You know,
that’s the shallow way that people think about Romans 8:28. And they don’t read—they
don’t understand—what God is talking about, when it says: “And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Now that’s the consequence of it: His purpose. What is His purpose? All right. Look
and see. What is God’s purpose for you? You know, God doesn’t have two or three
goals for you. God has one single solitary goal for you, and it’s found in verse 29: “For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son” (Romans 8:29). Do you know what God’s purpose is for you? To make you like
Jesus, to make you like Jesus Christ. God called you for a purpose. God saved you for
a purpose. And that purpose is to make you like His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ—to conform you to His image. And so God is not working all things together to
make you healthy. God is not working all things together to make you happy. God is
working all things together to make you holy—to make you like the Lord Jesus Christ.

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And there are not enough demons in Hell, or out, to stop you. “For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate” (Romans 8:29).
Brother, it’s settled. I’m going to be like Jesus. So if you love God, isn’t that great?
We’re going to be like Jesus. Now friend, there are some things we can ’t be dogmatic
about; and there are other things we can be “bull-dogmatic ” about. This is one of them.
I mean, “When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1
John 3:2). We’re going to be like Him; like Him, like Him, the Lord Jesus, for all eternity.
Now that’s something pretty wonderful, friend. You ought to want to get in on that.
Can you imagine the glory that God has prepared with His eternal purpose, and “The
Chemistry of the Cross?” God working all things together for glory, for good, to those
who love God, who are the called according to His purpose? (Romans 8:28). The
reason the Bible says: “In everything give thanks,” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) is because
God’s just working everything together. Some people say, “I can’t give thanks for this.”
You can, if you understand Romans 8:28, can’t you? Isn’t it strange that people don’t
understand the greatness, the glory, and the thrill of knowing Jesus Christ? If I could
receive Jesus Christ for you, I would. If I could trust Jesus Christ for you, I would. If I
could love Jesus Christ for you, I would. But I cannot.

Conclusion
I’ve preached as best I know how. I’m going to ask you to make a decision. Let us bow
in prayer. Every head bowed; every eye closed.
Now friend, the Bible speaks of those who love God, and the Bible speaks of those
who are called. This message is God calling you, right now. And you’re being called to
love God. And that’s basically what being a Christian is. It’s not joining a church, as
such. It’s not living a good life, as such. It’s loving God. And the only way you can love
God is through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But when you love the Father, you love
the Son. And when you love the Son, you love the Father. And this entire passage is
talking about those who are in Christ, who are saved.
Father, I pray this morning for men, women, boys and girls, that they will repent of their
sins and will receive Jesus Christ—that they will love the Father through the Son, and
glorify the Father through the Son, so that You, Lord, can work the chemistry of the
cross in their lives and make them like your Son. Father, I just pray, now, that if there
are some here who have confusion and questions, the Holy Spirit of God will do what
I’m not able to do and just speak to their hearts and draw them to Jesus Christ. We pray
in His name.

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  A  Total  Makeover    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Sermon  Date:    December  5,  2004    
Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  8:28–30  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. You  Need  to  Realize  God’s  Unchanging  Purpose
II. You  Need  to  Respect  God’s  Unfathomed  Providence
III. You  Need  to  Rest  in  God’s  Unchallenged  Protection
IV. You  Need  to  Rejoice  in  God’s  Unfailing  Promise
Conclusion

Introduction  
Amen.  I  like  that.  Thank  God  for  that  Christmas,  that  first  Christmas  when  our  dear  
Savior  stepped  out  of  heaven,  came  to  this  earth  to  suffer  and  bleed  and  die  for  sinners  
such  as  we  are.    
I  want  you  to  take  your  Bibles  today  and  open  to  Romans  chapter  eight.  I  suppose,  if  
I  had  a  favorite  chapter  in  all  of  the  Bible,  it  would  have  to  be  Romans  chapter  eight.    
While  you’re  finding  it,  I  want  to  tell  you  what  I  saw  on  television  a  while  back.  It  was  
the  most  astounding  thing.  It  was  called  a  total  makeover.  There  was  a  lady,  a  woman,  
and  she  was  anything  but  pretty.  Her  face  sagged.  Her  nose  had  a  bump  in  it.  She  
looked  kind  of  washed  out.  She  was  plump  and  overweight.  Now,  I’m  not  talking  about  
you.  I’m  talking  about  this  lady  on  television.  She  wasn’t  a  whole  lot  to  look  at.  She  was  
not  a  showstopper.  Her  teeth  were  crooked,  and  she  had  bags  under  her  eyes.  And  her  
hair  was,  whatever.  And  so  they’re  going  to  do  a  total  makeover  on  this  woman.  I  was  
fascinated.  They  did  everything  to  her.  They  put  her  under  surgery.  They  corrected  her  
teeth.  They  gave  her  a  face—what  all  they  did,  I  don’t  know  what  they  did  to  her.  She  
was  in  bandages,  in  suffering  and  pain  and  all  of  this.  And  then,  one  day,  they  
unwrapped  her  like  a  cocoon.  And  all  of  her  loved  ones  were  out  there,  and  she  steps  
out  from  behind  the  curtain—ta  da!  And  they  look  and  they  cannot  believe  what  has  
happened  to  this  woman.  She’s  had  a  total  makeover.    
I  heard  of  a  woman  who  saw  another  woman  in  the  beauty  shop  and  she  said,  
“Mary,  Mary,  what  have  you  done  to  yourself?  You  look  marvelous!  You  look  wonderful!  
Your  hair  is  different.  Your  complexion  is  different.  You  even  stand  different.  Mary  
Jones,  I  would  never  have  recognized  you.”  She  said,  “My  name  is  not  Mary  Jones.”  

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She  said,  “Oh,  you’ve  even  changed  your  name.”  A  total  makeover.  
Well,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  today  about  a  total  makeover.  God’s  going  to  give  you  one  
if  you’re  saved.  It’s  an  experience  that  I  think  all  of  us  can  rejoice  in.    
Look  in  Romans  chapter  eight  here,  and  let’s  begin  in  verse  twenty-­eight  of  this  
wonderful,  wonderful  chapter.  He  says  here:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  
for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose…—
now,  underscore  the  phrase  “his  purpose”—who  are  called  according  to  his  purpose—
now,  watch  this—For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  
to  the  image  of  his  Son.”    
Now,  are  you  in  the  image  of  Jesus  right  now?  No!  But  God’s  going  to  do  a  total  
makeover  on  you.  “To  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son,  that  he  might  be  the  
firstborn  among  many  brethren.”  God  loved  His  Son  so  much  He  said,  I’m  going  to  
make  a  lot  like  Him,  that  He’s  going  to  be  the  firstborn  of  many  brothers.  God  has  a  
divine  plan.  And  that  divine  plan  is  to  give  to  Adrian,  to  you,  to  each  of  us  on  the  
platform,  to  all  of  us—listen,  friend—a  total  makeover.  

I. You  Need  to  Realize  God’s  Unchanging  Purpose

With  that  in  mind,  I  want  to  give  you  four  thoughts.  And  first  of  all,  I  want  you  to  think  
of  God’s  unchanging  purpose.  You  need  to  realize  God’s  unchanging  purpose.  Now,  let  
me  read  that  again  in  verses  Romans  8:28  to  30:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  for  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.  For  
whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  
Son”—there’s  the  key  there,  His  purpose  and  His  image—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.”    
Now,  when  we  get  to  the  glorified  state,  that  is  a  total  makeover.  You  know,  God  has  
a  purpose  in  everything  He  does.  Why  did  God  create  the  universe?  All  of  the  stellar  
galaxies—why  did  God  put  this  planet  in  space?  Why  did  God  make  mankind?  Why  did  
Jesus  step  out  of  heaven  and  come  to  this  earth?  Why  the  incarnation?  Why  did  He  
suffer,  bleed  and  die  on  the  cross?  Why?  For  one  purpose:  to  make  us  like  Him.  That  
He  might  be  the  firstborn  among  many  brethren.    
You  see—look—we  need  a  total  makeover  because  we  have  been  marred  by  sin.  
Now,  you  know,  sometimes  people  say,  “Well,  we’re  in  the  image  of  God.”  Hey,  I’ve  got  
news  for  you.  You’re  not  in  the  image  of  God.  You’re  the  image  of  Adam.  God  made  
Adam  after  His  image,  and  that  image  was  marred.  And  then,  the  Bible  says  that  Adam  
brought  forth  children  after  his  own  image.  You  think  you’re  in  the  image  of  God?  You  
think  that  the  person  next  to  you  is  in  the  image  of  God?  Look  around.  God’s  not  in  that  

   

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shape,  folks.  I  want  to  tell  you  something.  The  image  of  God  has  been  marred,  and  it  
needs  to  be  restored.    
Now,  what  image  are  we  talking  about?  We’re  not  talking  about  a  physical  
makeover;;  it’s  a  spiritual  makeover  primarily.  Animals  were  never  in  the  image  of  God.  
And  therefore  animals  cannot  know  their  spiritual  makeover.  There’s  a  difference  
between  animals  and  man.  Man  is  made  in  the  spiritual  image  of  God.  Animals  never  
cry.  Animals  never  laugh.  Animals  never  blush.  Why?  Because  they  are  different  
creatures  than  we  are.  We  are  made  in  the  image  of  God,  but  the  image  of  God  has  
been  marred.  And  the  image  of  God  has  got  to  be  restored.  There  has  to  be  a  total,  total  
makeover.    
Now,  God  does  this  in  three  stages.  First  of  all,  there  is  regeneration,  when  we’re  
saved.  That’s  stage  number  one.  Secondly,  there  is  sanctification  as  we  grow  in  the  
grace  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ.  And,  finally,  there  is  
glorification  when  we  are  just  like  our  dear  Savior  in  His  image,  glorified  with  Him.    
So  you  see,  God’s  purpose  for  you  is  not  primarily  for  you  to  be  handsome,  
beautiful,  or  popular,  or  witty,  or  wealthy.  If  you  have  any  of  these  attributes,  and  all  of  
them,  I’m  happy  for  you.  But  God’s  purpose  is  not  to  make  you  happy.  God’s  purpose  is  
to  make  you  holy.  God’s  purpose  is  not  to  make  you  like  somebody  else,  but  to  make  
you  like  His  dear  Son  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  move  us  from  where  we  are  to  where  He  
is.  And,  friend,  I  submit  to  you  that’s  a  total  makeover.  Would  you  say  amen?  That  is  a  
total  makeover.  
Now,  let  me  say  that  this  makeover  has  been  predestined.  It’s  already  settled  that  
He’s  going  to  do  it.  If  you’re  saved,  you  can  go  look  in  a  mirror  and  say,  “There’s  
somebody  who’s  going  to  be  just  like  Jesus.”  No  ifs,  ands,  or  buts  about  it.  Look  again  
in  Romans  eight,  verse  twenty-­nine:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  
predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”    
Now,  you  are  predestined  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  Now,  sometimes  people  think  
that  God  predestines  people  to  be  saved  and  predestines  people  to  be  lost.  God  doesn’t  
predestine  anybody  to  go  to  hell.  Don’t  ever  get  that  idea.  God  never  predestined  
anybody  to  go  to  hell.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  this  predestination  is  talking  about  people  who  
have  already  trusted  Christ.  When  you’ve  trusted  Christ,  that  settles  it,  you’re  going  to  
be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.    
“Adrian,  do  you  understand  predestination?”  “No,  but  that  doesn’t  bother  me.  Neither  
do  you.”  Listen.  There  are  some  things  that  God  understands  that  we  don’t  understand.  
Dr.  Vance  Havner  said,  “I  don’t  understand  electricity,  but  I’m  not  going  to  sit  around  in  
the  dark  until  I  do.”  There  are  some  things  we  don’t  have  to  understand,  but  we  can  
appropriate  and  live  it.    

   

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 Now,  sometime  back  I  got  on  an  airplane  and  that  airplane  was  leaving  the  United  
States,  New  York  City,  and  was  going  to  London.  Let  this  side  of  the  rug  be  the  United  
States.  Let  this  side  of  the  rug  over  here  be  London,  England.  Now,  there’s  a  747,  a  
great  big  airplane.  I  get  on  that  airplane,  and  when  I  sit  down  there’s  a  certain  seat  for  
me,  and  I  sit  there.  There  are  magazines.  I  can  thumb  through  the  magazines.  There  
are  headphones.  There’s  music  I  can  listen  to.  The  lady  comes  through  and  says,  
“Would  you  like  a  soft  drink?  What  do  you  want?”  I  choose  whether  I  want  some  fruit  
juice,  or  whether  I  want  plain  water,  or  whether  I  want  Diet  Coke,  or  whether  I  want  this  
or  that.  We  fly  a  little  bit  further,  she  comes  down  the  aisle  with  a  meal,  and  says,  “Do  
you  want  beef  or  chicken?”  And  I  decide  what  I’m  going  to  want  there.  Then,  after  a  
while,  I  get  up  and  go  to  the  restroom.  I  go  back  and  snooze  a  little  bit,  and  so  forth  and  
so  forth.  I  make  all  these  decisions.  Then  the  plane  lands  in  London.    
Now,  folks,  that’s  the  way  life  is.  You  say,  “I’m  making  all  of  these  decisions.”  You  
may  be,  but  friend,  God  controls  where  the  airplane  goes.  God  controls  all  of  that.  
Within  those  decisions,  God  is  moving  toward  a  plan  that  one  day,  hallelujah,  you’re  
going  to  be  like  Jesus.  And  the  landing  of  that  plane  is  already  predestined.  You  can  
walk  around  in  it  all  you  want,  but  God  one  day  is  going  to  make  you  like  the  Lord  Jesus  
Christ,  if  indeed  you’re  saved.  
Now,  this  is  talking  about  those  that  love  God.  Life  is  filled  with  mystery,  misery,  
magnificence.  But  God  puts  all  of  those  things  in  the  crucible  of  His  love  to  make  us  like  
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.    

II. You  Need  to  Respect  God’s  Unfathomed  Providence

So,  number  one:  listen,  you  need  to  remember  God’s  purpose—to  make  you  like  
Jesus.  Number  two:  you  need  to  respect  God’s  unfathomed  providence.  Look  again  in  
verse  28.  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  
who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.”  
Now,  we  call  that  providence.  You  ever  heard  the  word  “providence”?  The  word  
providence  comes  from  two  words.  First  of  all,  a  preposition  which  is,  “pro,”  or  “for.”  And  
then,  “video.”  Pro-­video.  Providence.  God  sees  ahead  of  time.  “Pro,”  ahead  of  time,  and  
for.  And,  “to  see,”  God  just  simply  foresees.  God  makes  the  need  before  the  need  ever  
arises,  and  that’s  called  providence.  And  God  just  foresees.  And  the  word  “for”  literally  
means,  unto,  toward  a  goal.  God  is  working  all  things  for  good.  That  is,  unto  that  goal.    
Some  years  ago,  I  read  about  Henry  Ford—I’m  talking  about  the  original  Henry  Ford  
who  built  the  first  Ford  automobiles,  and  he  created  the  assembly  line,  and  there  was  
the  Model-­T  Ford  that  came  before  the  Model-­A  Ford.  The  Model-­T  Ford  sometimes  
called  the  Tin  Lizzie.  Ford  said  you  could  have  any  color  you  want,  as  long  as  it  is  black.  

   

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And  he  made  these  things.  He  mass-­produced  them  so  the  average  person  could  have  
an  automobile.  Ford  was  a  genius.  He  did  not  make  the  transmission  for  his  Fords.  He  
had  another  company  to  make  those.  So  he  ordered  them  from  this  company.  But,  in  
order  for  them  to  get  the  bid,  they  had  to  make  the  boxes  a  certain  size,  out  of  a  certain  
kind  of  wood,  put  together  with  a  certain  kind  of  screw  and  the  holes  in  a  certain  kind  of  
place.  Well,  they  said,  it  doesn’t  make  any  difference  to  us.  We  want  the  job.  If  the  old  
nut  wants  them  packaged  this  way  or  that  way,  it  makes  no  difference  to  us,  we  have  to  
package  them  anyway.  But  it  made  a  difference  to  Henry  Ford,  because  when  those  
crates  were  taken  apart,  they  were  the  floorboards  for  the  Model-­T  Ford.  They  were  
making  his  floorboards  for  free.  Now,  what  Henry  Ford  did  was  to  see  ahead  and  to  
make  provision.  We  call  that,  theologically,  “providence.”    
Now,  verse  28  says,  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good.”  That  
sounds  like  an  overstatement.  Now,  if  we  were  to  say  some  things  work  together  for  
good,  that  would  be  one  thing.  Yet  this  is  God’s  promise.  And  never  bring  God’s  
promises  down  to  your  understanding.  
Dr.  F.  B.  Meyer  of  yesteryear  said  this:  “If  any  promise  of  God  should  fail,  the  
heavens  would  clothe  themselves  with  sackcloth.  The  sun,  moon,  and  stars  would  reel  
from  their  courses.  The  universe  would  rock,  and  a  hollow  wind  would  moan  through  a  
ruin  creation  the  awful  message  that  God  can  lie.  But  God  cannot  lie.”    
Now,  when  we  talk  about  God’s  providence  and  all  things  working  together  for  good,  
we  need  to  understand  that  appearances  may  be  deceiving.  And  there’s  a  wise  man  
who  said,  “We  don’t  live  by  explanations;;  we  live  by  promises.”  Now,  there  are  a  lot  of  
people  in  the  world.  It  would  be  mockery  to  say  that  God  causes  that  evil.  If  you  just  lost  
a  baby  child,  loved  ones  have  been  in  an  automobile  wreck,  and  maybe  lives  have  been  
destroyed,  limbs  have  been  twisted,  and  minds  have  been  marred,  don’t  say  that  God  
caused  that.  I  think  that’s  something  that  many  of  us  have  to  understand.  When  there  is  
evil,  God  does  not  cause  it.  But  God  overrules  it.  God  is  causing  all  things  to  work  
together  for  good.    
To  say  that  that  God  does  not  cause  everything  doesn’t  mean  that  God  is  not  
sovereign.  The  sovereign  God  has  given  us  the  freedom  to  choose.  We’re  free  to  
choose.  We’re  not  free  not  to  choose.  And  we’re  not  free  to  choose  the  consequences  
of  our  choice,  but  in  spite  of  all  of  that,  God  rules.  Even  in  our  sin,  God  is  overruling  to  
make  us  like  Jesus.    
On  the  far  reef  the  breakers  recoil  in  shattered  foam.  Yet,  still  the  sea  behind  them  
urges  its  forces  home.  It’s  chant  of  triumph  surges  through  all  the  thunderous  den.  The  
wave  may  break  in  failure,  but  the  tide  is  sure  to  win.  Almighty  sea,  thy  message  in  
changing  spray  is  cast.  Within  God’s  plan  of  progress  it  matters  not  at  last  how  wide  the  

   

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shores  of  evil,  how  strong  the  reefs  of  sin.  The  wave  may  break  in  failure,  but  the  tide  is  
sure  to  win.  
And  God  has  programmed  His  mighty  universe  that  in  spite  of  the  broken  waves  and  
the  eddies  in  your  life,  I’m  telling  you,  friend,  if  you  are  saved,  you  are  predestined  to  be  
like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.    
God  rules.  God  overrules.  You  can  do  whatever  you  want  on  that  airplane,  but  that  
airplane  is  headed  toward  London.  
Now,  there  are  many  experiences  in  the  Bible  where  we  can  see  this  worked  out  
even  when  God  engineers  it  or  God  overrules  it.  Young  Joseph—do  you  remember  the  
story  of  Joseph?  His  brothers  were  envious  of  him.  They  sold  him  into  slavery  and  they  
told  his  father  he  was  dead.  And  Joseph  was  carried  as  a  slave  to  Egypt.  For  seventeen  
years,  he  was  there  as  a  slave  in  Egypt  before  his  brothers  saw  him  again.  He  was  put  
to  work.  He  was  accused  of  sexual  assault.  He  was  thrown  into  prison.  He  languished  in  
prison,  but  finally  came  out  of  prison,  became  the  Prime  Minister  of  all  Egypt  next  in  line  
to  the  Pharaoh  himself.  When  his  brothers  saw  him  again,  they  were  terrified,  because  
their  lives  were  in  his  hand.  But  he  said  there,  “Look.  Listen  to  me.  You  thought  it  for  
evil.  But  God  meant  it  for  good”—the  slavery,  the  caravan,  the  false  accusation,  the  
prison,  all  of  that.  By  circumstances  we  would  say,  “No,  that’s  not  good.”  But  God  meant  
it  for  good.  
The  apostle  Paul  talked  about  the  things  that  happened  to  him.  You  think  you  have  it  
hard?  Paul  was  shipwrecked  three  times.  He  was  beaten  five  times.  He  languished  in  
prison.  He  was  forsaken  by  his  friends.  Now,  listen  to  this.  Paul  said,  “All  these  things  
have  happened  to  me  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.”  He  said,  “Look,  in  spite  of  all  
this,  God  has  used  all  of  these  things  for  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.”  All  things  are  
working  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
Now,  that  doesn’t  mean  all  things  are  good.  Put  in  your  margin,  if  it’s  not  already  
there,  Ephesians  [Link]  “In  whom  also  we  have  obtained  an  in  inheritance,  being  
predestined  according  to  the  purpose  of  him  who  worketh  all  things  together  for  good.”  
Now,  things  in  themselves  have  no  ability  to  work  together  for  good.  It  is  God  who  
overrules.  And  you’re  going  to  find  out,  folks,  when  God’s  giving  you  a  total  makeover,  
and  when  God  is  putting  you  through  the  second  stage,  which  is  sanctification,  you’re  
going  to  have  in  your  life  some  things  that  are  very  negative.  Sorrow,  pain,  heartache,  
disappointment,  misunderstanding,  the  negative  things  are  going  to  come  into  your  life.  
But  then  there  are  going  to  be  some  positive  things  that  have  come  into  your  life—joy,  
peace,  victory,  truth,  all  of  the  things,  the  fellowship  we  have  in  Christ.  And  God  is  
working  all  of  these  things  together.    
My  friend,  Dr.  James  Dobson,  said  it’s  kind  of  like  battery  cables.  If  you  just  take  one  

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of  them  and  it’s  hooked  to  the  negative,  there  is  no  power  there.  If  you  take  one  that  is  
hooked  to  the  positive  without  the  negative,  there  is  no  power  there.  But  hook  both  the  
positive  and  the  negative  to  the  battery,  and  you  grab  the  other  end,  it’ll  curl  your  hair.  
You  see,  it  is  the  negative,  it  is  the  positive  that  is  working  together.    

III. You  Need  to  Rest  in  God’s  Unchallenged  Protection

Now,  here’s  the  third  thing  about  your  total  makeover:  you  need  to  rest  in  God’s  
unchallenged  protection.  You  say,  what  if  it  goes  wrong,  Pastor?  What  if  God  fails?  No,  
there’s  His  purpose,  there’s  His  providence,  and  then  there  is  His  protection.  Look,  if  
you  will,  in  chapter  8  and  verse  31:  “What  shall  we  then  say  to  these  things?  If  God  be  
for  us—if  God  be  for  us—who  can  be  against  us?”    
Now,  right  now  as  I’m  preaching  to  you,  Satan  is  putting  doubts  in  your  mind.  Satan  
is  saying,  “No,  I’m  not  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  No,  all  things  don’t  work  together  for  good  
to  those  of  you  who  claim  to  love  the  Lord.”  You  know,  Satan  is  the  sinister  minister  of  
doubt.  In  the  Garden  of  Eden,  he  said  to  Eve,  “Yeah,  hath  God  said?”  He  said  about  
Job,  “Doth  Job  fear  God  for  nothing?”  Satan  loves  to  ask  questions,  doesn’t  he?    
Well,  I  want  to  give  you  brothers  and  sisters  five  questions  the  devil  can’t  answer.  
Now,  what  we’re  talking  about  now  is  God’s  protection.  The  devil  would  like  to  make  you  
fear  and  doubt  and  wonder  whether  or  not  the  total  makeover  is  going  to  work  for  you.  
Do  you  ever  wonder  what  those  women  must  have  felt  before  the  bandages  come  off?  
Did  it  work?  Has  it  been  a  success?  
Well,  let  me  give  you  five  questions  the  devil,  who  wants  to  put  doubt  in  your  mind,  
cannot  answer.  Number  one:  “If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  If  God  be  for  
us,  who  can  be  against  us?  Now,  listen  carefully.  The  word  “for,”—God  for  us—does  not  
mean  God  is  on  our  side.  Now,  listen  carefully,  It  means  God  is  in  our  place.  God  is  in  
our  place.  Christ  died  for  us.  It’s  substitution.  He  died  for  us.    
Now,  if  God  is  in  our  place,  and  the  devil  comes  against  us,  whom  is  he  coming  
against?  God!  God!  God  spoke  to  Jacob  in  the  Old  Testament.  He  called  him  a  worm.  
“Thou  worm,  Jacob.”  Well,  a  worm  and  Almighty  God  is  not  a  bad  combination.  God  
said  to  Jacob,  “I  am  for  you.”  And  when  the  devil  comes  against  you,  he’s  not  coming  
against  a  worm.  He’s  coming  against  the  almighty  God.  So  question  number  one:  if  God  
is  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?  
Question  number  two,  Mr.  Devil:  “How  shall  he  also  not  with  him  freely  give  us  all  
things?    
Look  at  it  there  in  Romans  chapter  8,  verse  32:  “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?”    
Now,  don’t  miss  the  logic.  Now,  what  he’s  saying  here  is—are  you  listening  to  me  

   

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now?—he  says,  if  God  sent  Jesus  when  we  were  His  enemies,  do  you  think  now  He’s  
going  to  withhold  from  us?  You  see,  if  God  gave  the  first  gift,  even  unasked,  when  
Christ  came  to  save  us,  how  much  more  shall  He  take  care  of  us?    
Listen.  If  God  gave  His  Son,  how  much  more  shall  He  give  us  all  things  that  we  
need.  If  there  were  ever  a  promise  that  God  would  have  been  tempted  to  go  back  on,  it  
would  have  been  the  one  to  send  His  Son.  If  God  sent  His  Son,  Mr.  Devil,  if  God  sent  
His  Son,  shall  He  not  also  freely  give  us  all  things?    
That’s  the  reason  we  can  say  with  the  apostle  Paul  that  “God  will  supply  all  of  our  
need  according  to  His  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus.”  
Here’s  a  third  question  the  devil  can’t  answer:  “Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  
of  God’s  elect?”  Look  at  it  in  verse  33:  “Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s  
elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth.”  
Now,  if  you’re  saved,  you’re  justified.  And  if  you’re  justified,  who  can  point  a  finger  of  
accusation  at  you?  You  see,  it  doesn’t  mean,  who  thinks  he  can  do  it.  But  it  means,  who  
is  qualified  to  do  it.  Now,  there  are  many  who  try.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  Revelation  
chapter  12  and  verse  10,  the  devil  is  called  the  accuser.  He  will  accuse  you,  but  he  
cannot  lay  anything  to  your  charge.  The  only  person  who  can  lay  anything  to  your  
charge  is  Almighty  God,  and  He  has  already  declared  us  justified.  In  this  verse  of  
Scripture,  it  says  that  we  are  justified.  
Now,  that  means  it’s  done.  It’s  paid  in  full.  When  you  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  
you  receive  justification.  When  Jesus  was  on  the  cross,  as  He  died  and  with  the  last  
drop  of  His  blood  paid  our  sin  debt,  He  bowed  His  head  and  said,  “It’s  finished.”  It’s  
done.  It  is  paid  in  full.  Tetelestai—paid  in  full.  
In  Bible  times,  when  a  man  would  be  put  in  jail,  they  would  write  a  bill  against  him.  
The  crime  that  he  had  done  would  be  nailed  to  the  cell  door.  And  it  was  a  bill  of  
accusation—what  the  man  had  done  and  what  the  penalty  was.  After  he  had  done  his  
prison  time,  now  that  bill  would  be  taken  off  the  jail  door  and  it  would  be  signed,  
tetelestai,  paid  in  full.  That  man  could  never  again  be  brought  into  jeopardy  for  that  
crime,  because  he  was  now  justified.  He  had  paid  his  debt.  No  longer  does  the  
government  have  anything  against  him.    
Now,  the  devil  would  like  to  accuse  you,  but  friend,  you  have  a  bill  signed  in  the  
crimson  blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  You  have  been  justified.  That  doesn’t  mean  now  
that  in  the  practical  realm  there  is  no  sin  in  your  life.  But  listen.  If  it  weren’t  for  
justification,  you’d  never  make  it  to  heaven.  I’ve  frequently  said,  I  wouldn’t  trust  the  best  
15  minutes  I  ever  lived  to  get  me  to  heaven;;  much  less  some  of  my  bad  ones.  But  thank  
God,  when  we  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  come  to  a  place  where  we  are  
justified,  and  there’s  no  one  that  can  point  a  finger  of  condemnation  to  us.    

   

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 Now,  that  brings  me  to  the  fourth  question  the  devil  can’t  answer:  “Who  is  he  that  
condemneth?”  Now  again,  there  are  a  lot  of  people  who  like  to  condemn,  but  look  in  
verse  34:  “Who  is  he  who  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.”    
There  are  a  lot  of  people  who  like  to  condemn  us.  Did  you  know  that?  Have  you  ever  
been  told  to  go  to  hell?  Live  long  enough,  and  somebody  will  tell  you  that.  I’ve  got  good  
news.  You  don’t  have  to  go.  Nobody  can  condemn  a  child  of  God.  The  only  one  who  
could  do  it  is  Jesus,  and  He’s  not  going  to  do  it.  Why  would  He  reverse  the  decision  of  
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Universe?  No,  He’s  not  going  to  condemn  you;;  He’s  going  to  
intercede  for  you.  He  will  not  condemn  what  God  has  already  acquitted.  That’s  the  
reason  the  Bible  says  in  Hebrews  chapter  7  and  verse  25  that  He  ever  lives  to  make  
intercession  for  us.  
Here’s  the  last  question  the  devil  can’t  answer:  “Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  
of  God?”  Now,  the  devil  will  tell  you  when  you  go  through  this  heartache,  trial,  
tribulations,  problems,  God  doesn’t  love  you.  That  is  a  black  lie.  Nothing  can  separate  
you  from  the  love  of  God.    
Look  at  chapter  8,  verse  35:  “Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  Shall  
tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword?”  
Satan  likes  to  bluff.  He’ll  tell  you  that  these  things  that  you’re  enduring  in  your  life  will  
separate  you  from  the  love  of  God  or  perhaps  are  signs  that  He  already  has  separated  
you  from  the  love  of  God.  He  mentions  a  list  of  enemies.  He  would  like  for  you  to  
believe  he  can  separate  you  from  the  love  of  God.  Tribulation—do  you  have  any?  
Distress—have  you  known  it?  Persecution—have  you  experienced  it?  Famine—has  it  
been  there?  Nakedness,  peril,  sword?  All  of  things  don’t  separate  us  from  the  love  of  
God.  To  the  contrary,  they  draw  the  child  of  God  even  closer  to  Him.  

IV. You  Need  to  Rejoice  in  God’s  Unfailing  Promise

Now,  here’s  the  final  thing  I  want  you  to  see.  Not  only  do  you  need  to  see  God’s  
purpose,  God’s  providence,  God’s  protection,  but  you  need  to  see,  and  you  need  to  
rejoice  in  God’s  unfailing  promise.  
I  suppose  now  that  we  come  to  one  of  the  greatest  verses  in  the  Word  of  God,  and,  
beyond  a  shadow  of  doubt,  in  the  handful  of  verses  that  are  my  favorite  in  all  of  the  
Bible.  What  is  God’s  unfailing  purpose—unfailing  promise?  Look,  if  you  will,  in  Romans  
8,  verses  38  and  39.  Paul  says:  “For  I  am  persuaded—this  means  this  is  not  conjecture;;  
I  am  not  guessing  about  it—For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  
depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  

   

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is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.”  
This  may  be  the  greatest  chapter  in  the  Bible,  and  these  may  be  the  greatest  verses  
in  the  greatest  chapter  of  the  Bible.    
Now,  listen  to  me,  precious  friend.  God  is  doing  a  total  makeover  on  you.  He  is.  He  
is.  And  there’s  nothing  that’s  going  to  cause  God’s  promise  to  fail.  It  is  an  unfailing  
promise.  He  mentions  some  things  that  cannot  separate  us  from  His  presence.  Death,  
life,  angels,  principalities,  powers,  things  present,  things  to  come,  height,  depth,  and,  in  
case  He  left  anything  out,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  
love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  
Now,  friend,  listen  to  your  Pastor  today.  God  is  doing  a  total  makeover  on  you.  First  
point:  He  has  a  purpose—to  make  you  like  His  Son.  Second  point:  His  providence  is  
working  together.  Third  point:  His  power  is  overshadowing  you.  There’s  nothing  the  
devil  can  do  to  keep  it  from  happening.  Last  point:  His  promise  is  secure  to  you.  He  will,  
He  will,  He  will  make  you  like  the  Lord  Jesus.    
You  say,  well  then,  Pastor,  how  come  I’m  so  far  behind  in  my  sanctification?  Well,  
because  you  haven’t  obeyed.  You  haven’t  listened.  Listen,  folks.  God  will  carry  you  to  
the  woodshed.  That  will  be  part  of  His  making  you  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  God  
allows  you  to  disobey  Him.  God  allows  you  to  go  your  own  willful  way.  And,  therefore,  
you’re  so  far  behind  in  your  sanctification.  But  sanctification  is  only  one  part  of  it.    
Remember,  first  of  all,  there’s  regeneration.  Then  there’s  sanctification.  All  of  us  are  
in  different  stages  of  sanctification.  Some  are  a  whole  lot  more  like  Jesus  than  others  
today.  But  glorification  is  the  climax  of  it  all  when  He  makes  us  just  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  
And  that  happens  at  the  Rapture.  At  the  Rapture,  we’re  going  to  leave  this  robe  of  flesh,  
or  actually  our  flesh  will  be  changed.  We’ll  be  caught  up  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air.  
Now,  when  you  see  yourself  transformed  at  the  likeness  of  Jesus,  all  heaven  will  not  
be  able  to  contain  your  hallelujahs.  What  a  joy!    
Look  at  Jim  Whitmire  over  there.  Do  you  think  Jim  Whitmire  is  a  man?  Not  really.  
Suppose  you’ve  never  seen  a  train  wreck.  Suppose  you’ve  never  seen  a  train.  And  then  
somebody  shows  you  a  train  wreck,  the  thing  on  its  side,  smoking,  caved  in,  won’t  
work—just  ugly.  And,  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question:  Have  you  seen  a  train?  Not  really.  
You’ve  seen  a  train  wreck.  Now,  look  at  Mr.  Whitmire.  Have  you  seen  a  man?  Not  
really.  That’s  a  wreck!  That’s  a  wreck.  That  is  not  God’s  original  plan.  One  day,  I’ll  be  
strolling  down  the  streets  of  glory,  and  I’ll  see  a  creature  come.  Look,  there’s  Jesus.  He  
says,  “No,  I’m  not  Jesus.”  Well,  you  must  be  an  angel.  Are  you  the  archangel  Gabriel?  
“No,  no,  no,  no.  I’m  not  an  angel.  I’m  a  human.”  A  human?  You  must  be  Peter,  Paul,  
Stephen?  “No,  no,  no,  I’m  Jim  Whitmire.”  I’ll  say,  “Jim,  I  hardly  recognized  you—I  hardly  
recognized  you.”    

   

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Conclusion  
Friend,  we  are  going  to  be  made  like  Jesus—like  Jesus.  It’s  settled.  It’s  predestined.  
That  is  His  purpose:  a  total  makeover.    
Now,  a  lot  of  things  may  cause  you  fear.  I’ve  heard  that  a  little  Indian  boy  in  some  
parts  of  the  world,  when  he  gets  old  enough  to  be  called  a  brave,  they  give  him  an  
ordeal.  They  take  him  into  the  deep  woods  and  draw  a  circle,  and  tell  that  little  boy  he  
has  to  spend  all  night  long  in  that  circle  by  himself.  He  lies  on  the  ground,  hears  the  
hoot  of  the  owl.  There  is  the  howl  of  the  wolf,  the  sound  of  the  coyote.  Every  leaf  that  
rustles  he  thinks  may  be  a  bear.  So  he,  on  hard,  cold  ground,  perhaps  about  two  in  the  
morning,  he  falls  asleep.  He  awakens  when  the  sun  is  up,  and  he  looks,  and  there  his  
father  standing  right  outside  that  circle  with  his  bow  and  arrow  to  protect  his  child.    
Friend,  I’m  telling  you  that  our  God  is  the  one  who  stands  by,  and  He  has  
promised—He  has  promised—that  He’s  going  to  make  us  like  Jesus.  Isn’t  that  
wonderful?  That  is  wonderful.  
Bow  your  heads  in  prayer.  Would  you  like  to  get  in  on  this  plan?  Would  you?  Now,  
you  see,  this  is  only  for  those  who  love  God.  Not  everyone  can  claim  this.  If  you  love  
God,  it’s  because  you  know  Jesus.  And  if  you  know  Jesus,  you  love  God.  And  if  you  
don’t  receive  Jesus,  you’ve  rejected  God.  Now,  you  can  receive  Jesus  today.  Boys  and  
girls  can  receive  Him  today.  College  students  can  receive  Him  today.  Businessmen,  
retirees,  if  you’re  in  your  80’s  or  90’s,  you  can  still  be  saved  and  get  in  on  this  plan.    
I  want  you  to  pray,  Dear  God—just  talk  to  Him—Dear  God,  I’m  a  sinner.  I’m  lost.  I  
need  to  be  saved.  I  want  to  be  like  Jesus  someday.  And  Lord,  I  want  you  to  begin  right  
now  to  make  me  that  way.  I  open  my  heart.  I  receive  You,  Jesus,  into  my  life  as  my  Lord  
and  Savior.  I  believe,  Jesus,  that  You  paid  my  sin  debt  with  Your  shed  blood  on  the  
cross.  I  believe  that  God  raised  you  from  the  dead.  And  right  now,  with  all  of  my  heart,  
like  a  little  child,  I  ask  you  to  come  in.  Forgive  my  sin,  cleanse  me,  and  save  me,  Jesus.  
Save  me,  Jesus.    
Did  you  pray  that  prayer?  Did  you?  Were  you  sincere?  Were  you?  Then  thank  Him  
for  doing  it.  For  the  Bible  says,  “For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  
shall  be  saved.    
Well,  Pastor,  how  do  I  know  if  I’m  sincere?  Are  you  willing  to  make  it  public?  Are  
you?  Jesus  said,  if  you’re  ashamed  of  Me,  I’ll  be  ashamed  of  you.  I  think  the  mark  of  
your  sincerity  is  if  you’re  willing  today  to  make  a  public,  open  declaration  of  your  faith.  
Father,  I  pray  that  many  will  come  today  and  say  “yes”  to  Christ,  or  perhaps  have  
already  said  “yes”  where  they  are,  but  will  make  it  known.  For  I  pray  in  Jesus’  name.  
Amen.  
Now,  look  up  here.  We’re  going  to  sing  a  gospel  invitation.  The  words  are  these:  

   

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“Lord,  I  believe;;  Lord,  I  receive;;  Lord,  I  confess  You  now.”  Your  coming  forward  will  be  
your  way  of  confessing  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Lord  and  Savior.  Standing  at  the  head  of  
each  of  these  aisles  all  the  way  across  the  front  of  this  magnificent  building  will  be  a  
minister  to  welcome  and  receive  those  of  you  who  will  be  coming.  If  you’re  in  the  
balcony,  there’ll  be  a  minister  standing  under  that  banner  over  there  that  says  “Messiah”  
to  welcome  you,  or  this  one  over  here  to  my  right  that  says  “Redeemer.”  And  if  you  
prayed  that  prayer,  or  you  need  some  more  help  in  praying  that  prayer,  I  want  you  to  
leave  your  seat  this  morning.  Make  you  way  down  one  of  these  aisles  and  do  what  
you’ll  be  so  glad  you  did  when  you  stand  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God.  Tell  that  
minister,  I’m  trusting  Jesus.  What  will  happen?  We’ll  rejoice.  We’ll  give  you  some  
Scripture  to  stand  on.  We’ll  answer  any  questions.  And  we  will  seal  it  with  you  in  prayer.  
It  will  be  a  wonderful,  wonderful  thing  for  you  to  do.  
Now,  also,  there  are  some  who  need  a  church  home.  Church  membership  is  not  a  
substitute  for  salvation.  If  you  haven’t  been  saved,  that  comes  first.  But  if  you  have  been  
saved,  and  you  know  it,  then  you  need  a  church  home.  And  God’s  plan  is  for  every  
born-­again  child  of  God  to  be  a  member  of  a  local  New  Testament  church,  if  not  
Bellevue,  one  like  it  somewhere.  This  is  where  you  worship  and  God  speaks  to  your  
heart,  most  likely  this  is  where  you  belong.  
So,  when  we  stand  and  sing,  those  of  you  who  need  a  church  home,  I  want  you  to  
endeavor  to  be  the  first  ones  down  here.  And  just  lead  the  way  for  these  others  who  
need  to  confess  Christ,  by  coming.  Let’s  stand  together.  Our  deacons  are  going  to  come  
ready  to  pray  with  any  of  you.  They’re  going  to  come  in  just  a  moment.  Our  ministers  
are  going  to  come,  be  standing  down  here  waiting  on  you.  And  listen,  folks.  As  soon  as  
we  begin  to  sing,  I  want  you  to  step  out  and  come.  Will  you  do  it?  Let’s  sing  while  you  
come.    

   

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  The  Five  Pillars  of  Salvation    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      June  26,  1983    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  8:28–30  

“And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  
are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.”  
ROMANS  8:28  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. The  Supreme  Wisdom  of  God
II. The  Sovereign  Will  of  God
III. The  Seeking  Word  of  God
IV. The  Saving  Work  of  God
A. The  Basis  of  Our  Justification
B. How  Justification  May  Be  Applied
1. Justice
2. Mercy
3. Grace
C. The  Results  of  Justification
V. The  Settled  Ways  of  God
Conclusion

Introduction  
I  want  you  to  turn  to  Romans  8:28,  and  we’re  going  to  read  Romans  8,  verses  28,  29,  
and  30.  Now  these  verses  are  very  familiar,  but  I  pray  God  that  familiarity  with  them  
shall  not  have  bred  contempt,  but  a  greater  reverence,  because  of  the  great  truths  that  
there  are  here  in  these  verses.  And  if  you  don’t  have  a  Bible,  this  morning,  with  you,  
there’s  probably  one  there  in  the  pew  rack  before  you.  Would  you  get  that  Bible,  please,  
and  find  the  Book  of  Romans,  and  find  the  eighth  chapter.  You’re  going  to  get  so  much  
more  out  of  any  message,  if  you’ll  listen  with  an  open  Bible  in  your  hand.  Are  you  ready,  
now,  for  the  reading  of  the  Word  of  God?  
All  right,  let’s  read  it:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  
that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.  For  whom  he  did  
foreknow,  he”—that  is,  God’s  Son—“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”  (Romans  8:28–30).  

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 Now  look  up  here.  In  Romans  chapter  8,  verse  28,  there’s  a  verse  that  we  know  so  
well:  “All  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  God.”  We  rejoice  in  that,  but  
you’re  never  really  going  to  rejoice  in  it  as  you  ought,  or  understand  it  as  you  ought,  
unless  you  understand  the  two  verses  that  follow  it.  And  I  want  to  talk  to  you  today  
about  “The  Five  Pillars  of  Salvation”—“The  Five  Pillars  of  Salvation.”  There  are  five  
impregnable  pillars  that  rest  upon  the  omnipotence  of  Almighty  God,  upon  which  the  
house  of  salvation  stands,  upon  which  the  temple  of  truth  rests.  If  you  take  away  any  of  
these  five  pillars  of  truth,  then  the  entire  thing  comes  tumbling  down.  But  thank  God,  
you  cannot  take  them  away,  because  they  are  all  of  God,  and  none  of  them  are  of  man.  
And  I  want  you  to  see,  today,  these  five  pillars  of  salvation,  because  if  you  do  see  them  
and  understand  them,  and  you’re  a  Christian,  it’s  going  to  cause  you  to  rejoice  in  your  
salvation  all  the  more.  And  if  you’re  not  a  Christian,  I  just  believe  it  ought  to  cause  you  
to  want  to  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  personal  Savior  and  Lord.  So  pay  
attention—all  right?  

I. The  Supreme  Wisdom  of  God

What  is  the  first  of  these  five  pillars  of  salvation?  Begin  in  verse  29,  and  look  at  this  
verse  here—Romans  chapter  8  and  verse  29—the  Bible  says,  “For  whom  he  did  
foreknow…”  (Romans  8:29)—“for  whom  he  did  foreknow…”  The  first  of  the  five  pillars  of  
salvation  is  what  I  call  the  supreme  wisdom  of  God—the  supreme  wisdom  of  God.  
God’s  wisdom  is  unlike  any  other  man’s  knowledge  or  any  other  person’s  
understanding.  Of  course,  God  is  not  a  man;;  God  is  God,  as  we’ve  just  heard  sung.  
Great  is  He,  greater  than  anything,  greater  than  everything,  and  all  things—is  God.  So  
His  wisdom  is  supreme.  
Now  we  know  after  the  fact,  but  God  knows  things  before  the  fact.  This  verse  speaks  
of  the  foreknowledge  of  God,  the  Greek  word  proginosko.  And  it  sounds  very  much  like  
our  word  prognosis,  from  which  we  get  our  word  prognosis—we  get  it  from  this  Greek  
word—or  prognostication.  What  is  a  prognosis?  Well,  if  it  deals  with  man,  it’s  an  
educated  guess.  
Now  the  weatherman—he  makes  a  prognostication,  a  prognosis,  concerning  the  
weather,  but  the  weatherman  is  sometimes  wrong—just  when  you  plan  a  picnic,  right?  I  
heard  of  a  weatherman  who  had  to  leave  one  town  and  go  to  another  because  the  
weather  didn’t  agree  with  him.  
And  sometimes,  the  doctor  makes  a  prognosis.  The  doctor  examines  you  and  
thumps  around  at  you,  on  you,  for  a  dollar  a  thump,  and  then  he  makes  a  prognosis;;  
and,  he  says,  “You’re  going  to  get  better”;;  “You’re  going  to  get  worse”;;  or  this  or  that.  
But  the  doctor,  sometimes,  is  wrong.  
I  heard  of  a  doctor  who  said  to  a  man,  “You’ve  got  a  year  to  live.  That’ll  be  500  

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dollars.”  The  man  said,  “I  don’t  have  500  dollars.”  The  doctor  said,  “Well,  I  believe  I’m  
going  to  give  you  another  year,  so  you’ll  have  time  to  get  it.”  The  doctor  is  sometimes  
wrong.  
But  God’s  prognosis,  God’s  foreknowledge,  is  not  based  upon  guess  or  whim.  God  
knows  things  before  they  happen.  You  say,  “Well,  I  don’t  understand  that.”  Well,  you  
don’t  have  to  understand  it,  because  you’re  not  God.  And  as  a  matter  of  fact,  I’m  glad  
you  don’t  understand  it.  I’m  glad  I  don’t  understand  it.  I  wouldn’t  have  much  confidence  
in  a  God  I  could  understand.  I’m  grateful  that  there  are  some  things  about  God  that  I  
don’t  know.  
But  let  me  try  to  illustrate  it,  if  I  might.  If  you  watch  a  parade  from  the  ground  level,  
you  see  the  floats  as  they  come  past,  one  at  a  time.  But  suppose  you  could  go  up  in  a  
20-­  or  30-­storey  building  and  look  down  upon  that  parade.  And  you’d  see  the  first  float,  
you’d  see  the  last  float,  and  you’d  see  all  between,  at  the  same  time,  because  you  have  
a  different  vantage  point.  Now  we  live  in  history.  We  see  events  as  they  come  past,  one  
at  a  time.  But  God  dwells  in  eternity,  and  God  sees  the  beginning,  and  God  sees  the  
end,  and  God  sees  everything  in  between,  all  at  one  time.  And  so  God  foreknows.  He  
just  knows  everything.  
And  God,  knowing  everything—He’ll  never  learn  anything  and  never  forget  anything;;  
He  just  knows.  Of  course,  even  when  the  Bible  says  He  forgets  our  sins,  that  means  He  
doesn’t  remember  them  against  us,  anymore.  But  God  has  all  knowledge—all  
knowledge;;  and  so,  therefore,  I  was  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  God  before  He  swung  this  
planet  into  space.  He  knew  that  one  day  I  would  repent  of  my  sins.  He  knew  that  one  
day  I  would  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  my  personal  Savior.  He  knew  that  I  would  
be  standing  in  this  place,  this  day,  preaching  this  sermon,  and  you  would  be  sitting  here  
listening,  for  God  knows  the  future.  And  so  there’s  the  supreme  wisdom  of  God.  And  
how  we  thank  God  for  it!  How  we  rest  in  that  mighty  wisdom  of  God!  

II. The  Sovereign  Will  of  God

Now  the  second  thing  I  want  you  to  notice…  Let’s  continue  to  read  here,  in  Romans  
chapter  8,  verse  29:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate”  (Romans  
8:29).  Now  right  behind  the  supreme  wisdom  of  God,  I  want  you  to  write  “the  sovereign  
will  of  God”—“the  sovereign  will  of  God.”  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  then  he  also  did  
predestinate.”  That  is,  God  has  predestined  certain  things  to  happen.  
Now  theologians  have  raced  their  theological  motors  talking  about  predestination.  
What  is  predestination?  Well,  Dr.  Scofield,  who  edited  the  Scofield  Bible,  said—and  I  
think  rightly  so—that,  “Predestination  is  the  effective  exercise  of  the  will  of  God  by  which  
things  before  determined  by  Him  are  brought  to  pass.”  That  is,  God  says,  “I  am  
determined  to  do  something,”  and  then,  He  does  it.  And  the  Bible  calls  that  

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predestination.  And  when  God  predestined  something  to  happen,  all  Hell  can’t  stop  it,  
because  God  has  predetermined  that  He’s  going  to  do  it.  And  then,  He  puts  His  
omnipotence  behind  it  to  get  that  thing  done.  
Now  does  this  mean,  therefore,  that  some  are  predetermined,  predestined,  to  go  to  
Hell,  and  that  others  are  predetermined  and  predestined  to  go  to  Heaven,  and  there’s  
nothing  we  can  do  about  it?  Absolutely  not!  The  Bible  teaches  that  any  man  who  wants  
to  be  saved  may  be  saved.  There’s  nothing  more  damning,  more  debilitating,  more  
stultifying,  more  killing  and  chilling  to  evangelism  than  the  idea  that  some  are  going  to  
be  saved,  regardless,  and  some  are  going  to  be  lost,  regardless,  and  there’s  absolutely  
nothing  that  anyone  can  do  about  it.  
Let  me  give  you  some  Scriptures  that  will  put  that  idea  to  rest.  You  jot  them  down:  1  
Timothy  chapter  2,  verse  3  and  following:  “For  this  is  good  and  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  
God  our  Saviour;;  who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved,”—did  you  hear  it?  Did  you  hear  
that?  “God  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved,”  or,  that  is,  He  wants  all  men  to  be  saved.  
That’s  what  the  Word  wills:  all  men  to  be  saved—“and  to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  
the  truth.  For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  mediator  between  God  and  men,  the  man  
Christ  Jesus;;  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all”  (1  Timothy  2:3–6).  Not  a  ransom  for  
some.  There  are  some  who  say  that  Jesus  Christ  only  died  for  the  elect.  He  died  for  
all—all!  Listen  to  it  again:  “For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  mediator  between  God  and  
men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus;;  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all”  (1  Timothy  2:5–6).  
And  then,  listen  to  this  verse—2  Peter  chapter  3,  verse  9:  “The  Lord  is  not  slack  
concerning  his  promise,  as  some  men  count  slackness;;  but  is  longsuffering  to  us-­ward,  
not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance”  (2  Peter  3:9).  
Read  it,  again:  “all  should  come  to  repentance.”  God  doesn’t  want  anybody  to  die  and  
go  to  Hell.  It  is  a  slander  on  the  character  of  God  to  say  that  God  created  some  people  
to  die  and  go  to  Hell.  If  people  are  not  saved,  it  is  because  they  choose  not  to  be  saved.  
Let  me  give  you  another  scripture—Matthew  chapter  23  and  verse  37.  Jesus  is  
sitting  on  the  Mount  of  Olives.  He’s  weeping  over  the  city  of  Jerusalem.  Great  salty  
tears  course  down  His  cheeks,  and  He  says  this:  “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!”  (Matthew  23:37).  That  is,  Jesus  said,  “I  would  have  saved  you.  I  
would  have  forgiven  you.  I  would  have  gathered  you  together.  I  wanted  to  redeem  you,  
but  you  said  no.  It  is  not  because  I  did  not  will  it;;  it  is  because  you  refused  it.”  
Now  some  people  think,  if  you  say  that  man  has  a  free  will,  that  that  takes  away  the  
sovereignty  of  God.  It  does  not.  The  Bible  teaches  both  the  sovereign  will  of  God  and  
the  free  will  of  man.  These  are  not  contradictory;;  they  are  mutual  truths.  Somebody  
says,  “Well,  how  can  God  be  sovereign,  if  man  has  a  free  will?”  Because  the  sovereign  

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God  has  ordained  that  man  would  have  a  free  will—that’s  how.  God  says,  “Because  I’m  
sovereign,  that’s  the  way  I  want  it.”  And  if  God  wants  it  that  way,  whether  you  can  
understand  it  or  not,  that’s  no  problem.  The  sovereign  God  has  said  that,  “Whosoever  
will,  may  come”  (Revelation  22:17).  And  so  dear  friend,  there  is  a  sovereign  God.  
“Well,”  you  say,  “what’s  all  this  stuff  about  predestination,  then?  What  does  that  
mean?”  Well,  read  it.  The  Bible  says,  “For  them  that  he  foreknew”—or,  those  that  he  
foreknew—“he  predestined  to”—what?  Well,  let’s  read  it:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknew,  
he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son,”—now,  this  is  not  
some  being  predestined  to  be  saved,  but  it  is  those  that  God  foreknows  who  are  
predestined  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  God’s  Son—“that  he”—that  is,  God’s  
Son—“might  be  the  firstborn  among  many  brethren”  (Romans  8:29).  What  does  that  
mean?  It  means  that  God  only  had  one  Son.  His  name  was  Jesus.  And  God  loved  Him  
so  much  He  said,  “I  want  some  more  like  Him.”  And  so  God  is  redeeming  a  whole  race  
of  men,  that  all  of  these  men  might  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  God’s  Son.  
I  tell  you  something,  friend:  You’re  looking  at  a  man  who  is  predestined  to  be  like  
Jesus.  It’s  settled!  And  if  you’re  saved,  you’re  predestined  to  be  like  Jesus,  and  all  Hell  
can’t  stop  it.  When  God  foreknew  that  I  would  receive  Jesus  Christ  as  my  personal  
Savior  and  Lord,  when  I,  of  my  will,  would  repent  of  my  sin  and  receive  Christ,  then  God  
says,  “It  is  settled!  Adrian,  one  day,  will  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  And  so  the  Bible  
says,  in  1  John  chapter  3,  verse  2:  “Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  
not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be:  but  we  know  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  
like  him;;  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is”  (1  John  3:2).  We  know  it!  We  don’t  guess  it.  We  
don’t  think  it.  
You say, “You’re dogmatic!” Friend, I’m bulldog-­matic! I  am  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  It  
is  predestined.  “For  those  whom  he  foreknew,  them  did  he  also  predestinate  to  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  Don’t  get  the  idea,  dear  friend,  that  you  don’t  have  
a  choice  about  it.  You  do.  And  you’re  going  to  give  an  account  for  the  choice  that  you  
make  today.  
I  heard  of  a  preacher  who  tried  to  figure  out  whether  he  wanted  to  be  in  that  group  of  
people  who  believed  that  you  were  called  and  sent  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  whether  you  
came  by  your  own  free  will.  And  there  was  a  group  of  theologians,  over  here,  who  
believed  one  thing;;  there  were  a  group  of  theologians,  over  here,  who  were  
emphasizing  free  will  on  this  side;;  and,  on  this  side,  were  the  theologians  who  were  
emphasizing  the  sovereignty  of  God.  And  he  was  torn  between  the  two.  And  he  said,  
“Well,  I’ve  got  to  be  in  one  camp  or  the  other.”  So  he  went  to  this  camp  over  here,  and  
he  said,  “I’d  like  to  join  this  group  of  theologians.”  And  they  said,  “Well,  why  did  you  
come?”  He  said,  “Well,  I  just  came  because  I  wanted  to.  I  came  of  my  own  free  will.”  
They  said,  “Of  your  own  free  will?  You  can’t  come  of  your  own  free  will.  You  don’t  

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belong  here.  Go  to  that  group  over  there.”  So  he  went  to  the  other  group,  and  they  said,  
“Why  did  you  come?”  He  said,  “Well,  I  was  sent.”  “You  can’t  come  unless  you  come  of  
your  own  free  will.  You  can’t  belong  to  this  group.”  So  the  poor  fellow  didn’t  have  a  
group  to  belong  to.  
Friend,  let  me  tell  you  something:  There  is  no  contradiction  between  the  sovereign  
grace  of  God  and  the  free  will  of  man.  Both  are  taught  in  the  Bible.  But  you  put  it  down  
big,  put  it  down  plain,  put  it  down  straight:  “The  Lord  is…not  willing  that  any  should  
perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repentance”  (2  Peter  3:9).  And  our  job  is  to  preach  
the  gospel  to  every  creature,  as  the  Great  Commission  commands  us  to  do  so.  And  so  
first  of  all,  you  see,  dear  friend,  the  supreme  wisdom  of  God.  He  knows  all  things.  
Secondly,  you  see  the  sovereign  will  of  God.  This  God  has  predetermined  that  those  
that  He  knows  will  receive  Christ  will  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  

III. The  Seeking  Word  of  God

Now  the  third  thing  I  want  you  to  see—the  third  pillar  that  rests  upon  the  omnipotence  of  
Almighty  God,  and  upon  which  this  temple  of  truth  stands—is  what  I  call  the  seeking  
Word  of  God—the  seeking  Word  of  God.  Let’s  continue  to  read  verse  30:  “Moreover  
whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also  called”  (Romans  8:30).  God  seeks  us.  God  
calls  us.  This  word  call  literally  means,  “to  issue  a  summons.”  You  see,  God  foreknows  
that  we  will  receive  Him.  God  predestines  that  those  who  receive  Him  are  going  to  be  
like  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  then,  God  sends  His  Word.  God  sends  His  gospel.  
Now  what  is  the  call  of  God?  You  know,  there  are  people  who  say,  “Well,  one  of  
these  days,  if  God  wants  to  save  me,  He’ll  just  call  me;;  and  then,  I’ll  be  saved.”  Now  
what  do  you  think  the  call  of  God  is?  Do  you  think  God’s  going  to  say,  “Hey,  Adrian”?  
He’s  never  called  me  that  way.  Sometimes,  I  think  it  would  be  nice;;  but  I  hope  He  
doesn’t.  It  would  scare  me  to  death.  Well,  what  is  the  call  of  God?  You  say,  “Well,  it  
must  be  an  emotional  feeling.  You  must  be  sitting  in  church  sometimes,  and  then  you  
get  all  warm  around  the  heart  and  wet  around  the  lashes;;  and,  you  get  goose  bumps,  
and  the  angels  play  tic-­tac-­toe  on  your  ribs,  and  you  say,  “Hey  now,  that’s  the  call  of  
God.”  You  don’t  read  anything  like  that  in  the  Bible.  What  is  the  call  of  God?  The  Bible  
says,  “Whom  he  foreknew,  he  predestinated…and  those  that  he  predestinates,  he  calls”  
(Romans  8:29–30).  Now  what  is  the  seeking  word  of  God?  How  does  God  call?  
Through  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  friend.  
Let  me  give  you  some  scriptures  that  will  make  that  very  clear  and  plain—2  
Thessalonians,  the  second  chapter,  verses  13  and  14:  “But  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks  
alway  to  God  for  you,  brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  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”  (2  Thessalonians  2:13–14).  Did  you  hear  

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it?  How  did  He  call  you?  By  the  gospel!  Do  you  know  what  is  happening  here  today?  
God  has  seen  this  scene  before  it  ever  happened.  You’re  here;;  I’m  here.  I  have  an  open  
Bible.  God  has  called  me  to  preach.  God  has  ordained  me  to  preach.  God  has  filled  me  
with  the  Holy  Spirit  to  preach.  God  has  given  me  His  Word  to  preach.  God  brought  me  
here  to  preach.  God  brought  you  here  to  hear  it.  And  God  is  calling  you  through  His  
gospel.  That’s  what  He’s  doing:  He  is  calling  you.  When  God  wants  somebody,  He  calls  
that  person,  and  he  calls  you  through  the  gospel.  
Let  me  give  you  another  scripture—1  Corinthians  chapter  1,  verse  23  and  following:  
“But  we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stumblingblock,  and  unto  the  Greeks  
foolishness;;  but  unto  them  which  are  called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  
God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God”  (1  Corinthians  1:23–24).  Now  it’s  not  that  God  just  goes  
through  a  congregation,  and  He  calls  this  one,  and  He  doesn’t  call  that  one.  Friend,  
He’s  calling  everybody  here  today.  “The  Lord  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  
that  all  should  come  to  repentance”  (2  Peter  3:9).  
And  God  called  a  preacher  and  said  to  that  preacher,  “Call  My  people  by  preaching  
the  Word  of  God.”  And  one  of  these  days,  God  is  going  to  hold  you  accountable  for  
what  you  do  with  His  summons.  It  is  a  call  from  God—not  from  Adrian  Rogers,  not  from  
the  Baptist  denomination,  not  from  Bellevue  Baptist  Church,  but  from  the  gospel  that  
says,  “Repent  of  your  sin,  and  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  There  is  the  seeking  
Word  of  God.  That’s  the  third  of  these  pillars  of  truth.  

IV. The  Saving  Work  of  God

What’s  the  first  one?  The  supreme  wisdom  of  God.  What’s  the  second?  The  sovereign  
will  of  God.  What’s  the  third?  The  seeking  Word  of  God.  Now  what’s  the  fourth  one?  
And  friend,  here’s  the  good  part:  the  saving  work  of  God—the  saving  work  of  God.  
Continue  to  read,  as  we  read:  “Them  he  also  called:  and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also  
justified”  (Romans  8:30).  That’s  the  saving  work  of  God.  When  He  calls  a  man  by  the  
gospel,  and  that  man  answers  the  gospel  call,  then  that  man  is  justified.  Now  what  is  
justification?  Well,  it  is  God’s  act,  whereby  He  declares  those  who  have  trusted  in  Christ  
to  be  as  righteous  as  Jesus  Christ  Himself  is  righteous.  
Now  put  your  bookmark  there,  in  Romans  8,  and  turn  back  to  Romans  4  with  me,  
and  look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  5—Romans  4  and  verse  5:  “But  to  him  that  worketh  not,  
but  believeth  on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness”  
(Romans  4:5).  Now  what  does  that  say?  It  says  that  salvation  is  not  because  of  the  
works  that  we  do,  but  when  we  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  God  counts  our  faith  for  
righteousness.  God  says  to  the  believer,  “You  are  righteous.”  Verse  6:  “Even  as  David  
also  describeth  the  blessedness  of  the  man,  unto  whom  God  imputeth  righteousness  
without  works”  (Romans  4:6).  Do  you  know  what  imputation  means?  You  know  what  

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amputation  is:  You  take  something  out.  Imputation  is  where  you  put  something  in.  God  
imputes  righteousness—that  means  He  puts  righteousness  on  your  account.  
You  go  down  to  the  department  store  and  buy  something.  You  have  a  charge  card.  
You  say,  “Charge  it!”  Next  time,  just  say,  “Impute  it!”  It  means  the  same  thing.  “Put  that  
on  my  account.”  Now  God  puts  righteousness  on  your  account.  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  
whom  the  Lord  imputeth  righteousness  without  works.”  That  is,  I  don’t  deserve  it;;  I  didn’t  
earn  it;;  I  don’t  merit  it;;  but  God—when  I  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ—God  just  
imputes  that  righteousness.  And  when  God  sees  me,  He  sees  that  righteousness.  Do  
you  know  what  God  sees  when  He  looks  at  me  today?  He  sees  Jesus  Christ.  You  say,  
“That’s  arrogant.”  No,  it’s  not;;  it’s  Bible.  I  am  in  Christ,  and,  therefore,  He  cannot  see  my  
sin.  He  sees  the  righteousness  of  His  Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
A  Sunday  School  teacher  asked  a  little  girl,  “Is  there  anything  God  cannot  do?”  And  
the  little  girl  sweetly  said,  “Yes,  there’s  one  thing  God  cannot  do:  God  cannot  see  my  sin  
through  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.”  
But  I  want  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  this  thing  called  justification  is  more  than  just  
pardon;;  it  is  promotion.  It  is  not  just  simply  that  He  forgives  our  sin.  He  does  far  more  
than  forgive  our  sins.  He  doesn’t  just  acquit  us.  He  makes  us  righteous  in  His  sight.  You  
see,  no  court  of  law  could  ever  justify  anybody—no  human  court.  
I  mean,  if  you  go  to  a  human  court,  and  the  grand  jury  has  indicted  you,  and  you  go  
through  a  trial,  they  can  do  one  of  two  things:  I  mean,  on  the  one  hand,  they  could  say,  
“You’ve  been  acquitted.”  What  does  that  mean?  It  means  they  couldn’t  prove  you  were  
guilty.  They  didn’t  justify  you;;  they  just  couldn’t  prove  you  were  guilty,  so  you’re  
acquitted.  Now  maybe  you  weren’t  guilty,  but  the  court  can’t  justify  you.  It  either  says  
you  were  guilty  or  you’re  not  guilty.  If  they  couldn’t  find  you  guilty,  they  acquit  you—like  
the  man  who  stole  a  watch,  and  the  judge  said,  “You’re  acquitted.”  He  says,  “Does  that  
mean  I  have  to  give  the  watch  back?”  
The  courts  sometimes  are  wrong.  Or,  if  you’re  found  guilty,  the  court  may  pardon  
you,  or  the  governor  may  pardon  you,  or  the  President  may  pardon  you.  But  whether  
they  acquit  you,  or  whether  they  pardon  you,  or  whether  they  punish  you,  they  cannot  
justify  you.  
Only  God  can  justify.  Only  God  can  take  someone  who  is  guilty  and  take  that  guilty  
person,  that  sinful  person,  and  give  to  that  person  righteousness.  Only  God  can  do  that.  
That’s  what  the  Bible  calls  justification.  This  is  the  saving  work  of  God.  
So  many  people  think  of  being  saved  as  merely  getting  their  sins  forgiven.  But  
friend,  that’s  only  part  of  it.  
Be  of  sin  the  double  cure,  
Save  from  wrath  and  make  me  pure.  (Augustus  Toplady)  
God  sees  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ  in  every  one  of  His  blood-bought  children.  

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Hallelujah!  That  is  wonderful.  
A. The  Basis  of  Our  Justification
Now  how  can  God  do  such  a  thing?  What  is  the  basis  of  our  justification?  Look  in
Romans  chapter  3  and  verse  24:  “Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace  through  the  
redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus:  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  
faith  in  his  blood”  (Romans  3:24–25).  Now  look  at  that  word  propitiation.  That’s  a  big  
word—hard  to  pronounce,  hard  to  spell.  What  does  it  mean?  You’d  better  learn  what  it  
means.  It  means  “satisfaction.”  
Now  God  is  a  holy  God.  And  because  God  is  a  holy  God,  God’s  anger  and  God’s  
justice  burn  against  sin.  God  has  sworn,  by  all  that  He  is,  that  sin  will  be  punished.  Sin  
must  be  paid  for.  Sin  must  be  satisfied.  There  must  be  a  satisfactory  payment  for  sin.  
And  so  God  said,  “If  I  punish  man  for  his  sin,  if  I  gain  satisfaction  that  way,  man  will  die  
and  go  to  Hell,  and  I  love  him.  But  on  the  other  hand,  if  I  don’t  punish  man  for  his  sin,  
My  righteousness  will  never  be  propitiated.  My  justice  will  never  be  satisfied.  I  will  no  
longer  be  a  holy  God,  because  I  am  sworn  by  My  holiness  to  punish  sin.”  So  God  says  
to  Himself,  “How  can  I,  on  the  one  hand,  have  that  sin  paid  for,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  
let  the  sinner  go  to  Heaven?”  God  said,  “I  will  become  a  substitute.  I  will  take  human  
flesh.  I  will  go  down  to  Earth.  I  will  take  the  sin  of  mankind  upon  Myself.  And  in  agony  
and  blood,  I  will  pay  for  that  sin,  and  I  will  become  a  satisfaction  for  sin,  a  propitiation  for  
sin,  a  righteous  judgment  and  substitute  for  sin.”  
And  so  look  at  it  again,  dear  friend.  This  is  the  way  it  happens  here,  in  Romans  
chapter  3.  The  Bible  makes  it  so  sweetly  plain,  so  gloriously  plain,  in  verse  25:  “Whom  
God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  
righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the  forebearance  of  God;;  
to  declare,  I  say,  at  this  time  his  righteousness:  that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of  
him  which  believeth  in  Jesus”  (Romans  3:25–26).  Now  God  never  overlooks  sin.  God  is  
still  just  when  He  justifies  me,  because  that  sin  has  been  propitiated.  That  sin  has  been  
satisfied.  That  sin  has  been  paid  in  full.  And  when  Jesus  died  on  the  cross,  and  bowed  
His  head,  and  said,  “It  is  finished”  (John  19:30),  that  is  a  Greek  word  that  means  “paid  in  
full.”  And  therefore,  God  is  both  just  and  the  justifier  of  the  man  who  believes  in  Jesus  
Christ.  Do  you  understand  that?  Isn’t  that  wonderful?  That’s  the  gospel.  
B. How  Justification  May  Be  Applied
Now  how  can  this  justification  be  applied  to  me?  How  do  I  lay  hold  of  it?  We  know
what  it  is:  God  makes  us  righteous.  We  know  how  it  comes:  Christ  died  that  we  might  
have  it.  But  how  do  we  lay  hold  of  it?  Thank  God  we  don’t  have  to  guess.  Look  again,  if  
you  will,  in  Romans  3,  verse  24:  “Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace”  (Romans  3:24).  Do  
you  know  what  grace  is?  Grace  is  “the  unmerited  favor  of  God.”  It’s  what  causes  God  to  

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love  us  while  we  were  yet  sinners.  The  Bible  says,  in  Romans  5,  verse  8:  “God  
commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us”  
(Romans  5:8).  Being  justified  by  His  grace.  I  want  to  remind  you,  again,  there  are  three  
words  you  need  never  forget  the  meaning  of:  one  is  justice;;  the  other  is  mercy;;  and  the  
other  is  grace.  Are  you  ready?  
1. Justice
What  is  justice?  Justice  is  God  giving  us  what  we  deserve.  That  is,  if  we  get  justice,
we’ll  die  and  go  to  Hell.  Don’t  ever  ask  for  justice,  because  our  sins  deserve  Hell.  
Justice  is  God  giving  us  what  we  deserve.  
2. Mercy
Mercy  is  God  not  giving  us  what  we  deserve.  Thank  God  for  that.
3. Grace
But  grace  is  God  giving  us  what  we  don’t  deserve.  Do  you  understand  it?  Grace  is
where  God,  in  His  love,  says,  “You  don’t  deserve  this.  It’s  not  by  works  of  righteousness  
that  you’ve  done  (Titus  3:5),  but  I  am  going  to  make  you  righteous.  It  is  by  grace  I’m  
going  to  impute  this  righteousness  to  you.  I’m  going  to  lay  this  righteousness  on  your  
account.  I’m  going  to  make  you  as  righteous  in  My  sight  and  in  My  eyes  as  the  Lord  
Jesus  Christ  Himself  is  righteous.”  
So  it  is  by  grace.  But  how  do  we  get  hold  of  that  grace?  Through  faith.  Look,  if  you  
will,  in  Romans  chapter  4,  verse  5:  “But  to  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  him  
that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness”  (Romans  4:5).  How  do  
you  lay  hold  of  it?  By  keeping  the  Ten  Commandments?  By  being  baptized?  By  
studying  your  Bible?  By  praying?  By  living  a  godly  life.  All  of  these  are  fine,  but  they’re  
all  good  works.  But  that’s  not  the  way  you  get  it.  “To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  
on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness.”  
We’re  not  against  good  works.  You  ought  to  do  good  works.  You  ought  to  read  your  
Bible.  You  ought  to  pray.  You  ought  to  keep  the  Ten  Commandments.  You  ought  to  be  
baptized,  if  you’re  a  Christian.  But  these  things  don’t  save  you.  You  know,  we’re  not  
against  good  works.  We  preach  that  a  Christian  ought  to  live  a  godly,  righteous,  
separated,  sanctified  life.  
I  cannot  work  my  soul  to  save;;  
That  work  my  Lord  has  done.  
But  I  will  work  like  any  slave,  
for  the  love  of  God’s  dear  Son.  (Author  unknown)  
Amen?  It’s  not  by  works.  The  Bible  says,  “To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  
him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness.”  
When  a  man  receives  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  his  personal  Savior,  then,  and  then  

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alone,  he’s  justified  and  has  peace  with  God.  Look  in  Romans  chapter  5,  verse  1:  
“Therefore  being  justified  by”—what?—“faith,”—by  faith—“we  have  peace  with  God  
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ”  (Romans  5:1).  The  moment  any  sin-­soiled,  sin-­
darkened,  sin-­ruined  person  bows  his  head  and  says,  “God,  in  repentance  and  faith,  I  
come  to  Jesus  Christ;;  I  trust  You,  Jesus,”  that  moment,  he’s  justified,  and  he  has  peace  
with  God.  The  war  is  over!  Hallelujah!  Now  friend,  that  is  justification:  that  I  am  made  as  
righteous,  in  God’s  eyes,  as  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Himself.  
C. The  Results  of  Justification
Now  what  are  the  results  of  this?  I  mean,  what  difference  is  this  going  to  make  in  my
life?  Well,  let  me  show  you  something.  Look  in  Romans  chapter  4  and  verse  5—we  just  
read  this.  Let’s  read  it  again:  “But  to  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  him  that  
justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness.”  Now  here’s  the  result  of  it:  
“Even  as  David  also  describeth  the  blessedness  of  the  man,  unto  whom  God  imputeth  
righteousness  without  works,”—well,  that’s  a  great  blessing,  but  wait  a  minute—“saying,  
Blessed  are  they  whose  iniquities  are  forgiven,”—hey,  that’s  wonderful;;  God  forgives  my  
sins.  But  wait  a  minute,  there’s  more—“and  whose  sins  are  covered.”  It’s  one  thing  if  He  
forgives  them;;  it’s  another  thing  if  He  buries  them.  Amen?  Oh,  that’s  great.  He  forgives  
them.  And  then,  not  only  does  He  forgive  them,  but  He  covers  them.  But  wait  a  minute.  
The  best  is  yet  to  come:  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin”  
(Romans  4:5–8).  
Now  just  put  a  star  by  that.  Underscore  it.  Now  friend,  that’s  not  what  Adrian  says;;  
that’s  what  God  says.  That’s  what  David  said—or  what  the  Holy  Spirit  said  through  
David:  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not”—will  not,  will  not—“impute  sin.”  
Now  remember  what  imputation  is?  God  puts  that  on  your  account.  Now  I  may  not  
be  righteous  in  and  of  myself,  but  God  has  imputed  righteousness  to  me.  I  do  fail,  but  
God  will  not  impute  that  to  me.  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  
sin.”  If  God  were  to  impute  sin  to  me  when  I  fail,  I’d  be  lost  again.  How  much  sin  would  it  
take  to  make  me  lost?  Just  one  half  of  one  sin.  
You  see,  I’m  not  going  to  Heaven  because  I’m  perfect.  I’m  not  perfect.  You’re  not  
perfect,  and  nobody’s  perfect.  But  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  
sin.”  Amen?  That  is  what  justification  is.  And  friend,  if  you  understand  it,  if  you  
understand  how  wonderful  this  is—that  God  just  imputes  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  
and  God  will  not  impute  sin  because  we’re  received  in  Christ,  we  have  received  Christ—
then  you’ll  understand  how  wonderful  this  salvation  is.  

V. The  Settled  Ways  of  God

Now  the  fifth  and  final  pillar  of  this  great  salvation  that  I  want  to  mention  today.  

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Remember  what  the  first  one  is?  The  supreme  wisdom  of  God;;  He  foreknew  us.  The  
second:  the  sovereign  will  of  God.  When  He  foreknows  that  we’ll  receive  Christ,  He  
predetermines,  predestines,  we’re  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  What’s  the  third  one?  The  
seeking  call  of  Christ.  He  sends  His  Word,  the  gospel,  to  call  us  to  Himself.  What’s  the  
fourth  one?  The  saving  work  of  Christ.  When  we  believe  on  Him,  we  are  justified.  He  will  
not  impute  sin  to  us.  He  does  impute  righteousness  without  works.  It  is  the  gift  of  God.  
And  He  gives  us  peace  with  God.  
Now  the  fifth  of  these  is  the  settled  ways  of  God—the  settled  ways  of  God.  I  want  
you  to  see  something  that’s  very  outstanding,  in  Romans  chapter  8,  now  again,  in  verse  
30. Look  at  it—all  right:  “Whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also  called:  and  whom  he
called,  them  he  also  justified:  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified”  (Romans
8:30).  The  settled  ways  of  God.  Now  you  would  expect  Him  to  say,  “Them  he  also  will
glorify.”  But  He  doesn’t  say  He  will  glorify  us.  He  says,  “Them  he  also  glorified.”  He  put  it
in  the  past  tense—that  is,  it’s  already  done;;  it’s  already  settled  in  the  heart  and  the  mind
of  God.
Do  you  know  you’re  looking  at  a  man,  today,  who  is  already  glorified  in  God’s  heart,  
in  God’s  mind,  and  in  God’s  way,  because  God  deals  in  eternity?  And  so  God  doesn’t  
see  merely  the  present;;  God  sees  the  future.  And  right  now,  in  the  future,  God  sees  
Adrian  Rogers,  and  He  sees  him  glorified;;  and,  He  sees  him  like  Christ;;  and  so,  God  
says,  “He’s  glorified.”  I  mean,  that’s  the  settled  ways  of  God.  It  is  predetermined  I’ll  be  
like  Jesus.  All  Hell  can’t  stop  it.  That’s  the  reason  I  believe  in  the  eternal  security  of  the  
believer.  I  mean,  how  could  you  be  any  more  secure  than  being  predestined  to  be  like  
Jesus  and  already  glorified,  huh?  Now  that’s  not  me;;  that’s  God.  This  is  black  print  on  
white  paper.  We  are  secure—not  because  of  our  own  righteousness.  If  it  depended  
upon  my  works  righteousness,  I’d  lose  it.  
There  are  people  who  think  you  can  lose  your  salvation.  Well,  friend,  whether  or  not  
you  can  lose  it  depends  on  how  you  got  it.  Now  if  you  got  it  by  works,  then  I  could  
understand  how  you  could  lose  it  by  works,  right?  I  mean,  if  you  had  to  work  in  order  to  
be  saved,  then,  if  your  works  fail,  you’re  no  longer  saved.  But  friend,  if  you  get  it  by  
grace,  then  you’re  kept  by  grace.  You  see,  you  keep  it  the  same  way  you  got  it.  Of  
course,  you  can’t  get  it  by  works;;  and,  therefore,  you  wouldn’t  have  anything  to  lose.  But  
those  of  us  who  have  come  in  through  the  door  of  grace,  we  are  in  that  category  of  
persons  that  the  Bible  says  God  imputes  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ  to  us.  And  
“Blessed  is  that  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin.”  
These  people  who  think,  “Well,  you  can  lose  your  salvation.”  I  say,  “Well,  what  would  
cause  you  to  lose  your  salvation?”  Well,  sin!  I  say,  “Okay,  how  much?  How  much?”  
Friend,  listen.  If  sin  could  cause  you  to  lose  your  salvation,  one  half  of  one  sin  would  do  
it,  because  God  demands  perfection.  Don’t  think  that  God  will  tolerate  a  little,  but  He  

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won’t  tolerate  a  lot.  He  won’t  tolerate  any!  Not  any!  And  if  that  sin  were  imputed  to  you—
that  is,  if  sin  could  cause  you  to  lose  your  salvation—then  everybody  in  this  room  would  
be  lost,  because  is  there  anybody  here  who  hasn’t  sinned?  Anybody  here  who  doesn’t  
sin?  Well,  if  you  stand  up  and  say  you  haven’t,  you  just  told  another  lie,  because  God’s  
Word  says,  if  we  say  we’ve  not  sinned,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  us  
(1  John  1:10).  
And  so  if  you’re  depending  upon  your  works  to  get  you  to  Heaven,  the  only  way  
you’re  going  to  get  there  is  to  be  absolutely,  totally  perfect.  I  said  it  before;;  I’ll  say  it  
again:  I wouldn’t trust the best 15  minutes I ever lived to get me to Heaven, much less
some I’d rather not discuss.  Not  the  best  I’ve  ever  lived.  You  see,  I  am  counting  on  the  
fact  that,  when  I  received  Jesus  Christ,  God  made  me  righteous;;  God  justified  me;;  God  
imputed  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ  to  me;;  and,  therefore,  in  God’s  eyes,  I  
became  righteous.  
Now  that  doesn’t  mean  that  you  can  sin  and  get  away  with  it.  If  you  sin  as  a  
Christian,  God  will  carry  you  to  the  woodshed  and  beat  the  living  daylights  out  of  you.  
“Whom  the  Lord  loves,  he  chastens,  and  scourges  every  son  whom  he  receiveth”  
(Hebrews  12:6).  And  the  Bible  says,  “If  ye  be  without  chastisement,  whereof  all  are  
partakers,  then  are  ye  bastards,  and  not  sons”  (Hebrews  12:8).  That’s  what  God’s  Word  
said  in  Hebrews.  That  is,  “If  you  were  My  child,  and  you’re  living  the  way  you’re  living,  I  
would  have  whipped  you  a  long  time  ago.  And  if  I  don’t  whip  you,  it’s  because  I  never  
fathered  you.  Had  I  fathered  you,  I  would  have  chastised  you.  You’re  not  My  child.”  No  
child  of  God,  because  of  eternal  security,  can  live  any  old  way  he  wants.  With  an  eternal  
security  comes  an  eternal  responsibility.  And  we  are  told  how  to  live  righteous  and  godly  
lives.  
But  I  want  to  tell  you  something,  friend:  Just  because  God  may  chastise  us  does  not  
mean  that  we’re  lost.  There’s  a  difference  between  God’s  chastisement  and  God’s  
judgment.  If  God  were  to  impute  that  sin  to  me,  rather  than  just  chastise  me  for  it—if  
God  were  to  put  that  on  my  account—then  I’d  be  eternally  lost.  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  
whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin.”  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  sin  can  cause  you  to  lose  
your  salvation.  
Now  I  want  to  say  something  else,  here:  I  don’t  want  to  lull  some,  those  of  you,  to  
sleep,  who’ve  never  been  saved.  I  mean,  some  of  you  waltz  down  a  church  aisle  and  
shake  hands  with  a  preacher,  and  you  think  you’re  saved;;  and,  you’re  living  like  the  
devil  himself.  It’s  going  to  be  a  sad  day  for  you  when  you  split  Hell  wide-­open,  because  
you’ve  never  been  saved.  
You  know,  you  go  out.  I’ve  done  enough  soul  winning.  You  go  out  and  witness.  You  
knock  on  a  door.  An  old  man  comes  out  there,  with  a  potbelly  and  a  can  of  beer.  And  he  
says,  “Yeah,  I  used  to  go  down  to  that  church.  I  guess  you  can  call  me  an  old  

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backslider.”  He’s  not  a  backslider;;  he’s  lost  as  a  goat.  No  backslider  says,  “I’m  just  an  
old  backslider.”  Man,  if  you  know  God,  you’ve  been  saved;;  His  Spirit  has  come  into  you;;  
you’re  born  of  the  Spirit,  that  God  the  Holy  Spirit  in  you  is  grieved  when  you  sin—you  
don’t  laugh  about  it  and  make  fun  about  it.  
Sure,  you  may  slip  into  sin,  but  I  want  to  tell  you  the most miserable man on Earth—
and,  I  said  this  last  Sunday—is not a lost man; he’s a saved man out of fellowship with
God.  When  God  saves  you,  God  puts  into  you  His  Spirit,  and  you  become  a  partaker  of  
the  divine  nature.  And  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  is  grieved  when  you  sin.  And  God  will  carry  
you  to  the  woodshed  when  you  sin.  But  you  don’t  lose  your  salvation  when  you  sin.  If  
you  did,  dear  friend,  we’d  all  be  lost,  every  one  of  us,  for  who  can  say,  “I’ve  never  
sinned?”  Who  can  say,  “I  don’t  fail  some  day,  some  way?”  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  
the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin.”  
“Them  that  God  justifies—those  that  He  justifies—He  glorifies”  (Romans  8:30).  And  
they’re  already  glorified.  It’s  already  done.  Hallelujah,  it’s  done!  Somebody  said,  “Well,  
yeah,  maybe  your  sin  can’t  take  you  out  of  the  hand  of  God,  but  Satan  can.”  Pardon  me,  
but  that’s  foolish.  Do  you  think  he,  friend…?  If  he  could,  he  would.  Now  be  reasonable.  
If  Satan  could  take  you  out  of  the  hand  of  God,  why  hasn’t  he  done  it  yet?  Hasn’t  he  
been  nice  to  you,  hmm?  That  would  be  a  strange  doctrine,  wouldn’t  it?  You’re  going  to  
Heaven  by  the  goodness  of  the  devil.  I  mean,  he  just  could,  but  he  didn’t,  you  see.  You  
know,  the  only  reason  he  hasn’t  is  because  he  can’t.  
As,  Eleanor  sang,  “Greater  is  he  that  is  in  you,  than  he  that  is  the  world”  (1  John  
4:4).  And  Jesus  said,  “My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me:  
and  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life;;  and  they  shall  never  perish,  and  neither  shall  any  pluck  
them  out  of  my  hand.  My  Father,  which  gave  them  me,  is  greater  than  all;;  and  no  man  is  
able  to  pluck  them  out  of  my  Father’s  hand.  I  and  my  Father  are  one”  (John  10:27–30).  
You  see,  He  keeps  us.  And  so  God  looks  at  me  as  already  glorified.  And  friend,  what
has been settled in eternity can never be undone in time.  The  settled  ways  of  God.  

Conclusion  
What  are  the  five  pillars  of  salvation?  The  supreme  wisdom  of  God;;  the  sovereign  will  of  
God;;  the  seeking  Word  of  God;;  the  saving  work  of  God;;  and  the  settled  ways  of  God.  
We’ve  got  a  wonderful  salvation,  folks.  I  mean,  this  is  the  message  the  devil  doesn’t  
want  preached.  We  can  relax—not  let  down—relax!  So  many  Christians  I  know  remind  
me  of  a  man  who  swallowed  an  egg:  afraid  to  sit  still,  thought  it  would  hatch;;  afraid  to  
move,  afraid  it  would  break.  They  remind  me  of  the  deep-­sea  diver  who  got  a  message  
on  his  headphones:  “Come  up  quick;;  the  ship  is  sinking.”  I  mean,  we’re  nervous,  
uptight.  It’s not right for the upright to be uptight.  That’s  the  reason  the  Bible  says,  in  
Romans  [Link]  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  

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God.”  I  mean,  no  matter  what  happens,  friend,  God  says,  “There  he  is,  glorified,  sitting  
in  the  Kingdom.  I  have  predestined  he’s  going  to  be  like  Jesus,  and  all  Hell  can’t  stop  it.”  
But  friend,  He’s  not  willing  that  any  should  perish.  It’s  your  decision.  He’s  not  going  to  
force  Himself  on  you.  “Whosoever  will,  may  come”  (Revelation  22:17).  
Boy,  I  wish  I  could  do  it  for  you.  I  mean,  I  wish  there  was  somehow  I  could  preach,  
and  then  go  down  there,  and  get  in  your  seat,  and  come  down  here,  and  give  my  heart  
to  Jesus.  And  friend,  I  want  to  tell  you:  I’ve  done  my  part  today.  And  I’m  not  trying  to  be  
arrogant,  but  I’ve  soaked  the  message  in  prayer,  and  I’ve  preached  it  from  the  Word  of  
God.  And  if  you’re  waiting  for  God  to  call  you,  friend,  God  has  called  you  today.  He  calls  
you  through  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  And  one  of  these  days,  a  million  years  from  
now,  you’re  going  to  look  back  on  this  service  with  joy  or  deep  regret.  
Let’s  pray.  Father,  I  pray  that  many  who  are  listening  by  radio  or  television,  and  
some  later  by  tape,  and  these  who  are  here  in  this  place  today,  will  say  yes  to  Jesus  
Christ.  

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  Victory  over  Circumstances    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      October  10,  1982    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  8:28–30  

“And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  
are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.”  
ROMANS  8:28  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. God’s  Plan  Is  Grounded  in  a  Purpose
II. God’s  Plan  Is  Guaranteed  by  Predestination
III. God’s  Plan  Is  Guided  by  Providence
A. God  Provides  for  Every  Event
B. God  Protects  from  Every  Enemy
Conclusion  

Introduction  
Now,  turn  to  Romans  chapter  8  tonight—Romans  chapter  8.  And  we’re  going  to  look  at  
some  very  familiar  scripture,  but  I  pray  God  that  He’ll  give  us  a  fresh  insight  into  it.  
We’ve  been  talking  in  these  last  days  about  spiritual  warfare.  And  this  morning,  we  
talked  about  the  fact  that  we  were  born  to  win.  And  when  a  man  is  born  again,  he  is  
born  to  win.  But  many  times  we  think  that  our  battle  is  simply  with  Satan.  But  I  want  you  
to  know  that  not  only  does  God  want  you  to  have  victory  over  Satan;;  He  wants  you  to  
have  victory  over  self;;  and  not  only  victory  over  self,  but  victory  over  sin;;  and  not  only  
victory  over  sin,  but  victory  over  your  situation.  And  I’m  going  to  talk  to  you  tonight  about  
“Victory  over  circumstances.”  And  the  victory  that  we  have  in  the  Lord  Jesus  extends  to  
the  area  of  your  circumstances.  
Now,  look,  if  you  will,  please,  in  these  familiar  verses—Romans  chapter  8,  verses  28  
through  30:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  
to  them  who  are  the  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”—that  is,  God’s  
Son—“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.”  (Romans  8:28–30)  
Now  you’re  going  to  find  yourself  in  two  kinds  of  situations;;  you’re  going  to  find  

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yourself  in  two  kinds  of  circumstances:  those  you  can  do  something  about,  and  those  
you  can’t  do  anything  about.  Now,  if  you  find  yourself  in  the  kind  of  circumstance  where  
you  can  do  something  about  it,  and  it  needs  changing,  then  you  ought  to  change  it.  And  
it  is  your  responsibility  to  change  it.  But  if  you  find  yourself  in  a  circumstance  that  you  
cannot  do  anything  about,  then  you  need  to  understand  that  all  you  can  do  is  rest  upon  
the  providence  of  God  and  learn  to  be  victorious  through  that  situation.  
For  every  evil  under  the  sun,  
There  is  a  remedy,  or  there  is  none;;  
If  there  be  one,  try  and  find  it,  
If  there  be  none,  never  mind  it.  
—MOTHER  GOOSE  RHYMES  
Now,  there  are  some  things  that  we  can  change,  and  there  are  some  things  that  we  
cannot  change.  So  there  are  two  classes  of  things  we  should  never  worry  about:  those  
we  can  do  something  about,  and  those  we  can’t  do  anything  about,  amen?  If  you  can  do  
something  about  it,  do  it.  If  you  can’t  do  anything  about  it,  “which  of  you  by  taking  
anxious  thought  can  add  one  cubit  to  his  stature?”  (Matthew  6:27;;  Luke  12:25)  But  in  
every  circumstance,  whether  we  can  do  something  about  it  or  whether  we  cannot  do  
something  about  it,  we’re  to  be  victorious  over  that  circumstance—really,  not  over  that  
circumstance,  but  in  that  circumstance,  and  through  that  circumstance.  
Now,  there  are  three  things  I  want  you  to  notice  in  these  verses  that  we’ve  looked  at  
tonight.  

I. God’s  Plan  Is  Grounded  in  a  Purpose

First  of  all,  I  want  you  to  see  that  God’s  plan  for  you  is  grounded  in  a  purpose—God’s  
plan  is  rooted  and  grounded  in  a  purpose.  And  what  is  the  purpose?  Well,  look  at  it,  if  
you  will,  here  in  verse  29:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  (Romans  8:29)  
Now,  what  is  God  up  to  in  your  life?  You  want  me  to  put  it  in  one  sentence?  To  make  
you  like  Jesus.  I  mean,  that’s  what  it’s  all  about,  friend:  to  make  you  like  Jesus!  God  
wants  you  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son.  And  this  is  what  the  Bible  calls  His  
great  purpose.  You  see,  when  God  created  man  to  begin  with,  what  did  God  say?  “Let  
us  make  man  in  our  image.”  (Genesis  1:26)  Now,  you  see,  you  were  created  to  be  in  
the  image  of  God’s  own  dear  Son.  That’s  why  God  created  you.  That’s  why  God  made  
you.  But  that  image  was  marred.  
Now,  the  image  that  you’re  created  in  is  not  a  physical  image.  You  were  not  created  
in  the  physical  image  of  God.  God  doesn’t  have  ears  and  eyes  and  a  nose  and  hands  
and  feet.  God  is  a  spirit.  And  so,  the  image  that  is  in  you  is  a  spiritual  image.  God  gave  
you  something  He  didn’t  give  to  the  plants  and  the  animals.  The  plants  have  a  body,  but  

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they  don’t  have  a  soul.  Animals  have  a  body  and  a  soul,  but  they  don’t  have  a  spirit.  
Only  man  has  a  spirit.  And  the  thing  that  keeps  you  from  being  more  than  a  clever  
animal  that  can  talk  is  this:  that  God,  when  He  made  you,  breathed  into  your  nostrils  the  
breath  of  life  that  is  the  spirit  of  life,  and  you  became,  dear  friend,  in  the  image  of  God,  
because  God’s  very  life  is  in  you.  You  became  a  spiritual  being.  And  that  way,  you  can  
know  God  and  you  can  have  fellowship  with  God,  for  “God  is  a  Spirit:  and  they  that  
worship  him  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.”  (John  4:24)  
You’ll  never  see  a  donkey,  an  elephant,  a  cat,  or  an  antelope  going  to  prayer  
meeting.  They  just  don’t  go.  They  have  no  capacity,  no  appreciation  for  God.  And  no  
matter  how  intelligent  they  get,  some  people  say,  “Will  we  ever  be  able  to  teach  a  
chimpanzee  to  communicate?  Will  we  ever  be  able  to  teach  one  to  talk  or  to  
communicate?  Can  we  communicate  with  the  dolphin,  with  the  porpoise?”  Well,  
perhaps  so.  But  even  if  we  teach  them  that,  you’ll  never  teach  them  to  pray.  You’ll  never  
teach  them  to  know  God.  You’ll  never  teach  them  to  worship  God.  Only  man  has  a  
spirit.  But  this  image,  this  spirit  that  we  have  in  us,  was  marred  by  sin;;  not  destroyed,  
but  marred.  We  now  have  a  fallen  spirit,  a  deadened  spirit,  within  us.  
Now,  what  God  wants  to  do  is  to  revive  that  image  in  you.  And  God  does  it  primarily  
in  three  ways.  He  wants  you  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  God’s  Son.  First  of  all,  He  
gets  you  saved.  That’s  what  we  call  regeneration.  Have  you  ever  thought  about  that  
word  regenerate?  Do  you  know  why  you  are  what  you  are  physically?  You  have  certain  
genes  and  chromosomes.  That’s  what  makes  you  what  you  are  physically.  Well,  when  
you  get  saved,  you  get  re-­gened.  You  are  re-­generated.  That’s  right.  You  get  a  new  set  
of  genes.  And  God  just  put  His  nature  in  you.  You  have  become  re-­gened  in  Christ.  And  
you  now  have  a  spiritual  maker.  That’s  step  number  one  in  your  being  made  like  the  
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  That  is  your  regeneration.  And  then,  after  that  regeneration  comes  
sanctification.  And  sanctification  is  the  process  where  He,  the  Lord,  is  making  us  day  by  
day  more  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  then,  the  final  step  is  glorification.  And  when  we  see  
Him,  we’ll  be  like  Him.  He’s  going  to  change  our  vile  bodies  like  unto  His  glorious  body,  
and  we  are  going  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  so,  God  is  making  us  like  His  Son  in  
three  stages,  by  three  ways:  by  regeneration,  by  sanctification,  and  ultimately,  by  
glorification.  
Now  I  want  us  to  take  the  middle  one  of  those  and  look  at  it  tonight.  And  that’s  what  
we’re  talking  about  tonight  is  sanctification.  The  Lord  uses  circumstances  to  sanctify  
you.  And  so,  God’s  purpose  is  to  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  your  good  and  His  
glory  that  you  would  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
Now,  are  you  growing  in  Christianity?  Are  you  growing  in  your  faith?  Let  me  just  give  
you  the  test:  Are  you  becoming  more  like  Jesus?  That’s  the  test.  No  other  test.  Not  how  
many  verses  you  can  quote.  Not  how  many  times  you  came  to  Church  Training.  Not  

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how  big  your  gift  was  to  Together  We  Build.  Not  any  of  those  things.  Now,  those  things  
may  be  included,  and  they  may  be  indications;;  but,  friend,  the  test  of  your  sanctification  
is  so  simple:  Are  you  more  like  the  Lord  Jesus  today  than  you  were  yesterday?  Are  
you?  Think  about  it.  You  know,  I’m  asking  myself  that  question,  and  it  hurts  me  to  ask  it  
tonight,  because  I  was  just  considering  it  just  now.  I  may  not  be  more  like  Him  today  
than  I  was  yesterday.  And  if  that’s  true  of  me,  then,  to  that  degree,  I  have  failed.  You  
see,  the  test  of  your  sanctification  is  just  simply  this:  Are  you  being  conformed  to  the  
image  of  God’s  Son?  
Do  you  want  me  to  tell  you  the  proof  of  my  ministry?  Not  how  many  buildings  we  
build.  Not  how  many  people  we  have  in  Sunday  School.  Not,  really,  how  large  our  
budget  is,  or  how  many  people  we  baptize,  or  how  harmonious  our  fellowship  is,  nor  
how  wonderful  our  organization  is,  nor  how  sweet  our  music.  Thank  God  for  all  of  these  
things.  But  the  test  of  my  ministry  is:  Am  I  making  you  through  my  preaching  and  
through  my  prayers  and  through  my  care  more  like  Jesus?  That’s  it.  That’s  the  test  of  
my  ministry.  And  if  the  people  of  this  congregation  are  not  becoming  more  like  Jesus,  I  
am  a  failure  as  a  pastor—an  abject  failure  as  a  pastor—if  you  are  not  becoming  more  
like  Jesus  Christ.  And,  dear  friend,  my  sanctification  is  failing  if  day  by  day  I  am  not  
becoming  more  like  Jesus  Christ.  I  want  to  tell  you  that  God’s  plan  for  you  is  grounded  
in  a  purpose,  and  that  purpose  is  that  you  might  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  God’s  
Son—verse  29.  
You  want  to  put  in  your  margin  2  Corinthians  chapter  3,  verse  18.  The  Bible  says,  
“But  we  all,  with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed  
into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.”  (2  
Corinthians  3:18)  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  changing  us  from  glory  to  glory,  from  glory  to  
glory,  from  glory  to  glory,  and  we  are  being  more  and  more  and  more  and  more  like  the  
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
So,  the  very  first  thing  I  want  you  to  see  is  that  God’s  plan  is  grounded  in  a  purpose.  
It  is  grounded  in  a  purpose.  And  that  purpose  is  so  clear,  so  plain:  that  we  might  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son.  That  is  His  purpose,  verse  29  tells  us.  

II. God’s  Plan  Is  Guaranteed  by  Predestination

Now,  the  second  thing  I  want  you  to  see:  Not  only  is  God’s  plan  grounded  in  a  purpose,  
but  God’s  plan  is  guaranteed  by  predestination.  It  is  guaranteed  by  predestination.  Now,  
look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  29:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate.”  And  
then,  down  in  verse  30:  “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.”  
(Romans  8:29–30)  
Now  I’m  probably  biting  off  more  than  I  can  chew  right  here.  You  say,  “Brother  

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Rogers,  do  you  understand  predestination?”  No.  So,  just  relax.  I  don’t  understand  it.  But  
I’m  not  worried  about  it.  Neither  do  you.  And  neither  do  all  the  folks  over  there  at  the  
seminary.  And  you  professors  who  are  here  tonight,  you  don’t  intimidate  me.  I  know  you  
don’t  understand  it  either.  None  of  you—none  of  you—understand  this  matter  of  
predestination.  You  say,  “Do  you  understand  it?”  No.  “Do  you  believe  in  it?”  Absolutely!  I  
can  read  it.  I  read  right  here,  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate.”  
That’s  black  print  on  white  paper.  There  is  predestination.  Thank  God  I  don’t  have  to  
understand  it.  Vance  Havner  said,  “I  don’t  understand  electricity,  but  I  don’t  intend  to  sit  
around  in  the  dark  until  I  do.”  And  there  are  a  lot  of  things  that  we  don’t  have  to  
understand.  
And,  you  know,  Spurgeon  was  a  great  Baptist  preacher.  I  think  he,  as  well  as  
anybody,  described  man’s  free  will  and  predestination.  He  said,  “It’s  like  a  person  
walking  down  a  street  and  he  sees  a  beautiful  building  and  he  wants  to  enter  that  
building.  And  over  the  door  of  that  building  is  a  sign:  ‘Whosoever  will.’  So  he  says,  ‘Well,  
I  want  to,’  and  he  goes  on  in.  But  as  he  walks  through  that  door,  he  turns  around  and  
looks  on  the  other  side,  and  it  says,  ‘Chosen  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.’”  
(Ephesians  1:4)  
And  those  are  the  two  sides.  And  sometimes  we  try  to  reconcile  those  things.  We  
don’t  need  to  reconcile  them.  Somebody  asked  Spurgeon  again,  “How  do  you  reconcile  
the  free  will  of  man  and  the  sovereignty  of  God.”  He  says,  “Who  needs  to  reconcile  
good  friends?”  Friend,  listen.  These  are  parallel  lines,  and  you’ll  never  bring  them  
together;;  but  you’ll  never  make  them  cross.  And  God  has  predestined.  God  in  His  
infinite  wisdom  has  just  predetermined.  He  has  predetermined  that  certain  things  are  
going  to  happen.  
Does  that  mean  that  we’re  not  to  be  soul  winners?  Absolutely  not!  Does  that  mean  
that  we’re  not  to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature?  Absolutely  not!  It  means  that  
we’re  to  preach  and  pray  and  weep  and  plead  and  warn,  because  our  God  has  
commanded  us  to.  But  I  want  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  it  does  mean  that  one  day  God  has  
predestined  me  to  be  like  Jesus,  and  all  hell  can’t  stop  it.  All  hell  can’t  stop  it!  “For  whom  
he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  And  
I  am  going  to  be  like  Jesus,  folks.  It  is  sure!  It  is  predestined!  The  Bible  says  in  
Philippians  1:6,  “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.”  (Philippians  1:6)  Isn’t  that  
grand?  Isn’t  that  glorious?  
You  see,  let  me  give  you  another  good  verse  in  John  chapter  6,  verse  37.  Jesus  
said,  “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)  Now,  that  verse  says,  dear  friend,  that  God  has  given  
certain  ones  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  it  means  the  ones  that  God  has  given  to  Jesus  will  

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come.  And  it  means  that  the  ones  that  will  come  will  be  received:  “those  that  the  Father  
hath  given  me  will  come  to  me;;  and  those  that  come  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.”  
And  I  want  to  tell  you,  He  went  on  to  say,  “Father,  those  that  you  gave  me,  none  of  them  
is  lost,  except  the  son  of  perdition,  that  he  might  go  to  his  own  place.”  (John  17:12;;  Acts  
1:25)  And,  of  course,  the  son  of  perdition,  he  never  was  saved  to  begin  with.  Jesus  said,  
that  He  knew  who  they  were  who  believed  not:  “Have  I  not  chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  
of  you  is  a  devil?”  (John  6:70)  Jesus  never  lost  one.  And,  friend,  when  He  gets  to  
heaven,  He’s  going  to  say,  “I  and  the  children,  Lord,  that  you’ve  given  me,  they’re  all  
present.  They’re  all  accounted  for.  Not  a  one’s  lost.  Not  a  one  is  lost.  Everyone  that  
you’ve  given  me  will  come  to  me,  and  them  that  come  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.”  
Now,  folks,  I’m  just  preaching  it  tonight,  not  explaining  it,  okay?  Just  preaching  it.  But  
I’m  just  telling  you,  dear  friend,  that  God’s  plan  is  rooted  in  a  purpose,  grounded  in  a  
purpose.  We’re  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  Number  two:  It  is  guaranteed  by  predestination.  
All  hell  can’t  stop  it.  And  what  has  been  predestined  in  eternity  will  never  be  undone  in  
time.  We  are  going  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  so  certain,  it  is  so  sure,  that  
God  even  puts  it  in  the  past  tense.  He  already  speaks  of  it  as  having  happened.  Notice  
in  verse  30  again:  “Moreover  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also  called:  and  whom  
he  called,  them  he  also  justified:  and  whom  he  justified,  them…”—you  would  think  He  
would  say,  “them  he  will  glorify.”  That  isn’t  what  it  says.  It  says—“them  he  also”—
what?—“glorified.”  (Romans  8:30)  
Now,  what  do  you  call  that?  A  prophetic  past?  Well,  I  don’t  know.  But  he’s  just  
simply  saying  it’s  as  good  as  done.  As  that  commercial  we  hear  around  here  says,  
“Bank  on  it!  Bank  on  it!”  Friend,  it  is  done!  You’re  already  glorified.  God  sees  you  tonight  
as  glorified.  God  looks  at  you,  and  God  sees  the  finished  product  right  now.  You  don’t  
look  like  Jesus  right  now,  but  you’re  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  You’re  going  to  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son.  

III. God’s  Plan  Is  Guided  by  Providence

And  so,  what  I’m  trying  to  say  is  that  God’s  purpose  is  grounded  in  a  plan.  And,  
furthermore,  God’s  purpose  is  guaranteed  by  predestination.  And,  thirdly,  and  here’s  the  
point:  God’s  plan  is  guided  by  providence.  It  is  grounded  in  a  purpose.  It  is  guaranteed  
by  predestination.  And  it  is  therefore  guided  by  providence.  
Now,  look  in  verse  28—Romans  chapter  8  and  verse  28:  “And  we  know  that  all  
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  
according  to  his  purpose”—“we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good.”  (Romans  
8:28)  That  word  for  is  a  preposition  which  means  “with  motion  toward  an  object.”  That  
is,  everything  that  happens  is  moving  towards  a  purpose.  And  all  things  are  working  
together.  That  has  the  idea  of  gears  meshing,  of  things  coming  together—that  God  has  

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a  purpose.  
Now  we  call  this  purpose  the  providence  of  God.  Do  you  know  why  we  call  it  
providence?  Well,  that  word  providence  is  a  combination  of  two  words:  pro,  which  
means  “before”;;  and  video,  “to  see.”  God  just  sees  ahead  of  time,  and  He  makes  plans  
thereby.  God  sees  the  future.  You  see,  the  word  providence  just  simply  means  to  see  
ahead  of  time  and  to  make  plans  because  of  what  you  see.  So  God  just  sees  things  that  
you  don’t  see.  And  since  God  has  a  purpose,  and  since  God  has  predestined  that  His  
purpose  is  going  to  come  to  pass,  then  God  looks  ahead.  God  sees  ahead.  And  God  
seeing  ahead  and  making  plans  to  bring  His  purpose  to  pass  is  called  providence.  So  
God’s  plan  for  man  is  grounded  in  a  purpose.  It  is  guaranteed  by  predestination.  And  it  
is  guided  by  providence.  Now,  that  means  that  all  things  are  working  together  for  good.  
What  is  the  good?  To  make  us  like  Jesus.  Not  to  make  us  healthy  or  wealthy,  but  to  
make  us  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  
Now,  this  is  seen,  I  suppose,  better  than  any  place  else  in  the  life  of  Joseph.  You  
remember  who  Joseph  was?  Joseph  was  the  one  who  was  hated  by  his  brothers.  And  
his  brothers  were  envious  of  him,  because  of  his  father’s  favor,  because  of  his  coat  of  
many  colors,  because  of  his  dreams  and  his  visions,  and  because  of  his  righteous  life.  
Joseph  was  taken  by  his  brothers,  put  in  a  pit,  later  on  sold  to  the  Ishmaelites,  and  sold  
as  a  slave,  taken  down  into  Egypt.  The  brothers  came  home  and  told  a  lie,  and  told  their  
father  that  Joseph  had  been  slain,  and  brought  his  bloody  coat  to  prove  it.  
And,  of  course,  he  was  down  there  as  a  slave  in  Egypt.  And  many  things  happened  
to  him.  All  of  them  happened  by  the  providence  of  God.  And  after  seventeen  years,  
when  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land,  and  there  was  a  lot  of  wealth  in  Egypt,  and  a  lot  of  
corn  in  Egypt,  and  a  lot  of  food  in  Egypt,  and  all  of  the  people  from  all  over  the  known  
world  at  that  time  were  coming  to  Egypt,  to  the  granaries  of  Egypt  to  have  their  supplies  
met,  Joseph’s  brethren  came.  Seventeen  years  had  passed.  And  they  came.  And  
finally,  Joseph  revealed  himself  to  his  brothers.  When  he  revealed  himself  to  his  
brethren,  they  were  terrified.  
But  I  want  you  to  see  what  Joseph  said  in  Genesis  chapter  45  and  verse  5.  This  is  
what  he  said  to  them.  In  Genesis  chapter  45,  verse  5,  he  said,  “Now  therefore  be  not  
grieved,  nor  angry  with  yourselves,  that  ye  sold  me  hither:”—now,  notice—“for  God  did  
send  me  before  you  to  preserve  life.”  (Genesis  45:5)  Now,  they  thought  they  did  it,  but  
Joseph  was  not  going  to  let  them  get  credit  for  what  God  did.  And  three  times  he  says  in  
this  passage,  “God  did  it.  God  did  it.  God  did  it.”  
Now  you  say,  “No,  they  did  it.”  Well,  then,  maybe  you  know  more  than  Joseph  knew  
about  it.  And  maybe  you  know  more  than  the  writer  of  the  book  of  Genesis  knows  about  
it.  But  I  want  to  tell  you,  it  seemed  outwardly  that  they  were  doing  it;;  but  I  want  to  tell  
you,  where  man  ruled,  God  overruled.  And  God  saw  ahead  of  time  and  God  made  

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provision  to  get  Joseph  down  there  in  Egypt,  because  God  had  a  plan  that  He  was  
working  out.  And  nobody  else  would  have  seen  it.  And  everybody  else  would  have  said,  
“That’s  bad  news.”  But  as  far  as  God  was  concerned,  it  was  fitting  precisely  into  His  
plan.  
Years  and  years  ago,  I  was  reading  about  the  life  of  Henry  Ford,  the  one,  of  course,  
who  created  the  Model  T  automobile.  And  I  was  reading  how  seemingly  eccentric  Henry  
Ford  was.  And  I  read  this  account  that  said  that  Henry  Ford  built  all  of  the  Fords  in  the  
assembly  line  except  for  the  transmissions.  And  he  let  another  company  build  the  
transmissions  for  those  Model  T  Fords.  But  as  he  sent  out  bids  for  the  Model  T  Ford  
transmissions,  he  said  to  those  who  were  building  the  transmissions,  “I  want  them  
crated  in  thus  and  such  a  way.  And  when  you  ship  them  to  the  Ford  factory,  they  must  
be  put  in  wooden  crates,  and  they  must  be  fastened  together  with  screws,  and  those  
screws  must  be  put  in  certain  places  on  the  boxes.”  
Well,  the  people  who  wanted  the  job  said,  “Well,  if  the  old  coot  wants  it  that  way,  
we’ll  send  them  to  him  that  way.  We’ve  got  to  put  them  in  boxes  anyway,  and  so  it’s  just  
as  easy  to  drill  a  hole  there  as  it  is  to  drill  a  hole  here.  And  we’ll  just  fasten  the  boxes  
together  the  way  he  says.”  And  so,  the  low  bidder  got  the  job  and  sent  the  
transmissions  to  the  Ford  factory.  But  when  Ford’s  workmen  uncrated  those  
transmissions,  they  took  the  sides  of  those  boxes  and  laid  them  right  in  the  floorboards  
of  the  Model  T.  And  that  company  had  made  the  floorboards  for  all  those  Model  T  
Fords—and  the  holes  in  place.  And  all  they  had  to  do  was  just  simply  put  the  bolt  in  
there,  and  the  holes  were  exactly  matched  just  as  he  sent  the  specifications  out.  It  didn’t  
make  sense  to  anybody  else,  but  it  made  sense  to  Ford.  He  knew  exactly  what  he  was  
doing.  He  knew  what  he  was  ordering.  And  I  want  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  he  had  a  little  
providence.  He  saw  ahead  of  time  and  he  made  provision.  
Other  people  may  not  know  what  God  is  up  to,  but  God  knows  what  He’s  up  to.  And  
I’ll  tell  you,  friend,  when  you  finally  see  God  putting  the  floorboards  in  His  Model  T  with  
every  hole  right  in  the  place,  you’ll  say,  “What  a  great  God  we  have!  What  a  great  God  
we  have!”  You  see,  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good…to  them  who  
are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.”  (Romans  8:28)  
Again,  he  says  Joseph  reminded  his  brothers  in  Genesis  chapter  50  and  verse  20,  
he  says  to  them,  “But  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  against  me;;  but  God  meant  it  unto  
good,  to  bring  to  pass,  as  it  is  this  day,  to  save  much  people  alive.”  (Genesis  50:20)  And  
if  there  was  ever  a  man  who  was  like  Jesus,  it  was  Joseph.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Joseph,  
to  me,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  types  of  Jesus  in  the  Old  Testament.  And  I  have  a  
sermon—perhaps  you’ve  heard  it—“The  Gospel  According  to  Joseph,”  where  I  take  the  
parallelisms  and  show  on  the  one  hand  what  Joseph  was  like,  and  on  the  other  hand  
what  Jesus  was  like:  how  Joseph  was  hated  by  his  brethren,  and  how  Jesus  was  hated  

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by  His  brethren,  and  so  forth;;  and  how  a  Jew  there  in  Egypt  became  the  savior  of  the  
world,  in  a  physical  sense,  and  how  our  Lord  became  the  Savior  of  the  world;;  how  
Joseph  was  given  a  Gentile  bride,  and  so  forth.  But  what  I’m  trying  to  say  is  that  God  
took  those  events  in  the  life  of  Joseph  and  worked  them  together  so  that  Joseph  was  
conformed  to  the  image  of  God’s  Son.  And  the  same  God  is  doing  that  in  your  life  today.  
Now,  that’s  maybe  why  you’re  having  so  much  trouble,  because  maybe  you’re  so  
unlike  Jesus  right  now  that  the  Lord’s  having  to  work  pretty  hard  on  you.  And  there  are  a  
lot  of  things.  And  He’s  not  necessarily  trying  to  make  you  happy,  not  necessarily  trying  
to  make  you  wealthy.  He’s  not  trying  to  make  you  anything  but  holy.  He’s  trying  to  make  
you  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
Now,  that  just  tells  me  that  two  things  are  definitely  true  if  God  is  working  this  way.  
A. God  Provides  for  Every  Event
First  of  all,  God  provides  for  every  event.  I  tell  you,  I  don’t  believe  that  a  blade  of
grass  moves  without  God’s  permission.  I  don’t  believe  that  you  take  a  breath  without  
God’s  permission.  Now  I  don’t  believe  that  God  just  gets  in  here  and  moves  things  
around  arbitrarily.  I’m  not  trying  to  say  that.  And  I’m  not  trying  to  put  some  grotesque  
interpretation  on  it.  But  I’m  just  telling  you,  dear  friend,  that  over  all  is  God.  And  the  very  
hairs  of  your  head  are  numbered.  (Matthew  10:30;;  Luke  12:7)  Not  a  sparrow  falls  but  
what  He  knows  about  it.  (Matthew  10:29;;  Luke  12:6)  He  provides  for  every  event.  
You  see  things  that  Joseph  never  could  have  taken  care  of.  Who  caused  that  
caravan  to  come  along  just  at  that  time  when  Joseph  was  sold  into  slavery?  Who  
caused  the  famine  to  come  into  all  the  world?  It  was  God  who  did  that,  dear  friend.  And  
God  is  still  in  business.  
I  was  reading  several  weeks  ago  in  a  news  magazine  about  a  man  who  was  
shipwrecked  on  an  island.  He  was  a  survivor  of  a  wreck.  And  he  came  to  a  lonely,  
uninhabited  island,  and  he  was  able  to  gather  some  things  from  that  wreck,  and  he  built  
him  a  little  makeshift  hut.  And  he  put  all  of  the  things  that  he  salvaged  in  that  hut.  And  
then,  he  began  to  pray  every  day,  “O  God,  O  God,  send  a  boat!  Send  somebody  to  take  
me  off  this  island  before  I  die  of  starvation!  God,  send  someone!  Please,  Lord,  send  a  
boat  to  deliver  me!”  
And  one  day  while  he  was  out  foraging  and  hunting  for  food,  he  saw  smoke.  He  
turned  around  and  realized  that  his  hut  somehow  had  caught  on  fire.  Perhaps  his  
campfire  was  built  too  close  to  the  hut  and  it  had  gone  up  in  smoke,  and  everything  that  
he  had  gathered  was  in  that  hut  and  it  went  up  in  smoke.  He  had  been  praying  to  God  
for  so  long.  There  was  no  answer  to  prayer.  And  now,  every  possession  he  had,  the  
things  that  he’d  salvaged,  had  gone  up  in  smoke.  He  turned  his  face  toward  heaven  and  
thought  that  he  would  accuse  God  and  say,  “God,  why?  Why,  God,  have  you  forsaken  

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me?”  But  after  a  while,  he  saw  on  the  horizon  a  ship  steaming  his  way.  And  they  came  
and  put  out  a  small  boat,  and  came  to  him  and  said,  “We  would  have  passed  this  island  
by  completely,  but  we  saw  your  smoke  signal  and  knew  that  you  were  here.”  Oh,  dear  
friend,  there  are  times  when  we  don’t  understand  how  God  works.  But  God  works,  and  
He  doesn’t  make  any  mistakes.  
B. God  Protects  from  Every  Enemy
He  provides  for  every  event.  And  He  protects  from  every  enemy.  Now  I  want  to  tell
you  something,  friend.  You  don’t  have  any  enemies  that  God  will  not  protect  you  from  in  
His  providence.  Now,  Joseph’s  brothers,  would  you  say  they  were  friends  or  enemies?  
Well,  of  course,  they  were  enemies;;  but  yet  they  became  his  friends.  He  says  again,  
“But  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  against  me;;  but  God  meant  it  unto  good.”  (Genesis  
50:20)  
Now,  a  person  who  does  you  good,  he  has  to  be  your  friend.  “When  a  man’s  ways  
please  the  Lord,  he  makes  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him.”  (Proverbs  16:7)  
And  God  will  use  your  enemies  for  your  good.  Did  you  know  that?  That’s  the  providence  
of  God.  His  brothers  were  enemies.  But  they  became  his  servants.  
Think  of  the  enemies  that  Joseph  had.  Potiphar’s  wife  was  certainly  his  enemy.  But  
she  was  the  one  who  caused  him  to  be  cast  into  prison,  and  his  being  cast  into  prison,  
his  abasement,  made  way  for  his  advancement.  And  in  the  strange  ways  of  God,  even  
Potiphar’s  wife,  who  was  his  enemy,  became  his  friend.  
Paul’s  thorn  in  the  flesh—was  that  an  enemy?  Indeed  it  was.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  we  
translate  that  phrase,  “thorn  in  the  flesh,”  (2  Corinthians  12:7)  the  Bible  scholars  tell  us  
that  the  word  literally  means  it  was  a  stake  upon  which  he  was  impaled.  Not  just  a  
splinter,  but  something  horrible,  was  in  the  life  of  Paul.  Would  you  call  that  a  friend?  No,  
it  was  an  enemy.  But  it  became  a  friend,  because  through  that,  Paul  knew  God’s  grace  
in  a  sweeter,  richer  way  than  he  ever  would  have  known  it.  
The  cross  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ—was  that  an  enemy?  Indeed  it  was.  But  I  want  to  
tell  you,  dear  friend,  that  the  cross  of  Jesus  that  was  His  enemy  became  His  greatest  
victory.  And  through  the  cross  He  has  redeemed  me  and  redeemed  you  and  won  us  
unto  Himself.  Bless  His  holy  name!  I  am  trying  to  tell  you  that  God  in  His  providence  
provides  for  every  event  and  protects  from  every  enemy.  
Now,  what’s  the  bottom  line  of  all  of  this?  What’s  the  bottom  line  of  this?  I  think  you  
need  to  understand,  friend,  that  when  you  complain  about  the  events  in  your  life,  when  
you  criticize  and  grumble  about  the  circumstances  of  your  life,  do  you  know  what  you’re  
doing?  You’re  criticizing  God.  That’s  what  you’re  doing.  
You  remember  there  in  the  wilderness  they  were  murmuring  against  Moses?  And  
Moses  went  to  God,  and  they  were  criticizing  and  complaining  and  murmuring  and  

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griping.  And  God  said  to  Moses,  “Moses,  they  are  not  murmuring  against  you;;  they’re  
murmuring  against  me.”  (Numbers  14:27)  And,  friend,  when  you  complain  about  your  
position  in  life,  when  you  gripe,  when  you  criticize,  you’re  murmuring  against  God.  And  
you’re  saying  that  Romans  8:28  is  not  true,  and  that  God’s  providence  is  not  sufficient.  
And  do  you  know  why  God  may  have  you  in  that  circumstance?  He’s  trying  to  do  
something.  And  you  say,  “Well,  I  want  to  get  out  of  this  circumstance,”  and  so  you  just  
move  yourself  out  of  that  circumstance.  And  God  will  allow  you  to  move  yourself  out  of  
that  circumstance,  but  still  He  overrules,  and  you  find  yourself  right  back  in  another  
circumstance  just  like  it.  
There  are  some  preachers  who  move  from  one  church  to  another  to  another  and  
another.  And,  friend,  I  want  to  tell  you,  when  you  move  from  one  church  to  another  
church,  the  same  people  that  you  left  are  in  that  new  church.  They  just  have  different  
faces.  They’re  there.  Every  now  and  then  somebody  will  come  up,  and  I’ll  meet  them,  
and  I’ll  say,  “I  wonder  where  you’ve  been.”  They’re  all  there.  And  any  preacher  that’s  
been  preaching  long  enough  knows  that  is  true.  And  you  cannot  move  away  from  your  
problems.  Some  people  think  that  they  can.  But,  you  see,  God  has  you  in  school.  And  
God’s  going  to  keep  you  there  till  you  pass  the  test.  And  you  say,  “Well,  I’m  going  to  go  
to  another  school.”  Well,  He’ll  just  give  you  the  same  test.  And  He’s  going  to  keep  you.  
And  you’re  not  going  to  get  away  from  it.  
Have  you  ever  known  a  girl  who  will  marry  and  have  a  bad  marriage,  but  one  of  the  
reasons  that  she  is  unhappy  in  her  marriage  is  her  husband?  And  you  ask  her,  “Well,  let  
me  ask  you  a  question:  Were  you  happy  at  home?”  “No,  I  wasn’t.”  “Did  you  get  along  
with  your  dad?”  “No,  I  didn’t.”  “Did  you  want  to  marry  to  get  away  from  your  dad?”  “Yes,  
I  did.”  “Did  you  marry  a  man  just  like  your  dad?”  “I  sure  did—I  sure  did.”  It’s  amazing.  It  
is  amazing  how  many  girls  will  do  exactly  that,  when  God  is  trying  to  work  on  them.  And  
God  has  them  in  a  circumstance  where  He  is  trying  to  bring  them  and  to  conform  them  
to  the  image  of  God’s  Son.  Oh,  how  often  we  try  to  change  our  circumstances!  
I  heard  of  a  preacher  who  said  he  was  really  nervous.  He  was  upset.  Somebody  
asked  him  why.  He  said,  “Well,  when  we  got  out  of  seminary,  we  went  to  Single  Tree,  
Arkansas,  for  our  first  church.”  And  he  said,  “At  Single  Tree,  Arkansas,  we  had  our  first  
child.”  And  he  said,  “Well,  what  happened  then?”  Said,  “Well,  we  were  called  from  there  
to  Twin  Falls,  Idaho.”  And  he  said,  “Well,  what  happened  when  you  got  to  Twin  Falls?”  
He  said,  “You  know,  you  wouldn’t  believe  it,  but  we  had  twins.”  He  said,”  That’s  
remarkable.  Then,  what  happened?”  He  said,  “Well,  it’s  amazing,  but  we  went  from  
there  to  Three  Oaks,  California,  and,”  he  said,  “would  you  believe  we  had  triplets?”  He  
said,  “That’s  something.”  He  said,  “What’s  your  problem?”  He  said,  “Well,  I’m  really  
worried.”  He  said,  “We’ve  just  been  called  to  Thousand  Islands,  New  York!”  
And  so  many  times  we  try  to  escape  problems  by  changing  where  we  are.  What  do  

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we  do?  We  just  run  into  them.  I’m  trying  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  that  the  circumstances  
of  life—the  circumstances  of  life—are  God’s  ministry  to  you.  God  is  trying  to  take  out  of  
your  life  anything  that’s  not  like  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  He  knows  what  you  can  bear.  And  
someone  has  well  said,  “He  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  sheep.”  “For  he  knoweth  our  
frame;;  he  remembereth  that  we  are  dust.”  (Psalm  103:14)  But  it  is  God  that  rules  all  
things.  

Conclusion  
Friend,  I  want  you  to  learn  it  again.  God’s  plan  for  man  is  grounded  in  a  purpose:  you’re  
to  be  like  Jesus.  God’s  plan  for  a  man  is  guaranteed  by  predestination:  you’re  going  to  
be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son;;  it  is  predestined.  And  God’s  plan  for  man  is  
guided  by  providence:  God  sees  ahead  of  time,  and  God  provides  for  every  event,  and  
God  protects  from  every  enemy.  If  that  is  all  true—and  it  is  true—then  what  should  your  
response  be?  
Let  me  give  it  to  you.  And  this  will  help  you  to  understand  this  verse.  Perhaps  you’ve  
not  understood  it  up  until  this  time.  Ephesians  5  and  verse  20:  “Giving  thanks  always  for  
all  things”—amen?—“Giving  thanks  always  for  all  things.”  And  if  you’re  in  a  
circumstance  that  you  can’t  change,  then  perhaps  you  should  begin  at  this  time  to  thank  
God  for  that  circumstance—not  thank  God  that  the  circumstance  itself  has  happened,  
as  such;;  not  thank  God  for  the  sin,  the  misery,  the  ignorance,  the  horror;;  but  thank  God  
in  that  and  through  that,  that  God  is  working,  whether  you  see  it  or  not.  It  makes  no  
difference.  Ephesians  [Link]  “Giving  thanks  always  for  all  things  unto  God  the  Father  in  
the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  (Ephesians  5:20)  Thank  God  in  your  situation.  And  
God  will  move  into  that  situation  and  God  will  begin  to  work.  
 I  hate  to  tell  you  this  little  silly  illustration,  because  we’re  dealing  with  such  a  grand  
scheme,  but  it  illustrates  the  thing  so  well  to  me.  We  were  going  to  Florida  about  eight  
years  ago,  and  a  friend  loaned  us  their  motor  home—dear  friends—they’re  here  tonight.  
I’ll  not  call  their  name,  lest  you  try  and  borrow  it.  But  we  were  driving  to  Florida  in  that  
motor  home.  And  I  hadn’t  even  gotten  out  of  Tennessee  before  the  thing  started  running  
badly.  It  just  started  slowing  down.  And  I’d  put  it  on  the  floorboard  and  it  would  do  about  
thirty  miles  an  hour,  and  got  worse.  And  it  was  running  worse.  And  I  thought,  “Now  I  
don’t  know  what’s  wrong  with  it.”  What  I  don’t  know  about  auto  mechanics  could  be  put  
in  a  book  about  that  thick.  And  so  I  said,  “I’ve  got  to  get  this  thing  fixed.  And  I  don’t  want  
just  to  stop  out  in  the  middle  of  a  highway  somewhere;;  I  don’t  want  it  to  stop  in  the  
boondocks.”  
And  so  I  went  to  one  garage  there  in  a  place,  and  I  said,  “Can  you  look  at  this  
thing?”  “Not  today,  mister.”  I  limped  over  to  another  place,  the  next  town:  “Lord,  help  me  
to  get  to  the  next  town.”  “No,  we  can’t  look  at  it.”  I  went  to  another  place,  and  a  big  

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place,  and  the  guy  said,  “Well,  I  think  it’s  the  ramsipaismdislaisla.  And  I  said,  “What’s  
that?”  And  he  said,  “Well,  we’re  going  to  just  have  to  take  it  out  and  spread  it  all  over  
this  garage  floor.”  I  said,  “What?”  He  said,  “Yeah,  mister,  you’ve  got  bad  troubles  there.”  
I  said,  “Well,  when  can  you  do  that?”  He  said,  “Well,  you’d  better  get  a  motel.”  And  I  
said,  “O  Lord,  surely  this  is  not  your  plan  for  me.”  
And  I  pulled  out.  I  just  went  a  little  further.  And  finally  I  pulled  up  into  a  small  town  
there  in  Georgia  and  into  a  shopping  center,  and  it  died  dead—wouldn’t  budge;;  wouldn’t  
start.  There  I  am  in  this  shopping  center.  I  said,  “Dear  Lord,  help  me  to  get  it  started.”  
And  I  turned  the  key:  rrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmm.  Now,  the  battery  was  dead.  The  motor  
was  dead  and  the  battery  was  dead.  I’m  sitting  there  and  Joyce  said—you  know,  wives  
are  so  smart—and  Joyce  said,  “Adrian,  have  you  thanked  God?”  Now,  if  anybody  tells  
you  that,  you  want  to  say,  “To  the  moon.”  You  know,  when  you’re  in  that  kind  of  a  
situation:  “Adrian,  have  you  thanked  God?”  And  it  dawned  on  me  I’d  not  done  it.  I  had  
not  thanked  God  in  that  situation.  So  I  said,  “Lord,  I  want  to  thank  you  this  motor  home  
won’t  run.  I  want  to  thank  you  that  the  battery  is  dead.  And  I  want  to  thank  you  I’m  in  the  
middle  of  this  shopping  center  and  I  don’t  know  what  to  do.  And  I  just  praise  you,  Lord.”  
You  say,  “Did  you  feel  like  doing  it?”  No,  I  didn’t  thank  Him  by  feeling;;  I  thanked  Him  
by  faith.  
Feelings  come  and  feelings  go,  
And  feelings  are  deceiving;;  
My  warrant  is  the  Word  of  God—  
Naught  else  is  worth  believing.  
—MARTIN  LUTHER  
You  just  simply  thank  Him  not  by  feeling,  but  by  faith.  I  said,  “Lord,  I  don’t  know  why,  but  
I  just  thank  you.”  
I  had  no  sooner  thanked  Him  than  I  looked  up  to  a  tire  store  and  I  saw  two  men  
changing  a  tire.  And  I  said  to  those  men,  “You  men  come  over  here  and  fix  this  motor  
home.”  They  had  no  reason  to  do  it.  It  certainly  wasn’t  a  mechanic’s  place.  I  don’t  even  
know  why  I  asked  them.  I  know  why  now.  
They  came  over  with  a  screwdriver.  One  man  got  to  looking  around,  and  he  took  the  
lid  off  that  engine,  and  he  looked  in  there,  and  he  said,  “The  whatsamagome  is  sewhfid  
sijfillcoba.”  And  he  says,  “Umph,  umph,  umph,”  and  he  turned  that  screwdriver  three  
times.  He  said,  “Try  it  now.”  And  by  then,  the  battery  had  built  up.  It  went  
rrrrrmrrmrmmmmmm,  and  in  two  minutes  that  tire  changer  with  a  screwdriver  had  fixed  
that  whole  engine.  He  just  went  umph,  umph,  umph,  and  there  it  was.  The  whole  thing  
was  fixed,  and  off  I  drove.  I  started  to  send  this  fellow  a  bill  for  fixing  his  motor  home.  I  
said,  “Fellows,  what  can  I  give  you?”  “Not  a  thing,  mister—not  a  thing.”  
You  know,  I’m  so  glad  that  I  didn’t  let  that  man  spread  that  thing  all  over  that  garage  

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floor.  There  was  one  screw  loose.  I  know  you  mechanics  want  to  know  what  it  was.  It  
was  in  the  rotor  in  there,  and  some  little  screw  was  loose  in  there.  And  he  just  tightened  
the  thing  up.  That’s  all  there  was  to  it—that’s  all  there  was  to  it—but  right  after  I’d  given  
God  thanks.  
Now,  I’m  not  going  to  say,  dear  friend,  that  God’s  going  to  always  work  that  
dramatically;;  but  I  am  going  to  say  this:  that  when  we  begin  to  praise,  when  we  begin  to  
give  God  thanks,  God  moves  in  our  lives  in  ways  that  He  would  not  otherwise  do.  You  
see,  we  don’t  pass  the  test  until  we  give  Him  thanks.  We  do  not  pass  the  test.  “In  
everything  giving  thanks”—“In  everything  giving  thanks”—“always  for  all  things  unto  
God  and  the  Father  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  (Ephesians  5:20)  Again,  God  
doesn’t  say,  “Feel  thankful.”  He  just  simply  says,  “Give  thanks.”  
So,  let’s  review  it.  We’re  talking  about  victory  over  circumstances.  Here  it  is,  dear  
friend.  God’s  plan  for  man  is  grounded  in  a  purpose:  you’re  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  
God’s  plan  for  man  is  guaranteed  by  predestination:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  
also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  (Romans  8:29)  And  
God’s  plan  for  man  is  guided  by  providence.  And  where  God  does  not  rule,  He  
overrules.  And  God  causes  all  things  to  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  God,  
who  are  the  called  according  to  His  purpose.  (Romans  8:28)  What  a  great  God  we  
have!  

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 Victory over Circumstances
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: April 11, 1993

Main Scripture Text: Romans 8:28–30

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
ROMANS 8:28

Outline
Introduction  
I. God’s Plan Is Grounded in a Purpose
II. God’s Plan Is Guaranteed by Predestination
III. God’s Plan Is Guided by Providence
A. God Provides for Every Event
B. God Protects from Every Enemy
Conclusion  

Introduction
Be finding Romans 8. Now, from time to time I talk to you about my favorite passage of
Scripture in the Bible. Well, I think if I had to be shipwrecked with one book of the Bible,
I really believe it would be the book of Romans. And if I could only take one chapter out
of the book of Romans, it would probably be this chapter, the 8th chapter of the book of
Romans. But, of course, that’s just for tonight. Tomorrow, I may feel a different way, but
that’s the way I feel tonight about this wonderful, wonderful chapter in the Bible.
Tonight I want to talk to you about circumstances, and I want to talk to you tonight
about “Victory over Circumstances.” Now, sometimes you ask an individual, “How are
you doing?” and he’ll say, “Well, I’m doing okay under the circumstances.” Well, you
have no business being under the circumstances. The circumstances are like a
mattress. Under the circumstances you suffocate. You’re not to be under the
circumstance, in a sense, through Jesus; you’re to be over the circumstances. But
circumstances are very real.
I told you sometime ago about a man who applied for a leave of absence from his
job, and, he said he wasn’t fit to work. He had been hurt on the job and so he had to fill
out an accident report form. He was a brick mason, and he’d been laying brick on top of
a roof and building a parapet wall. And when he finished, he had too many bricks, so he
decided he had to get the remainder of the brick down the ground. So he rigged a

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contrivance where he put a yardarm out over the edge of that building and put a pulley
on the end of that yardarm, put a rope through that pulley, tied the, rope to the ground
and looped it all the way down and tied the other end to a barrel, a big barrel. Got on the
ground and hoisted the barrel up to the roof, level with the top of the roof. And then he
filled that barrel with the remainder of the brick. Then he went back to the ground and
untied the rope. He said when he did that he realized he’d made a grievous error
because the, the barrel full of brick was obviously much heavier than he was. So he
said when the barrel full of brick started down, he started up. And he said, “I did not
have enough presence of mind to let go of the rope until it was obviously too late to let
go because I was then in midair.” He said, “The barrel of brick came hurdling down at a
frightening speed and struck me on the shoulder and gave me a severe laceration, but,”
he said, “I managed to hold on until I got all the way to the top.” And then he said, “I
wedged my fingers in that pulley.” He said, “At that moment, the barrel full of brick
struck the ground and the barrel broke apart. The bottom came out of the barrel. It
deposited all those brick on the ground.” He said, “At that moment, the barrel became
lighter than I was, and so the barrel started up and I started down.” But he said, “I still
managed to hold onto the rope.” And, again, he said, “The barrel met me halfway, but
this time it banged me upon the shins, both shins, and gave me a severe laceration,
but,” he said, “I still managed to hold on,” and he said, “I fell upon all things upon that
pile of sharp-cornered brick.” He said, “It was then that I lost my presence of mind and
let go of the rope.” And he said, “The barrel came down and hit me on the head.” He
said, “I need a few days off.”
Now, I think many of us can identify with that man. You know, we are sometimes up,
sometimes down. We’re getting hit from both sides, and we don’t know whether to hold
on or let go. We call those circumstances. And we all face circumstances every day.
“Thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And
we do have victory in Jesus, but what kind of victory?
Well, we have victory over sin. Thank God for that. And we have victory over Satan.
Thank God for that. And we have victory over self. Thank God for that. But I tell you
something else we have in Jesus. We have victory over the situation. Now that’s the
kind of victory that many of us need, those kind of things that are happening to us day
by day, what we call circumstances, what we call the situation. Victory over
circumstances.
Now look, if you will, at a classic passage of Scripture, Romans 8:28. We all know
that one. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the 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—God’s Son—might
be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he

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also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he
also glorified.” Now, what an incredibly deep, magnificent, wonderful, masterful passage
of Scripture this is. No preacher, no theologian has ever probed the depths of these
verses. But they all root around God’s plan, what God is up to.

I. God’s Plan Is Grounded in a Purpose

Now why did God make me? You say, “That’s a good question.” Why did He make
you? Why did God make you? What did God have in mind? Well, you ask some surface
people and you say, “Well, God, God made us so He could redeem us, so He could
ransom us.” Well, suppose you had a, a son who, somehow, for some reason, found
himself in, well, let’s say in Lebanon today, and let’s say that he’s taken captive and he
becomes a hostage, by some faction there, some group there. They say, “Your son, if
you want to see him again, it’s going to cost you a million dollars.” And suppose that you
could raise a million dollars and you felt that you wanted to pay that ransom. And so you
pay the ransom and got your son back. And I say, “Why did you have that son? What is
the purpose of that? Well, you say, “My purpose was to ransom him.” Well, is that why
you had him, so you could ransom him? Is that the purpose in raising a son? Or
suppose you have a little boy, a little girl, who’s out playing in the front yard and they get
in the filth and the mire and the dirt. You bring them in and give them a bath and
cleanse them. You say, “Well, is that why you had those children, so you could bathe
them or so you could cleanse them? No!
You see, God did not create us so He could ransom us, redeem us, sanctify us, and
cleanse us. That’s not why He had us. He just does those things so He can bring us to
the purpose for what we were created to be to begin with. You see, what God really
wants is sons, daughters, that He can fellowship with. God is love. What good is it being
a God of love if there’s no one to love? And, and so many people have only a salvation
mentality. They just see themselves getting saved and think that’s the end of the road.
No! That’s only the means to the end. The end of the road is fellowship with God. God
wants you to be like Jesus. Look in verse 29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son—His Son is Jesus—that he—
Jesus—might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Now what that simply means is
that God had one Son named Jesus. He likes Him so much He wants a whole lot more
just like Him. And so He wants to have many sons. God wants to make me like Jesus.
So here’s the first thought: God’s plan is grounded in a purpose. God’s plan, everything
that God is up to, is grounded in a purpose. And that purpose is to make me like Jesus,
to make you like Jesus. That’s the reason that you were created to begin with in the
image of God.
When the Bible says that, man was created in the image of God, that does not

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speak of the physical image. God doesn’t have a body like we have because God is a
spirit. It speaks of the spiritual image. You see, God is a spirit, and they that worship
Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Plants have a body, but they don’t have a
soul or a spirit. Animals have a body and a soul, but they don’t have a spirit. Only man
has a spirit. Only man has the capacity to know and love and worship God. And that’s
why we were in the image of God. Now that image has been marred by sin.
We are in the image of Adam, not in the image of God. It was Adam that was in the
image of God spiritually, and that image has been marred. And now God is restoring
that image, and He does it three ways: through the new birth. In the new birth we are
regenerated, re-gened, as it were. We get a new set of spiritual genes and
chromosomes. We are regenerated. And then, not only is there regeneration, then there
is sanctification. What is sanctification? Well, it’s just a big double-jointed word that
means to grow progressively more and more like Jesus. You see, when you get saved,
you don’t sprout wings and get a halo. You have to learn. You have to grow in the grace
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And when our Lord makes you less
and less of what you were by the first birth and more and more of what you are by the
second birth, that, that process is just called sanctification. So there are three basic
steps: Regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. That we’re waiting on, the
glorification when we are caught up and made like our Lord Jesus. And I talked about
that this morning.
Now, the test of your spiritual growth is this: it’s not how many Bible verses you
know, not how many times you come to church, not how much money you give, or not
even how many people you win to Jesus. They may be indications and indicators, but
they are not the proof. The measurement as to how much you are growing is, how much
are you like Jesus? Do you remind people of Jesus? When people see you, do they see
Jesus? And, you know, the proof of my ministry is not the size of this building or how
many people we have in Sunday school, the kind of budget we have, or how many
people we baptize. Do you know the test of my ministry? Are you becoming more like
Jesus? Are you becoming more like Jesus? Are we getting a generation of people who
live here in Memphis, Tennessee who are being conformed to the image of God’s Son?
That’s what God is all about. That’s what the whole thing is about, folks, is to make us
more like the Lord Jesus Christ. I mean, that’s the goal. The goal is not just simply,
redemption, ransom. The goal is not primarily sanctification, cleansing. Thank God for
those. You had children that you might love them and that they might love you. And
that’s what God is doing. He is bringing many sons into glory. That’s what He says over
in the book of Hebrews. So, if you want to understand victory over circumstances, first
of all, you have to see what God is up to. What is God up to? God’s plan—God’s plan—
is grounded in a purpose. And what is that purpose? Let’s say it clearly, plainly,

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distinctly, that you might be conformed to the image of God’s Son. That’s what it’s all
about. That is the bottom line, that you would be conformed to the image of God’s Son.

II. God’s Plan Is Guaranteed by Predestination

Now, God’s plan is grounded in a purpose and, therefore, God’s plan is guaranteed
by predestination. Now look at it here in verses 29 and 30: “For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate—now just underscore that word in your Bible, predestinate—to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that he—God’s Son—might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called…”
Now, God’s plan is guaranteed by predestination. That is, it can’t fail. To predestine
means to determine destiny ahead of time.
You say, “Pastor Rogers, do you understand predestination?” No. I don’t think you
do, either. The late, great Dr. Vance Havner used to say, “I don’t understand electricity,
but I’m not going to sit around in the dark until I do.” I don’t understand how God can
predestine some people to be saved without predestining others to be lost, because He
does not predestine anyone to be lost. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish,”
the Bible says, “but that all should come to repentance.” And the Bible says,
“Whosoever will may come.”
Dr. Charles Haddon Spurgeon that I often refer to explains it this way: He said, “If
you can imagine a door. Over the portals of that door it says, ‘Whosoever will may
enter. Whosoever will.’ You see that door, and you say, ‘You know, I want to go through
that door.’ On the other side of that door is fellowship with God. On the other side of that
door is the forgiveness of sins. On the other side of that door is peace and power and
purpose and a right relationship with God through Christ. I want to go through that door.
And over the portal of that door it says, ‘Whosoever will.’ I am whosoever. So you go
through that door. And then, as you close the door behind you and look back, you see
over the portal of that door, ‘Chosen before the foundation of the world.’ You were
chosen before the foundation of the world.” But, you see, friend, both of those things are
true. Both of those things are true, that whosoever will may come, and yet you are
chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.
Now just stay there in Romans chapter 8, if you will, and turn to John chapter 6. I
love this verse in John chapter 6. Our Lord is talking about those who are chosen before
the foundation of the world. And look, if you will, in verse 37—Jesus said, “All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me—oh, what an encouragement that is—All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out.” Now that verse says three things. It says many things, but at least it says these
three. God has given them. They will come. And when they come, they will be received.
God has given them. They will come. And when they come, they will be received. And

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Jesus said, “Father, of those whom Thou hast given me, none is lost.” And one day we’ll
stand before the Lord, and the Lord will present us, God the Son will present us to God
the Father and say, “Here they are, Father. All present and accounted for.” Now that’s
just wonderful. It’s just guaranteed. It’s just guaranteed. It’s going to happen. We are the
chosen of God.
Now that doesn’t mean that God created somebody to go to hell. God didn’t create
anybody to go to hell. He’s not willing that any should perish. Friend, if God made me to
go to hell, I want to go to hell because anything does what God made it to do is happy.
I’d be happier in hell, made to go to hell, than I would be in heaven, not made to go to
heaven. Listen, friend. Anything that does what God made it to do is happy. And God
didn’t make anybody to go to hell. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.
But, having said all of that, God has predestined that those of us who know Him and
love Him are going to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. Isn’t that a great thing to
know? I mean, it’s just guaranteed. It can’t stop it. There’s nothing that can stop what
God has predetermined. And so, God has predetermined it to such a degree He counts
it as already done.
Look in verse 30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified—you think he would say,
then he will glorify, but that isn’t what it says—them he also glorified.” Past tense.
Now God lives in eternity and we live in time, and so, we see sequential things as
they happen, 1, 2, 3, 4. But God doesn’t see things sequentially. God sees the
beginning and the end all at the same time. And God already sees you glorified. I mean,
with God it’s already done. It’s as good as done. I mean, in God’s sight, in God’s mind,
He sees you sitting in the kingdom just like Jesus. Isn’t that wonderful?
You know, people who think you can lose your salvation, they’ve got a verse here to
deal with. I’ll guarantee you God says, “It is done. It is fixed. It is settled.” You are
already glorified in the heart and mind of God. It is predestined; it is fixed; it is settled.
Hallelujah!

III. God’s Plan Is Guided by Providence

Now, listen. The plan—it is grounded in a purpose. What is the purpose? You’re to
be conformed to the image of God’s Son. It is guaranteed by predestination. And all hell
can’t stop it because God has predetermined that it will happen.
Third thing: Grounded in a purpose, guaranteed by predestination, and, therefore, it
is guided by providence. It is guided by providence. Now we’re going to understand
verse 28 a little bit more that deals with circumstances. Look in verse 28: “And we
know—not guess, think, surmise—we K-N-O-W, know that all—not some, but all, A-L-

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L—all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.”
Now, when you put the word K-N-O-W, we know, and you put the word A-L-L
together, we know that all things work together for good, that gives us some insight into
circumstances. You see, God’s plan is guided by a predetermined providence that is
bringing us to a very special purpose.
Now, look at the word for. Look at it in verse 28. “And we know that all things work
together for good…” That word for is a preposition. It means “unto good.” That means,
toward a goal. And we call this providence. Now providence is just, made up of two
words that you and I are quite familiar with in English—pro, meaning “toward,” or,
“ahead of time,” and video, which means “to see.” Providence. It means to see ahead of
time. Providence. That’s all it means, that God just sees ahead of time and God makes
provision.
You see, God, God sees the future. And what you think is just happenstance is not
happenstance to God. The very hairs of your head are numbered. Not a blade of grass
moves on this earth that God is not cognizant about and it cannot move without His
permission. Now, many times circumstances happen to us and they are absolutely
nonsensical, and we say, “Why did that happen?” Well, because it doesn’t make sense
to you doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make sense to God, and it doesn’t mean that it won’t
make sense to you later on. I think the classic example of that is a young man named
Joseph that you find in the Bible.
You will remember that Joseph, his father’s favorite son, was hated by his brothers.
And I’ll just shorten the story very much, but Joseph was sold to a band of Ishmaelites
headed toward Egypt by his brother, conniving, sinful, selfish, proud, arrogant brothers.
And then those brothers went home and told their dad that the favorite son, Joseph, had
been killed by a wild beast. And Joseph went there to Egypt. And, obviously, when he
was sold to the Ishmaelites, sold as a slave later on the slave market and went through
an horrendous set of circumstances, he may have felt like God had forsaken him, or at
least, if God had not forsaken him, things had gotten out of control and perhaps beyond
God’s control. But later on, when Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt, and
when Joseph became the key person in the great, grand plan of God in world
redemption, Joseph faced his brothers. And Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis
chapter 45 and verse 5, speaking to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, Joseph
said to his brothers, “Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye
sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life.” What was Joseph
saying? Joseph is saying, “You didn’t do it. God did it.”
Now, seventeen years had passed when he met his brothers again. And, and all of
this time they’d had a guilty conscience, and they were guilty, but yet Joseph saw

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beyond that. Joseph saw over that and through that. He saw the providence of God. He
saw God working all things together. And in this extended passage three times Joseph
says essentially the same thing so that they cannot be confused about it. Joseph does
not want them to get the credit, for he wants to give the credit to God. And three times
he says, “It wasn’t you. It was God.” And then the classic passage there in Genesis
chapter 50 and verse 20: “As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto
good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Now all of us have been mistreated by wicked people. All of us have been
mishandled. Few of us have been through the excruciating pain and shame and sorrow
and loneliness that Joseph went through. But Joseph, looking back on his life, could see
Romans 8:28, God working all things together for good, though Romans 8:28 had not
been even written in that day.
Now I want you to see how God’s providence works.
A. God Provides for Every Event
First of all, God provides for every event. You see God moving in the life of Joseph.
It was God that caused the Ishmaelite caravan to come by just at that moment. And it
was God that sent the famine all over the world at that time and taught Joseph how to
gather grain and so forth, so that he would be the commissary of the whole world at that
time. God is preparing. God is over world events.
Some years ago, I read about a man who was shipwrecked and he was on a desert
island. He got some of the fragments from that ship and built a hut. He was able to
squirrel away a few things—nuts and berries and things to live on. All of his earthly
possessions were on that island in that little hut. He kept praying and asking that a ship
would come and find him, that he’d not spend the rest of his life and die there forgotten,
lonely on that island. One day, when he was out foraying for food, he saw smoke on the
horizon where his hut was. He broke into a dead run because he’d left a little cooking
fire there inside, and the entire hut was gone up in flames and the entire thing was
being consumed. And he, he said, “O God, I prayed, I asked You to send somebody to
come and get me. And rather than sending someone, now my house has burned and all
of my possessions are burned.” And later, as the ship stopped to pick him up, several
hours, they said, “We saw your smoke signal. We’re glad that you were wise enough to
send a smoke signal. We would not have known you were here.” Now, what we think is
failure sometime, and what we think is disastrous sometimes, God sees as working
together for good.
B. God Protects from Every Enemy
God provides for every event, and God protects from every enemy. When Joseph’s
brothers were his enemies, they were really his servants. They were the ones that made

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it possible for him to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. Potiphar’s wife, who lied on
Joseph and accused him of attempted rape, in a strange way, had him cast into prison
where he could out of prison and later on become the Prime Minister.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh, his sickness, whatever it was, and we don’t know what it
was—that was not an enemy; it was a friend because it brought to Paul added power
and added strength where God said, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”
We think of the cross as Jesus’ greatest enemy, but the cross of Jesus Christ
became His greatest victory. We need to understand that God is a God of providence.
Therefore, when we complain about our circumstances, and we’re all want to complain
about our circumstances. Tonight, I was looking at this passage of Scripture reading in
the Bible. Turn to Exodus chapter 16. Let me show you something here about
murmuring. I know you would never murmur, but you may know somebody who
murmurs. And so, and we murmur about our circumstances. Look in Exodus chapter 16,
verse 7. Moses says, the people were murmuring, and he says, “And in the morning,
then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against
the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? And Moses said, This shall be,
when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to
the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and
what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.”
Do you know that when you murmur you find yourself in a circumstance and you
murmur, and isn’t that an ugly word—murmur? I don’t even like the sound of the word
murmur. There are murmurings in churches. You say, “Pastor, has anybody ever
murmured in Bellevue?” Who are you kidding? People murmur; they just murmur. They
don’t like this. They don’t like that. You know, murmuring is kind of like quicksilver. You
can’t put your hands on it. They’re just little half-uttered complaints, little things about
the circumstances or about the way things go.
The people of Israel were murmuring to Moses about the situation. They were out
there in the desert and they said God had forsaken them, or why did Moses led them
out there and there was no water to drink, and so forth. And Moses went to God, and
God says, “Moses, you tell those people that when they’re murmuring they’re not
murmuring against you; they are murmuring against Me because I’m the one who gave
you to them, and I’m the one who is over the circumstances that they’re murmuring
about.” And it was God that brought them just to that place. It was God who had been
guiding them through that wilderness. And it was God that brought them to that dry hole
and to those bitter waters.
And, kids, when you murmur against your parents, you’re murmuring against God
because God gave you those parents. And, parents, when you murmur about your
children, you’re murmuring against God because God gave you those children. You

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murmur about your pastor. God gave you that pastor. You murmur about your boss.
God gave you that boss. You murmur about your health. God gave you your health. You
murmur about your job. God is the one who is over all of that. I want to remind you,
friend, that God is in control of this world. I mean, God is in control. And the Bible says,
“All—not some, but all, A-L-L—all things work together for good to those who love God,
who are the called according to his purpose.” Now, we complain and gripe and criticize.
And when we do, we are sinning against God.
Some people get in trouble and they, they move away to get out of trouble. That’s a
strange thing. You know, you, you just, you move to another city and you have the
same problems in the other city you had in this city.
I heard about a man who lived in Single Tree, Arkansas. And his wife conceived,
and he went in the hospital and he had a son. But then he moved to Twin Falls, Idaho,
and his wife conceived and went in the hospital and he had twins. Then he moved to
Three Oaks, California, went in the hospital, he had triplets. Then he went to see his
pastor. He said, “You know, I need advice. I need to talk to you. I’ve just been called to
Thousand Island, New York.”
You know, and you move. You don’t get away from your problems. There’s no way
that you can get away from your problems, not in the true sense of the word. Oh,
obviously, you can move for a better situation, and so forth, but if God is engineering
trouble for you, let me tell you about God. And God never flunks you out; He just re-
enrolls you—just re-enrolls you. He keeps on giving the test until you pass. And so,
what’s He doing? God is not really as interested in your being happy as you are in being
happy. God is not really interested in your being healthy as you are interested in being
healthy. But God is very interested in your being holy, you being like the Lord Jesus
Christ. And so, that’s God’s school, that you might be conformed to the image of God’s
Son.
So, if this is true, if this is true, and it is true, that all things work together for good to
those who love God, then what should your response to the circumstances of life be?
What should your response be? It’s found in Ephesians 5 and verse 20, and here it is:
“Giving thanks always for all things,” because doesn’t He say, “And we know that all
things work together for good…” Isn’t that what He says? Now, if it’s for your good,
shouldn’t you thank God for it? “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now it doesn’t say feel thankful. It just
says be thankful. Feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving. The Bible
is the Word of God and nothing else is worth believing. Just simply give God thanks.
It doesn’t say all things are good. If your child is hit by an automobile, that’s not
good. If your little baby is stillborn, that’s not good. If you go to the hospital and the
doctor says, “Your wife has cancer and it’s throughout her body and she won’t live

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long,” that’s, that’s not good. If you get fired from your job and don’t have enough
money to pay the rent, they come and take the house away, that’s not good. We live in
a world that’s not a good world. And this eighth chapter of Romans says in this world we
groan, we groan. But it says this, folks, that God works all things together for good.

Conclusion
And I don’t know there’s a better affirmation of faith than this: to just say, “God, I
can’t understand it. I don’t know why You’re doing it. It hurts. I don’t even know how I’m
going to make it through, but I know that You’re the sovereign God and Your purpose
for me is one day I’ll be like the Lord Jesus.” And the Bible says in Romans [Link] “For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the
glory that shall be revealed in us.”
Father, seal the message to our hearts. We love You and praise You. In Jesus’ dear
name. Amen and amen.

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 Blessed Assurance
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: June 2, 1991

Main Scripture Text: Romans 8:28–31

“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.”
ROMANS 8:29

Outline
Introduction  
I. Link #1: Foreknowledge
II. Link #2: Predestination
III. Link #3: Calling
IV. Link #4: Justification
V. Link #5: Glorification
Conclusion

Introduction
I want to talk to you today about “Blessed Assurance,” Blessed Assurance. You know, a
child of God ought to be an exclamation point, not a question mark. He ought to be able
to say, “I know I am saved and going to Heaven.” I want you to take God’s Word and
turn please to Romans chapter 8, and we’re going to begin reading in verse 28. And, I’m
going to show you in these verses, the basis of my Blessed Assurance.
Romans chapter 8, and verses 28–31. I like the way it begins, “And we”—what?
Know.—“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the 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”—that is Jesus—
“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 then say to these things? If God be for us, who
can be against us?”
Now, ladies and gentlemen, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. I want you
to imagine yourself suspended over a chasm and in the bottom of that chasm is an
inferno of flame, and you’re suspended by a chain. There are five links in that chain,
four of the links are made of forged steel and one is made of crepe paper. How safe are
you? You’re no safer than that weakest link.

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 I have just read to you of a chain, not a steel chain, but a golden chain forged on the
anvil of God’s grace with the hammer of God’s omnipotence, that links eternity past with
eternity future. Five golden links in a magnificent chain that cause me to say,
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!”
—FANNY CROSBY
And, it is for that reason that I can say in Romans 8:28, “For I know that all things
work together for good to those who love God.” No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I love what
William R. Newell wrote, and we sing it today in our hymnal:
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
at Calvary.”
I want you to take your Bible’s now, and we’re going to go down deep, but I hope not
come up dry. I want you to see how you can say, with great thanksgiving and incredible
joy, I know that I am saved, redeemed and on my way to Heaven. All right? Now, let me
give you these five links that give to us a blessed assurance, a rock ribbed certainty,
that we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that we will be with our God in the glory.

I. Link #1: Foreknowledge

Link number one is foreknowledge, foreknowledge. Look in verse 29: “For whom he did
foreknow…” Do you see that? It’s speaking of God, and it speaks of the supreme
wisdom and knowledge of God, who knows everything before it ever happens. He
foreknows everything. God sees the future. This comes from a Greek word, proginosko.
The noun form is our word prognosis, and it just simply means to know ahead of time.
Put this verse in your margin, Acts chapter 15 and verse 18: “Known unto God are all
his works from the beginning of the world.” Nothing ever surprises God. God changes
not, therefore He cannot learn anything or forget anything. I’ve asked you before, has it
ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God. I mean, the Bible says, listen,
“Known unto God are His works from the beginning of the world.” Nobody else but God
foreknows.
My wife showed me an advertisement of a psychic that was left on her windshield.
She said, “If you’ll just come to me I’ll tell you the future, and I’m going to give you a five
dollar discount.” Isn’t that nice? They don’t know the future. Even the weatherman
doesn’t know the future. Amen. I heard about a weatherman who had to move out of the
city because the weather didn’t agree with him. The doctor doesn’t know the future. The
doctor examines you and he makes a prognosis, and he says you are going to get well,
or you are going to die. He may be wrong in both instances. I thank God for our doctors,

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I thank God for my personal physician, but he does not always know. I heard of a doctor
who told a patient, “You’ve got one year to live.” And he said, “Your bill is ten thousand
dollars.” He said, “I can’t pay it.” He said, “I’ll give you another year.” The doctor doesn’t
know the future. The weatherman doesn’t know the future, the psychic doesn’t know the
future, but known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. You say, I
don’t think I understand that. That’s all right, you don’t have to understand it. You can’t
understand God. I’m grateful we have a God we can’t understand; as a matter of fact I
wouldn’t trust a God I could understand.
But, you see, let me give you an illustration, and granted it’s a poor illustration, but it
helps us in some degree. If you’ve ever watched a parade, like the Rose Bowl Parade
or the Orange Bowl Parade or any particular parade, you’re there watching, standing on
the curb side, and one by one, the bands come through. One by one the floats pass,
and you observe them as they come. But, now let’s suppose that you’re up on a tall
building, exceedingly tall, and you’re watching the same parade. You see the first float,
you see the last float and you see all in between at the same time because you have a
different vantage point. We live in time, we see things as they happen this way, but God
lives in eternity, and God sees it all at one time. That’s where God lives. That’s where
God dwells, and known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. And,
that just simply means that I was in the heart and mind of God before He put this planet
in space. And, God knew that I would repent of my sin. God knew that I would receive
Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, God knew that I would trust God. He foreknew that,
for He knows all things. Link number one in this golden chain, that gives me that
blessed assurance.

II. Link #2: Predestination

Link number two, go back now and look in God’s Word, verse 29: “For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate…” Now, not only is there the foreknowledge of God,
there is the predestination of God. Now, what is the predestination? Dr. Scofield said,
“Predestination is the effective exercise of the will of God, by which things before
determined by Him are brought to pass.” So, not only do you have the knowledge of
God, you have the will of God. God determines, He predetermines, He predestines that
certain things are going to happen. Now, this does not mean, and I want to emphasize
that God predestined some to be saved and God predestined some to go to hell. God
wants everybody to be saved. Put it down in your heart and in your mind. God wants
everybody to be saved. He doesn’t want anybody to go to hell. He doesn’t want you to
go to hell.
And, before we talk about what predestination does mean, let me show you that God
wants everybody to be saved. Put these verses down please, if you’re taking notes. 1

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Timothy Chapter 2, beginning in verse 3: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.”—Who wills that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of the
truth—“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all,”—when Jesus Christ died on that cross, and
His blood poured out as a ransom, it was a ransom for me for you—“Who gave himself
a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Put this scripture down, 2 Peter 3 and verse 9, concerning the second coming of our
Lord and the promise of that coming: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Do you know why Jesus Christ has not
yet split the skies and come back to this earth? He’s waiting for more people to be
saved. That’s it. He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance. Oh, dear friend, the great heart of God is a heart of love and a heart of
grace that is reaching out to all. There are some who say, “Well, only certain ones may
come, and if God calls them you are going to come, you have no choice about the
matter.” But, oh dear friend, it is not the heart of God that keeps you from coming, it’s
your own hard heart that keeps you from coming.
Put this verse down, one of the poignant in all of the Bible, Matthew Chapter 23 and
verse 37. The Lord Jesus is on the Mount of Olives, and He’s looking down at that
wicked city that rejected Him. And, Jesus with great salted tears, copiously weeping,
and the word in the Bible here for weeping means He is sobbing. I mean He is
convulsing. He is weeping over the city of Jerusalem. “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!” I would, but you wouldn’t.
So, whatever predestination means it doesn’t mean that God has predestined some
to go to hell, that God created some people for hell, and God created some people for
Heaven. Oh, no. Christ died for the sin of the world. 1 John 2, verse 2: “And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Men, women, boys and
girls, all kinds people on the face of this earth are in the heart of God.
Well then, what does it mean? It means dear friend, that when God sees you trusting
Him, He predetermines that you are going to be like Jesus. Look at it. “For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” You’re
looking at a man, take a good look, it’s already determined I’m going to be like Jesus.
It’s predestined. It is predestined. And, all hell can’t stop it. I have been predestined by
God to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, blessed assurance, blessed

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assurance.

III. Link #3: Calling

Third link in this chain, first link foreknowledge, second link predestination, third link
calling. Look, if you will, also in this verse, “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.” God had one Son, and He loved Him so much, He said, “I’m
going to make the whole family just like Him. He’s going to be the first-born among
many of His brothers.” “Moreover whom he did predestinate,”—here’s the third link—
“them he also called:…” Do you see it? There’s the calling of God. There is, my dear
friend, the supernatural wisdom of God. There is, dear friend, the sovereign
predestination of God. And, now here’s the seeking summons of God. The word “call”
here is a word that was used in first century legal practice for a summons. Just as a
man is summoned to come into a court.
Well, how does the call of God come? What is the call of God? How did God call
me? How does God call you? How is anybody called to be a child of God? That calling
comes, my dear friend, through the anointed preaching or sharing of The Word of God.
Whenever the Gospel is preached, God’s call is extended. Therefore, God’s call is
going out to all who hear this message today. Let me show you what I am talking about.
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, begin in verse 13. Put it down. 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2,
and verses 13–14. Now the Bible says there concerning God’s call, the Apostle Paul is
talking to those in Thessalonica and he says, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because 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…” Now when God chooses, and dear friend,
God has chosen us. He chose me and He chose you, and when God chooses, God
calls.
The same thing is true in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1, verses 23–24, the Apostle Paul
says, “But we preach Christ crucified,”—now notice it’s the preaching of a crucified
Christ—“unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto
them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom
of God.” And, so here’s the wonderful thing about preaching the Gospel, you see, when
I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I say come to Jesus, it’s not just the words of a
man. The Apostle Paul says, “we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the
Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Acts 5:32) So, this is not just
a lecture, I’m not just giving good advise, I have been called and ordained and anointed
with the Holy Spirit to take the infallible Word of God, and the truth of the Gospel, and
preach it, and a call goes out. It doesn’t just tell a blind man to open his eyes, it has

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power to open the eyes of the blind. It doesn’t just tell a dead man to come forth from
the grave, but it gives power to the dead man to come forth from the grave.
Jesus stood outside the grave of Lazarus and said, “Lazarus, come forth,” (John
11:43) and a dead man heard, and a dead man came forth. That’s the power of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. You were blind, you were even dead, and yet there is a
summons sent from God, into your heart when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached.
Don’t ever get the idea that it was your idea to be saved. Oh no my dear friend, God
loved you before you were created. And, God loved you in your sin. And, the Bible says
“There’s none that seeketh after God, no not one, we love Him because He first loved
us and sent His Son.”
But, that doesn’t mean that somebody cannot be saved, if you want to be saved you
can be saved. And, people who don’t have the idea that I don’t have a right to stand up
here and just tell anybody to come to Jesus. Not only do I have a right, I have a
command. Listen to Revelation Chapter 22, and verse 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 come. Let him come. You say “Am I one of the elect?” Just
come on. Just come on. “Will Jesus save me?” Yes, He’ll save you! Come, whosoever
will, anybody who is athirst, come to Jesus. He will save you. I promise you on the
Authority of The Word of God.
People will say, “Well, certain people are predestined to be saved, and certain
people are predestined to be lost, maybe you’re one of the elect and maybe you’re not.”
I’m going to tell you something dear friend, it’s amazing how many more are elected in a
red hot evangelistic service. It’s amazing how many more get elected when a preacher
preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when Simon Peter, on Pentecost, stretches
out his arms and says, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40)
Three thousand were born into the Kingdom that day, and my dear friend, there’s
foreknowledge, there’s predestination. There is the calling of the Gospel.

IV. Link #4: Justification

And, then fourthly, there is justification. Look at it again, if you will, in The Word of God,
verse 30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified…” That’s the fourth link in this golden chain, Justification.
What is justification? Why my dear friend, justification is God’s act. Whereby He
declared those who have trusted in Christ as righteous. God just declares you
righteous. It’s not an earned righteousness, it is the gift of God. Put down this verse,
Romans chapter 4 and verse 5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” His faith is counted for
righteousness. When God calls and you answer, God says, “That man, that boy, that

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girl is righteous.” It is more than a pardon from sin.
Now, I thank God a pardon is there. It is wonderful that He pardons. But Augustus
Toplady said, “Be of sin the double cure: save from wrath,”—that’s the pardon—”and
make me pure,”—that’s the justification, my dear friend. You see, it is not only the
forgiveness of sin, it is the impartation of righteousness. Not only acquittal, but approval,
not only pardon, but promotion. When God looks down out of Heaven upon a justified
sinner, God sees that sinner as righteous as Jesus Christ. Not one sin is put on your sin
account.
Now, no human court therefore can justify anybody, not even in the legal realm, not
even in the adjudication of men’s courts. For example, if I am charged with a crime, and
I go into a court, and I am pardoned, they say, “Well Adrian you did thus and such, but
you are such a sweet boy, we’re going to pardon you.” Well, if they pardon me and I did
it, I’m still guilty, I just don’t have any punishment, you see. But, suppose the court said,
“We don’t believe you did it, and we give you an acquittal.” Well, that means I didn’t sin
to begin with. You see, no human court can justify. To justify is neither a pardon nor an
acquittal. It is, my dear friend, a statement that though you once did sin, now there is no
mark, no blemish against you whatsoever. Oh, I love it. I praise God for that justification.
The Bible makes it so clear and so plain, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth
on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)
How can God do that? On what basis does God do that? How can God just simply say,
“Adrian, you’re a guilty sinner, but I justify you.” Only one way, and I want everyone to
listen to this, there’s only one way that God justifies, and that is through the blood of
Jesus Christ. Now, Romans Chapter 5, verse 9: “Much more then, being now justified
by his blood,”—justified by His blood—“we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Now, if you were to have one word with which to describe God, what would that
word be? Thank God no one word can describe God, and no boxcar full of words can
describe God, but if you had to ransack the Lexicons and Dictionaries of this world to
get one word that would describe God. In my humble, but correct opinion, that word
would be holy, holy. God is holy. Holy holy, holy, is what the angels say.
Now, being holy means that He is the complete other. He is the antithesis; He is the
sworn enemy of sin, which is a clinched fist in face of God. If sin were to ever prevail, if
God were to ever let one sin go unpunished, God would cease to be holy. God would
topple from His throne of holiness. God does punish sin, sin must be paid for. When
God justifies a man, God never merely overlooks that man’s sin. God sent His darling
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who left Heaven, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died
upon that cross, and poured out His rich, red, royal blood as a sacrifice, an atonement
for sin, to satisfy the righteous demands of a holy God, and your sin is paid in full by the
blood of Jesus Christ. “Therefore, being justified by His blood…”—by His blood.

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 I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er catch sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I miss.
Put it down big, put it down plain, put it down straight. Your sin will be pardoned by
Christ, or it will be punished in hell, but it will never be overlooked. It is justification, my
dear friend, and how does the blood of Jesus Christ and justification, how is that applied
to you? Romans [Link] “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God…”
I’ve told you how it was, I’ve told you how God does it, and now I’m telling you, my
dear friend, how it becomes applicable to your life. Romans chapter 5, verse 1: “being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
I may have told you of a dream a man reported. He said he dreamed that he stood
outside the gates of Heaven, and he watched those as they tried to come and get into
Heaven. One man knocked at the gate of Heaven, and a voice within said, “Who is it
that seeks entrance into Heaven?” And this man said, “I am a moral man.” He said,
“What is the password into Heaven?” And the voice within said, “Depart from me, ye
who work iniquity. I never knew you.”
Another came and knocked at the gate of Heaven. And the voice within said, “Who
is it that seeks entrance into Heaven?” He said, “I am a humanitarian.” He said, “What is
the password into Heaven?” He said, “Love, service to my fellow man.” The voice from
within said, “Depart from me ye that work iniquity. I never knew you.”
A third came and knocked on the door of Heaven. “Who is it that seeks entrance into
Heaven, and what is the password into Heaven?” This man said, “I am a religious man.”
Oh, we’d think he’d make it, wouldn’t we? But the voice from within said, “Depart from
me, ye that work iniquity. I never knew you.”
At last a forth man came, he knocked. The voice, “Who seeks entrance into
Heaven?” He said, “I’m just a poor, faltering, stumbling Christian. In my hand, no price I
bring, simply to thy cross I cling.” And the voice said, “Open wide the gates and let him
in, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” I’m not against love. I’m not against
humanitarianism. I am not against religious service, but I’m telling you my dear friend,
none of these nor all of these can justify you. We are justified by the blood of Christ, and
we lay hold by faith, and that’s the reason, that’s the reason I have this blessed
assurance.

V. Link #5: Glorification

Now, dear friend, what are the results of this. Well, let’s go down to the last link in this
chain. I wish I had more time on justification, but let’s go right on down now, as we
continue to read. Verse 30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:

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and whom he called, them he also justified:”—Now, watch, Glory to God—“and whom
he justified, them”—you expect Him to say, will glorify, but He doesn’t say that—“them
he also glorified.” That is, He puts it in the past tense. Well, you say, “Adrian are you
glorified yet?” Well look at me, you can tell. No, not in your eyes, but in God’s eyes it’s
already done. God puts it in past tense. Remember, we’re watching the parade one float
at a time, but God not only sees me here preaching, my dear friend, God sees me over
here in the glory. He sees me there, already. Already like Jesus. Already leaping and
dancing and praising God on streets of gold. He sees that, already like Jesus, already
glorified.
That’s the reason I believe in eternal security. That which is settled in eternity, can’t
be undone in time. I mean it’s not dear friend, that I’m going to be glorified, I am glorified
in the mind and heart of God. What a marvelous future. I’m getting excited. There are
people, they say, “Oh, well, I don’t believe in eternal security. The devil can take you out
of the hand of God.” Oh, you think so? Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27–28)
Hmm, do you think the devil could? Well, if he could, my dear friend, has he taken
you out? Well, if he hasn’t taken you out, why hasn’t he, if he could? Hasn’t he been
good to you? So you’re going to Heaven by the goodness of the devil. Friend, I’m going
to Heaven by the grace of God. Don’t you know, if he could he would. Well, you say,
“What if I sin?” What do you mean, what if? If sin could, you’d be out. I wouldn’t trust the
best fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me to Heaven, much less some other fifteen
minutes I could name.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine

Conclusion
There’s that golden link of foreknowledge, predestination, the calling, where my dear
Lord called us. Foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification.
Therefore I know that all things work together for good to those who love God. Bow in
prayer.
Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. O dear God, I pray in the name of Jesus that
many in this service today will hear the call that opens blind eyes and gives life to the
dead, and will say an everlasting yes to Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord, thank you for
your mighty grace. We don’t understand it, but oh how we rest in it. In Jesus’ precious
name. Amen.

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  You  Can  Be  Sure    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Sermon  Date:    April  19,  1998    
Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  8:28–31    

Outline  
Introduction  
I. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  God’s  Foreknowledge  of  Your  Salvation
II. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Predestination  to  Be  Like  Jesus
III. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Calling  to  Salvation
IV. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Calling  to  Salvation
V. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Eternal  Glorification
Conclusion

Introduction  
Turn  to  Romans  chapter  8,  and  when  you’ve  found  it,  look  up  here  for  a  moment.  There  
is  a  phrase  in  that  song  that  struck  me  just  then:  forever  running.  Of  course,  that’s  what  
the  song’s  about:  forever  running,  still  losing  the  race.  Have  you  ever  been  in  a  
department  store  and  seen  a  little  child,  maybe  a  boy—generally  it  will  be  a  boy  about  
eight—who  is  trying  to  run  up  the  down  escalator?  The  escalator’s  coming  down,  and  
he’s  just  trying  to  see  if  he  can  go  up  while  that  thing  is  going  down.  And  he’s  going  with  
all  his  might,  but  still  is  going  down  faster  than  he  can  go  up.  
Now,  that’s  what  it’s  like  for  people  who  are  trying  to  earn  salvation  by  their  own  
strength.  There  is  the  downward  pull  of  sin,  and  there’s  that  human  effort,  but,  friend,  
the  downward  pull  of  sin  is  so  much  greater  than  that  human  effort.  They  are  just  simply  
running  up  the  down  escalator,  and  never  making  it,  were  it  not  for  grace.  We’re  going  
to  be  talking  about  that  grace  today,  and  how  that  grace  can  give  you  absolute,  rock-­
solid  assurance.    
Now,  look  in  verse  28,  and  notice  the  first  few  words  there:  “And  we  know…”—do  
you  see  that?—“And  we  know”—K-­N-­O-­W.  Now,  that’s  what  I  want  to  talk  about  today:  
Knowing.  I  want  to  talk  to  you  today  about  being  sure,  having  assurance,  having  a  
know-­so  salvation,  so  you  can  be  a  shouting  Christian,  and  not  a  doubting  Christian;;  so  
you  can  be  an  exclamation  point  rather  than  a  question  mark  with  your  head  bent  over;;  
to  say  praise  God,  I  know  that  I  know  that  I  know  that  I  am  saved  and  on  the  way  to  
heaven.  Wouldn’t  you  like  that?  
Don’t  you  know  people  need  assurance?  I’ve  been  in  the  ministry  for  a  long  time,  

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and  I’ve  never  known  anybody  who  was  any  good  to  the  service  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  
Jesus  Christ  who  did  not,  first  of  all,  have  a  rock-­solid  assurance  that  they’re  saved  and  
on  the  way  to  heaven.  Now,  friend,  we  don’t  need  a  hope-­so,  a  maybe-­so,  a  think-­so,  
feel-­so,  salvation.  We  need  a  know-­so  salvation.  Amen?  And,  you  need  to  be  sure.  
Now,  I’m  not  trying  to  talk  you  into  being  sure  if  you’re  not  saved.  If  you’re  not  saved,  
you  have  no  right  to  be  sure;;  but  if  you  are  saved,  you  can  have  that  wonderful,  
wonderful  assurance.    
Now,  let’s  begin  to  read  in  verse  28,  and  look  at  it:  “And  we  know  that  all  things  work  
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  
purpose.”  And  that’s  the  key  phrase:  His  purpose.  Now,  that  introduces  verse  29:  “For  
whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  did  also  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  
Son,  that  he—that  is,  God’s  Son—might  be  the  first-­born  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  then  say  
to  these  things?  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  
Now,  friend,  I  want  to  tell  you  something:  God’s  on  your  side;;  God  is  for  you.  And  
salvation,  from  start  to  finish,  is  of  the  Lord.  William  R.  Newell  wrote  that  great  song:  
Oh,  the  love  that  drew  salvation’s  plan,  
Oh,  the  grace  that  brought  it  down  to  man.  
Oh,  the  mighty  gulf  that  God  did  span,  at  Calvary.  
Now,  there  are  five  foundational  facts,  five  great  stones  upon  which  our  faith  rests,  
and  I  want  you  to  look  at  these  right  now,  and,  in  verse  29:  “For  whom  he  did  
foreknow—underscore  the  word  foreknow—he  did  also  predestinate.”  Now,  hey,  don’t  
let  this  get  too  complicated  to  you,  and  check  me  out.  You  just  stay  with  me.  “He  did  
predestinate.”  All  right.  And  then,  verse  30:  “Moreover,  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  
he  also  called.”  So  you’ve  underscored  foreknow,  predestinate,  called,  and  now  notice  
this:  “and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also  justified—underscore  justified—and  whom  he  
justified,  them  he  also  glorified.”  So,  you  have  those  five  words,  because,  friend,  those  
are  the  bedrock  of  your  salvation,  and  the  basis  of  your  assurance;;  and  don’t  miss  those  
wonderful  five  bedrocks  of  assurance,  because  God’s  plan  for  you,  and  every  mother’s  
child  that  knows  Him,  is  to  have  assurance.    
Now,  let  me  tell  you  five  things  you  can  be  sure  of—five  things  that  you  can  bank  on,  
five  things  that  you  can  say  I  know  it  is  true—and,  by  the  way,  the  only  way  you  know  
these  things  is  by  divine  revelation.  You  don’t  know  them  because  you’ve  figured  them  
out.    

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I. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  God’s  Foreknowledge  of  Your  Salvation
All  right,  first  of  all,  you  can  be  sure  of  God’s  foreknowledge  of  your  salvation.  Now,  
in  plain  English,  God  knew  that  you  were  going  to  be  saved  before  you  ever  got  saved.  
God  foreknew.  Now,  you  see,  God  doesn’t  learn  anything.  God  already  knows  
everything.  Do  you  believe  that?  Of  course  you  do.  We  call  that  God’s  omniscience.  
And  this  word  foreknow  is  the  word,  prognosko.  Well,  I  know  you’ve  been  waiting  all  
morning  to  hear  that.  I  know  you’ve  been  blessed  by  that.  But  that  just  simply  means—
it’s  the  same  word,  the  noun  form  of  that  is  prognosis—prognosis.  You  go  to  the  doctor.  
He  pokes  around  on  you  and  makes  a  prognosis.  That  means  he  tells  you  what  he  
thinks  is  going  to  happen  to  you.  He  just  makes  a  prognosis  based  on  his  investigation.  
It  may  be  a  good  prognosis;;  it  maybe  a  bad  prognosis;;  but  I  want  to  tell  you  it’s  only  an  
educated  guess,  as  far  as  the  doctor  is  concerned.  
I  heard  about  a  doctor  who  told  a  man,  he  said,  “You’ve  only  got  a  year  to  live.”  And  
he  said,  that’s  the  news.  I’m  sorry.”  And  he  said,  “Your  bill  to  me  is  $5,000.”  The  man  
said,  “I  can’t  pay  it.”  He  said,  “Well,  I’ll  give  you  another  year.”  Sometimes  the  doctor’s  
prognosis  is  not  always  correct,  it  is  not  always  exact;;  but  when  God  foreknows  
something,  God  is  not  making  an  educated  guess.  God  knows  beyond  a  shadow  of  any  
doubt.  
Now,  that’s  the  reason  that  sometimes  we  get  confused  when  we  get  into  things  like  
foreknowledge,  because  we’re  looking  at  it  from  a  human  vantage  point.  Can  you  
imagine  a  little  boy  watching  a  parade  through  a  knothole?  He  can’t  even  get  over  the  
fence  to  see  the  parade,  so  he  just  sees  epochs  in  that  parade  as  they  go  past.  But  then  
suppose  somebody  takes  the  little  guy,  feels  sorry  for  him,  and  says,  “Come,  son,  into  
my  office  building,  and  come  up  here,  and  we’ll  look  over  the  parapet  wall  from  ten  
stories.”  The  little  guy  can  see  the  parade  as  it’s  forming  down  here.  He  can  see  it  as  it’s  
dispersing  down  here,  and  he  can  see  everything—all  the  bands,  all  the  floats,  
everything  in  between,  because  he  has  a  different  vantage.  
Now,  that’s  a  very  poor  illustration,  but  it  illustrates,  poorly,  what  I’m  trying  to  talk  
about,  is  that,  folks,  we  are  limited.  We  are  looking  at  life  through  a  knothole.  Do  you  
understand  that?  I  mean  the  events  pass  by  this  way,  but  God  sees  it  all.  God  inhabits  
eternity.  God  sees  the  beginning;;  God  sees  the  middle;;  God  sees  the  end.  God  sees  it  
all  at  one  time,  so  God  saw  you  getting  saved  before  you  ever  got  saved.  God  foreknew  
it.  I  mean,  God  can’t  learn  anything.  That  means  that  you  were  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  
God  before  He  swung  this  planet  into  space.  
Now,  the  elect  are  people  that  receive  Jesus.  The  elect  are  whosoever  will,  and  God  
foresees  these  people  receiving  Him.  Now,  let  me  give  you  a  verse  for  your  margin,  and  
it  will  clear  up  a  lot  of  things.  I  Peter  chapter  1  and  verse  2.  The  Bible  says  we  are,  
 

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“Elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God”—elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  
God.”  
There  was  a  boy  down  in  West  Palm  Beach,  Florida  disobeying  his  parents,  skipping  
school,  cheating  in  school,  using  bad  language,  getting  in  fights,  but  he  heard  the  
gospel,  he  repented  of  his  sin.  He  said,  “Lord  Jesus,  come  into  my  heart,  forgive  my  sin,  
and  save  me,”  and  God  said,  before  He  ever  made  the  world,  God  saw  that  boy  doing  
that,  and  God  said,  he’s  one  of  my  elect—he’s  one  of  my  elect.  By  the  way,  you  want  to  
know  his  name?  His  name’s  Adrian.  That’s  his  name.  God  saw  that  boy.  God  saw  that  
boy  repenting  of  his  sin  and  trusting  Christ  before  He  ever  made  the  world,  and  He  said,  
he’s  one  of  my  elect—elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God.  That’s  what  the  
Bible  says.  
Now,  the  Bible  teaches  that  God  chooses  certain  people  to  be  elect,  you  know.  
Jesus  said,  in  John  chapter  6  and  verse  37,  “All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come  to  
me;;  and  him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.”  That’s  looking  at  it  from  God’s  
viewpoint—from  God’s  viewpoint.  That’s  looking  at  it  from  eternity.  We  look  at  it  from  
time.  That’s  the  reason  we  sometimes  get  confused.  Yes,  God  has  given  the  elect  to  the  
Lord  Jesus.  Yes,  God  says  they  will  come  to  Him—no  ifs,  ands,  and  buts  about  it.  And  
yes,  Jesus  said  they  will  be  received.  And  one  of  these  days,  concerning  the  elect,  the  
Lord  Jesus  is  going  to  say,  Father,  there  they  are,  all  present  and  accounted  for.  Now,  
that’s  from  heaven’s  viewpoint.  
Now,  the  reason  we  get  so  confused  about  this  election,  and  free  will  business,  and  
all  of  this,  is  we  try  to  put  God  in  a  box.  We  try  to  think  with  the  mind  of  God,  and  friend,  
you  can’t  do  that.  If  you  put  God  in  a  box,  and  you  call  that  box  the  sovereignty  of  God,  
and  you  say  man  has  nothing  to  do  with  it,  God  is  completely,  totally  sovereign,  and  so  
God  just  zaps  everybody  and  makes  them  saved,  the  free  will  of  man  will  pop  out  of  that  
box.  But  if  you  just  put  God  in  another  box,  and  say,  it’s  all  of  man,  and  God  has  nothing  
to  do  with  it,  and  God  is  not  sovereign,  and  man  just  decides  everything,  then  the  
sovereignty  of  God  will  pop  out  of  that  box.  You’re  just  not  going  to  put  God  in  a  box,  
folks.  I  want  to  tell  you  that  God  is  God,  and  what  we  do  sometimes,  we’re  just  looking  
through  the  knothole.  We  have  never  seen  the  thing  from  eternity.  
But  the  point  I  want  you  to  understand  is  that  your  election  is  based  upon  God’s  
foreknowledge.  To  foreknow  does  not  mean  to  cause.  It  doesn’t  mean  from  before  the  
foundation  of  the  world  God  says  I’m  going  to  send  this  one  to  hell  and  I’m  going  to  
send  that  one  to  heaven.  Oh  no.  God  foreknows.  That  doesn’t  mean  that  God  causes.  
Do  you  know  the  astronomer  can  tell  you  when  Haley’s  Comet  is  going  to  appear  
again?  He  foreknows  it.  That  doesn’t  mean  he  causes  it  to  appear.  He  just  simply  
knows,  as  he  studied  astronomy,  that  this  is  when  Haley’s  Comet  is  going  to  appear  

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again.  
Let  me  ask  you  a  question.  See  if  anybody  can  disagree  with  this  question,  or  
disagree  with  this  statement.  Everything  that’s  going  to  happen  eventually  will.  Isn’t  that  
right?  That  may  sound  like  a  silly  statement,  but  you  think  about  it.  Everything  that  is  
going  to  happen  eventually  will.  Right?  God  knows  everything  that’s  going  to  happen.  
God  knows  I  just  scratched  my  ear,  but  God  knew  from  eternity  I  was  going  to  scratch  
my  ear.  God  knew  I  was  just  going  to  pat  my  head.  You  say,  you’re  being  silly.  No.  
Listen.  God  can’t  learn  anything.  Not  a  blade  of  grass  moves  but  what  He  knows  it,  and  
friend,  everything  that’s  going  to  happen  eventually  will.  That  doesn’t  mean  that  God’s  
great  plan  was  for  me  to  scratch  my  ear.  No.  That’s  silly.  That’s  inconsequential.  But  I’m  
just  simply  saying  that  God  foreknows  everything.  Do  you  understand  that?  He  knows  it  
all.  He  knows  it  all.  He’s  omniscient.  And  God  foreknew  that  you  would  receive  the  Lord  
Jesus  Christ,  and  you  are  elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God.  That’s  what  the  
Bible  said.  God  saw  those  who  are  going  to  receive  Him.  Nothing  takes  God  by  
surprise.  God  never  says  ooohh,  I  never  thought  of  that,  and  God  never  makes  any  
mistakes.  God  never  says,  oops.  No.  God  is  God.  All  right  now,  you  can  be  sure  of  
God’s  foreknowledge  of  your  salvation.  Right?  Okay.  

II. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Predestination  to  Be  Like  Jesus
Now,  number  two.  You  can  be  sure  of  your  predestination  to  be  like  Jesus.  You  can  
be  rock-­solid  sure  of  that.  Now,  look  again  in  God’s  Word  here.  God  looks  at  those  that  
are  receiving  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  so,  God  says,  here’s  my  plan  for  that  person.  
Look:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  did  also  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  
image  of  his  Son”  Now,  predestination  is  not  dealing  with  the  lost;;  it’s  dealing  with  the  
saved—it’s  dealing  with  the  saved.  God  doesn’t  predestine  some  people  to  go  to  hell,  
and  God  doesn’t  predestine  some  people  to  go  to  heaven.  God  predestines  every  child  
of  God,  everyone  who  is  born  again,  to  be  like  Jesus.  
Now,  just  read  it:  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  them  did  he  also  predestinate  to  be  
conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  God,  when  He  saw  you  receiving  the  Lord  Jesus  
Christ,  in  His  omniscience,  says  by  His  omnipotence,  I  am  going  to  make  him  just  like  
Jesus.  That  little  teenage  boy  who  gave  his  heart  to  Jesus  Christ  is  now  predestined—
predestined—to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
Now,  listen.  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  God  has  predestined  some  people  to  heaven  and  
God  has  predestined  some  people  to  hell.  God—listen—God  wants  everybody  saved.  
Now,  there  are  some  people  who  don’t  believe  that.  There  are  some  people  believe  
that,  concerning  heaven,  God  sort  of  says  eenie  meanie  minie  moe,  this  must  stay  and  
that  will  go.  But,  no.  Listen.  God  wants  everybody  to  be  saved.  

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 Now,  let  me  give  you  some  Scripture,  and  don’t  come  up  here  to  argue  with  me  after  
this.  You  just  argue  with  these  scriptures.  Second  Timothy  chapter  2,  verses  3  through  
6:  “For  this  is  good  and  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God,  our  Savior,  who  will  have  all  men  
to  be  saved  and  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.”  God  wills  for  all  men  to  be  
saved.  All  right—2  Peter  3,  verse  9:  “The  Lord  is  not  slack  concerning  his  promise,  as  
some  men  count  slackness,  but  is  long-­suffering  to  usward,  not  willing  that  any  should  
perish,  but  that  all—A  double  L—should  come  to  repentance.”  God  wills  that  all  men  
should  be  saved.  God  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish.  
You  see,  the  problem  is  not  that  God  doesn’t  want  people  to  be  saved;;  the  problem  
is  that  God  also  gives  human  beings  a  will,  and  if  God  had  not  given  human  beings  a  
will,  he  could  have  no  more  fellowship  with  us  than  I  could  have  with  that  potted  plant.  
No.  You  have  a  will.  That’s  the  reason.  
Put  this  scripture  down.  In  Matthew  chapter  23  and  verse  37,  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  He  
was  approaching  Jerusalem  and  realizing  that  soon  Jerusalem  would  be  destroyed  by  
Titus,  the  Roman  general,  and  realizing  that  they  had  refused  the  king,  and  that  they  
were  saying  on  that  day,  hail  Him,  hail  Him,  but  in  a  few,  days,  a  few  hours  they  would  
be  saying,  nail  Him,  they’d  be  putting  Him  upon  a  cross,  and  Jesus,  coming  down  the  
slopes  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  heading  towards  Jerusalem,  was  weeping  great  salty  
tears,  and  with  a  heart  broken,  he  convulsed  in  sobs,  and  said,  “O  Jerusalem,  
Jerusalem,  how  oft  would  I  have  gathered  thee,  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chicks  beneath  
her  wings,  but  ye  would  not.”  I  would  have,  He  said,  but  ye  wouldn’t.  
You  see,  it’s  not  God’s  will  that  any  perish.  God  would  have  redeemed  them,  Jesus  
would  have  saved  them,  but  they  chose  not  to  be  saved.  Put  this  scripture  down—2  
Corinthians  chapter  5,  verses  13  to  15.  They  were  accusing  Paul  of  being  crazy.  They  
said,  Paul,  you  are  a  madman.  You’re  so  driven.  He  says  this:  “For  whether  we  be  
beside  ourselves,  it  is  to  God;;  or  whether  we  be  sober,  it  is  for  your  cause.  For  the  love  
of  Christ  constraineth  us,  because  we  thus  judge  that,  if  one  died  for  all.”  
There  are  some  people  who  just  say,  well,  Jesus  only  died  for  the  elect.  No.  “One  
died  for  all,  then  were  all  dead.  And  that  he  died  for  all,  they  which  live  should  not  
henceforth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  which  died  for  them,  and  rose  again.”  
Paul  said,  some  people  think  I’m  a  driven  man,  but  he  said  no,  Jesus  died  for  all,  and  I  
want  all  to  be  saved.  
You  say,  why  are  you  getting  so  excited  about  this?  Because  there  are  some  people  
teaching  God  doesn’t  want  everybody  to  be  saved.  And  when  you  believe  that,  and  
when  you  believe  it’s  already  finished,  already  done,  already  signed,  already  sealed,  
already  delivered,  and  you  don’t  have  any  choice  about  it,  that’s  stultifying  to  
evangelism  and  missions.  You  just  say,  well,  they’re  going  to  be  saved;  nothing  I  can  do  

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about  it,  I  can’t  change  it  at  all.  You  say  I  thought  God  already  knew.  Yes,  He  does  
already  know,  but  He  already  knows  the  people  must  decide.  It  is  their  decision  that  
God  already  knows.  
Put  this  scripture  down—1  Timothy  2,  verse  3.  “For  this  is  good  and  acceptable  in  
the  sight  of  God,  our  Savior,  who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved.”  Now,  what  does  
predestination  mean,  then?  It  doesn’t  mean  that  God  says,  you’re  going  to  hell,  and  
you’re  going  to  heaven.  Predestination  means  just  what  it  says.  “For  whom  he  did  
foreknow,  them  did  he  also  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son.”  
When  God  saves  somebody,  God  predestines  that  that  somebody  is  going  to  be  just  
like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  First  John  3,  verse  2:  “Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  
God”—yes,  we  are.  Thank  God—“and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be.”  Who  
can  understand  what  the  resurrection  body  is  going  to  be  like?  I  can’t.  Neither  can  you.  
“But  we  know  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him.”  So  you’re  predestined  to  
be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
And,  by  the  way,  friend,  you  talk  about  eternal  security.  I’d  have  to  believe  in  eternal  
security,  if  this  was  the  only  verse  in  the  Bible  that  talked  about  it.  Think  about  it:  “Whom  
he  did  foreknow,  them  he  did  also  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  
Son.”  Predestination  is  the  act  of  an  omnipotent  God  who  says  it’s  going  to  be  done.  I  
have  settled  it.  I  mean,  there’s  no  way.  What  has  been  settled  in  heaven  cannot  be  
annulled  by  hell  or  humanity.  It  is  fixed.  You  are  going  to  be  like  Jesus,  if  you’re  saved.  
Now,  if  you’re  not  saved,  you  are  going  to  spend  eternity  in  hell  with  the  devil.  But,  
friend,  if  you  are  saved,  you  are  predestined  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Now,  there  
are  some  people,  they  foolishly  say,  well,  but  wait  a  minute.  What  if  the  devil  were  to  
take  you  away  from  Jesus?  What  if  the  devil  were  to  take  you  out  of  Jesus’  hand?  Now,  
you  think  about  that.  Do  you  think  he  could?  Well,  if  he  could,  why  hasn’t  he?  Why  
hasn’t  he?  Well,  if  he  could  and  he  hasn’t,  hasn’t  he  been  good  to  you?  So  now  you  are  
going  to  heaven  by  the  goodness  of  the  devil.  Think  about  it.  See.  Listen—listen.  The  
only  reason—the  only  reason—he  hasn’t  is  because  he  can’t;;  he  can’t,  because  you  are  
predestined  to  be  like  the  Lord  Jesus.    

III. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Calling  to  Salvation
Now,  here’s  the  third  thing.  Watch.  You  can  be  sure  that  God  foreknew  that  you  
were  going  to  be  saved.  You  can  be  sure,  dear  friend,  that  because  you’re  saved  you’re  
going  to  be  like  Jesus,  and  you  can  be  sure  of  your  calling  to  salvation.  Look,  if  you  will,  
here  in  this  same  passage  of  Scripture,  and  it  says,  “For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  
did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son,  that  he—God’s  Son—might  
be  the  first-born  among  many  brethren—that  is,  he’s  going  to  have  a  whole  family  like  

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Jesus.  Moreover,  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also  called…”  
Now,  does  God  just  call  some  people  to  salvation,  and  not  call  others?  No.  
Whenever  the  gospel  is  preached,  God  is  calling  people  to  salvation.  How  does  God  
call?  Through  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  Put  this  scripture  down—2  Thessalonians  2,  
verses  13  and  14.  Paul  said  to  the  church  at  Thessalonica,  “But  we  are  bound  to  give  
thanks  always  to  God  for  you,  brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  
beginning  chosen  you  to  salvation.”  
You  say,  uh  oh,  it  looks  like  we  don’t  have  anything  to  do  with  it.  But  continue  to  
read.  Here’s  where  people  get  into  mistake.  They  take  a  part  of  a  verse  and  don’t  read  
the  whole  verse.  But  listen  to  it:  “Beloved,  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks  always  to  God  
for  you,  brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen  you  
to  salvation  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth.”  You  see,  it’s  when  
you  believe  the  truth  that’s  what  makes  you  part  of  the  chosen.  “And  whereunto  he  
called  you  by  our  gospel.”  How  does  God  call  people?  By  the  gospel,  by  the  preaching  
of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ;;  and  this  message  is  God  calling  you.  
Now,  if  you’ve  not  yet  been  saved,  God  wants  you  to  be  saved.  And  how  does  God  
call?  God  calls  through  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  this  calling,  you  see,  is  through  
sanctification  of  the  Spirit.  The  Holy  Spirit  of  God  takes  the  Word  of  God,  and  when  God  
has  a  man  who  is  blind,  God  opens  the  eyes  of  the  blind  so  he  can  see  what  he  could  
not  have  seen  otherwise.  And  when  God  has  a  man  who  is  spiritually  dead,  and  
therefore  deaf,  God  opens  the  ears  of  the  dead  and  the  deaf,  that  they  might  hear  the  
gospel.  I  am  totally  incapable  of  bringing  you  under  conviction  or  calling  you  to  Jesus  
Christ.  It  is  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  the  sanctification  of  the  Spirit.  It  is  the  Spirit  of  God  that  
takes  the  Word  of  God,  and  this  is  the  call  that  goes  out.  But  I’m  telling  you,  folks,  that  
when  you  hear  the  gospel,  it  is  God  calling  you.  
Now,  who  does  He  call?  Put  down  Revelation  22  and  verse  17:  “And  the  Spirit  and  
the  bride  say,  Come.”  Now,  the  Spirit—that’s  the  Holy  Spirit;;  the  bride—that’s  the  
church.  “And  let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come.”  If  you’ve  ever  heard  the  gospel,  you  can  
tell  it  to  somebody  else.  “And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come.”  If  you  want  to  come,  if  you  
have  a  thirst  for  Jesus,  come.  “And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely.”  
Anybody.  You  say,  “Well,  Pastor,  can  I  be  saved  today  if  I’m  not  one  of  the  elect?”  I’m  
just  telling  you,  if  you  want  to  be  saved,  God  will  save  you  today.  You’re  whosoever.  
Whosoever  will.  The  elect  of  the  whosoever  wills.  
Now,  I’m  going  to  tell  you  something  else.  Somebody  wrote  me  a  nasty  letter  when  I  
said  this  in  a  preaching  service  one  time,  but  you’d  be  surprised  how  many  more  people  
will  get  elected  in  a  red  hot  evangelistic  service.  They  said,  “You  ought  to  know  better  
than  that.  That’s  not  when  people  are  elected.”  I  said,  “You  ought  to  know  tongue-in-

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cheek  talking  when  you  hear  it.”  What  I  am  saying  is,  friend,  with  a  burning  heart  we  
ought  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  plead  with  souls  to  come  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  we  ought  
to  do  what  Revelation  says:  “Let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come.”  And  we  ought  to  tell  
everybody  what  the  Bible  says:  “And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  of  the  water  of  life  
freely.”  Our  God  calls.  He  calls  the  lost,  wherever  they  are,  and  come  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  
Now,  there  are  some  people  who  say,  “Well,  when  God  calls,  you  can’t  resist  the  
call.”  They  call  this  irresistible  grace.  No,  you  can  resist  the  call.  You  don’t  want  to  
come?  There  are  not  enough  angels  in  heaven  to  drag  you  down  this  aisle  or  to  make  
you  say  yes  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  Listen  to  these  verses.  Put  them  down.  Acts  chapter  7  
and  verse  51.  Stephen  is  preaching  to  those  religious  leaders  of  that  day,  and  he  said,  
“Ye  stiff-­necked  and  uncircumcised  in  heart  and  ears,  ye  do  always  resist  the  Holy  
Ghost;;  as  did  your  fathers.”  The  Holy  Ghost  can  be  resisted.  
Remember  the  scripture  that  I  read  to  you  from  Matthew  23  verse  37  where  Jesus  
said,  “O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  how  oft  would  I  have  gathered  thee,  but  ye  would  not.”  
Listen.  Proverbs  chapter  1,  where  the  Lord  is  personified  as  wisdom—Proverbs  chapter  
21,  verses  22  and  23.  “How  long  ye  simple  ones  will  ye  love  simplicity,  and  the  
scorner’s  delight  in  their  scorning.  And  fools  hate  knowledge.  Turn  you  at  my  reproof.  
Behold,  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  unto  you.  I  will  make  known  my  words  unto  you.”  In  
other  words,  He  is  saying,  listen,  I  am  pleading  with  you.  
But  then,  in  that  same  chapter,  He  goes  on  to  say,  you  would  not,  you  wouldn’t  have  
any  of  my  reproof.  Now,  friend,  irresistible  grace—that’s  forced  love.  Forced  love  is  a  
contradiction  in  terms.  In  order  for  it  to  be  love,  it  cannot  be  forced.  I  talked  to  our  
college  and  high  school  students  a  while  back,  and  I  said,  “Can  you  just  imagine  a  boy  
who  says  to  a  girl,  she  doesn’t  particularly  like  him,  but  he’s  fixed  on  her,”  and  she  says,  
“Well,  I  think  we  need  to  date  around  a  little  bit.”  He  says,  “No,  no,  no.  You  can’t  date  
anybody  else.”  She  said,  “Why  not?”  “Because  I  love  you.”  She  says,  “Well,  thank  you  
John,  but  I  think  we  need  a  little  space.”  “No,”  he  says,  “you  don’t  understand.  I  love  
you.”  She  says,  “Well,  thank  you  John.”  “No,”  she,  he  says,  “you  don’t  understand.  I  love  
you,  and  I’m  going  to  see  to  it  that  you  love  me.  I’m  going  to  make  you  love  me,  if  I  have  
to.”  She’s  looking  around  for  the  door  about  now,  isn’t  she?  I  mean,  man,  you  get  a  
spooky  feeling  when  somebody  says  you  are  going  to  love  me,  and  I’m  going  to  make  
you  love  me.  
Now,  I  don’t  care  how  much  tenderness  or  how  much  whatever  it  is  that  you  might  
say  is  in  the  Almighty,  still,  dear  friend,  forced  love  is  a  contradiction  in  terms.  You  can  
resist  the  Holy  Spirit  if  you  wish  to  resist  the  Holy  Spirit,  but  how  foolish  it  would  be  to  
resist  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  think  C.  S.  Lewis  summed  it  up  real  well.  C.  S.  Lewis  said  that  
basically  in  life  there  are  two  categories  of  persons:  those  who  are  like  Satan  and  those  

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who  are  like  Jesus.  
Now,  in  Isaiah  chapter  14,  you  have  the  heart  of  Satan,  and  five  times  Satan  says,  I  
will,  I  will—I  will  exalt  my  throne  above  the  stars  of  God;;  I  will  be  like  the  Most  High—I  
will  ,  I  will,  I  will,  I  will.  Satan  is  vaunting  himself,  and  what  Satan  was  saying  was  to  
Almighty  God,  not  Thy  will;;  my  will  be  done.  That’s  what  made  Satan  Satan.  There  was  
another,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  knelt  in  Calvary  with  blood  on  upon  His  
face,  bowed  His  head,  and  said,  “Not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.”  Satan,  not  thy  will,  but  
mine,  be  done;;  Jesus,  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.  Two  categories  of  persons—
some  of  them  are  in  this  room  today.  Some  are  saying,  I’m  not  going  to  give  my  heart  to  
Jesus.  It’s  my  life;;  I’m  going  to  live  it.  I’m  going  to  go  my  own  way.  
And  the  Lord  is  not  willing  that  you  perish,  but  God  has  given  you  a  will,  and  you  are  
saying  to  Him,  not  thy  will,  but  mine,  be  done.  And,  friend,  when  you  drop  into  hell,  a  
broken-­hearted  God  will  be  there  to  say,  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.  The  Lord  is  not  
willing  that  any  should  perish.  Not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.  You  said  no.  You  
trampled  beneath  your  feet  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  You  spurned  the  wooing  
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  You  heard  the  call,  and  refused  the  call,  and  God  said,  I  was  not  
willing  that  you  should  perish.  Not  my  will,  but  yours,  be  done,  as  you  drop  into  hell.    
Is  this  too  heavy  for  Sunday  morning?  That’s  one  good  thing  about  preaching  
through  a  book,  you  know.  You  just  have  to  come  to  it.  All  right  now,  watch  this.  
Foreknowledge—God  knows  whose  going  to  be  saved.  Predestination—God  says  
those  who  are  going  to  be  saved  are  going  to  be  like  Jesus.  Calling—God  calls  people  
to  salvation  through  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  a  call  that  can  be  
accepted,  or  a  call  that  can  be  refused.  You  can  be  sure,  my  friend,  that  God  has  called  
you.  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  God  calls  some  and  God  doesn’t  call  others.    

IV. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Calling  to  Salvation
Fourth  thing:  you  can  be  sure  of  your  calling  to  salvation,  if  you  receive  the  Lord  
Jesus  Christ.  Look,  if  you  will  again,  in  this  passage  of  Scripture:  “whom  he  called,  them  
he  also  justified”  Now,  what  is  justification?  What  is  justification?  Listen  to  me  very  
carefully.  Justification  is  an  act  of  God  where  He  declared  those  who’ve  received  Jesus  
Christ  righteous.  It  doesn’t  mean  that  they’ve  earned  righteousness.  It  means  that  
righteousness  has  been  given  to  them,  apart  from  anything  that  they  have  done  to  
deserve  it.  The  key  verse  is  Romans  4,  verse  5.  We’ve  already  talked  about  it.  “But  to  
him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  
for  righteousness.”  Did  you  see  that?  Your  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness.  
Now,  justification  is  more  than  a  pardon  for  your  sins.  Justification  is  more  than  an  
acquittal.  You  see,  listen.  If  you  went  into  a  court,  and  the  courtroom  said,  you  are  

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guilty,  but  we  pardon  you,  that  wouldn’t  be  justification.  Or,  if  the  courtroom  said,  you  
are  acquitted,  that  means  you  never  were  guilty  to  begin  with.  But  justification  means  
that  you  are  not  only  pardoned,  but  that  God  now,  by  a  forensic  act  of  His  love  and  His  
divine  righteousness,  declares  you,  just  declares  you  righteous,  apart  from  works  of  any  
kind,  not  because  you’ve  been  a  good  boy,  not  because  you’ve  kept  the  Ten  
Commandments,  not  because  you’ve  gotten  baptized,  but  because  you  have  trusted  in  
the  finished  work  of  Jesus  Christ  on  the  cross.  “To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  
on  him  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  unto  him  for  righteousness.”  
Now,  listen  to  me.  What  is  the  basis  of  this  justification?  It  is  the  blood  of  Jesus  
Christ.  Look  in  Romans  chapter  5  and  verse  9.  Look  at  it.  “Much  more  then,  being  now  
justified  by  his  blood,  we  shall  be  saved  from  wrath  through  him.”  The  only  way  that  you  
can  be  justified  is  through  the  precious  blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  on  Calvary’s  
cross.  You  cannot  by  your  own  good  deeds,  by  your  own  emotions,  by  your  own  
intuition,  by  your  own  anything  justify  yourself.  Friend,  if  you  could  be  saved  by  any  
other  way,  then  Jesus  Christ  would  never  have  died  on  bloody  Calvary.  Your  sin  will  be  
pardoned  in  Christ  or  punished  in  hell,  but  it’ll  never  be  pardoned,  and  you’ll  never  be  
justified,  apart  from  the  blood  of  Christ.  
How  does  justification  become  effective?  When  you  trust  Jesus.  Look  in  Romans  3,  
verse  24:  “Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  
Jesus.”  It’s  grace,  friend.  Romans  [Link]  “But  to  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth  on  him  
that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for  righteousness.  Romans  5:1,  
“Therefore,  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  
Christ.”  
And  what  are  the  results  of  this  justification?  Romans  4  verses  6  through  8—listen:  
“Even  as  David  also  describeth  the  blessedness  of  the  man  unto  whom  God  imputeth  
righteousness  without  works”—God  just  says,  I  count  him  righteous—“saying,  blessed  
are  they  whose  iniquities  are  forgiven,—thank  God  for  that,  but  it  gets  better—and  
whose  sins  are  covered—thank  God  for  that,  but  it  gets  better:  Blessed  is  the  man  to  
whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin.”  God  will  never  again  put  sin  on  your  record,  when  
you  get  justified.  If  God  put  sin  on  your  record,  you’d  be  lost  again.  One  half  of  one  sin  
would  take  you  to  hell.  
Does  that  mean,  therefore,  that  you  can  sin  and  not  worry  about  it?  No.  God  will  
carry  you  to  the  woodshed  and  beat  the  daylights  out  of  you.  “Whom  the  Lord  loves,  he  
chastens,  and  scourges  every  son  whom  he  receives.”  But  God  is  dealing  with  you,  not  
as  a  sinner  now,  but  as  a  son  and  a  servant,  and  God  will  chastise  you,  but  the  Bible  
says,  “Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin.”  That’s  justification.  
Friend,  that’s  glorious.  If  you  can  only  understand  what  justification  is.  That’s  the  reason  

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Romans  8,  verse  33,  says,  “Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God’s  elect?”  It  is  
God  that  justifieth.  All  right,  so  you  can  be  sure,  you  can  be  sure  of  your  settled  
justification  through  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.    

V. You  Can  Be  Sure  of  Your  Eternal  Glorification

Now,  here’s  the  last  thing,  and  I  just  can  just  touch  on  this.  You  can  be  sure  of  your  
eternal  glorification.  Look,  if  you  will  now,  as  we  continue  to  read  in  this  passage  of  
Scripture,  in  Romans  chapter  8,  and  look  at  it.  Now,  “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.”  It  doesn’t  say,  will  glorify.  Listen.  Remember,  
God’s  in  eternity.  God  saw  you  a  lost  sinner.  God  saw  you  under  conviction.  God  saw  
you  receiving  Christ.  God  saw  you  in  your  sanctification.  And  God  sees  you  already  in  
heaven.  
Did  you  know  that  God  can  see  you  in  heaven  right  not  when  you’re  not  even  there?  
Because  God  knows  it  all.  I  mean,  look—there’s  no  time  with  God.  God  is  not  looking  
through  the  knothole,  and  so,  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  God,  you  are  already  there.  I’m  
going  to  say  it  one  more  time,  and  I  want  you  to  say  amen.  In  the  heart  and  mind  of  
God,  you  are  already  there.  Listen,  folks:  God  is  going  to  glorify  you.  This  is  the  why  of  
our  eternal  security.  What’s  been  settled  in  heaven  can’t  be  annulled  and  undone  in  
time.  What  a  marvelous  future  is  ours.  

Conclusion  
Now,  what  does  all  of  this  mean,  bottom  line?  Friend,  if  you’ll  put  your  faith  where  
God  has  put  your  sins—on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ—you  can  be  absolutely  sure,  
absolutely  sure,  absolutely,  totally  sure.  Have  faith  in  God;;  He  cannot  fail.  Have  faith  in  
God;;  He  must  prevail.  Have  faith  in  God.  Have  faith  in  God.    
Bow  your  heads  in  prayer.  Lord  God,  I  just  pray  today  that  there  are  many  who  will  
say  yes  to  Jesus  and  trust  Him  for  salvation.  Now,  while  heads  are  bowed  and  eyes  are  
closed,  how  many  would  say,  Pastor  Rogers,  I  have  repented  of  my  sin,  I  have  given  
my  heart  to  Jesus  Christ  as  my  Lord  and  Savior,  and  God  has  seen  me  do  that?  God  
knows.  I  heard  the  gospel.  I  answered  the  call.  I  have  the  settled  assurance  that  one  
day  I’ll  be  like  Jesus.  I  know,  I  know,  and  thank  God  I  know,  that  God  sees  me  already  
in  heaven.  I  know  that  by  God’s  grace—by  God’s  grace.  While  heads  are  bowed  and  
eyes  are  closed,  if  you  can  give  me  that  testimony,  would  you  just  slip  up  your  hand,  
and  say  yes,  that  is  true.  All  right  now,  take  your  hand  down.  There  are  some,  
obviously,  in  a  crowd  like  this  who  cannot  lift  their  hand;;  but  you’re  interested  in  the  
things  of  God,  or  you  wouldn’t  be  here.  And  you  say,  Pastor,  I  don’t  have  that  

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assurance,  but  I  really  want  it,  and  if  a  person  can  know,  a  person  can  know  that  they’re  
saved,  I  want  to  know  it.  All  right,  would  you  let  me  just  lead  you  in  a  little  prayer?  And  
friend,  it’s  like  receiving  a  gift.  Right  now—I  mean  right  now,  right  now—you  can  do  that.  
Why  don’t  you  pray  this  prayer  out  of  your  heart?  Dear  God,  I  know  that  you  love  me,  
and  I  know  that  you’re  calling  me  to  be  saved.  God,  I  need  to  be  saved,  and  I  want  to  be  
saved.  Jesus,  you  died  to  save  me,  and  you  promised  to  save  me,  if  I  would  trust  you.  I  
do  trust  you.  I  put  my  faith  in  you,  right  now.  I  receive  you,  right  now,  Jesus,  into  my  
heart,  as  my  Lord  and  Savior.  I  believe  you  are  the  Son  of  God.  I  believe  you  paid  my  
sin  debt  with  your  blood  to  justify  me.  I  believe  that  God  raised  you  from  the  dead,  and  
now,  like  a  child,  right  now,  I  trust  you  to  save  me.  And  Lord,  give  me  the  courage  to  
make  it  public.  In  your  name.  Amen.  
Now,  look  up  here.  Pastor,  why  did  you  put  that  on  the  end—give  me  courage  to  
make  it  public?  Because,  you  see,  the  Bible  says,  in  Romans  10,  verse  11,  that  when  
we  believe  on  Him,  we’ll  not  be  ashamed  of  Him.  That’s  one  of  the  marks  that  we  really  
mean  business.  There’s  something  about  coming  forward  that  helps  settle  it  and  seal  it.  
I’m  going  to  ask  the  ministers  of  our  church  to  help  me  now.  A  minister  will  be  at  the  
head  of  each  of  these  aisles,  and  a  minister  will  be  under  the  balcony,  or  in  the  balcony  
under  the  banner,  in  this  corner  of  the  balcony,  and  in  that  corner  of  the  balcony—one  
says  Redeemer,  the  other  says  Messiah.  Somebody  will  be  standing  right  there  to  
welcome  those  of  you  in  the  balcony.  And  today—today—if  you  prayed,  and  said,  Lord  
Jesus,  come  into  my  heart,  when  we  sing  this  invitational  hymn,  I  want  you  to  leave  your  
seat—listen  carefully—and  come  forward.  Now,  walking  the  aisle  doesn’t  save  you.  It’s  
what  it  indicates  that  saves,  that  you  are  trusting  Jesus  so  much  that  you  are  not  
ashamed  of  Him—for,  when  we  believe  on  Him,  we’ll  not  be  ashamed  of  Him.  Oh,  I  
know  that  it’s  not  always  easy  when  there  are  people  around,  but  most  of  the  people  
here  have  done  just  exactly  what  I’m  asking  you  to  do,  and  they  are  praying  for  you.  I  
want  you  to  leave  your  seat  and  make  your  way  down  one  of  these  aisles,  and  I  want  
you  to  say  to  the  minister,  I’m  trusting  Jesus—I’m  trusting  Jesus.  Now,  that’ll  help  settle  
it  and  seal  it  in  your  heart.  Furthermore,  we  want  to  give  you  some  Scripture  to  stand  
on,  and  answer  any  questions,  and  seal  it  in  prayer.  It  will  take  just  a  few  short  minutes.  
If  you  have  friends,  they  can  wait  on  you.  If  you  are  with  a  friend  who  needs  to  make  
this  decision,  you  can  volunteer  to  come  forward  with  him  or  her.  Do  it  friend.  You  
prayed  and  asked  Christ  into  your  heart.  Don’t  go  halfway.  Don’t  be  ashamed  of  Him.  
Let  it  be  known.  Number  two:  If  you’re  already  saved  and  you  need  a  church  home,  I’m  
going  to  invite  you  to  come  and  say  I  want  to  place  my  membership  here.  Okay  now,  if  
you’ve  not  had  believer’s  baptism  as  we  understand  it,  we’d  want  the  joy  and  privilege  
of  baptizing  you  as  a  believer  in  Jesus.  Some  are  coming,  saying,  I’m  trusting  Jesus,  

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others  are  coming  saying  I  want  to  place  my  membership  here.  Okay  now,  we’re  not  
looking  for  mere  joiners.  If  you  don’t  mean  business,  don’t  come,  but  we  are  not  looking  
for  perfect  people,  because  they’re  not  to  be  found.  We  looking  for  people  who  are  just  
sincere  and  want  to  grow  in  Jesus.  Okay,  nobody  leave.  We’ll  be  praying.  Let’s  stand  
together.  You  step  out  and  come.    

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 You Can Be Sure
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: April 19, 1998

Main Scripture Text: Romans 8:28–31

“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.”
ROMANS 8:29

Outline
Introduction  
I. Foreknowledge
II. Predestination
III. Calling
IV. Justification
V. Glorification
Conclusion

Introduction
Have you ever been in the department store and seen a little boy, he'll probably be
seven, eight years of age—won't be a little girl, probably a little boy—and he'll be facing
the down escalator, and he wants to see if he can run up the down escalator. Have you
ever seen a child do that, a boy do that? If you're a boy, you've probably tried it, to go
up the down escalator, and it's always coming down faster than he can go up, and he
makes a little progress, and then he goes backwards, makes a little more, and finally he
ends up at the bottom. Now, that down escalator, that's the old nature that's against us,
that downward pull. But, you see, folks, listen. When you're trying to save yourself, run
the race, you're always losing, because your nature's going down faster than your good
intentions are going up. Do you understand that—that you cannot be saved by self-
effort. To try to be saved by self-effort is going up the down escalator, when you're a
little guy, and you just can't make it. Thank God for the grace of God, and that's what
we're talking about. And you be finding Romans chapter 8, and in just a moment we're
going to look in verse 28.
Now, what I want to talk to you about is assurance. The title of the message: You
Can Be Sure. Now, too many of us have a maybe-so, hope-so, think-so salvation, and,
you'll never, never be a victorious Christian, you will never ever have victory, you will
never ever have meaningful service until, first of all, you have the rock-ribbed assurance

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of your salvation. Too many Christians are like question marks, with their head all bent
over, when they ought to be like exclamation points. Too many Christians are doubting
Christians, when they ought to be shouting Christians. Too many Christians are saying,
Well, maybe I'm saved, I hope I'm saved, when they ought to be saying, Praise God, I
know I'm saved; I'm heaven-born and I'm heaven-bound.
Now, look in verse 28, and notice how verse 28 begins. And, that's the theme of
what we're talking about here: "And we know—and we know." Now, here are some
things that Paul is not making a surmising about—this is not conjecture, this is not
theory. Paul says, I want to tell you what we know. I want to tell you how we can be
absolutely sure. "And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love
God, who are the called according to his purpose, for…"—and, this verse just builds on
verse 28—"for whom he did foreknow,"—that is, whom God did foreknow—"he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he"—that is, God's Son—
“might be the first-born among many brethren,"—that is, He might be the older brother
to a great big family—"and 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, then, to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us?"
Now, I want to give you five foundation stones that you can stand on, and together
they make a wonderful foundation for your assurance. These words, now, they may
sound technical, and they may sound too theological, but don't check me out. Look at
them right now, beginning in verse 29, underscore the word foreknow—"for whom he
did foreknow, he did also predestinate"—underscore the word predestinate—"to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many
brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called,"—underscore the
word called—"and whom he called, them he also justified,"—underscore the word
justified—"and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Now, you have it; you have
five words. And it's upon these five words that we're going to think about the basis of
our assurance today, and when you see these things, you're going to step back and
praise God for the grace that Steve was just singing about, and you're going to say with
William R. Newell, Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan; oh, the grace that brought it
down to man; oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.

I. Foreknowledge
Now, let's look at these five words right now, and the very first of these tells us what we
can be sure of. Friend, you can be sure of God's foreknowledge of your salvation. Look
at it in verse 29: "For whom he did foreknow." Now, this word foreknowledge is a Greek
word proginosko. I knew you were waiting a long time to hear that, and I know you were

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imminently blessed after you've heard that, proginosko, but what it just simply means is
to know ahead of time—proginosko. Our English word prognosis comes from this word.
It means to look out into the future and know what is going to happen. God foreknows
everything. Now, we use the word today prognosis, a doctor will examine you and he
will tell you what your state of health is going to be. We call that a prognosis.
I heard about a man who went to the doctor, and the doctor said, I've got some very
bad news for you: you've got a year to live. And then he handed the man a bill for five
thousand dollars. The man said, I can't pay that bill. The doctor said, I'll give you
another year. Now, sometimes the doctor's prognosis is not very accurate, because the
doctor's prognosis is based upon his training, and it is an educated guess. God never
guesses at anything. God knows the future. God sees the future, the present, and the
past, all as one. We don't understand that because we're humans and we're limited by
time and space. God is not. God is above time and space, so God knows everything.
God can't learn anything. God can't forget anything. God is never surprised. And God
saw you accepting Jesus Christ before you ever accepted Him and before this world
was swung into space. God saw you getting saved.
Now, you see, God already knows everything that's going to happen. Now, the
reason that's difficult for us to understand is because we're humans and we think in
finite terms. It's like a little boy watching a parade through a knothole. He sees the floats
as they go past, and only what comes through the knothole of his perspective. Now,
suppose somebody were to see that little guy watching the parade through the knothole,
and they pick him up and take him to the top of a ten-storey building, and say, Son, you
can see better from there. And there the little guy sees the parade making up down
here, he sees the parade dispersing down here, and he sees everything in between. He
has a different vantage. Now, that's a very poor illustration, because he can only still
see so far; God can see all the way, and God sees all the time. But see, God sees from
eternity. We live in time. So what takes place to us sequentially in time is known the
beginning to the end, and the Bible says, "Known unto the Lord are all his works from
the beginning of the age." God just knows it all. And so God foreknew—God saw you
getting saved. God saw a boy down in West Palm Beach, Florida, kind of a mean kid,
skipping school, cheating in class, taking God's name in vain, getting in fights; he wasn't
a very nice little boy, but God saw that boy hearing the gospel, repenting of his sin,
trusting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. And God saw that boy doing that
before the world was ever formed. That boy's name was Adrian; he's preaching this
morning. Now, God saw that; God saw me getting saved. Now, you see, God doesn't
learn anything; you can't teach God anything because God already knows everything.
And, you know, there are some people who wonder whether or not they are the
elect. Well, does God just simply choose some people to be saved and other people not

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to be saved? No. Who are the elect? Well, listen to 1 Peter 1, verse 2, and put this in
your margin—1 Peter 1 verse 2. The Bible says there that "we are elect according to the
foreknowledge of God." Let me just help you for a moment. The elect are the whosoever
wills. The elect are the whosoever wills. When a person receives Jesus Christ as his
personal Lord and Savior, he is the elect.
Now, part of our problem is that we think if God already knows who's going to be
saved, then it is settled, and we don't have any choice about the matter. No, God knows
the choice that we're going to make, but it is still our choice. Now, here's where the
problem comes: we try to put God in a box, and you can't put God in a box. You know,
Romans 11:34 24 says, "Who hath known the mind of the Lord? Who hath been his
counselor?" Do you think you can understand things as God can understand things?
And so here is a box, and we say, Well, God foreknows everything, and therefore we
don't have any choice. Well, if you try to put God in that box, man's free will, man's
choice, will jump out of that box. Well then, on the other hand, if you put God in a box,
and you say, Well, God doesn't have anything to do with it, God can't know it ahead of
time, and God doesn't have any electing progress, it's all what man does, then the
sovereignty of God will jump out of that box. You just can't put God in a box. And, Jesus
said, in John chapter 6, "All that the Father hath given me shall come to me and him
that cometh unto me, I'll in no wise cast out." Friend, you can be sure that everybody
that God knows is going to be saved, will be saved, and they're going to come to Jesus,
and Jesus will not refuse him but receive him. Now, you say, Pastor, I really don't
understand that. Well, I'm glad to know there are some things about God that you can't
understand and I can't understand. God is God. But I want to tell you this, friend: God
knows the future before the future ever happens, and God foresaw you getting saved,
and you know that He already knows that ahead of time.
Now, to foreknow does not mean to cause, to happen. Some people think that if God
foreknows it, then God makes it happen. No, no, no, no. Let me ask you a question, see
if you disagree with this. Everything that's going to happen eventually will. You disagree
with that? You can't disagree with that. Everything that is going to happen eventually
will. I don't care whether it is rape or praise or murder or mayhem or a picnic or my
scratching my ear—everything that's going to happen eventually will. Now, when it
happens, does that take God by surprise? Of course not! Does that mean that because
God foreknew that there was going to be blasphemy or sodomy or rape that God
caused it? Of course not! Everything that's going to happen eventually will, and God
can't learn anything. God knows everything, agreed? But God gave you a choice, and
God gave you a will, and God knows simply what choice you are going to make.
Now, the astronomers know when Halley's comet is going to appear again. I don't,
but they do. Now, do you think that because they know when Halley's comet is going to

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appear that they cause it to appear? Of course not! You see, foreknowledge just simply
knows that—foreknowledge. Whom God foreknew. God knows; you can be sure that
God ahead of time saw your salvation. Now, that's a great comfort that you're not an
accident, an incident, God knows ahead of time. That's the reason Jesus said, "All that
the Father hath given me will come to me." Of course they will, because everything
that's going to happen eventually will.

II. Predestination
Now, here's the second thing that I want you to see. Not only can you be sure of God's
foreknowledge of your salvation, but you can be sure of your predestination to be like
Jesus. Now, look at the Scripture again—look at it: "For whom he did foreknow, he did
also predestinate." You know what some people think? They think that God predestined
some people to go to hell and God predestined some people to go to heaven. No. He
doesn't say anything here about hell or heaven. It says that when God foreknows
somebody, He predestines them to be like Jesus. That's not looking backward to your
salvation; it's looking forward to your glorification. When God saw that kid in West Palm
Beach giving his heart to Jesus Christ, He said, That one's going to be like Jesus. I
have settled it; I have predetermined it. It is done; he will be like Jesus Christ. That's
God's eternal purpose. That's Romans 8:28—all things are working together for good,
not to make you happy or holy or rich or wealthy or wise, but to make you like Jesus.
You see, God's purpose is that Jesus might be the first-born among many brethren, and
you are predestined to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, some people think that some people are predestined to hell and some people
are predestined to heaven. Well, let me show you, friend, that God doesn't predestine
anybody to hell; God doesn't want anybody to go to hell. God—listen to me; listen
carefully—God wants everybody saved—God wants everybody saved. Let me give you
some Scripture. Second Timothy 2, verses 3 and 4: "For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved." Now, some would say,
All of the elect, but it doesn't say that; it just says all. Let me give you another scripture.
Second Peter 3, verse 9: "The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance." You remember there in Matthew 23 about verse 37, Jesus
is coming down off the Mount of Olives, about to go up to Jerusalem there on that Palm
Sunday, and that crowd is saying, Hail Him, hail Him, hosanna!—but He knows in just a
few days there'll be bloody Calvary, and that same group that's saying, Hail Him, will be
saying, Nail Him. And Jesus is weeping, convulsing great salty tears, and He's saying,
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that stonest the prophets that are sent unto thee. How
oft would I have gathered thee even as a hen doth her chicks beneath her wing. But ye
would not." I would have, but ye wouldn't. Now, folks, I want to submit to you that if He

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had said, I would have, but ye couldn't, that whole thing would've been a great charade.
And why those tears? Why is Jesus weeping? What is all of that about—when He said, I
would have, but ye would not—if they couldn't be? I mean, if it was all settled, if some
were predestined to heaven, and some were predestined to hell.
One preacher said, If God predestined me to go to hell, I want to go to hell, because
anything that does what God made it to do is happy. I'd be happier in hell than I would
be in heaven, if God made me to go to hell. That will give you something to think about,
won't it? No, no. Do you think that God, Almighty God, fashioned a creature, and said,
I'm making this one to fling him into hell? No. "The Lord is not willing that any should
perish." Nobody's predestined to go to hell. But I'll tell you one thing: when you receive
Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you're predestined to be like Jesus.
That's what it says. "Whom he did foreknow, them did he also predestinate to be
conformed to the image of God's Son."
Now, you can be sure, therefore, that one day you're going to be like the Lord Jesus
Christ. And, by the way, this is a great verse. If this were the only verse in the Bible that
proved eternal security, it'd be enough. I mean, listen. Do you know what predestine
means? That means it's done; it's settled. I mean, Almighty God, by His omniscience,
foreknew, and, by His omnipotence, predestined.
Now, watch it. Do you think that what has been settled in heaven can be annulled in
time or on earth or by humans or by hell? Some people get the idea, Well, you know,
you got saved by your free will—you could get lost by your free will. No. Man, I can have
my leg amputated by my free will, but I can't have it put back on by my free will. You
come into a situation, Well, you say, but the devil could take you out of God's hands.
Oh, he could? You think that? And you're still in God's hand? Well, why hasn't he taken
you out, if he could? Don't you know he could if he would, and if he hasn't, hasn't he
been nice to you? And now you're going to heaven by the goodness of the devil. Isn't
that a strange doctrine? I mean, you think about it. No, he can't do it. That's why he
hasn't done it. He can't do it. No, God says when you receive Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior and Lord, you are predestined to be like Jesus. That's wonderful news.

III. Calling
Now, you can be sure—you can be sure—of God's foreknowledge of your salvation.
You can be sure of your predestination, to be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll tell you
what else you can be sure of: you can be sure that God has called you to salvation. You
know, some people get the idea that God calls some and God doesn't call other people.
No, I want to tell you. Look in this passage of Scripture—the Bible says, "For whom he
did foreknow, them he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he"—God's Son—"might be the firstborn among many brethren." Now, verse 30:

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"Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them
he also justified."
Now, what is the calling? How does God call you to be saved? Well, God calls you
to be saved through the gospel; it's the preaching of the gospel that is God's call. Let
me give you a scripture to put it down—2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Thessalonians 2—just
write it down, don't turn to it—verses 13 and 14: "For we are, but we are bound to give
thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation." You say, I thought I chose Him. No, you only chose
Him, because He chose you. "God hath chosen you to salvation." How did He do it?
Watch it: "through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The Holy Spirit
brought you under conviction, and you believed the truth. Those who are the chosen are
those who believe the truth. Now, listen to it. How did you get to hear the truth?
"Whereunto he called you by our gospel." Paul said the way you were called is when I
preached the gospel. Now, I'm preaching the gospel today, and God is calling you to
salvation, and it's such a wonderful calling. Because, you see, it's not just a preacher
preaching; it's the sanctification of the Spirit. I can't open blind eyes. A man needs more
than light to see; he needs sight. I can preach the light, but God has to give the sight.
He needs more than words to be saved; he needs hearing. And God can make the blind
to see, and the deaf to hear, and salvation is a miracle that God works. When the
gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, then that is God calling people.
Now, some people have a doctrine that they call irresistible grace, that is, God only
chooses some to be saved, and then, when God calls an individual, they can't help but
come. Oh, yes, they can help but come. You can refuse the call of God, you can spurn
the call of God—that's a dubious privilege, but God gave you a will, and God's not going
to override your will. If God overrode your will, you wouldn't be a human being. God
could have no more fellowship with you than I could with that television camera. No,
listen. Stephen said, when he preached that message to those just before they stoned
him—he said, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, you do always resist the
Holy Ghost, as did your fathers." See, the Holy Spirit can be resisted. That's the reason
the Bible says, today, if you will hear His voice, don't harden your heart. God will be
calling you today in this message, but you can say no to Him, or you can say yes to
Him, and God is not going to override your will. You have the dubious privilege of saying
no to Him. Now, He doesn't want you to say no; He wants you to say yes. But if you
don't want Him, He's not going to force himself upon you. Listen to me. Forced love is a
contradiction in terms. If you don't choose to love God, it's not love at all. God will woo
you, God will incline your heart, God will open your understanding, but God wants you
to love Him, and God will not force you to love Him, and there are not enough angels in
heaven or out of heaven to drag you forward and cause you to confess your faith in

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Jesus Christ today, if you stubbornly say no.
C. S. Lewis was a brilliant man. C. S. Lewis said, all of life is made of two categories
of persons. I want you to consider which category you may be in this morning. C. S.
Lewis says that there are those who follow Satan—they're like Satan. You remember
over there in Isaiah chapter 14 where Satan is rebelling against God—Satan, who was
a glorious angel, Lucifer, the sun of the morning, became Satan, the father of the night,
because he rebelled against God. And five times Lucifer says, I will—I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God, I will sit on the side of the north, I will be like the Most
High—I will, I will, I will, I will, I will. His own will against Almighty God's will. What
Lucifer was saying to God the Father was, Not your will, mine be done. Now, there are a
lot of people like that here today. I hope not too many, but there'll be some. I mean,
when they won't give their hearts to Jesus. They'll hear the gospel, but they'll say, No,
it's my life. I'm going to live it. I'm not going to yield to His lordship. I'm not going to
submit myself to Him. Not your will, mine be done. Now, you may not articulate it that
way, it may be more subconscious; but that's what's happening. Now, Lewis said there's
another category of persons. These are they who say, as Jesus said in the garden of
Gethsemane, Not my will, but thine be done. Satan—not thy will, mine be done.
Jesus—not my will, but thine be done. I submit to you, you are in one of those two
categories, right? You're in one of those two categories. You're either saying yes to self
and no to God, or no to self and yes to God, right? Okay, everybody's in one of those
two categories. Either you're a follower of Satan or you're a follower of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And then, Lewis said this, penetratingly, to the former group, those who say with
Satan to Almighty God, Not thy will, but mine be done: when that man finally drops into
hell, a brokenhearted God will say to him, Not my will, but thine be done. Did you catch
that? The Lord is not willing that he goes to hell.
The Bible says the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come
to repentance. But just because God is not willing that any should perish, does that
mean that none will perish? No, of course they will perish, if they say no to Him. But you
can be sure that God is calling you. I want to give you a great verse, and I love this
verse—it's found in Revelation. I want you to listen to it here, talking about God's call to
salvation—listen to it—Revelation 22, verse 17: "And the Spirit and the bride say come."
Who's the Spirit? That's the Holy Spirit. Who is the bride? That's the church. The Holy
Spirit and the church are saying to you today, Come on to Jesus, "and let him that
heareth say come." Friend, when you hear the gospel, then you need to share it, amen?
"Let him that heareth say come." When you hear it, then you need to tell others. "And let
him that is athirst, come." If you're thirsty, just come on. "And whosoever will, let him
take of the water of life freely." Now, friend, that's what motivates the great evangelists,
and people who see churches grow: the whosoever will. Don't take the whosoever will

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out of the Bible, and don't just give kind of a false whosoever will. Say whosoever will
may come. Oh, I know they really can't, but let's just tell them they can. No, no, no, no.
Whosoever will, let Him freely come. Friend, that was so good I broke my watchband.
Now, listen to me—listen to me. Whosoever will, let Him come. God wants everybody
saved. The Lord is not willing that any should perish. And, if you dropped into hell, God
will say, Not my will, but yours is being done.

IV. Justification
All right, so you can be sure—listen—you can be sure of God's foreknowledge of your
salvation; God saw it before it ever happened. You can be sure, my dear friend, of
God's decision, of God's predestination to make you like Jesus. You can be sure of
God's calling to everybody. God wants everybody saved, and God says, Whosoever will
may come; and God is saying to you today that you can come. And then, you can be
sure that when you do come, you can be sure of your settled justification. Look, if you
will, here in verse 30: "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called and
whom he also called, them he also justified."
Now, what does it mean to be justified? It means to be declared righteous. Now,
what is the basis of this justification? I mean, what is this justification? Well, go back to
Romans chapter 4 and verse 5, and look at it again—look at it, Romans 4 verse 5: "But
to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness"—that's justification. It's not being a good boy. I'm not saying
you ought not to be a good boy, good girl—"but to him that worketh not but believeth on
him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." When you put
your faith where God puts your sins, God writes in His book, There is a righteous man,
there is a righteous girl, not because of what we have done, but because of justification.
You see, listen: it is not just simply pardon for your sin—most of us want to get our sins
forgiven, pardoned. But pardon doesn't justify you; pardon is a part of it, but it doesn't
justify you. It's not acquittal. God, if God acquitted, God would just over say you're not
guilty—and you are guilty. You see, no court on earth can justify anybody—no court.
Because, if they pardon him, he's still guilty, he's just not serving the punishment; if he's
acquitted, he never was guilty. So there's no court on earth that can justify a person.
What justification is, is God taking a guilty person, not only giving that guilty person a
pardon, but making that guilty person as if he had never sinned, making him positively,
totally righteous. That's justification.
Now, what is the basis of this justification? Don't miss this. Look, if you will, in
Romans chapter 5 and verse 9. What is the basis? Look: "Much more, then, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath." There's only one thing that will
justify. Why does God count you righteous? Because of the precious blood of the Lord

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Jesus Christ. He died in your place; He was your substitute. He took your sin that you
might take His righteousness, and by His precious shed blood you have justification.
There's no justification apart from the shed blood of the Lord Jesus—do you agree with
that? Being justified by His blood. When God allowed His darling Son to die in agony
and blood upon that cross, that's the basis of your justification. And I want to tell you,
folks, when you try to justify yourself by your good works, you fling an insult into the face
of Almighty God, who hung His Son upon that cross to justify you. Because there's only
one thing that can pay your sin debt: it's not your good works, it's not your emotion, it's
not your intention, it is not your good looks, it is not your wonderful, manners—it is the
precious shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but
the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
And I tell you, if man could be justified by his good works, Calvary was the blunder of
the ages, and the Bible says, Paul, over in the book of Galatians, if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. The basis of that justification is the shed blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and God will not overlook your sin, but He'll justify you on the
basis of Christ's blood.
Now, how does it become effective to you? Well, look, if you will, in Romans 5, verse
1: "Therefore, being justified by faith, we're at peace with God." You put your faith where
God put your sins, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and there you will be justified. You will
be made like the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, what are the results of this justification? Look
in Romans 4 again—this is the good part—watch it—beginning in verse 5: "But to him
that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness." That's just another way of saying you can't get there by running up the
down escalator. "To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness,"—now, watch the blessedness of this—"even as
David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness
without works." God just says on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross, I impute
righteousness; I put righteousness on your account. Now, that'd be good, but notice, it
gets better, saying, "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven." Listen to me.
Look up here—listen: hallelujah, when you get justified, when you get saved, every blot,
every blur, every blemish, every stain, that ever came across your soul is forgiven,
forgiven, forgiven. That's a blessing.
Now, watch it—not only does He forgive it, but He doesn't leave it posted as forgiven
sin. Watch it—"in whose sins are covered." He not only forgives it, but He covers it; it's
gone, He removes not only the penalty but the stain. But now watch it, it gets better
yet—verse 8: "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." That means
that God will never mark sin up against your name. Just as God imputed righteousness
to you, God will never, no never, no never impute sin to you. "Blessed is the man to

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whom the Lord will not impute sin." It doesn't say blessed is the man who never sins
again, because none of us would be blessed. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will
not impute sin." Are you listening to me? Listen to me! Friend, when you get saved, you
get justified, and God will never mark one half of one sin against your name. He will not
impute sin to you. Well, you say, then I'll get saved and sin all I want to. Well, friend, I
sin all I want to. I sin a whole lot more than I want to. I don't want to. And I'll tell you
something else: if I fall into sin, God knows how to deal with me. He doesn't put sin
against my name; He just carries me to the woodshed, and beats the daylights out of
me. He'll do the same thing to you. "For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and he
scourges every son whom he receives." But God is not dealing with us now as sinners;
God is dealing with us now as sons. And God is not dealing with us judicially, but
paternally. God is dealing with us as a father. But the sin—the sin—is never marked
against our name. How could it be, because we're predestined to be like Jesus?
Folks, now listen to me. If this ever gets between your ears and down here into your
heart, you're going to understand what we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. You're going
to understand why Steve would sing a song like this about God's amazing, glorious,
marvelous, matchless, unfathomable, unlimited—g-r-a-c-e—grace, amazing grace.

V. Glorification
Now, watch it. Something else you can be sure of. You can be sure of your eternal
glorification. Look at it here. Just go back to chapter 8, and look at it now—in verse 30:
"Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them
he also justified, and whom he justified,"—you would expect it to say, those He will
glorify. Doesn't say that. It says He already glorified. I mean, it's a done deal—"he also
glorified." Why is that? How can you be sure of your eternal glorification? Well, because
God sees it as already done. Now, you see, God saw you over here, from eternity; God
saw you when you were lost. God saw you hearing the gospel. God saw you getting
saved, God saw you growing in Christ, and God saw you already in heaven. See, God
sees it all. I mean, it's a done deal with God. I mean, God is in eternity, and God sees
you already there, seated at the blessed feet of Jesus, praising Him and giving Him
glory. As the choir sang, All hail the matchless name of Jesus when we crown Him King
of Kings and Lord of Lords. That's already done; it's finished. God sees you there.

Conclusion
You say, Pastor, I don't understand all that. No. Vance Havner said, I don't understand
electricity, but I'm not going to sit in the dark until I do. No, you don't have to understand
it. It's the grace of God. Have faith in God; He cannot fail. Have faith in God; He must
prevail. Have faith in God. Have faith in God. And I'm telling you, the Bible says it clearly

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and plainly: "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ." That doesn't mean you're going to be perfect, sprout wings, and get
a halo. You'll grow. And we'll be talking about that next Sunday, that sanctification
process, but you'll be on your way. And, friend, you listen to me—are you listening? You
can be sure because of what God will do for you.
Bow your heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. If you already
have that assurance of your salvation, if you already know that you know, then pray for
those who don't. When I'm saying you can be sure, I'm not talking to lost people: you
have no right to be sure; I hope you're not sure, if you're lost. The only thing you need to
be sure of is your need of Jesus. And I can tell you that I'm sure that you're lost, if
you've never made Him Lord, trusted Him by faith as your personal Lord and Savior. I'm
not talking about being a church member, being baptized; I'm talking about knowing
Jesus. You need to know Him, and I invite you to pray like this:
Dear God, I am a sinner. My sin deserves judgment, but I need mercy, and I want
mercy. I need grace. And now, Lord Jesus, because you died for me and rose again, I
just now receive you. In this message, you've been calling me, and I want to say, Not
my will, but thine be done, Lord. I want to say no to myself and yes to you. I receive you
now as my Lord and Savior. I yield my life now over to you. I take you by faith as my
Lord and Savior. I will live for you, Lord Jesus, not in order to be saved, but because
you've saved me. And by your grace and for your glory I'll follow you wherever you
leave me. I'll not be ashamed of you. Amen.

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 How to Be Sure
That You Are Secure
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: July 21, 1996

Main Scripture Text: Romans 8:29, 38–39

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
ROMANS 8:38–39

Outline
Introduction  
A. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Is Important to Your Spiritual Health
B. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Increases Your Productivity
C. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Helps Win Souls to Christ
I. God Has Made Me a Promise
II. The Holy Spirit Will Finish What He Has Begun in Me
III. I Am Predestined to Be Like Jesus
IV. I Have Been Made Perfect by the Blood of Christ
V. I Am a Part of the Body of Christ
VI. I Already Have Eternal Life
VII. Jesus Is Praying for Me
VIII. It Is God’s Power That Keeps Me
Conclusion

Introduction
Would you be finding Romans chapter 8—the book of Romans, chapter 8? Romans has
been called the “Constitution of Christianity,” and it is, indeed, a wonderful, wonderful
book because it is from the book of Romans that we get those rock-ribbed truths that
give us assurance. Tonight, I want to talk to you about that blessed assurance: “How to
Be Sure You Are Secure”—“How to Be Sure You Are Secure.” Did you know there’s
something greater than being saved? It is being saved and knowing that you cannot
lose your salvation. Now, you say, “Pastor Rogers, if that is true, that is a wonderful
doctrine.” Well, I’m going to show you tonight, and I’m going to give you eight reasons
why, if you’re saved, you can never ever again be a lost soul.

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 A. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Is Important to Your Spiritual Health
Now, you say, “Pastor, is it an important doctrine?” Absolutely. It’s an important
doctrine, first of all, for your own spiritual health. Did you know that, if you do not have
the assurance that you’re saved, you will never be a well-balanced, happy, spiritual,
mature Christian, in my opinion?
Take a little child in a physical family. Suppose that child from one day to the next
never were certain that he or she were a member of the family—like today, they might
say, “Well, Mom and Dad love me. I’m secure in the family,” but the next day they might
say, “I was naughty, and I’m no longer a member of the family.” That little child would
grow up to be an emotional wreck, an emotional neurotic.
And, I know some spiritual neurotics today who do not have the assurance of their
salvation, and, therefore, they do not have that emotional and spiritual health that they
need.
B. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Increases Your Productivity
I tell you something else that eternal security will do for you: to know that you’re secure,
that you have eternal security, it will make you a very productive Christian. Some people
have the idea that if you have the assurance of your salvation, you will do less. To the
contrary, you will do more.
Some years ago, I was reading about the construction of that great bridge in San
Francisco, which, when it was built in 1937, was the world’s longest, largest suspension
bridge. And, you know, the workers on that bridge were working hundreds of feet in the
air with the swirling waters of the San Francisco Bay beneath them. It was a very
frightening thing. And, one by one, workers would fall, and they had, in the first span of
that bridge, twenty-three workers who fell to their death. And then, they spent an
enormous amount of money—and in that day, the whole bridge cost seventy-seven
million in that day—but they spent another one hundred thousand dollars before they
started the second span to build a great safety net. It was the largest safety net, at that
time, that had ever been built. And, when they built the safety net, ten people fell and
were caught in the safety net. But, that’s not the important thing. The work went twenty-
five percent faster. These workers working on that bridge knew that there was a safety
net beneath, and they knew that if they slipped and fell, it would catch them. And, you
see, folks, when you know that you’re secure in the Lord, that doesn’t slow you down; it
really speeds you up. You say, “I know that I am safe, and beneath me are the
everlasting arms of God.”
So, the doctrine of eternal security is necessary to your spiritual and emotional
health, I believe. I think the doctrine of eternal security is necessary and helpful to your
productivity in serving the Lord Jesus.

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 C. The Doctrine of Eternal Security Helps Win Souls to Christ
And, it’s certainly a wonderful tool in winning souls to Jesus Christ. You know, there are
a lot of folks out there—and some of them may be listening to me tonight—who think, “I
would like to be saved. I would like to be a Christian, but I’m just afraid that I would not
be able to hold out. I would not be able to be faithful enough to be a Christian, and I
don’t want to be a hypocrite.” And so, they’re looking to themselves rather than looking
to the Lord. They get the idea that salvation is something like God giving you the down
payment and you have to make the monthly payments, and if you fail, then somehow
He repossesses your salvation. And, they don’t see the Lord as a Savior. They see the
Lord more as a probationary officer who sort of puts us on probation and calls that
salvation. But, that’s not what salvation is. And, I can tell a person that the same God
that saved me when I was a teenage boy and has kept me all of these years is the God
that will save you and will keep you, because I wasn’t a likely candidate for holding out if
it had depended upon me. As a matter of fact, I would have failed a long time ago. But,
the God who has saved me is the God who has kept me.
Now, when I’m talking about being eternally secure, let me tell you what I’m not
talking about. I’m not saying that somebody who’s come down an aisle and joined a
church and gotten baptized is necessarily eternally secure. They may be if they got
saved, but if they didn’t get saved, of course, they are not eternally secure. When I’m
talking about eternal security, I’m talking about a person who has repented of their sin,
who has trusted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior; therefore, he has become a
partaker of the divine nature. He has been added to the Body of Christ—the mystical
Body of Christ. And, he can never ever again be a lost soul. He has been born into the
family of God, and he can never be unborn.
Now, I’m not talking about those, therefore, who are religious and may be religious
but lost. Remember, our Lord said—and I’m going to get to the scripture in just a
moment; just keep your Bibles open there to Romans 8—but remember what our Lord
said in Matthew chapter 7 and verse 22 and 23: “Many will say to me in that day”—he’s
talking about the Judgment Day—“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works?”—and then, the Lord said—“then…will I profess unto
them…depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [I never knew you].” (Matthew 7:22–23)
Now, He didn’t say, “I once knew you, and you lost your salvation.” He said, “You may
have called me ‘Lord.’ You may have thought that you cast out devils and perhaps even
did miracles, but I never knew you. You were never my child.”
Often we see people who join churches and then they fall away. Did they lose their
salvation? No, they never were truly saved. Again, the Bible says in 1 John 2 and verse
19: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they

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would no doubt [had] continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2:19) Now, what does he mean by that?
When these people come and get baptized, stay for a while, and then fall away and go
back to the world, they go back because they were never ever twice born; they had
never truly been saved.
So, I want you to get a piece of paper and a pencil or pen, and I want you to write
down these seven reasons—seven Bible reasons—why you can never ever again be a
lost soul if you’re saved. Now, if you’re not saved, they don’t apply to you. But, if you’re
saved, these are seven Bible reasons—not seven Baptist reasons; seven Bible
reasons. Now, you say, “Pastor, why did you say it that way?” Because every so often
somebody will say, “Well, the doctrine of eternal security—that’s a Baptist doctrine.” No,
it’s a Bible doctrine. And, the reason that I believe it is not because the Baptist church
teaches it but because the Bible teaches it.
That’s why I am a Baptist, by the way. I’m a Baptist because, so far as I can tell, the
Baptist denomination is closer to the New Testament than any I know. If I knew one that
was closer, that’s what I’d join. Somebody, one time, asked a man, “What would you be
if you were not a Baptist?” He said, “I’d be ashamed.” Now, I don’t say that boastfully,
but I’ll tell you one thing: if I knew of a denomination that was closer to the New
Testament than this, that’s what I’d belong to. This is not a club—that we just choose to
believe certain things. The thing that makes us Baptist is that we take the New
Testament as the Word of God. If the Bible teaches it, we’re supposed to believe it. And
so, this is not some sort of a Baptist doctrine. If we have any Baptist doctrines, we need
to get rid of them. What we need are Bible doctrines.
So now, I want to give you seven reasons, and I want you to write them down.
These are seven reasons that, if you’re saved, you can never ever again be a lost soul.

I. God Has Made Me a Promise

Write, first of all, “God has made me a promise”—“God has made me a promise.” And
then, put down “Romans 8, verse 38 and 39.” Now, let me read them to you. Paul says,
“For I am persuaded”—this is not something that he just says casually; this was one of
his deepest convictions—“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
Now here, in this passage of Scripture, Paul mentions ten great enemies that cannot
separate you from the love of God—ten enemies that it is absolutely impossible that
they could separate you from God’s love. One is death. Anything that happens to you
after you die, if that ever separates you from the love of God, then Paul just told a lie.

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The other is life. Anything that happens to you before you die cannot separate you from
the love of God. Another is angels—good angels, bad angels, fallen angels, or any kind
of an angel. Another is principalities. That means kingdoms and authorities. Another is
powers. What kind of powers? Spiritual power, psychological or judicial power, cannot
separate you from the love of God. Then, “things present” is anything in existence now.
And then, “things to come”—anything that may be created in the future, conjured up;
anything that is not in existence now. Then, he says, “Height.” That is anything in
heaven above. Then, he says, “Depth.” That is anything in hell beneath. Then, in case
he left anything out, he says, “Nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
Now folks, I read a lot. I read a lot of literature. But, I want to tell you, that’s one of
the most all-inclusive statements—or, perhaps is the most all-inclusive statement—I’ve
ever read. He doesn’t leave anything out. He covers the waterfront. If you can think of
something that he left out of this statement that might separate you from the love of
God, then you come tell me and I will do your dishes for a year—and cut your grass on
top of it. Now, you just come and tell me—say, “Pastor, here’s something that he left out
of that statement.” Friend, he didn’t leave anything out. I mean, that is an all-inclusive
statement. He is saying there is absolutely nothing that can separate me from the love
of God. That is a promise, and so you write it down: God has made me a promise. One
great preacher said this: “For any of God’s elect to perish…” Well, excuse me, I’ll get to
that in just a moment.

II. The Holy Spirit Will Finish What He Has Begun in Me

All right, here’s the second reason. Write this down: the Holy Spirit will finish what He
has begun in me. Put it down: the Holy Spirit will finish what He has begun in me. And
then, turn to Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6. Again, Paul uses a statement that says
he is speaking with great conviction. You remember he began this last statement by
saying, “I am persuaded…” (Romans 8:38) Now, he begins this statement saying,
“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.” (Philippians 1:6) Now, Paul, here, is talking
about the fact that the Holy Spirit will finish what He has begun.
Let me ask you a question: How did you get saved? When you got saved, the Holy
Spirit did a work in you. It was the Holy Spirit that spoke to you. You love God because
God first loved you. You chose Him because He first chose you. You were chosen in
Him before the foundation of the world. I don’t understand all of that because I believe
with all of my heart that “whosoever will may come.” (Revelation 22:17) But, I know this:
that in your salvation, the Holy Spirit was, first of all, the Convicter. He’s the One that
convicted you of sin. And, not only was He the Convicter; He was the Converter. You

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were born by the Spirit of God. And, I tell you this: that the Convicter and the Converter
is also the Completer. “He [who] hath begun a good work in you will perform it.”
(Philippians 1:6) Now, if you have a do-it-yourself salvation, that’s something else. But,
if your salvation is the supernatural work of God—if God, the Holy Spirit, began a good
work in you—what God has begun, He will finish.
Now, I’ve taken on a lot of projects that I’ve not been able to finish, and I believe you
have, too. But, God has never taken on a project that He’s not been able to finish.
Arthur Pink puts it this way: “For any of the elect to perish would entail a defeated
Father who has bought of the realization of His purpose a disappointed son who would
never see the full travail of his soul and be satisfied and a disgraced spirit who has
failed to preserve those entrusted to His care. From such awful errors may we be
delivered.” What he is saying is that if God did not finish what He started, He would be
defeated, Jesus would be disappointed, and the Holy Spirit would be disgraced. Paul
said, “Being confident of this very thing, that he [who has] begun a good work in you will
perform it.” (Philippians 1:6) What God starts, God finishes. Now, if God started
salvation in you, God will finish it. If it’s a do-it-yourself salvation, then you’re on your
own. Now, that’s the second thing I want you to write down: God will finish what He’s
begun in me.

III. I Am Predestined to Be Like Jesus

Now, here’s the third thing I want you to write down: I am predestined to be like Jesus.
Write that down: I am predestined to be like Jesus. Now, go back again to Romans
chapter 8, and look, if you will, in verse 29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son”—“whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he”—God’s Son—“might
be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29) Now, theologians have raced
their theological motors to answer the question: “What does it mean—‘whom God
foreknew’? Does that mean that God caused it to happen or that God allowed it to
happen?” I want to put that in back as to not discuss that tonight because it will digress
just a little bit from what I have to say, but the Bible does say, “For whom he [foreknew
them] he…did [predestine] to be conformed to the image of his son.” (Romans 8:29)
Now, there was a teenage boy in West Palm Beach, Florida. That boy used bad
language. He skipped school. He cheated in school. He told lies. He got in fistfights. He
would sometimes take things that did not belong to him. He was sometimes disobedient
to his parents and gave his teachers headaches. That boy is now the pastor of this
church. I was convicted of my sin by the Holy Spirit of God. I cried out to God and asked
God to save me. God did save me. Now, God from eternity past knew that I would
receive the Lord Jesus. He knew that I would give my heart to Him because He knows

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all things. And God, in His foreknowledge, saw me giving my heart to Jesus Christ. And,
God said of that boy, “One day, he’s going to be just like my son. He’s going to be
conformed to the image of my Son.” “Whom [God foreknew], he also [predestined] to be
conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29) Now, look up here, and you’re
going to see something wonderful: you see a man who is predestined to be conformed
to the image of Jesus Christ. Now, go stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself,
and if you’re a believer, the same thing is true about you.
Now folks, I want to tell you, predestined is a strong word. Predestined means it’s
going to happen. Your destiny is already settled. There’s nothing that can keep that
from happening. It’s not “maybe so.” It is predestined by Almighty God. So, God has
made me a promise. God will finish what He has begun, and I am predestined to be like
Jesus. Pretty good, isn’t it? Amen. Well, that’s the third reason.
You say, “Well, what if God changes His mind?” The Bible says in Romans 11 and
verse 29: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29)
Now, God doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t repent or change His mind.

IV. I Have Been Made Perfect by the Blood of Christ

Now, here’s the fourth reason—fourth thing I want you to write down: I have been made
perfect by the blood of Christ—I have been made perfect by the blood of Christ. And,
here’s the scripture I want you to write down: Hebrews chapter 10, verse 14: “For by
one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)
Now, the “one offering” is His death upon the cross. Jesus died, poured out His
blood, once and for all. Now, when I got saved, God did not merely give me a fresh
start. I’ve already said God is not a probation officer. He said, “I’m not just giving you a
fresh start. I am giving you eternal perfection.” Listen to it again: “For by one offering he
hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) The word sanctified
means “set aside from God.” It means “saved,” “made a saint.” When Jesus Christ died
on that cross, that was one offering. He will not die over and over and over again. Now,
in the Old Testament, they had to offer these bloody sacrifices over and over again, but
they were all just pictures to point to Jesus coming again. But, as we preached this
morning, when Jesus hung in agony and blood upon that cross, Jesus bowed His head.
He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30)—“Tel Telesti.” That literally means “paid in full.” It’s
done. And, when I come in to that blood sacrifice, then I am made perfect forever.
Now, listen to me: you search the Bible, and you will never find where anybody was
ever saved twice—never. You just can’t find it. I challenge anybody in this auditorium
right now to stand up and say, “Pastor, you’re wrong.” Just go ahead—stand up and tell
me. If you know it, say, “You’re wrong. I know somebody who was saved twice in the
Bible.” You just can’t find that in the Bible. Why? Because you can’t be saved twice.

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“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews
10:14) If you could get saved and then be lost, in order for you to get saved again,
Jesus would have to die again. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) When you got saved, you got a ticket stamped, “Good
for one salvation only.” “For by one offering”—“one offering”—“he hath perfected for
ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) Thank God for that. That’s a wonderful,
wonderful truth.
And so, write down, “I am made perfect by the blood of Jesus.” That doesn’t mean
that you’re sinless. That’s not what he’s talking about. He means that your salvation is
complete; it is secure. How many times can you be saved? You can be saved as many
times as Jesus died. He died once.
Well, you say, “Well, well, that brings a problem, Pastor Rogers. What if I do get
saved and then I sin?” Did I hear you say, “What if?” Is there anybody here who’s been
saved any period of time who has not sinned after he or she has gotten saved? We
have sinned. We have failed because we have not yet been conformed to the image of
God’s Son. God is still working on us. “He [has] begun a good work in [us],” (Philippians
1:6) but He’s not finished with us.
But now, what does it mean to say, therefore, that we’re “perfected for ever”?
(Hebrews 10:14) Put this verse down, and listen to it very carefully because it’s a
wonderful verse: Romans chapter 4, verses 5 through 8: “But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
(Romans 4:5) Now, if you depend upon your good works for salvation, you’ll never have
the assurance of your salvation because you’ll never know if you’ve done enough. But,
the Bible says, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”—now, let’s look in verse 6—“Even as
David also”—that is, David in the Old Testament, in the Psalms—“describeth the
blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works”—now,
what does the word impute mean? It means “to put on your account,” “charge it to you,”
“to put that down on your ledger.” The next time you go into Dillard’s to buy something,
don’t say, “Charge it”; just say, “Impute it.” It means the same thing. Or Goldsmith’s, or
wherever it is you shop. Now, God puts righteousness on your account. God imputes
that to you. “Well,” you say, “that’s wonderful that I am made righteous by the precious
blood of Jesus.” Yes, but there’s more to it. Verse 7 says—“Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven”—well, that’s wonderful. Not only has He called me righteous, but
He’s forgiven my sins. And, I’m glad that He has. Those sins are forgiven. But now, He
does more than that. He says—“and whose sins are covered”—not only does He forgive
them, but He covers them. Now, suppose I sinned against you and you forgave me. But,
you couldn’t cover my sin; my sin would still be there. But Jesus, with His precious

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blood, covers my sin. A Sunday School teacher asked a little girl, “Is there anything God
cannot do?” And, the little girl rightly said, “There’s one thing God cannot do: God
cannot see my sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.” He covers our sin. “Well,” you
say, “that’s good. Righteousness is imputed to me. Iniquity is forgiven. Sin is covered.”
But, the best part is still not yet. The best part comes in verse 8—“Blessed is the man to
whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:5–8) Good morning. Listen; listen:
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:8) God will not
put sin on your account; He will not impute sin to you.
Do you understand that verse—what it’s saying? You know, some people say, “Well,
you know, I just believe if I am living good enough, when I die, I’ll go to heaven.” Folks,
I’ve often said I wouldn ’t trust the best fifteen minutes I ’ve ever lived to get me to
heaven. And, if God were to impute sin, none of us would get there. I mean, listen, if you
think you’re going there because you’re living so hotsy totsy, I’ve got news for you: you
don’t know what sin is. The Bible says, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans
14:23) You always have perfect faith? The Bible says, “To him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him [that] is sin.” (James 4:17) Do you ever fail to do what you ought
to do? The Bible says, “The thought of foolishness is sin.” (Proverbs 24:9) I mean, when
you understand what sin is, then you’re not going to try to say, “Well, I’m going to
heaven because I’m living such a good life.” The reason that you’re going to heaven is
that God does not impute sin to you. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) Does that mean, therefore, that you can sin
with impunity? Does that mean, therefore, that if you sin, you just go sailing on to
heaven? No, if you’re a twice-born child of God and you sin, God will carry you to the
woodshed and beat the daylights out of you if you don’t repent. That doesn’t mean that
He’ll put sin on your account. He does not impute sin to you, but “whom the Lord [loves]
he [chastens], and [scourges] every son whom he [receives].” (Hebrews 12:6)

V. I Am a Part of the Body of Christ

Now, I want you to write this down: I am a part of the Body of Christ—I am a part of the
Body of Christ. Now, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2
Corinthians 5:17)
In the New Testament, Noah’s ark is used as an illustration of salvation because
Noah came into the ark and God shut the door. And so, Peter uses Noah’s ark as an
illustration of salvation, because when we come into Christ, we are sealed by the Holy
Spirit of God into Christ. Now, Ephesians 1, verse 13: “In whom ye also trusted, after
that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13) Now, when

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God put Noah in the ark, God sealed the door. When I came into Christ, God sealed the
door with the Holy Spirit of promise. Now, God shut the door.
Now, really, there are only two men who have ever really lived: one is Adam, and the
other is Christ. And, either you are in Adam or else you’re in Christ. Now, the Bible
makes it very clear that “in Adam all die…in Christ all [are] made alive.” (1 Corinthians
15:22) When you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you come into
Christ. You are a part of the mystical Body of Christ. Everybody in this building tonight is
either in Adam or in Christ. Now, I could never again be lost unless the head of this new
creation, the Lord Jesus, fails. I am as safe as Jesus is safe because I am in Christ. For
me to be lost would be for a part of Jesus to be lost. In the New Testament, Noah’s ark
is used as an illustration of salvation because Noah came into the ark and God shut the
door. And so, Peter uses Noah’s ark as an illustration of salvation because when we
come into Christ, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God into Christ.
Now, Ephesians 1, verse 13: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13) Now, when God put Noah in
the ark, God sealed the door. When I came into Christ, God sealed the door with the
Holy Spirit of promise. Now, God shut the door, and when God shut the door, He did
two things: number one, He shut the water out; number two, He shut Noah in. God shut
the door. God sealed Noah into the ark. That ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you imagine Noah building the ark and putting some pegs on the outside to hold
to? One peg for him, one peg for Mrs. Noah, one for Shem, one for Ham, one for
Japheth, and one for their wives—all eight of them? It starts to rain. They get on step
ladders. They grab hold of a wet slimy peg, and Noah says to Mrs. Noah, “Sweetheart,
you pray for me. I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” He never would have made it. No, God
put him in the ark. God shut the door. And, Noah may have fallen down several times
inside the ark, but he never fell out of it. He couldn’t fall out of it because he is in the ark
and the door is shut.
How safe was Noah? Noah was as safe as the ark. His safety was no better then the
ark. If the ark was leaky, if the ark went down, he would go down. How safe are you?
Well, you’re in Jesus. You’ll go down when Jesus goes down. You are in Christ. And,
once you come into Christ, you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit of God into Christ. That’s a
wonderful thought when you think about it. Some people think, “Well, you know, I’m
going to be secure one day when I get to heaven; then I’ll be eternally secure.” Well,
what makes you think if you’re not secure down here, you’d be secure up there? The
angels fell from heaven. Security is not in a place; security is in a person, and that
person ’s name is Jesus. He is your ark of safety, and if you’re not secure down here,
why would you be secure up there? So, you see, friend, you are in Christ, and for you to

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perish would be for a part of the Body of Jesus to perish.

VI. I Already Have Eternal Life

Now, write this down: I already have eternal life—I already have eternal life. Let me give
you a verse of Scripture. By the way, I was just praying with someone this afternoon to
receive Christ as her personal Savior and Lord, and when we finished praying, as she
received Christ into her heart, I said, “Now, let me give you your spiritual birth
certificate.” And, this was the verse I gave to this lady. She may be here tonight. But,
this is the verse I want to give you; listen to it: “Verily, verily”—now, that means “truly,
truly.” It means, “pay attention; pay attention”—“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word”—have you heard it?—“and believeth on him that sent me”—do you
believe in God, who sent the Lord Jesus to be the Savior of the world?—“hath
everlasting life”—what is modern English for “hath”? “Has.” Has everlasting life—“and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed”—not “will pass” but “is passed”—“from
death unto life.” (John 5:24) When do you get eternal life? Not when you die, but when
you believe. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, [has] everlasting life.” (John 5:24) Now, if you have believed on Jesus,
you have everlasting life.
Now, if you have everlasting life, when will it end? It can’t end. Suppose you had it
for fifty years and then lost it. What did you have? Fifty-year life. Suppose you had it for
seventy-five years and lost it. What did you have? You had seventy-five-year life.
Whatever you had, if you ever lose it, whatever it was, it wasn’t everlasting. And,
everlasting life is something you get not when you die but when you believe. The
moment you believe in Jesus you have “passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24) Now,
now folks, if you have Jesus, you have everlasting life. Thank God for it.

VII. Jesus Is Praying for Me

All right. Now, number seven—I said I’d give you seven; I’m going to give you eight—
but number seven (write this down): Jesus is praying for me—Jesus is praying for me.
Let me give you some verses. John 17, verse 9: Jesus is praying for His disciples, and
He says, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given
me; for they are thine.” (John 17:9) Now, Jesus was praying for the disciples. And now,
what did He pray for the disciples? Well, in John 17, verse 15, here’s what He prayed
for them: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15)—literally, “from the evil one.” He
saying, “I’m not praying, Father, that you take them immediately to heaven, but I do pray
for them, Lord, that you will keep them”—“that you will keep them.”
“Well,” you say, “that’s wonderful that He prayed for Peter, James, and John that

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way. I sure wish He’d have prayed for me that way.” Well, now look in John 17, verse
20: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their word” (John 17:20)—“I’m not just praying for these disciples right now, but I’m
praying for those later on. I’m praying for Dan Greer. I’m praying for Jim Whitmire. I’m
praying for Adrian Rogers. I am praying for those who will believe on me through their
word.”
Now, what’s He praying? “Father, keep them.” I want to ask you a question: Did
Jesus Christ ever pray out of the will of God or did Jesus ever pray a prayer that the
Father would not hear? Of course not. Jesus always prayed in the will of God. “And this
is the confidence that we have in him…if we ask [him] any thing according to his will, he
[hears] us.” (1 John 5:14) Now, why would Jesus pray a prayer that would not be
answered? His prayer is always answered. At the grave of Lazarus He said, “Father, I
thank [you] that [you always hear] me.” (John 11:41) Isn’t that true? Now, what did the
One who always gets His prayers answered pray for? He prayed that the disciples be
kept, and He prayed that all of us who believe on Jesus through their word would be
kept. That’s what He prayed.
Now, is that prayer answered? Well, if God always hears His Son, the Lord Jesus,
then that prayer is answered, and that’s the reason the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 7
and verse 25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) Have
you listened to the import of that verse? “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him.” (Hebrews 7:25) Now, what does that mean—
“save unto the uttermost”? “Save to the uttermost”—I used to think it meant he could
save the worst of people, and certainly, He can. I think I used to say, “He saved from
the guttermost to the uttermost” or “the uttermost to the guttermost.” He can save
anybody. Well, that’s true, but that’s not what that verse teaches. When this verse says,
“Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost,” (Hebrews 7:25) it means He can
save you all the way to the end—all the way to the end. He’s able to save to the
uttermost. Why? Because “he ever [lives] to make intercession.” (Hebrews 7:25) And,
right now, Margaret, Jesus is praying for me and for you on the basis of His shed blood.
“For [with] one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews
10:14) And,
I have a Savior, a dear, loving Savior,
Who’s interceding and praying for me.
—IRA DAVID SANKEY
Let me give you an illustration of that. Before Jesus was going to the cross, He told
Simon Peter that Simon Peter was going to curse and swear and deny Him. Luke 22,
verse 31 and 32: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have

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you, that he may sift you as wheat”—that is, “Satan wants you, Peter. He wants to get his
hands on you.” Listen to it again—“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have
you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”
(Luke 22:31–32) Don’t you like that? “Satan wants you, but I have prayed for you that
your faith will not fail.” Simon Peter stumbled. He tripped. He cursed, denied the Lord
Jesus, but he wept bitterly but came back. Why? Because Jesus had prayed for him.
Salvation is like a strong rubber band. God puts it around you. You may stray off, but
He just brings you back—just brings you back.
Because He prayed for him… “I…prayed for [you], that [your] faith fail not.” (Luke
22:32) He didn’t say that about Judas because Judas went away. Judas never was
saved. The Bible says concerning Judas—Jesus said, “Have [I] not…chosen you
twelve, and one of you is [the] devil?” (John 6:70) For He knew who they were that
believed not. But, Simon Peter, weak as he was, Simon Peter had faith in the Lord
Jesus. And, because of faith in the Lord Jesus, Jesus said, “I prayed for you, Peter, that
your faith will not fail.” (Luke 22:32) And, therefore, this Simon Peter became the
flaming apostle of Pentecost because the Lord Jesus prayed for him and interceded for
him.
And, you put it down big, plain, and straight: Jesus is praying for me. Put it down for
yourself: Jesus is praying for me. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost [those] that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) Isn’t that wonderful? Hey, folks, that’s good news. That is
wonderful.
You know what some people have? The idea—they say, “Well, now, wait a minute.
What if the devil gets me? What if the devil gets me?” The devil wanted to get Peter, but
Jesus said, “I’ve prayed for him.” (Luke 22:32) You know, some people say, “Well, you
know, the devil might get me if I get saved. The devil might take me away from God.”
Come up close. I want to tell you something: friend, if he could, he would. If he hasn’t
done it yet, hasn’t he been good to you? Now, that’d be a strange doctrine, wouldn’t it?
You’re going to heaven by the goodness of the devil. No, the only reason he hasn’t is
because he can’t, ’cause if he could, he would. And, he can’t because Jesus is praying
for us and interceding for us. “Simon…Satan [has] desired…you… But I have prayed for
[you].” (Luke 22:31–32) “Neither pray I for these alone, but [I pray] for them [who have
believed] on me through their word.” (John 17:20)

VIII. It Is God’s Power That Keeps Me

Now, write this down: “number eight”—go back and change the title when I said, “seven
reasons”—it is God’s power that keeps me. Put it down: it is God’s power that keeps
me. First Peter 1, verses 3 through 5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

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Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us”—do you know
what it means to begat somebody? It means “to become your father”—“which…hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance”—“a lively hope” means “living assurance”—“To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1
Peter 1:3–4) Now, I’ve got an inheritance in the safety vaults of heaven, and the foul
tooth of time and the breath of decay cannot take it away. It is reserved in heaven for
me. But, what good is having an inheritance reserved for me if I’m not reserved for it?
So, now listen to it: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a [living] hope”—a
blessed assurance—“by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven
for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last [days].” (1 Peter 1:3–5) When you put your faith in God, you’re
saved. And, He’ll show you in the last days that you’re saved because—I mean, it will
become obvious because you have been kept by the power of God. You see, it’s not
that you keep God; God keeps you. It’s not that you hold on to Him; He holds on to you.
Listen to this verse: John 10, verses 27 and through 29: Jesus said, “My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and
they”—“will perish every once in a while.” “Preacher, you didn’t read that right.” You
better believe I didn’t read that right. Listen to it again—“My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”—and the word man there is
italicized. It literally says in the Greek language “neither shall any pluck them out of my
hand,” anything you can name—“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27–29)
Now, I want to ask you a question. You are His sheep. You are in His hand, and His
hand—the Savior’s hand—is overlaid by the Father’s hand. Now, can you think of a
power that is strong enough to open the mighty hand of God forcefully and take you
out? No—no. That’s the point. You see, no one is able to take you out of the Father’s
hand. Isn’t that wonderful? What I’m trying to say is this…
There’s somebody that says, “Well, what if you take yourself out?” You can’t take
yourself out. In this verse, the word perish and destroy are the same word in the Greek
language, and the verb is in the middle voice. And, what it literally says is “they shall
never destroy themselves.” If He didn’t save me from me, He didn’t save me from my
worst enemy. “[None] is able to [take] them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29) And
so, I’m kept by His power. It’s not that He holds on to me, or it’s not that I hold on to Him
but that He holds on to me. Now folks, you’re in better hands than Allstate. When you

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get saved, you are His sheep.
I have children. I’ve got four wonderful children. I’ve got some grandchildren. Now,
suppose I have those children in my hand, and suppose they’re in danger of falling over a
cliff into a fire or on jagged rocks. Now, suppose I’m holding on to them with all of my
strength, and suppose the wind is blowing. And, maybe somebody is pulling, trying to pull
them out of my hand. Suppose they, themselves, out of fear or ignorance are struggling.
And, I’m holding on to them, and I don’t want them to perish because they’re mine and I
love them. They share my nature. They have become partakers of my nature because
I’ve begotten them. And, there they are. Now, if I could, if I had the strength, don’t you
think I would hold them? I mean, if I could. But, suppose one of them is struggling.
Suppose the wind comes. Or, suppose my hands get tired and I can’t hold them any
more, and they slip and fall. It would break my heart, but it would be entirely possible. Do
you know why? Because I’m only human—I’m only human. I might not be able to hold
them. Now, God is more than human. God is almighty. The Bible says, “[We] are kept by
the power of God.” (1 Peter 1:5) God is able to hold you and to keep you.

Conclusion
So, I want to say to you tonight, if you’re not a Christian, don’t let the devil keep you
from coming to Jesus by saying to you, “Oh, you’ll never be able to make it. You’ll never
be able to hold out. You don’t have what it takes.” Just tell the devil, “Of course I don’t
have what it takes. That’s why I need a Savior. He specializes in saving little weak
sheep like I am, and I’m coming to Him—not that I will hold on to Him, though I will hold
on to Him, but He will hold on to me. And, He will keep me through the ages.” It’s
wonderful to be saved but even more wonderful to know that once you’re saved, you’re
kept by the power of God. You say, “Aren’t there some conflicting scriptures?” We’ll deal
with some of those, but they are all easily answered when you see them in their context.
“[We’re] kept by the power of God.” (1 Peter 1:5)
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed, and eyes are closed. If you’re
saved, why don’t you just thank God for this great salvation right now? Why don’t you
just thank Him and say, “Lord, thank you that you have saved me, that you have kept
me all of these years”?
And, if you’re not saved, right now, I want to invite you to pray and ask Jesus to
come into your heart. You may pray like this: “Dear God, you promised to save me if I
would trust the Lord Jesus. I do trust you, Lord Jesus. Come into my heart right now.
Forgive my sin. Cleanse me, and save me, Lord Jesus. I trust you and you only. I don’t
ask for a feeling. I don’t look for a sign. I just sincerely, by faith, take myself off the
throne and put you on the throne of my life and trust you once and for all, now and
forever, as my Lord and Savior. Amen.” And, amen.

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    Five  Questions  
the  Devil  Can’t  Answer    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      July  22,  1992    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  8:30–39  

“What  shall  we  then  say  to  these  things?  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  
ROMANS  8:31  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. The  Question  of  Intimidation
II. The  Question  of  Deprivation
III. The  Question  of  Accusation
IV. The  Question  of  Condemnation
A. Christ  Died  for  Us
B. Christ  Was  Raised  for  Us
C. Christ  Reigns  for  Us
D. Christ  Makes  Intercession  for  Us
V. The  Question  of  Separation
Conclusion

Introduction  
I  want  you  to  take  God’s  Word  and  turn  to  the  book  of  Romans  and  the  eighth  chapter  
of  the  book  of  Romans—Romans  8.  If  you  did  not  bring  a  Bible  with  you,  probably  
there’s  one  there  in  the  pew  right  near  to  you.  And,  because  we’re  going  to  have  a  Bible  
study,  it  will  be  important  to  you,  if  possible,  that  you  have  a  Bible  in  your  hand  or  that  
you  look  on  with  a  neighbor  who  may  have  a  Bible  there  for  you  to  read  with.  
Now,  while  you’re  finding  it,  may  I  say  that  you  have  an  enemy  who’s  very  real?  He’s  
not  a  figment  of  imagination.  He  is  your  sworn  enemy.  His  name  is  Satan.  He  is  your  
adversary,  and  he’s  doing  everything  that  he  can  do  to  keep  you  from  enjoying  the  
blessings  that  are  rightfully  yours  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Now,  you  may  not  know  that  
he’s  doing  business  against  you,  but  he  is.  And,  to  be  forewarned  is  to  be  forearmed.  
And,  I  just  want  to  tell  you  five  ways  that  Satan  will  come  against  you,  and  when  I  give  
you  these  five  ways,  then  I  want  to  show  you  of  God’s  antidote  to  each  of  these  five  
things  and  to  show  you  the  incredible  blessing  we  have  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  

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 Now,  let  me  tell  you  the  five  ways  that  Satan  will  come  against  you  as  a  believer.  
Here  are  five  attacks.  First  of  all,  he  will  come  to  intimidate  you.  He  comes  with  
intimidation.  As  Martin  Luther  said,  “His  [power]  and  [craft]  are  great,  and,  armed  with  
cruel  hate,  /  On  earth  is  not  his  equal.”  And,  he  wants  to  intimidate  you  with  his  power.  
Not  only  will  he  come  with  intimidation,  but  he  will  also  come  with…  He’ll  plant  in  your  
heart  and  mind  a  fear  of  deprivation.  That  is,  he  will  tell  you  that  if  you  don’t  follow  him,  
you’re  going  to  be  deprived  of  this  thing  or  that  thing—that  it  costs  to  serve  Jesus,  it  
costs  every  day,  it  costs  every  step  of  the  way.  And,  he’ll,  very  frankly,  tell  you  that  the  
cost  is  not  worth  it—you’re  going  to  be  deprived.  Now,  if  that  doesn’t  work,  he’ll  come  
along  with  accusation.  He  will  accuse  you.  He  will  inform  you  that  you’re  no  good,  you’re  
not  worthy,  you’re  undeserving,  you’re  not  fit  to  be  a  Christian,  you’re  not  qualified  to  be  
a  Christian.  And,  he  will  accuse  you.  Following  on  the  heels  of  accusation  will  come  
condemnation.  He  will  condemn  you.  He’ll  tell  you  you’re  not  truly  saved,  that  your  sins  
are  not  under  the  blood—there  is  no  forgiveness—that  when  you  die,  you’re  going  to  
hell,  that  you  are  condemned  in  the  sight  of  a  righteous  and  a  holy  God.  And,  on  the  
heels  of  that,  he’ll  come  along  with  the  doctrine  of  separation—that  God’s  going  to  leave  
you,  forsake  you:  you’re  on  your  own,  and  you’re  not  going  to  make  it.  So,  there  are  the  
key  words  here  that  we’re  going  to  be  looking  at:  intimidation,  deprivation,  accusation,  
condemnation,  and  separation.  These  are  the  enemies.  
What  I  want  to  do  tonight  in  our  Bible  study  is  to  give  you  five  questions  the  devil  
can’t  answer.  Now,  the  devil  likes  to  ask  questions.  He  came.  He  crawled  his  slimy,  
corroding  path  onto  the  pages  of  history  with  a  question:  “Yea,  hath  God  said…?”  
(Genesis  3:1)  It  was  a  question.  He’s  good  at  asking  questions.  Why,  he  even  had  the  
audacity  to  ask  God  a  question—an  insinuating  question:  “Doth  Job  [serve]  God  for  
nought?”  (Job  1:9)  The  devil  likes  to  ask  questions.  I’d  like  for  us  to  ask  him  some.  I  
want  us  to  ask  the  devil  five  questions.  These  questions  are  going  to  come  right  out  of  
the  Word  of  God,  and  these,  my  dear  friend,  are  five  questions  the  devil  cannot  answer  
and  five  questions,  because  Satan  cannot  answer  them,  that  ought  to  start  the  joy  bells  
ringing  in  your  heart  to  show  you  that  you  do  have  victory  over  the  adversary.  

I. The  Question  of  Intimidation

Question  number  one:  Romans  chapter  8  and  verse  31.  Here’s  the  first  question;;  look  at  
it:  “What  shall  we  then  say  to  these  things?  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  
(Romans  8:31)  I’d  like  to  ask  the  devil  that  question:  “If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  
against  us?”  (Romans  8:31)  And,  that  deals  with  the  question  of  intimidation.  Now,  the  
devil  would  like  to  intimidate  you.  And,  you  just  say,  “Now,  wait  a  minute,  devil.  Do  you  
think  that  you’re  going  to  pull  weight  on  me  and  intimidate  me?  I  want  to  ask  you  this  
question:  If  God  is  for  me,  who  can  be  against  me?”  

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 Now,  the  word  used  here,  in  the  biblical  sense,  means  “if  God  is  our  substitute.”  
Christ  died  for  our  sins.  He  died  for  me.  That  means  He  died  instead  of  me.  So  then,  for  
instance,  it’s  not  just  that  God  is  on  my  side.  That’s  not  what  it  means.  It  means  that,  but  
it  means  more  than  that.  It  literally  means  “if  God  is  in  my  place,  if  God  is  for  me,  if  God  
is  my  substitute,  who  can  be  against  me?”  Now,  both  God  and  Satan,  in  dealing  with  
me,  don’t  really  deal  with  me.  They  have  to  deal  with  my  substitute.  I  mean,  “God  was  in  
Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself.”  (2  Corinthians  5:19)  So,  when  Satan  comes  
against  me,  I  say,  “Now,  wait  a  minute.  Don’t  deal  with  me.  You  have  to  deal  with  Jesus  
because  I’m  in  Christ,  and  He’s  in  me,  and  He  died  for  me.  If  God  be  for  me…”  And,  
when  God  the  Father  looks  at  me,  He  doesn’t  see  me;;  He  sees  Jesus  Christ.  God  is  for  
me.  My  safety  is  in  my  substitute.  And,  it’s  so  wonderful  to  know  that  God  is  for  you.  
I  had  an  experience  down  in  Florida  some  many  years  ago—just  before  I  came  to  
this  church,  as  a  matter  of  fact.  In  1972,  there  was  a  newspaperman  down  there,  a  
reporter,  who  hated  Christians  in  general.  He  specifically  hated  Baptists,  and  he  very  
specifically  hated  Baptist  preachers.  And,  he  very  specifically,  specifically  hated  one  
Baptist  preacher  who’s  standing  on  this  platform.  And,  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  was  
going  to  do  a  newspaper  article  on  yours  truly,  and  he  said  to  me,  “I  am  going  to  do  an  
investigative  report  on  you.  I’m  going  to  do  a  profile  on  you.”  He  said,  “Whether  you  like  
or  not,  I’m  going  to  do  it.  If  you  want  to  cooperate  with  me,  you  can.  If  you  want  me  to  
do  investigative  reporting,  you  can.  But,”  he  said,  “I’m  going  to  do  a  story  on  you.”  I  said,  
“Well,  I  don’t  have  anything  to  hide.  If  you  want  to  do  the  story,  just  come  on  and  do  the  
story.”  Said,  “As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  invite  you  to  just  follow  me  along  and  come  right  after  
me.”  I  said,  “If  you  want  to,  you  can  come  sit  in  my  study  and  listen  while  I  counsel  
people.”  Said,  “I  want  you  to  come  to  the  services.  I  want  you  to  ask  any  questions  you  
want  to  ask.”  But,  all  the  time  I  knew  that  I  knew  that  he  was  out  to  do  a  job  on  yours  
truly.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  had  some  people  that  worked  in  that  newspaper  office  and  
said,  “Pastor,  I  know  that  man.  I  know  what  he  is  writing,  and  I  have  already  read  part  of  
it.  And  pastor,  it  is  terrible.”  
Well,  you  know,  what  do  you  do  in  a  situation  like  that?  Well,  I  said,  “Well,  first  of  all,  
I’ve  got  to  get  a  verse,”  because  I  knew  it  was  a  form  of  satanic  intimidation.  I  said,  “I’ve  
got  to  get  a  verse—something  that  I  can  stand  on,  something  that  I  can  pray  from.”  And  
so,  God  gave  me  a  verse.  It’s  Isaiah  chapter  54  and  verse  17,  and  what  a  beautiful  
verse  that  was!  I  read  that  verse  to  the  Lord  and  quoted  that  verse  to  the  Lord  so  many  
times,  and  here’s  what  that  verse  said:  “No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee  shall  
prosper;;  and  every  tongue  that  shall  rise  against  thee  in  judgment  thou  shalt  condemn.  
This  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the  LORD,  and  their  righteousness  is  [for]  me,  saith  
the  LORD.”  (Isaiah  54:17)  Isn’t  that  a  beautiful  verse?  Listen  to  it  again:  “No  weapon  that  
is  formed  against  thee  shall  prosper;  and  every  tongue  that  shall  rise  against  thee  in  

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judgment  thou  shalt  condemn.  This  is  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the  LORD,  and  their  
righteousness  is  [for]  me,  saith  the  LORD.”  (Isaiah  54:17)  And,  God  took  that  word  from  
the  Word,  and  God  said,  “That  is  my  rhema  for  you.  That  is  my  word  from  the  Word  for  
you.”  And,  I  stood  on  that,  and  I  felt  that  God  said,  “I’m  going  to  apply  that,  Adrian,  in  
your  life  in  this  situation.”  So,  I  prayed  that  and  stood  on  it.  
Well,  upon  a  time,  this  man  came  to  hear  me  preach  at  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  
Merritt  Island.  And,  it  just  so  happened  that  on  that  Sunday  that  he  came  with  his  beard  
and  raggedy  clothes  that  he  wore,  sat  up  there  in  the  front  and  kind  of  obnoxiously  took  
notes,  God  just  came  into  that  church.  It  was  one  of  those  services  where  just  God  
came  into  it.  God  moved  in  a  great  way.  I  was  standing  at  the  front  door  shaking  
people’s  hands  as  they  were  coming  out.  And,  it  was  a  smaller  church,  and  I  could  do  
that.  I  wouldn’t  know  which  one  of  these  doors  to  go  to.  But,  I  was  standing  there  
shaking  hands  with  people  coming  out.  One  of  the  ushers  came  up  to  me.  He  said,  
“Pastor,”  he  said,  “guess  who’s  here  this  morning?”  I  said,  “Who?”  He  said,  “Johnny  
Unitas.”  Now,  if  you’re  a  young  person,  you  may  not  know  who  Johnny  Unitas  is.  But,  let  
me  tell  you  that  at  that  time,  Johnny  Unitas,  quarterback  for  the  Baltimore  Colts,  was  the  
hottest  thing  in  professional  football.  Everybody  knew  Johnny  Unitas  quarterback.  Said,  
“Johnny  Unitas  is  in  our  service.”  He’s  never  been  there  before;;  never  been  there  since.  
He’s  not  a  Baptist;;  he’s  Roman  Catholic.  What  he  was  doing  in  our  service  I  still  haven’t  
got  the  foggiest—but  sitting  in  that  service.  I  didn’t  even  know  the  whole  time  I  
preached.  
Well,  when  I  went  out  and  was  standing  at  the  door,  the  usher  just  whispered,  said,  
“Johnny  Unitas  is  in  this  line.  He’s  coming  through  this  line.”  Boy,  I  wanted  to  meet  
Johnny  Unitas.  You  know,  I  tell  you  what:  I’m  a  football  fan  from  way  back.  And,  that  
fellow  was  standing  right  behind  me  watching  everything—watching  my  mannerism,  you  
know.  It’s  kind  of  a  little  unnerving  to  have  somebody  you  know  who’s  doing  a  hatchet  
job  on  you  stand  there.  He’ll  listen  to  everything  I’m  saying,  you  know.  So,  here  comes  
Johnny  Unitas.  I  said,  “Hi,  John.”  Said,  “Hi.  It’s  a  good  sermon.”  I  said,  “Thank  you.  
Good  to  have  you.”  That’s  all  I  said.  He  said,  “Who  was  that?”  I  said,  “Johnny  Unitas.”  
Said,  “What’s  he  doing  here?”  Said,  “He  came  to  worship.  How  are  you,  Miss  Jones?  
Good  to  see  you.  How  are  you,  Miss  Smith?”  Boy,  I  tell  you,  I  felt  so  good  about  that.  I  
said,  “That’s  so  neat,  you  know,  that  God  just  sent  Johnny  Unitas  there  that  Sunday  and  
I  could  act  so  cavalier  about  it.”  
So  anyway,  this  guy  continued  to  write  this  article,  and  the  people  over  there  at  the  
newspaper  said,  “Pastor,  it’s  bad.  It  is  bad.  He’s  doing  a  hatchet  job  on  you.”  I  began  to  
tell  Jesus  on  him  and  just  say,  you  know,  “Lord,  this  is  what  you’ve  said:  ‘and  no  tongue  
that  shall  rise  against  thee  in  judgment  shall  prosper.’”  He  called  me  up  on  the  phone.  
He  said,  “Well,”  said,  “I  just  thought  I’d  tell  you  that  I’ve  finished  the  article.  I  turned  it  in.  

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The  newspaper  didn’t  like  it.”  Said,  “They  have  fired  me.”  And,  he  said,  “Somebody  else  
is  writing  that  story.”  Friend,  they  gave  us  the  inside  of  the  Sunday  supplement  with  my  
picture  on  the  front  page.  The  title  of  the  article  was,  “Reverend  Rogers  and  His  Island  
in  the  Sun”—and  an  incredible,  beautiful  article.  And,  we  couldn’t  have  bought  that  kind  
of  publicity,  and  this  bird  got  fired.  And,  you  know,  I  thought,  isn’t  that  just  like  our  God?  
You  know,  I  just  had  to  praise  the  Lord.  But,  all  through  that  thing  I  thought  how  Satan  
wants  to,  in  all  kinds  of  ways,  to  intimidate  the  people  of  God.  We  need  to  understand  
that  it’s  not  always  going  to  be  all  honey  and  no  bees.  I  mean,  Satan  is  going  to  come  
after  us,  and  we  will  suffer—and  we’ll  suffer  unjustly  sometimes.  
I  want  you  to  turn  to  Luke  chapter  21  here  for  just  a  moment.  Turn  to  Luke  chapter  
21. If  you  think  it’s  all  just  going  to  be  pink  lemonade,  look  in  Luke  chapter  21,  verse  12.
Jesus  is  talking  about  the  calamities  that  are  going  to  come  on  the  earth,  and  He  says  in
verse  12:  “But  before  all  these,  they  shall  lay  their  hands  on  you,  and  persecute  you,
delivering  you  up  to  the  synagogues,  and  into  prisons,  being  brought  before  kings  and
rulers  for  my  name’s  sake.  And  it  shall  turn  to  you  for  a  testimony.  Settle  it  therefore  in
your  hearts,  not  to  meditate  before  what  ye  shall  answer”—and,  by  the  way,  have  you
ever  wondered,  “What  would  I  do  if  they  told  me  to  deny  Christ  or  they’d  kill  me?”  or
“What  would  I  do  if  they  said,  ‘Deny  Christ  or  I’ll  cut  the  hands  off  your  grandbaby’?”
What  would  you  do  if  they  said,  “Deny  Christ  or  we’ll  torture  your  wife”?  Don’t  even
worry  about  those  kinds  of  questions.  God  will  tell  you  what  to  do.  It’ll  be  given  you  in
that  moment.  Look  at  it  again—“Settle  it…in  your  hearts,  not  to  meditate  before  what  ye
shall  answer:  For  I  will  give  you  a  mouth  and  wisdom,  which  your  adversaries  shall  not
be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist.”  (Luke  21:12–15)  The  devil  will  try  to  intimidate  you,  but
friend,  listen,  if  God  be  for  us—if  God  be  for  us,  if  God  be  for  us;;  literally,  “if  God  be  in
our  place,  if  God  be  our  substitute,”  which  He  is—who  can  come  against  Him?”
I  was  looking  at  a  verse  this  afternoon—got  me  so  excited.  I  want  to  share  it  with  
you.  Over  in  Isaiah  chapter  41  here  just  a  moment—just  turn  to  that:  Isaiah  chapter  41.  
This  deals  so  emphatically  with  what  I’m  talking  about—of  God  being  for  us.  In  Isaiah  
chapter  41,  begin  in  verse  11,  if  you  will:  God  says,  “Behold,  all  they  that  were  incensed  
against  thee”—and,  that  is,  “these  who  were  angry  at  you”—“shall  be  ashamed  and  
confounded:  they  shall  be  as  nothing;;  and  they  that  strive  with  thee  shall  perish.  Thou  
shalt  seek  them,  and  shalt  not  find  them,  even  them  that  contended  with  thee:  they  that  
war  against  thee  shall  be  as  nothing,  and  as  a  thing  of  nought”—it’s  like  a  zero  with  the  
edges  trimmed  off.  Now,  watch  it—“For  I  the  LORD  thy  God  will  hold  thy  right  hand,  
saying  unto  thee,  Fear  not;;  I  will  help  thee”—now,  here’s  the  pretty  part,  verse  14.  Look  
at  it—“Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob”—just  underscore  the  phrase  “worm”—“thou  worm  
Jacob,  and  ye  men  of  Israel;;  I  will  help  thee,  saith  the  LORD,  and  thy  redeemer,  the  Holy  
One  of  Israel.”  (Isaiah  41:11–14)  I  can’t  think  of  anything  more  defenseless  and  more  

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apt  to  be  stepped  on  than  a  worm.  I  mean,  I  can’t  think  of  anything  more  vulnerable  than  
a  worm,  and  God  called  Jacob  “worm”:  “thou  worm  Jacob.”  (Isaiah  41:14)  But,  He  said,  
“Look,  worm.  I’m  with  you.”  Now  friend,  I  tell  you  what:  you’re  coming  up  against  a  
mighty  army  when  you  come  up  against  a  worm  and  Almighty  God.  I  mean,  you  think  
about  it.  You’re  like  a  worm  with  God,  and  you’ve  got  an  incredible  amount  of  power.  
That’s  what  He’s  saying.  He’s  saying,  “Look.  It’s  not  you.”  “Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob,  
and  ye  men  of  Israel;;  I  will  help  thee,  saith  the  LORD,  and  thy  redeemer,  the  Holy  One  of  
Israel.”  (Isaiah  41:14)  
Now,  when  the  devil  gets  on  your  case  and  he  tries  to  intimidate  you,  you  ought  to  
just  open  your  Bible  to  Romans  8  and  verse  31.  Don’t  argue  with  him;;  just  say,  “I  want  
to  ask  you  a  question,  devil:  ‘If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?’”  (Romans  8:31)  
Isn’t  that  a  great  question?  You  think  the  devil’s  got  an  answer  for  that  one?  Friend,  he  
can’t  answer  that  question.  

II. The  Question  of  Deprivation

All  right.  Now,  here’s  the  second  question.  The  devil  says,  “All  right.  If  you  serve  God,  
it’s  going  to  cost  you.  You’re  going  to  lose  out.  You’re  going  to  miss  life.  You’re  going  to  
miss  happiness.  You’re  not  going  to  have  your  needs  met.”  Well,  let’s  look  in  verse  32  
at  the  second  question.  Here’s  the  second  question:  “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?”  
(Romans  8:32)  “Devil,  that’s  a  question  I  want  to  ask  you:  If  God  gave  Jesus  to  me,  how  
shall  He  not  also  with  Him  freely  give  us  all  things?”  
Now,  the  Apostle  Paul  was  a  man  of  great  logic.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  if  you  read  the  
book  of  Romans,  you’re  going  to  read  one  of  the  greatest  legal  treatises  ever  written.  
Now,  it’s  written  by  divine  inspiration,  but  Paul  didn’t  put  his  mind  in  a  closet  when  he  
wrote  the  book  of  Romans.  God  took  his  logic,  his  mind,  and  God  anointed  it  with  holy  
fire.  But,  Paul  now  is  using  reason  in  all  this:  “If  God  is  our  substitute,  when  they  come  
against  us,  they’re  coming  against  God.  And,  if  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?”  
That’s  question  number  one—no  intimidation.  And  then,  if  God  gave  us  Jesus,  He’s  
going  to  give  us  everything  else.  There’s  no  deprivation.  Now,  look  at  the  logic:  If  God  
sent  Jesus  to  die  for  us  while  we  were  enemies,  how  much  more  is  He  going  to  take  
care  of  us  now  that  we’re  His  children?  If  God  gave  us  the  great  gift  when  we  didn’t  ask  
for  it,  how  much  more  shall  He  give  things  to  those  who  ask  Him?  If  God  gave  His  
beloved  Son,  “how  shall  he  not  [also]  with  [His  Son]  freely  give  us  all  things?”  (Romans  
8:32)  
I  think  I’ve  used  this  illustration  in  the  pulpit  before.  If  you  were  to  say  to  me,  “Adrian,  
can  I  have  your  son,  David?”  “What  do  you  want  to  do  with  David?”  “Or  can  I  have  your  
son,  Steve?”  “What  do  you  want  to  do  with  Steve?”  “Well,  I  want  to  take  your  son.  I  want  

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to  abuse  him,  mistreat  him,  beat  him,  finally  torture  him  and  murder  him.  Will  you  give  
me  your  son,  that  I  might  do  that  to  him?”  Of  course,  I  wouldn’t.  I  would  die  before  I’d  let  
you  do  that  to  one  of  my  children.  I  wouldn’t  give  you  my  son.  But,  suppose,  for  some  
strange  reason,  you  could  persuade  me  to  give  you  my  son,  that  that  might  be  done  to  
him.  And  then,  you  said,  “By  the  way,  since  you’ve  given  me  your  son,  can  I  have  his  
basketball  and  bicycle?”  I’d  say,  “Sure.”  I  mean,  if  I  would  give  you  my  son,  if  I  would  not  
spare  my  son,  how  much  more  would  I  give  you  anything  else?  That’s  Paul’s  logic:  “He  
that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  [also]  with  
him…freely  give  us  all  things?”  (Romans  8:32)  
Now  friend,  if  there  was  a  promise  that  God  was  ever  going  to  go  south  on,  it  would  
have  been  the  promise  to  send  Jesus.  He  kept  that  one.  All  the  rest  of  them  are  yea  and  
amen  in  Christ.  Isn’t  that  right?  I  mean,  “My  God  shall  supply  all  [of]  your  need  
according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus.”  (Philippians  4:19)  And  so,  if  the  devil  
comes  to  me  and  says,  “Hey,  Adrian,  if  you’re  going  to  serve  God,  you’re  going  to  come  
up  short;;  you’re  going  to  be  deprived,”  I  just  want  to  read  this  verse  to  him.  And,  I  say,  
“Devil,  can  you  answer  that  question—Romans  8  and  verse  32?”  That’s  the  second  
question  the  devil  can’t  answer.  

III. The  Question  of  Accusation

Now,  here’s  a  third  question  the  devil  can’t  answer:  the  subject  of  accusation.  Look  in  
verse  33:  “Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s  elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth.”  
(Romans  8:33)  Now,  the  devil  is  called  “the  accuser  of  [the]  brethren.”  (Revelation  
12:10)  Night  and  day  he  wants  to  accuse.  He  is  “the  accuser  of  [the]  brethren.”  
(Revelation  12:10)  Revelation  chapter  12  and  verse  10  calls  him  that.  His  very  name,  
devil,  means  “slanderer,”  and  he  is  just  that.  And,  he  will  accuse  you.  
Now,  this  doesn’t  mean  that  you’re  not  going  to  be  accused.  It  means  “who  is  
qualified  to  do  so?”  Many  are  going  to  try,  but  there’s  only  one  who  could  rightly  accuse  
you,  and  that’s  the  One  who  has  declared  you  justified.  You  see,  God  has  already  
justified  you.  Look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  30:  “Moreover  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  
he  also  called:  and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also  justified.”  (Romans  8:30)  Now,  if  
you’re  justified  and  there’s  only  one  who  can  accuse  you—rightly  accuse  you—and  
that’s  God…  And,  God  has  justified  you.  The  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  
Universe  is  not  going  to  reverse  His  decision.  
Now,  you  see,  in  Rome—and  Paul  was  a  Roman  citizen—in  Rome,  when  a  man  
would  commit  a  crime,  that  man  would  be  put  in  court,  adjudicated  guilty,  then  he’d  be  
put  in  prison.  And,  on  the  prison  door  would  be  nailed  a  certificate  of  death;;  that  is,  “This  
is  what  this  man  has  done.  Thus  and  thus  and  thus  has  he  done.  Here  is  the  penalty  
that  has  been  prescribed  by  the  court,  and  this  is  what  he  must  do.  This  is  the  bill  he  

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must  pay”—a  certificate  of  death.  Now,  when  that  man,  if  he’s  been  put  in  prison  for  a  
year,  or  two  years,  or  five  years,  or  whatever  he  must  do,  that  is  there  on  his  cell  door  or  
that  is  there  in  the  record.  And,  when  he  has  paid  the  price  to  society,  then  they  would  
stamp  that  bill  “paid  in  full,”  give  it  to  him.  He  could  carry  that  with  him.  That  crime  is  
now  behind  him  because  that  bill  is  stamped  “paid,”  very  much  just  like  we  do  today  
when  we  stamp  a  bill  “paid.”  And,  when  they  would  write  on  that  bill,  they  would  write  
the  same  word  that  Jesus  Christ  uttered  from  the  cross:  “finished.”  Now,  it’s  three  words  
in  our  English  language:  “It  is  finished.”  (John  19:30)  One  word  that  Jesus  literally  said:  
“Tetelestai,”  and  it  means  “paid  in  full.”  It’s  exactly  the  same  word  that  they  would  put  on  
the  prison  door.  And,  what  Jesus  said  when  He  died  for  our  sins  is  not  “I  am  finished”  
but,  “It  is  finished.”  (John  19:30)  What  is  finished?  Redemption  is  finished.  It  is  paid  in  
full.  
Now,  with  that  in  mind,  I  want  you  to—you’re  in  Romans—just  go  to  Colossians  for  
just  a  moment—Colossians  chapter  2.  And,  Colossians  is  not  that  hard  to  find.  
Galatians,  Ephesians,  Philippians,  Colossians—General  Electric  Power  Company.  All  
right.  Now,  go  to  Colossians  chapter  2  and  verse  13.  Look  at  it:  “And  you,  being  dead  in  
your  sins  and  [in]  the  uncircumcision  of  your  flesh,  hath  he  quickened  together  with  
him”—that  is,  you  were  dead.  He’s  made  you  alive  together  with  Jesus—“having  
forgiven  you  all  trespasses”—now,  watch  it—“Blotting  out  the  handwriting  of  ordinances  
that  was  against  us”—that’s  what  was  nailed  to  the  prison  door.  That’s  what  it  is.  That  
handwriting  ordinance,  it  was  against  you.  This  is  the  handwriting  of  the  ordinances,  the  
laws  that  you  have  broken.  He  blotted  that  out—“which  was  contrary  to  us,  and  took  it  
out  of  the  way,  nailing  it  to  his  cross.”  (Colossians  2:13–14)  No  longer  is  it  nailed  to  your  
prison.  He  took  it  and  nailed  it  to  the  cross.  And  then,  when  it  was  nailed  to  the  cross,  
He  paid  that  debt  in  full  and  said,  “Now  tetelestai.  It’s  paid.  It’s  paid!”  
Now,  my  dear  friend,  if  it  is  paid,  then  “who  [can]  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s  
elect?”  (Romans  8:33)  I  mean,  who  can  do  it?  And,  the  devil  tries,  dear  friend,  to  accuse  
you.  Just  step  out  of  the  way.  Don’t  argue  with  him.  He’s  not  worth  it.  Just  read  Romans  
8,  verse  33:  “Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s  elect?  It  is  God  that  
justifieth.”  (Romans  8:33)  You’re  justified  in  the  sight  of  God.  
You  say,  “Well,  what  if  I  sin  again?”  Did  I  hear  you  correctly—“what  if”?  My  dear  
friend,  if  your  going  to  heaven  depended  upon  your  not  sinning,  there’s  not  a  mother’s  
child  in  this  building  who’ll  make  it,  except  me.  Say,  “Pastor,  I  hope  you’re  facetious.”  
Well,  I  am.  My  dear  friend,  I’ve  told  you  before  I wouldn’t trust the best fifteen minutes I
ever lived to get me to heaven—much less some of my bad ones.  But,  we  are  justified,  
counted  righteous,  by  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  paid  our  sin  debt  in  full.  And,  who  
is  he,  my  dear  friend,  that  can  accuse  you  or  “lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s  
elect?”  (Romans  8:33)  

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IV. The  Question  of  Condemnation
So,  my  dear  friend,  there’s  no  intimidation.  There’s  no  deprivation.  There’s  no  
accusation.  That  brings  us  to  the  fourth  question  I’d  like  to  ask  the  devil.  It  follows  on  the  
heels  of  the  third  question:  “Who  is  he  that  condemneth?”  (Romans  8:34)  Look  in  verse  
34  of  this  same  chapter—Romans  chapter  8  and  verse  34:  “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.”  (Romans  8:34)  Now,  my  dear  
friend,  the  devil  would  like  to  put  you  under  a  load  of  condemnation  and  guilt,  but  I  want  
to  refer  you  back  to  chapter  8  and  verse  1:  “There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  
them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.”  
(Romans  8:1)  
Now,  there  are  a  lot  of  people  who  try  to  condemn  you.  The  world  is  full  of  people  
who’ll  try  to  condemn  you.  Anybody  ever  told  you  to  go  to  hell?  Sure.  “You  go  to  hell,”  
they’ll  say.  Well,  they  can’t  condemn  you.  
I  think  I  told  you  about  three  men  who  were  in  a  restaurant.  One  was  a  believer,  and  
two  were  unbelievers.  And,  one  unbeliever  said  to  the  other  unbeliever—said,  “You  go  
to  hell.”  The  believer  said  to  the  man  who’d  just  been  consigned  to  the  pit—said,  “Look,  
I’ve  got  a  Bible  here.  I’ve  been  reading  the  directions.  You  don’t  have  to  go  if  you  don’t  
want  to.”  Thank  God,  you  don’t.  You  don’t  have  to  go  if  you  don’t  want  to.  
I  mean,  ain’t  nobody  can  condemn  a  man  who  will  put  his  sins  under  the  blood  of  
Jesus  Christ.  The  only  one  who’s  qualified  to  condemn  is  Jesus,  and  He  won’t  do  it.  
That’s  what  it  says.  Look:  “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.”  (Romans  8:34)  The  only  one  who  is  qualified  to  condemn…  Who  is  the  only  one  
qualified  to  condemn?  It’s  Jesus.  You  see,  the  Bible  says  in  John  chapter  5,  verses  22  
and  23:  Jesus  said,  “The  Father  [judges]  no  man,  [he  has]  committed  all  judgment  [to]  
the  Son.”  (John  5:22)  Now,  for  Jesus  Christ  to  condemn  the  one  for  whom  He  died,  
He’d  have  to  reverse  everything  that  He  did.  I  mean,  He  would  have  to  undo  His  four  
mighty  works.  
A. Christ  Died  for  Us
Notice  the  logic  again  of  Paul:  Christ  died  for  us;;  He  died  in  our  place.  For  you  to  be  
condemned  would  negate  Calvary.  You  say,  “But  what  if  I  sin  after  I  get  saved?”  My  
dear  friend,  the  Bible  says  in  1  John  [Link]  “the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  [God’s]  Son  
[cleanses]  us  from  all  sin”  (1  John  1:7)—not  cleansed;;  it  cleanses  us  from  all  sin.  
B. Christ  Was  Raised  for  Us
But,  not  only  did  He  die  for  us,  dear  friend;;  He  was  raised  for  us.  Look  at  that  verse  
again.  Look  at  it—verse  34:  “It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen  again.”  

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(Romans  8:34)  His  resurrection  was  the  receipt  for  our  salvation.  He’s  “[shown]  to  be  
the  Son  of  God  with  power…by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.”  (Romans  1:4)  It’s  one  
thing  for  a  man  to  say,  “I’m  going  to  die  for  your  sins.”  It’s  another  thing  for  God  to  prove  
that  He  did  when  He  raised  Him  from  the  dead.  
C. Christ  Reigns  for  Us
But,  not  only  was  He  raised  for  us;;  He  reigns  for  us.  Look  again  at  this  verse.  It  says  
here,  “Who  is  even  [seated]  at  the  right  hand  of  God.”  (Romans  8:34)  In  the  Old  
Testament,  a  priest  never  sat  down.  There  was  no  chair  in  the  tabernacle.  But,  in  that  
tabernacle  in  heaven,  our  Lord  is  seated  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.  That  
is,  He  is  reigning.  He  is  the  Redeemer.  He  is  the  raised  Redeemer.  He  is  the  reigning  
Redeemer.  He’s  sovereign  over  this  whole  affair.  
D. Christ  Makes  Intercession  for  Us
And  then,  look  again.  It  says,  “Who…maketh  intercession  for  us.”  (Romans  8:34)  He’s  
constantly  pleading  for  us  and  pleading  on  the  basis  of  His  shed  blood.  You  know,  the  
Bible  says  in  Hebrews  chapter  7  and  verse  25:  “Wherefore  he  is  able…to  save  [unto]  
the  uttermost  [those]  that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  
intercession  for  them.”  (Hebrews  7:25)  Jesus  is  praying  for  me  and  praying  for  you.  
That’s  what  He  said.  Look,  who  can  condemn  you?  Christ  died  for  you.  Christ  was  
raised.  Christ  is  enthroned.  Christ  is  interceding  for  you,  for  me.  Who  can  condemn  
somebody  who  has  such  a  Savior?  And,  every  time  Satan  would  come  with  accusation  
and  accuse  you  before  the  Father,  do  you  know  what  your  defense  is?  It’s  the  uplifted,  
nail-­pierced  hand  of  Jesus  making  intercession  for  me,  for  you.  

V. The  Question  of  Separation

So,  the  devil  comes,  and  he  says  with  his  bluster  to  intimidate  you…  I’ll  say,  “Now,  wait  
a  minute,  devil.  You  don’t  intimidate  me.  I’m  not  afraid  of  you.  ‘If  God  is  for  [me],  who  
can  be  against  [me]?’”  (Romans  8:31)  The  devil  says,  “Well,  you’re  not  going  to  have  
your  needs  met.”  I  say,  “If  God  sent  Jesus  to  die  for  me,  He’ll  give  me  everything  I  
need.”  He  says,  “Well,  I  accuse  you  of  this,  or  I  accuse  you  of  that.”  I  say,  “Who  [can]  
lay  any  thing  to  charge  of  God’s  elect?”  (Romans  8:33)  He  says,  “Well,  you’re  going  to  
hell.”  I  say,  “There’s  only  one  who  can  send  me  there;;  His  name  is  Jesus.  And,  He  died  
for  me,  and  He’s  interceding  for  me.  And,  how  do  you  think  I’m  going  to  be  condemned  
because  of  that?”  Then,  last  of  all,  he  says,  “Well,  what  if  God  gets  tired  of  you?  What  if  
God  forsakes  you?  What  if  you  get  separated  from  God?”  So,  I  want  to  ask  him  the  final  
question.  Here’s  another  question  the  devil  can’t  answer;;  look  at  it  in  verse  35:  “Who  
shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?”  (Romans  8:35)  Friend,  that’s  a  question  the  
devil  can’t  answer:  “Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or  

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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  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  
be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.”  
(Romans  8:35–39)  
You  get  the  idea  that  God’s  going  to  get  tired  of  you  and  that  somehow  you’re  going  
to  get  separated  from  God.  Now,  what  he  does—Satan  would  like  to  list  these  enemies  
that  can  take  you  away,  and  what  the  Bible  does  here  is  list  seven  tragic  experiences  
and  ten  enemies.  Seven—perfect.  Ten—complete.  Look  at  it.  What  are  these  seven  
things  that  He  says—these  tragic  experiences  that  can’t  separate  you  from  God?  What  
are  they?  Tribulation—it  doesn’t  say  you’re  not  going  to  have  tribulation.  Distress—he  
doesn’t  say  you’re  not  going  to  have  distress.  Persecution—he  doesn’t  say  you’re  not  
going  to  have  persecution.  Famine—he  doesn’t  say  you’re  not  going  to  have  famine.  
Nakedness—he  doesn’t  say  you’re  not  going  to  have  nakedness.  Peril—that  means  
“danger.”  He  doesn’t  say  you’re  not  going  to  be  in  danger.  The  sword,  which  may  mean  
death—he  doesn’t  say  that  won’t  happen  to  you.  He  says,  “In  all  these  things”—not  “in  
the  absence  of  these  things”—“in…these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  
him  that  loved  us.”  (Romans  8:37)    
Now  friend,  you  get  your  security  not  in  circumstances  but  in  the  cross,  and  not  in  
appearances,  not  in  time,  but  in  eternity  and  in  Bible  truth.  All  of  these  seven  tragic  
experiences  can  happen  to  the  child  of  God.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Apostle  Paul  wrote  
this  in  Romans.  Just  for  second,  turn  to  2  Corinthians  chapter  11  here  just  a  moment.  
Just  turn  right  a  couple  of  books  and  you’ll  find  it.  Look,  if  you  will,  verse  23.  Paul  talks  
about  these  false  apostles;;  he  says,  “Are  they  ministers  of  Christ?  (I  speak  as  a  fool)  I  
am  more;;  in  labours  more  abundant,  in  stripes  above  measure”—that  is,  “I  can’t  even  
count  the  stripes  they  put  on  my  back”—“in  prisons  more  frequent,  in  deaths  oft”—what  
does  that  mean?  How  many  times  can  a  man  die?  Paul  said,  “I  die  daily.”  (1  Corinthians  
15:31)  I  imagine  when  they  cut  off  his  head,  they  said,  “Are  you  afraid?”  He  said,  “No,  
I’ve  done  this  before.”  Say,  “What  do  you  mean?”  “I  die  daily.”  I  mean—“in  deaths  oft.  Of  
the  Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one”—that  is,  thirty-­nine  stripes.  They  
had  a  law:  you  couldn’t  whip  a  man  more  than  that  because  the  physical  frame  couldn’t  
take  it;;  he’d  die—“forty  stripes  save  one.  Thrice  [I]  was…beaten  with  rods,  once  [I]  
was…stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day  [have]  I…been  in  the  
deep”—that  is,  “I  spent  forty-­eight  hours,  or  twenty-­four  hours,  whichever  this  means,  
floating  around  in  the  Mediterranean  being  pickled”—“In  journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  
waters,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  [of]  mine  own  countrymen,  in  perils  [of]  the  heathen,  

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in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among  false  
brethren;;  In  weariness  and  painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  
fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness”—boy,  we  have  a  pretty  easy  Christianity  today,  
don’t  we?  “Now,  you  know,  pastor,  it’s  raining.  We  just  couldn’t  make  it  out  to  church.”  
Or,  “You  know,  it’s  Sunday  night.  It’s  kind  of  hard  to  get  there.  It’s  the  only  time  we  have  
together”—“Beside  those  things  that  are  without,  that  which  cometh  upon  me  daily,  the  
care  of…the  churches.”  (2  Corinthians  11:23–28)  And  then,  he  goes  on.  Now,  Paul  
didn’t  say  these  things  wouldn’t  happen  to  you.  They  certainly  happened  to  him.  But,  he  
said,  “They  cannot  separate  you  from  the  love  of  God.”  
And  then,  not  only  does  he  mention  these  seven  tragic  experiences;;  he  mentions  ten  
strong  opponents  that  can’t  do  it.  Look.  He  says  death  can’t  do  it  and  life  can’t  do  it—
“neither  death,  nor  life.”  (Romans  8:38)  He’s  talking  about  things  that  happen  in  the  
visible  world,  things  of  life  and  death.  And  then,  he  says,  “angels,  and  principalities,  and  
powers  can’t  do  it.”  (Romans  8:38)  He’s  talking  not  only  about  the  visible,  material  
world,  but  he’s  talking  about  the  unseen  world.  There  are  demonic  powers,  and  the  host  
of  hell  come  against  the  child  of  God—and  will  do  more  and  more.  But,  he  says,  “Those  
things  can’t  separate  you  from  the  love  of  God.”  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  the  devil  could  
take  you  away  from  God.  Friend,  if  he  could,  he  would.  If  he  hasn’t,  it’s  only  ’cause  he  
can’t,  or  else  he’s  been  mighty  nice  to  you.  And,  if  he’s  been  mighty  nice  to  you,  that  
means  that  you’re  going  to  heaven  by  the  goodness  of  the  devil.  That’s  a  strange  
doctrine.  No,  my  dear  friend,  the  only  reason  he  hasn’t  is  ’cause  he  can’t.  If  he  could,  he  
would  have.  You  see,  principalities  and  powers  have  no  power  over  God’s  mighty  love.  
The  invisible  world—and  then,  he  says,  “things  present,  [and]  things  to  come.”  (Romans  
8:38)  Time  can’t  do  it.  Anything  now  or  anything  that  may  ever  come  can’t  separate  you  
from  the  love  of  God.  I  don’t  care  how  long  you  live  or  how  long  eternity  is.  “Things  
present,  [or]  things  to  come.”  (Romans  8:38)  Then,  not  only  does  he  mention  time;;  he  
mentions  space:  “Nor  height,  nor  depth.”  (Romans  8:39)  He  mentions  every  realm—the  
material,  the  spiritual.  He  mentions,  my  dear  friend,  time  and  space.  And  then,  in  case  
he  left  anything  out,  he  just  wraps  it  up  and  says,  “nor  any  other  creature.”  (Romans  
8:39)  If  you  think  you  can  think  of  something  that  he  left  out,  then  he  just  covered  the  
space.  There’s  not  a  more  complete  statement  in  all  literature.  And,  what  is  he  saying?  
He’s  just  saying,  folks—now  listen  to  it:  there  is  nothing  can  separate  you  from  God’s  
love—nothing!  
Now,  the  devil  would  like  for  you  to  believe  that  somehow  God’s  going  to  cast  you  
off,  but  He  will  not.  He  will  not.  He  will  not.  
The  soul  that  on  Jesus  [hath]  leaned  for  repose,  
[He]  will  [never;;  no,  never;;  no,  never]  desert  to  its  foes.  
—JOHN  RIPPON  

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Conclusion  
Those  are  five  questions  Satan  can’t  answer.  Sometimes,  when  he  gets  on  your  case,  
say,  “Devil,  I’ve  got  some  questions.  I  want  to  read  them  to  you.  I  want  to  see  if  you’ve  
got  an  answer  for  them.”  And  friend,  there  is  no  creative  being  that  has  the  answer  to  
those  questions  because  there  is  no  answer.  
It’s  not  because  we  hold  on  to  Him.  I  think  you’ve  heard  the  story  of  the  little  boy  and  
his  daddy—busy  intersection.  His  daddy  said,  “Son,  hold  on  to  daddy’s  hand.  We’ve  got  
to  cross  the  street.”  The  little  boy  put  his  hand  up  there  to  hold  on  to  his  daddy’s  hand.  
And,  you  know,  a  daddy’s  forefinger  is  about  the  size  of  a  little  boy’s  grip.  The  little  boy  
got  hold  of  the  daddy’s  finger,  and  they  started  across  the  street.  And,  the  light  changed  
sooner  than  the  father  expected,  and  the  oncoming  traffic  came.  That  dad  just  reached  
down,  and  rather  than  letting  that  little  boy  hold  his  finger,  he  just  got  that  whole  little  
boy’s  chubby  fist  in  his  hand  and  they  start  across  the  street,  the  little  boy  just  dragging  
his  toes  as  he  went  across  the  street.  When  they  got  to  the  other  side,  the  little  boy  said,  
“I  held  on,  daddy.”  Well,  friend,  that’s  the  way  we  hold  on  because  there’s  one  who  
holds  us,  and  He’ll  never  let  us  go.  
And,  that  dirty  devil  will  pull  all  five  of  those  tricks  on  you,  but  “we  are  more  than  
conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us.”  (Romans  8:37)  
Let’s  pray.  Father,  I  thank  you  that  there’s  no  intimidation,  no  deprivation,  no  
accusation,  no  condemnation,  no  separation  for  those  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus.  And  
Father,  I  pray  tonight  that  you’d  help  the  children  of  God  to  rejoice  in  that  and,  Lord,  for  
those  tonight  who’ve  never  stepped  out  of  sin  into  grace,  that  tonight  they  might  receive  
Jesus  as  their  personal  Lord  and  Savior.  In  His  wonderful  name  I  pray.  Amen.  

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 The Heartbeat of Missions
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: November 30, 1980

Main Scripture Text: Romans 9:1–3

“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ

for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
ROMANS 9:3

Outline
Introduction  
I. A Conscientious Concern
II. A Compassionate Concern
III. A Continual Concern
IV. A Costly Concern
Conclusion

Introduction
Turn to Romans chapter 9—would you, please?—as we think tonight on “The Heartbeat
of Missions”—“The Heartbeat of Missions.” Romans chapter 9. I believe that the
greatest missionary that ever lived was a little Jew named Paul, and if you want to see
what impelled him, what motivated him, what drove him on to be the world’s greatest
missionary, I believe you can find it here in three verses in Romans chapter 9, verses 1
through 3 as we think about “The Heartbeat of Missions.” The Apostle Paul said, “I say
the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that
myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh.”
(Romans 9:1–3)
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has the greatest mission, and that is
evangelism. We have the greatest message—that is, the gospel. And, we have the
greatest Master, and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. And, with our mission and with our
message and with our Master, we ought to be evangelizing the world, but we’re not
doing it. And, it is not that Christ is a failure. It is not that the gospel is not relevant. It is
somehow, some way, we’ve lost the heartbeat—we’ve lost the heartbeat of missions.
That early Church turned their world upside down and right side up, really, for the
Lord Jesus Christ. And, it was really very simple: the Lord Jesus Christ went up; the
Holy Spirit came down. The disciples went out, and the unsaved came in. And, they

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came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. And, these early disciples—they did so much with
so little against such great obstacles. They went out against the imperial might of Rome.
They went out against the intellectual sophistication of the learned Greeks. They went
out against the religious bigotry of the Jews of that day. And they, aided and abetted by
the Holy Spirit of God, were such a force for Christ and for missions that they
evangelized the known world. And, the greatest of these missionaries and the greatest
of these soul winners was this man who wrote these words that I’ve just read to you
from Romans chapter 9, verses 1 through 3. And, as we look at the heartbeat of the
Apostle Paul, I want you to notice four things about his heartbeat.

I. A Conscientious Concern
The first thing I want you to notice is that it was a conscientious heartbeat—a
conscientious concern. Look at it again in verse 1: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my
conscience also bearing me witness.” (Romans 9:1)
Now, I want you to look right up here at me for a moment. Do you mind if I get
personal? May I get personal? Do you have a concern for souls? Now, be honest. Do
you have a broken heart for lost people? Now, if I were to go ask you once by one, I
dare say most of you would say “yes,” and here’s why I think you would say “yes”: I
think you would be embarrassed to say “no”; and so, you would say “yes.” And, perhaps
in your mind you would rationalize a little bit, but your conscience wouldn’t bear you
witness. If I asked you, “Do you have a concern for souls?” you’d say “yes,” but on the
inside, you’d feel a twinge of conscience, and your conscience would be telling you,
“That’s a lie. You don’t really care about souls.” I know that most of the people of our
congregation don’t care about souls, and I’ll tell you why: they never do anything about
bringing the lost to Jesus. They are content to come to church Sunday after Sunday and
hear Bible messages. They sit, they soak, and they sour while the world goes to hell.
The Apostle Paul had a conscientious concern for souls. He could say, “I say the truth in
Christ, and I’m not telling a lie, and my conscience bears me witness that I have this
sorrow—this continual sorrow—in my heart.” (Romans 9:1)
It’s easy to talk about missions. I have an evangelist friend who was staying in the
home of a lady who was one of the leaders in the missionary society in her church. And,
they were having morning meetings there in the church. And, he was getting ready to go
to the morning meeting there, and he was actually teaching the people how to win souls
and so forth. And, he looked at this particular lady and said, “Are you going to the
revival crusade this morning?” She said, “No, I cannot go.” And, he said, “Why can’t you
go?” And, she said, “Well, we’re having an executive meeting of our mission society,
and I’ve got to go to that.” Well, now, dear friend, when a church is having a revival
crusade, any kind of a meeting needs to be set aside for that revival crusade. It’s not

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wrong to have executive committee meetings for mission societies. But, she said, “I
have a meeting of the missionary society, and I’m going to that.” But, he said, “But,
we’re having revival. Everybody in the church ought to go.” And, she said, “Young
man”—and he was a young man at this time—she said, “Young man, I want you to
know that missions is as important as any revival meeting.” And, he said, “Well, all right.
That’s okay. Go.” He said, “Because I don’t think you’re all that concerned about souls
anyway.” “Well,” she said, “what makes you say that?” He was a guest in her home. I
think he was pretty impertinent, don’t you? She said, “What makes you say that?” He
said, “I just talked to your maid this morning. I asked her if she were a Christian. She
said she wasn’t. I asked her if she wanted to be. She said she did. I asked her if she
knew how to be, and she said she didn’t.” And, he said, “I have taken my Bible this
morning and won your maid to Jesus Christ.” He said, “I asked her how long she’d been
working for you, and she’s been working for you for several years; and you have yet to
witness to her about the Lord Jesus.” So, he said, “I think it would be best that you just
go off to the executive meeting of your mission society and talk about missions.”
Now, dear friend, talk is one thing; songs are another thing, but a heartbroken
concern is something else. Are you really concerned about souls? Is it just rhetoric? Do
you just nod your head? Do you sometimes give a sympathetic smile or cry a crocodile
tear? The Apostle Paul said, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also
bearing me witness…That I have [continual sorrow] and [great heaviness] in my heart.”
(Romans 9:1–2) When’s the last time you ever shed a tear over some soul that was
mortgaged to the devil? Oh, dear friend, do you care? Do you really care? Paul had a
conscientious concern. His conscience could bear witness with him.

II. A Compassionate Concern

But, the second thing I want you to notice about the Apostle Paul and his missionary
heartbeat: not only did he have a conscientious concern, but he had a compassionate
concern. Look again at this scripture. “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience
also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual
sorrow in my heart.” (Romans 9:1–2) The Apostle Paul had a heartbroken concern. He
had a compassionate concern. He knew what it was to weep over lost souls.
Do you know what’s missing in the average church? Tears—tears. I believe when
our eyes are filled with tears, this altar will be filled with souls. I don’t believe there’s a
substitute for tears. Now, some of us may not cry outwardly easily, but I believe we
need to get on our face before God and weep over this lost world. You call the roll of
those who’ve been used of God, who have been blessed of God, down through church
history, and you will see that they were men of compassion, they were men of concern,
they were men, dear friends, of a broken heart.

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 Listen to Moses as Moses prays and intercedes for his people. Moses said, “Yet
now, if thou wilt forgive their sin”—and then, he said—“[but] if not, blot me, I pray thee,
out of [the] book which thou hast written.” (Exodus 32:32) Have you ever noticed that
this is an unfinished sentence that Moses prayed? “[But] now, if thou wilt forgive their
sin,” (Exodus 32:32) and then he never finishes the sentence. It is as though he is so
overcome with emotion that he cannot even finish the sentence. And, he says, “O God,
if you don’t forgive these people; if you’re not willing to take them back; Lord, if they’re
not going to heaven, then,” he says, “I don’t want to go. Just wipe my name out of the
book that thou hast written.”
Listen to Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Jeremiah said, “Oh that my head were
waters, and [that] mine eyes [were] a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night
for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1)
Listen to the Lord Jesus Christ as Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. And, with big salty
tears, with a heart broken, He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how [oft] would I have
gathered [thee], even as a hen [doth] her [chicks], and ye would not!” (Mathew 23:37;
Luke 13:34)
Do you know what it is to weep over lost people? Do you know what it is to have a
compassionate concern? The world can tell when we mean business. I had a medical
doctor to call me and say, “Will you be in your pulpit?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “I’m
bringing an unsaved man with me.” He said, “I’m a Christian, a born-again believer, and
I’m bringing an unsaved man with me to your services.” I said, “Well, sir, why don’t you
bring him to your church?” He said, “At my church they don’t seem to care about lost
people.” He said, “I believe if I brought him to your church, he’d get saved.” And, he
brought him, and he did get saved. And, I thank God for a doctor who cares and has a
concern. But, I tell you, the people of this world can look around and they can see
whether or not a church has a concern for people—that is, a conscientious concern that
is a compassionate concern. O God, forgive our cold churches. God, forgive our lack of
concern. Do you have that kind of a compassion? Do you have, dear friend, a
compassionate concern?

III. A Continual Concern

The third thing I want you to notice about the Apostle Paul that made him the great
missionary that he was: not only did he have a conscientious concern and not only did
he have a compassionate concern, but pay attention now: he had a continual concern.
Look at verse 2 again: “I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”
(Romans 9:2)
I know human nature, and I know what’s happening right now. You’re feeling guilty,
and you’re saying, “You know, I’m not really concerned as I ought to be. I’m going to do

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better.” But, do you know what’s wrong with the members of Bellevue Church and with
Christians in general? We get excited for a little while, and then it just dwindles away.
We blow hot, and then we blow cold. There’s no consistency. The Apostle Paul had a
continual concern. The Apostle Paul was always at it night and day.
I’m speaking to some of you who once had a burden for souls. I’m speaking to some
of you who were once were soul winners. I’m speaking to some of you whose heart just
trembled with the idea of winning someone to Jesus. And now, you’re very casual about
the matter. Now, you don’t speak any more. You don’t have tracts by the door like you
used to. You don’t have them in the glove compartment of your automobile like you
used to. You’re not looking at people that you come in contact with and saying, “I’m
wondering if that person is saved or if that person is lost.”
The Apostle Paul was the kind of a man who, day in and day out, he was concerned
about souls. He said in Acts chapter 20, verse 31: “Therefore watch, and remember,
that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every [man day] and [night] with
tears.” (Acts 20:31) Three years he ceased not—every one, night and day, with tears.
Now, he didn’t mean after three years he quit. He just meant, “I was there three years,
and the whole time I was there with you at Ephesus that’s the way I lived—for three
years, the whole time I was there.”
Do you know, as I prepared this message and as God spoke to my heart, I got so
under conviction I had to ask myself, “Adrian, do you really have a conscientious
concern for souls?” I had to ask myself, “Adrian, do you really have a compassionate
concern for souls?” Do you know what it is to have continual sorrow? Do you know what
it is, with the Apostle Paul, to have heaviness of heart? And, I had to ask myself,
“Adrian, are you consistent? Are you really consistent?” And, God said, “Adrian, you’re
not consistent. Adrian, there’s a flaw in your life.” God spoke to my heart. I want to do
something about it. I pray God He’ll speak to your heart. I pray God that God will help us
to be like the Apostle Paul—night and day to cease not, to warn everyone with tears.
Don’t tell me about your orthodoxy. Don’t tell me that you believe in hell if you’re not
doing anything to save men from hell. You’re not warning them to “flee from the wrath to
come.” (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7) Listen, friends, it is our job—it is our job—to go and to
bring them. You can read this Bible through and you’ll not find one place in this Bible
where God ever commanded an unsaved man to go to church, but you’ll read many
places in the Bible where God commands the Church to go to the unsaved.
You know, we ought not to think it strange that they don’t come to church. You know,
you can be thrown off your guard a little bit by looking around here. And, we might have
in this auditorium, I’d say, oh, probably about twenty-five hundred here tonight. And, you
could be thrown off your guard a little bit. You’d say, “Well, looks like everybody’s going
to church.” You go out and drive around the city of Memphis, Tennessee. You see

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where they are. You’ll see that the nightclubs are filled. You’ll see that the restaurants
are filled. You’ll see that the people are at home, the little kids are there watching
television. They’re doing this thing and that thing; they’re not in church. Don’t get the
idea, because you happen to attend a church where quite a few people come on
Sunday night, that this is the average. On my way to church tonight I drove past one
church after another that was closed, and shut, and padlocked, and dark. This city is
filled with unchurched people.
You say, “Well, we built some new buildings. We’re on television. We’re on radio.
We advertise in the newspaper.” Friend, the world has been trying to tell us something,
and I think it’s about time we listened. Here’s what the world is saying: the world is
saying, “Provide spacious buildings. Make sure that you have nice parking lots well
lighted and patrolled. Provide a nursery for our children—air-conditioned. Have
magnificent instruments and well-trained choirs. Be certain that your minister has a
degree and is well prepared. And then, invite us to come by means of radio, television,
and the newspaper, and we’re still not coming.” That’s what the world’s been trying to
tell us: “And we’re still not coming. In spite of all of that, we are not coming.” And, we
shouldn’t expect them to.
I want to ask you a question: Do you find it hard to get to church on Sunday
morning? Nod your head this way if you do. I do. Man, we have to start getting ready on
Saturday night, and then sometimes we don’t make it, or almost don’t make it. And, I’ll
tell you, if we’re not careful, by the time we get here, we need to be here ’cause we lost
our religion getting here. Now, don’t look so pious. And, that’s especially true if you have
little children. Man, it’s harder to get to church than it is to go to work. It’s harder to get
to church than it is to go to school. Why? Well, the devil doesn’t all that much care
whether you go to work or go to school, but the devil just hinders you when you get
ready to come to church. It’s just a job; it’s an ordeal, especially if you have little children
and so forth. But, here’s the point—listen: we do come. And, I’ll tell you why we come in
spite of all of those obstacles: we want to come. But, what about those who are not
saved? What about those who could care less? Don’t think it strange that they don’t
come. Think it strange that we don’t go. We are to have a continual, a consistent
concern for souls. The Apostle Paul said, “I have…continual sorrow in my heart.”
(Romans 9:2)
Now, I believe in meeting down here on one night of the week to go out on a church-
wide visitation. As long as I’m pastor, I believe we’ll continue that format. But, let me tell
you, dear friend, what God really wants out of us: He wants you to go to your workplace
tomorrow morning and have a continual concern for lost people—He wants you to go
into that schoolroom; He wants you to go in that office; He wants you to go into that
playground.

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 Have you ever watched the shoeshine man as you walk past? He never looks at
your face; he looks at your shoes. “Shine, mister? You need a shine?” Why? Because
he’s concerned about shining shoes. Every person you meet you ought to say to
yourself, “Is he saved or is he lost? Is she saved or is she lost? How can God use me?
What can I do? Just a word? Perhaps a tract. Perhaps a prayer. Perhaps a smile. Is this
the opportunity? Will God give me the opportunity now to close this man out for the Lord
Jesus Christ?” Some of you are going to die and go to heaven without ever winning a
soul to Jesus.
Must I go, and empty-handed?
Must I meet my Savior so?
[Without] one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty-handed go?
—CHARLES CARROLL LUTHER
Oh, dear friend, I don’t want you to win ten people to Jesus. I don’t want you to win
five. I don’t want you to win three, not even two. I want you to win one to Jesus—just
one, just one. If you can’t win a member of your family, win somebody else’s family. If
you cannot win an adult, win a child. But, bring somebody to Jesus, and when you’ve
just brought one to Jesus, then we’ll start on number two, okay? That’s it. Dear friend,
just say, “Night and day, this one thing I want to do, and that is to be used of God to
bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

IV. A Costly Concern

Now, the fourth thing about the Apostle Paul that made him the great missionary that he
was: not only did he have a conscientious concern, not only did he have a
compassionate concern, not only did he have a continual concern—are you ready for
this?—he had a costly concern—a costly concern. Look at it again. I’m reading, now,
Romans 9, verse 1: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my
heart”—now, listen to this—“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for
my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:1–3)
Paul, did I hear you correctly? Do my eyes deceive me? Does this say what I think it
says? There are some scholars who tried to explain it away because of the impact of
what Paul said, but the best scholarship that I’ve read says that you can’t explain it
away. Paul says in his heart what he says here on the paper—in plain English, “I would
be willing to go to hell if they could go to heaven.” “I could wish that [I] myself were
accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans
9:3)—“I would go to hell if it would bring them to heaven.”
Now, such a thing is impossible. No man could ever go to hell, that another might go

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to heaven—no man other than the Lord Jesus, who did that. Jesus literally baptized His
soul in hell, and Jesus literally walked the burning corridors of hell, that you and I might
go to heaven. He took our hell, that we might take His heaven. And so, this is the Spirit
of Christ in Paul. Paul was never more like Jesus, I believe, than he was right here in
verse 3: “[That] I could wish myself…accursed from Christ.” (Romans 9:3) Jesus was
made a curse for me. Did you know that? Jesus took the curse. Jesus bore the curse.
Jesus took my sorrow. Jesus took my suffering. Jesus took my shame. Jesus took my
separation. Jesus took the curse, that I might take the crown. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Now, you say, “Brother Rogers, where do you get this kind of compassion?” Listen
to what Paul said: “I say the truth in Christ”—“in Christ.” (Romans 9:1) Paul was in
Christ. Christ was in Paul. And, the heartbeat, the sorrow, the heaviness, the concern,
the consistency—it was not Paul. Paul said, “Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
[that] liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Dear friend, don’t tell me that you’re filled with the
Holy Spirit of God—don’t tell me that the Lord Jesus Christ is alive and vibrant in you—if
you do not have what Paul had.
Andrew Murray said there are two classes of Christians—soul winners and
backsliders. Now, you think on that: two classes of Christians—soul winners and
backsliders. When a person is in Christ, when a person is walking in the Lord, abiding in
the Lord Jesus Christ, he’s going to save souls at any cost; it doesn’t matter—no matter
what the cost. What Paul was literally saying, I believe, in verse 3, is this: “I am willing to
go to any lengths to see this lost world saved.” You know, the devil has a hard time
handling a man like that. You know what Leonard Ravenhill had to say about the
Apostle Paul? Let me read the tribute that Leonard Ravenhill had to say about the
Apostle Paul. It tickles me every time I read it. Leonard Ravenhill gives this reason that
the devil could not intimidate Paul. Are you ready for it? Ravenhill said—and I quote:
“He”—that is, Paul—“had no ambitions; and so, he had nothing to be jealous about. He
had no reputation; and so, he had nothing to fight about. He had no possessions; and
so, he had nothing to worry about. He had no rights; and so, he could suffer no wrongs.
He was already broken so no one could break him. He was already dead so no one
could kill him. He was already less than the least so no one could defraud him.” And
then, Ravenhill said, “Over this God-intoxicated man hell suffered headaches”—“over
this God-intoxicated man hell suffered headaches.”
Here was a man who was sold out to Jesus Christ. Have you done that? Do you
have a costly concern for souls? We have an air-conditioned, upholstered, streamlined
faith. If you’re looking for a cheap way, an easy way, a lazy way to be a soul winner,
forget it. We don’t mind asking you to give sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering. Why shouldn’t you if Paul was willing to go to hell, that people might come to
Jesus? Don’t you think you could give sacrificially? We don’t mind asking you to go to

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the mission field if Paul was willing to go to hell. What I’m saying, dear friend, is that this
matter of being a soul winner, this matter of being a disciple, is not merely a Sunday
school picnic; we must be at it with all of our heart, with every nerve and fiber and inch
and ounce of our being. The Apostle Paul, I believe, was the world’s greatest
missionary because he had a costly concern for souls.
I was just reading recently some church history. I read about John Knox of
Scotland—John Knox, that great preacher of the gospel, who said, “O God, give me
Scotland or I die!” He had a son-in-law named John Welsh, and John Welsh was
married to John Knox’s daughter, Mary. And, he was a nonconformist preacher. James
of Scotland was on the throne, and there was a state church, an established church.
And, John Welsh was a nonconformist preacher. The established church was not
preaching the gospel, but John Welsh would go out on the street corner or in the
churches, wherever he could, and he would be preaching the saving gospel of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. They forbade him to preach, but he continued to preach.
Finally, they took this man, who was not firm in health, and they cast him into a prison. It
was a prison underground. It was dark. It was damp and cold, and it was vermin-
infested. And, the health of this man began to fade very quickly. And, time after time
again, Mary Welsh, his wife, went to James of Scotland, the King, and said, “Please set
my husband free. If you don’t let my husband out of the prison, he’s going to die.” But,
James would not release him from prison because he was a preacher of the gospel.
Finally, one day, Mary Welsh made her way to the park where the King would ride in
his carriage, and she saw James coming down the road in his lavish carriage. And, she
went out and threw herself in front of the carriage, in front of the horses. They came to a
halt. And, she got down on her face and pled, and she said, “If you don’t let my husband
out of prison, he’s going to die.” And, James was moved, and he said, “All right, I’ll
release him from prison on one condition—that you promise me he’ll never preach
again.” She stood to her feet. She held out her apron in front of him, and she said, “I’d
rather have my husband’s head in this apron than to make such a promise to you.”
James was so moved he released this man from prison, and he continued to preach—
one step ahead of the policeman, one step ahead of the King’s guard. He preached all
over the Highlands of Scotland.
And, one night he and his wife, Mary, found themselves in a little cottage there, bare
and cold, with a dirt floor. They had gone to bed. It was freezing weather; they’d cover
up to try to stay warm. But, in the middle of the night, she reached out and found that
one side of the bed was cold. And, she looked down on the floor, and down on that
frozen dirt floor was this man, John Welsh, and he was praying and agonizing. She
said, “John, come to bed”—“come to bed.” He made some sign, and she thought
perhaps that he was coming to bed. She went off to sleep, but when she awakened in

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the morning, there he was still down there on the floor, shivering and crying and
praying. She said, “John, you’ll kill yourself.” He said, “Woman, leave me alone. I have
three thousand souls on my heart, and I know not how it is with many of them.” When I
read that, I said, “Oh Adrian, you don’t know anything about compassion. You don’t
know anything about concern. You don’t know anything about a costly concern for
souls.”

Conclusion
Let me tell you something, friend: it’s time we asked ourselves this question: Do we
really believe it? Do we really believe there’s a heaven to gain? Do we really believe
there’s a hell to shun? Do we really believe that Christ died on the cross to save men?
Do we really believe that Jesus put the Great Commission in the Bible? I say, do we
believe it? Do you believe it? Do you have a conscientious concern for souls? Do you
have a compassionate concern? Do you have a continual concern? Do you have a
costly concern? Think about it.
Let’s bow together in prayer. Someone wrote these words: “O, for a passion for
souls. O, for a pity that yearns. O, for a love that is stronger than death. O, for a fire that
burns.” Father, I pray that you would help us as a church, that you’d help us as
individuals and as people, to have the right kind of concern for lost souls. Speak to my
own heart. And Lord, help us tonight—not even, Lord, that we will try in our personal
evangelism to win two people, but just one at a time that we might win people. But then,
Lord, help us not to be concerned about just one person, but Lord, on the other end,
help us to be concerned about every lost soul on the face of this earth. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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  The  Missionary  Motive    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Sermon  Date:    March  10,  1996    
Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  9:1–3    

Outline  
Introduction  
I. Paul  Had  a  Conscientious  Concern.
II. Paul  Had  a  Compassionate  Concern
III. Paul  Had  a  Continual  Concern
IV. Paul  Had  a  Costly  Concern
Conclusion

Introduction  
In  the  few  moments  that  we  have  left,  I  want  you  to  be  finding  a  passage  of  Scripture.  
Turn,  please,  to  Romans  chapter  9.  When  you’ve  found  it,  look  up  here.  This  morning,  
we  talked  about  the  world’s  greatest  missionary,  and  we  talked  about  his  call.  Tonight,  I  
want  to  talk  about  his  motivation,  because,  in  a  very  real  way,  the  way  that  God  called  
Paul  is  the  way  that  He  might  call  you  or  me,  whether  it’s  here  or  overseas.  And  the  
very  things  that  motivated  Paul  ought  to  motivate  us.  Motivation  is  very,  very  important.  
You  will  achieve  according  to  your  motivation.    
There’s  an  old  story  of  a  man  who  was  in  the  woods,  and  he  turned  around  and  saw  
a  ferocious  grizzly  bear  sniffing  at  his  tracks.  The  man  started  to  run,  and  the  bear  
began  to  run  behind  him.  And  the  man  could  feel  the  warm,  moist  breath  of  that  bear  on  
the  nape  of  that  man’s  neck.  He  could  almost  hear  the  wind  as  it  whistled,  as  the  bear  
was  making  great  swipes  with  those  massive  paws  and  those  great  claws.  The  man  
said,  “I’m  going  to  die  in  the  grasp  of  this  awful  bear.”  But  then,  he  saw  a  limb  that  went  
across  the  pathway  in  front  of  him.  He  thought,  You  know,  if  I  could  just  possibly  jump  
up  and  grab  that  limb,  I  might  be  able  to  swing  free  and  escape  this  bear.  But,  as  he  got  
closer,  he  realized  the  limb  must  have  been  at  least  fifteen  feet  off  the  ground.  He  
thought,  Even  the  greatest  basketball  player  can’t  jump  that  high.  But  he  said,  “I’ve  got  
to.  I’ve  just  got  to.  If  I  don’t,  I’ll  die.”  He  said,  “It’s  impossible,  but  I’m  going  to  give  it  a  
try.”  And  he  made  a  tremendous,  tremendous  effort,  and  leaped  for  all  he  was  worth,  
but  he  missed  the  limb—but  he  caught  it  on  his  way  back  down!  The  thing  has  to  do  
with  motivation.    
If  you  want  to  see  what  made  Paul  the  great  soul  winner  that  he  was,  you  can  find  

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his  motivation  in  these  verses—Romans  9,  verses  1  through  3—listen  to  it:  “I  say  the  
truth  in  Christ,  I  lie  not,  my  conscience  also  bearing  me  witness  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  I  
have  great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart.  For  I  could  wish  that  myself  
were  accursed  from  Christ  for  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh.”  
Now,  the  apostle  Paul  had  the  greatest  mission.  He  had  the  greatest  message.  And  
he  had  the  greatest  master.  His  mission  was  missions.  His  message  was  salvation.  His  
master  was  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And,  as  a  result,  he  gives  us  a  glimpse  into  his  heart,  
in  these  three  verses.    
Now,  I  want  to  tell  you  very  quickly,  I  realize  the  time  is  short,  and  I  will  not  keep  you  
long.  But  I  pray  God  that  the  shortness  of  the  message  will  really  increase  the  impact.  
And  I  pray  God  that  what  I  have  to  say  about  the  thing  that  burdened  and  motivated  
Paul’s  heart  will  burden  and  motivate  my  heart  and  your  heart,  whether  or  not  God  calls  
you  to  be  a  missionary  in  Albania,  or  whether  God  calls  you  to  be  a  missionary  at  high  
school,  or  in  the  law  office—wherever  you  are,  that  God  will  motivate  you.  

I. Paul  Had  a  Conscientious  Concern.

Paul  had  a  concern  for  the  lost.  Now,  what  kind  of  a  concern  was  it?  First  of  all,  it  
was  a  conscientious  concern.  He  said,  “I  say  the  truth  in  Christ,  my  conscience  also  
bearing  witness…”  He  had  a  conscientious  concern.    
Now,  if  I  were  to  ask  you  tonight  a  rhetorical  question,  how  many  tonight  have  a  
burden  for  the  world?  How  many  tonight  have  a  burden  for  the  nations  represented  by  
these  flags?  How  many  have  a  burden  for  those  represented  by  those  black  flags  there  
that  don’t  have  really  much  witness  at  all?  How  many  have  a  burden  for  the  man  next  
door  or  my  schoolmate  or  lost  family  members?  If  I  were  to  ask  that  question  
rhetorically,  or  ask  you  to  lift  your  hand,  I  dare  say,  almost  everybody,  if  not  everybody,  
here  would  lift  your  hand,  because  it’s  the  thing  to  do.  I  mean,  that’s  expected  of  us.  But  
I  wonder  this:  I  wonder  if,  while  we  lifted  our  hand,  we  might  not  have  a  twinge  of  
conscience.  Listen  to  what  he  said  now:  “I  say  the  truth  in  Christ,  I  lie  not,  my  
conscience  also  bearing  me  witness  in  the  Holy  Ghost.”  I  wonder  if  you  said  tonight  that  
you’re  burdened  for  a  lost  world,  would  your  conscience  say  you’re  telling  a  lie?  You  
know,  it’s  easy  to  talk  missions.    
I  had  an  evangelist  friend  who  was  staying  in  the  home  of  a  lady  who  headed  the  
Missionary  Society  in  her  church.  They  were  having  a  revival  crusade  at  the  church.  
And  this  lady  said  to  the  evangelist,  “I  will  not  be  at  the  evangelistic  crusade,  the  
meeting  that  you’re  having.”  She  said,  “We’re  having  a  meeting  of  our  Mission  Society,  
so  I  can’t  come  to  the  crusade.”  He  said,  “Well,  I  think  that  you  ought  to  put  aside  all  
meetings,  because  the  church  is  in  a  church-wide  evangelistic  crusade,  and  everybody  

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ought  to  be  in  the  crusade.”  She  began  to  lecture  him.  She  said,  “Young  man,  missions  
is  very  important.  You  may  not  understand  it,  but  we’re  meeting  with  our  ladies  to  study  
and  to  pray  for  the  world.”  And  she  lectured  him  about  not  having  a  missionary  heart.  
You  know  what  he  said  to  her?  He  said,  “That’s  all  right.”  Now,  he  was  a  guest  in  the  
home,  and  this  sounds  mighty  rude.  But  he  said,  “That’s  all  right.  You  go  to  the  mission  
meeting,  and  you  talk  about  missions,  and  you  pray  about  missions,  and  you  study  
about  missions,  but  you  don’t  care  about  missions.”  She  said,  “Why  do  you  say  that?”  
He  said,  “I’ve  been  staying  here  in  your  home.”  He  said,  “Yesterday,  I  asked  your  maid  
if  she  was  a  Christian.  She  said,  no.  I  asked  her  if  she  wanted  to  be.  She  said,  yes.”  He  
said,  “I’ve  led  your  maid  to  Jesus  Christ.  Your  maid’s  been  saved.  I  asked  your  maid  if  
you’d  ever  once  witnessed  to  her  about  Jesus.  She  said,  not  one  time.”    
Now,  here  was  a  woman  talking  about  missions,  praying  about  missions,  studying  
about  missions,  and  failing  to  witness.  Now,  if  you  think  that  I’m  talking  Mission  
Societies  down,  or  ladies  praying  about  missions—if  you  think  that  I’m  talking  that  down,  
you’ve  missed  what  I’m  saying  100%.  I’m  just  saying  it’s  one  thing  to  say  we  have  a  
burden  for  the  lost.  But,  when  we  say  that  we  have  a  burden  for  the  lost,  I  wonder  if  we  
have  a  life  that  backs  it  up?  Paul  said,  “I  say  the  truth  in  Christ,  I  lie  not;;  my  conscience  
also  bears  witness.”  The  thing  that  made  the  apostle  Paul  the  great  soul  winner  that  he  
was  is  that  he  had  a  conscientious  concern  for  souls.  

II. Paul  Had  a  Compassionate  Concern

I’ll  tell  you  something  else  he  had  for  souls.  He  had  a  compassionate  concern.  Look  
again.  He  says  in  verse  2:  “I  have  great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart.”  
May  I  ask  you  a  question?  Do  you  weep  over  the  lost?  Do  you  weep  over  this  city?  Do  
you  weep  over  the  members  of  your  family,  your  kinsfolk  that  are  not  saved?  When  was  
the  last  time  you  literally  shed  tears  over  souls  that  are  mortgaged  to  the  devil?  Jesus  
was  a  man  of  tears.  The  apostle  Paul  was  a  man  of  tears.  Jeremiah,  the  weeping  
prophet,  was  a  man  of  tears.  Jesus  wept  over  Jerusalem.  Would  to  God  that  the  things  
that  break  the  heart  of  Jesus  would  break  the  heart  of  Adrian  and  the  hearts  of  others  
that  are  here  tonight!  The  Bible  says,  “When  we  go  forth  and  weep,  bearing  precious  
seed,  we  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  our  sheaves  with  us.”  
Now,  let  me  say  this  about  a  compassionate  concern.  Where  are  you  going  to  get  
the  compassion?  What  would  cause  a  person  to  weep  over  lost  souls?  Because  we  
want  the  church  to  grow?  That’s  not  good  enough.  Because  America’s  in  trouble,  and  
America  needs  to  be  redeemed?  That’s  not  enough.  Because  of  sagging  statistics?  
That’s  not  enough.  Because  of  our  failing  reputation?  That’s  not  enough.  What  would  
cause  us  to  have  a  compassionate  concern?  We  have  to  have  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  The  

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apostle  Paul  said,  “I  say  the  truth  in  Christ—in  Christ…”  It  is  to  be  in  Christ,  and  Christ  in  
you,  to  see  the  world  through  the  eyes  of  Jesus.  Jesus,  when  He  saw  the  multitudes,  
the  Bible  says,  He  was  moved  with  compassion.  If  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  is  in  you,  the  
things  that  break  Jesus’  heart  will  break  yours.  And  I’m  telling  you,  the  heart  of  Jesus  is  
broken  over  this  city,  and  the  heart  of  Jesus  is  broken  over  this  world.  “I  say  the  truth  in  
Christ,  I  lie  not.  I  have  great  heaviness.  I  have  continual  sorrow.”  We  need  to  learn  how  
to  weep  over  lost  souls.  “He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  
doubtless  come  against  with  rejoicing.”  I  wonder  sometimes  in  our  service  why  we’re  
not  more  concerned.  Sometimes  I  will  preach  and  tear  my  heart  out  and  give  an  
invitation,  and  there  are  some  in  this  congregation  who  are  anxious  to  get  away.  They’re  
gathering  materials.  They’re  looking.  They’re  thumbing.  They’re  heading  for  the  door,  
trying  to  get  out,  rather  than  weeping  and  praying  for  lost  souls.  Somebody  next  to  you  
in  a  service  like  this  may  spend  eternity  in  hell  if  they  don’t  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  
as  their  personal  Savior  and  Lord.  I  believe  that  one  of  the  greatest  indictments  against  
the  modern  church  is  somebody  has  described  it  as  a  dry-­eyed  church  in  a  hell-­bent  
world.    
The  apostle  Paul  had  a  conscientious  concern.  His  conscience  bore  him  witness.  He  
had  a  compassionate  concern.  He  said,  “I  have  great  sorrow  and  continual  heaviness  
and  great  sorrow  in  my  heart.”    

III. Paul  Had  a  Continual  Concern

I’ll  tell  you  something  else  he  had.  He  had  a  continual  concern.  Look,  if  you  will,  in  
verse  2:  “I  have  great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow…”  Now,  what  happens  is  this:  
We  come  to  a  service  like  this.  We  see  what  we  saw  this  morning,  or  we  see  what  we  
saw  tonight.  We  hear  somebody  give  a  testimony.  We  hear  a  message  from  the  Word  
of  God,  and  we  get  moved  emotionally.  But  no  sooner  do  we  get  back  to  the  ballgame,  
get  back  to  the  news,  get  back  to  the  television,  get  back  to  the  newspaper,  back  to  the  
job,  back  to  the  club,  back  to  the  sports,  or  whatever  it  is,  we  lose  that  concern.  Paul  
said,  “I  have  continual  sorrow.”  It  never  left  him.  Part  of  our  problem  is,  very  frankly,  
folks,  we  get  motivated  for  just  a  little  while,  and  we  run  hot,  and  then  we  run  cold.  We  
need  to  have  a  continual  soul-­conscientiousness.  Every  person  we  see  every  day  we  
need  to  ask  ourselves  this  question:  Is  he  saved  or  lost?  Do  I  have  an  opportunity  to  
move  that  man,  that  woman,  that  boy,  that  girl,  closer  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?    
How  many  of  you  remember  Brother  Tom  Clayton?  Used  to  be  on  our  staff  here.  
Most  of  you  remember  Brother  Tom  Clayton.  Brother  Tom  Clayton  told  me  a  story.  He  
said,  “One  time,  Pastor,  I  was  going  on  a  trip,”  and  he  said,  “I  had  traveled  by  
automobile  and  airplane.  I  just  decided  I  would  go  on  the  train.  I  had  not  ridden  a  train  

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for  a  long  time.”  And,  he  said,  “I  decided  I  would  go  on  the  train.”  And,  he  said,  “I  found  
myself  sitting  next  to  a  woman.”  He  said,  “I  don’t  think  I  could  really  call  her  a  lady.  She  
was  a  nightclub  hostess.”  He  said,  “She  was  heavily  made  up.”  The  way  Tom  described  
it  to  me,  he  said,  “She  looked  like  she’d  put  her  makeup  on  with  a  trowel.”  And,  he  said,  
she  was  heavily  made  up.  And,  her  face  was  very  hard.  She  was  looking  straight  ahead.  
Brother  Tom  said,  “I  decided  I  would  witness  to  that  woman.  And  I  turned  to  her  and  
asked  her  about  the  things  of  God  and  spiritual  things.  That  made  her  very  
uncomfortable.  And  in  trying  to  escape,”  she  said,  “You’ll  have  to  pardon  me.  I’m  going  
to  go  to  the  diner  and  get  something  to  eat.”  He  said,  “That’s  all  right;;  I’ll  go  with  you,”  
and  got  up  and  went  with  her.  You  have  to  know  Brother  Tom  Clayton  to  appreciate  
this.  And  sat  down  there  in  the  diner  and  continued  to  press  the  claims  of  Christ  on  her  
with  an  open  Bible.  After  a  while,  the  finger  of  God  touched  her,  and  the  mascara  
started  to  flow,  and  she  got  under  conviction,  and  said  she  wanted  to  be  saved.  And  so,  
he  prayed  with  her.  And  there  in  that  diner,  she  prayed  and  asked  Jesus  Christ  to  come  
into  her  heart  and  to  save  her.  Now,  sitting  next  to  her  and  to  Brother  Tom  Clayton  was  
a  Jewish  man  and  two  Jewish  women.  They  were  doing  what  you  would  have  been  
doing.  They  were  eavesdropping.  They  were  listening  to  this  man  talk  to  this  woman  
with  an  open  Bible,  and  pray  with  her,  and  watched  her  begin  to  weep.  Then,  she  
wanted  to  know  what  was  going  to  happen  now,  and  how  a  Christian  should  grow.  I  had  
just  preached  a  sermon  on  the  Middle  East  and  prophecy  and  what  was  going  to  
happen  in  the  Middle  East,  and  Brother  Tom  began  to  tell  her  about  the  fulfillment  of  
prophecy.  And  he  began  to  talk  to  her  about  Israel  and  the  Jews.  He  didn’t  know  this  
was  a  Jewish  man  and  two  Jewish  women.  So,  they  tuned  in  all  the  more.  After  a  while,  
this  man  could  stand  it  no  longer.  He  interrupted  the  conversation.  He  said,  “How  do  
you  know  all  of  that?”  He  said,  “I’ve  been  reading  my  Old  Testament.  Come  here.  Let  
me  show  you.”  And  began  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  witnessed  to  that  man,  and  told  
that  man  about  Jesus  Christ.  And,  he  said,  “Messiah  is  coming.  Not  the  first  time;;  He’s  
coming  the  second  time.  He’s  already  been  here.  He  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel,  and  He  
wants  to  be  your  Savior.  And  the  same  Jesus  that  has  just  saved  this  woman  will  save  
you.  Would  you  like  to  be  saved?”  Do  you  know  what  this  man  said?  He  said,  “I  would.”  
He  said,  “All  right,”  he  said,  “I  want  you  to  pray  after  me.”  The  two  Jewish  women  said,  
“Can  we  pray,  too?”  He  said,  “That’ll  be  fine.  If  you  want  to  pray,”  he  said,  “just  bow  your  
heads.”  And  they’d  seen  this  woman  pray.  And  he  started  to  lead  them  in  the  sinner’s  
prayer.  And  a  man  sitting  at  another  table  said,  “Wait  a  minute.  I  have  been  listening  to  
all  that’s  been  going  on.”  He  said,  “This  is  my  daughter.  Could  I  pray?  And  my  daughter,  
could  she  pray  with  you  when  you  pray?”  And  there,  going  down  the  railroad  tracks  was  
a  revival  meeting:  a  nightclub  hostess,  a  Jewish  man,  two  Jewish  women,  a  man  and  

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his  daughter,  praying  to  receive  Jesus  Christ  as  their  personal  Savior  and  Lord.  Now,  I  
wish  something  like  that  would  happen  to  me  every  day.  It  doesn’t,  but  I  want  to  tell  you,  
folks,  there  are  opportunities  all  around  to  share  Jesus  Christ.  And,  if  you  say  that  
people  are  not  hungry  to  know  Jesus  Christ,  you’re  telling  on  yourself.  You’re  telling  that  
you  don’t  know.  You’re  telling  that  you  don’t  witness.  I  am  telling  you,  folks,  that  we  
need  a  continual  burden  night  and  day.  We  need  to  be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season.  

IV. Paul  Had  a  Costly  Concern

Now,  what  motivated  Paul?  He  had  a  conscientious  concern.  He  could  tell  the  truth  
when  he  said,  “I’m  concerned.”  He  had  a  compassionate  concern.  He  had  a  broken  
heart.  He  had  a  continual  concern.  It  wasn’t  something  that  happened  every  so  often.  
And  I  want  to  tell  you  this:  He  had  a  costly  concern.  Look,  if  you  will,  to  what  he  said  
here  in  this  verse.  It’s  amazing—verse  3—for  he  says,  “For  I  could  wish  myself  were  
accursed  from  Christ  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh.”  Now,  what  does  
he  mean  by  that?  How  could  he  be  accursed  from  Christ?  What  did  he  mean?  Well,  in  
plain  English,  let  me  tell  you  what  it  means.  Paul  said,  “I  would  be  willing  to  go  to  hell  if  
my  Jewish  brothers  and  sisters  could  be  saved.”  That’s  what  it  means.  “I  could  wish  
myself  accursed  from  Christ  if  they  could  be  saved.”  Now,  such  a  thing  is  impossible.  
Number  one:  Paul  was  saved,  and  there  was  no  way  he  could  go  to  hell.  Number  two:  
Had  he  gone  to  hell,  it  would  have  done  them  no  good.  But  what  is  Paul  saying?  Paul  
was  saying,  “Any  time,  anywhere,  any  cost.”  Paul  was  saying,  “I  would  be  willing  to  go  
to  hell  if  they  might  go  to  heaven.”  I  don’t  understand  that.  I  don’t  think  I’ve  ever  come  to  
that  place  where  I’ve  said  that.  I  probably  never  will.  But  I  want  you  to  understand  
something  about  the  heart  of  the  apostle  Paul.  How  could  Paul  say  this?  I’ll  tell  you  how  
Paul  could  say  this.  Paul  was  so  full  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  was  the  Spirit  of  Christ  
because,  friend,  that’s  exactly  what  Jesus  did.  Jesus  took  our  hell  that  we  might  take  
His  heaven.  That’s  Calvary.  That’s  what  Paul  is  talking  about.  Paul  is  saying,  “I  would  
be  willing  to  bear  their  sin,  to  bear  their  grief,  to  bear  their  guilt,  to  bear  their  shame,  to  
bear  their  sorrow,  to  bear  their  separation.”  

Conclusion  
Do  you  ever  really  believe  that  people  are  lost?  We’re  not  just  talking  about  making  
Baptists  out  of  people,  not  just  getting  more  people  into  our  club.  Folks,  when  you  lead  
a  soul  to  Christ,  you  take  them  from  eternal  torment.  You  give  them  a  new  heart,  or  God  
does.  And  you  bring  them  to  heaven.  We’ve  got  to  understand  what  it  means  to  have  
the  missionary’s  heart.    
Now,  as  we  close  our  World  Missions  Conference,  and  I  am  just  going  to  collapse  

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this  message  down  to  these  few  moments,  but  I  want  to  ask  you  do  the  things  that  
motivated  the  apostle  Paul  motivate  you?  Do  you,  tonight,  my  beloved  brother  or  sister  
in  Christ,  do  you  have  a  conscientious  concern  for  souls?  Do  you?  Do  you?  I’m  not  
asking  if  you  could  answer  rhetorical  question,  and  say,  yes.  I’m  saying,  does  your  
conscience  say  amen,  or  does  your  conscience  tell  you  that  you’re  lying,  when  you  say  
you’re  concerned  about  souls?  Do  you  have  a  compassionate  concern?  Is  your  heart  
broken  over  a  lost  world?  Do  you  have  a  continual  concern?  And  do  you  have  a  costly  
concern?    
We  have  so  much  here  at  Bellevue,  but  we’re  not  doing  much  with  it.  The  early  
church  had  so  little,  and  they  did  so  much.  What  was  it  all  about?  Jesus  went  up;;  the  
Holy  Spirit  came  down;;  the  Christians  went  out;;  and  the  lost  came  in.  

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 A Report from Israel
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: June 12, 1983

Main Scripture Text: Romans 9:1–4; 10:1–4; 11:1–2

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
ROMANS 10:1

Outline
Introduction  
A. Israel Is the Geographic Center
B. Israel Is the Revelation Center
C. Israel Is the Spiritual Center
D. Israel Is the Prophetic Center
E. Israel Is the Storm Center
F. Israel Will Be the Peace Center
G. Israel Will Be the Glory Center
I. The Miracle of Her Generation
II. The Miracle of Her Preservation
III. The Miracle of Her Restoration
A. A Military Miracle
B. A Sociological Miracle
C. An Agricultural Miracle
D. A Linguistic Miracle
IV. The Miracle of Her Regeneration
Conclusion
A. Paul Had a Sincere Concern
B. Paul Had a Steadfast Concern
C. Paul Had a Sacrificial Concern

Introduction
I want you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Romans 9, as we’re bringing to you
tonight a report from Israel. Romans 9: Paul says, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my
conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and
continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for
my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the
service of God, and the promises.” (Romans 9:1–4) I want to stop reading there, and I
want you to turn to Romans [Link] “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for

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Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth.” (Romans 10:1–4) And then, I want you to notice Romans [Link] “I
say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the
seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he
foreknew.” (Romans 11:1–2) Now, there’s much more in these chapters that I could
read, but that, indeed, sets the stage for what I have to say.
As you know, we recently have returned from Israel. As a matter of fact, as lately as
last Monday, we came back. Fifty of us traveled together. We had a glorious time. We
flew through Amsterdam by way of KLM Airlines into Tel Aviv, disembarked there at Tel
Aviv and was met by Gabriel Conno, a godly Arab that I know who has the Guiding Star
Tourist Agency there in Jerusalem; and our guide, Sod; and our driver, Abraham. And,
we motored to Jerusalem, and there we went to sleep that night, the first night, in the
beautiful high-rise Jerusalem Hilton Hotel, situated high upon a hill—a beautiful,
magnificent, splendid hotel. The next morning we awakened early, went to breakfast,
and then began our tour by visiting the Garden Tomb, where our Lord lay and spent
three nights and then on that third day rose victoriously, triumphant over death, hell, and
the grave. We visited the empty tomb. We visited the hill called Calvary. We had a time
of commitment, a time of communion, a time of fellowship, a time of praise, and we
began our tour that way.
Then, we visited the land of Israel. We went north up to the headwaters of the
Jordan—right up to the very borders of Syria, right up to the very borders of Lebanon,
right up into the Golan Heights. We went up there to a place called Banias, where the
waterfalls come and the water gushes from the springs and the rivers run with the
bubbling, clear, gorgeously beautiful water. And, we visited all of that area right there at
the foot of snowcapped Mount Hermon—over nine thousand feet, with snow on her
brow. We visited there, and we visited Galilee. It’s still as beautiful as ever. And, that
blue lake—one of the most beautiful seas in all of the world. We went to the Mount of
Megiddo, where the Battle of Armageddon is going to be fought. We followed the
Jordan River down her course. We visited all of the environs of Jerusalem. We went out
into the Shepherd’s Field and sang Christmas carols there in little Bethlehem. We
continued on south and went down to the very southern part of Israel and down into
what is the desert, down into Bathsheba, and there we saw the desert blossom as a
rose. We saw the graves and the tombs of Abraham and Sarah at the cave of
Machpelah there in Hebron. We went to Masada. Many of you know a little bit more
about Masada now after having watched the episode on television. But, we went to

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Masada down at the Dead Sea, thirteen hundred feet below sea level; went up on top of
Masada by cable car; went on past Ein Gedi, the beautiful oasis in the hills where David
hid from Saul; saw the Dead Sea; visited the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea
Scrolls were found. We just had a wonderful time.
People say, “Why do you keep going back to the land of Israel, pastor?” Well, you
know, I sometimes wonder—I really do. Joyce and I went the first time because we
wanted to go, and I just wanted to see where my Lord walked. I wanted to see where
those things happened. And, we were a young preacher and wife, and she said, “Well,
we can’t afford to go.” And, I said, “I know it, but I want us to go because…” She said,
“Well, maybe one day when we retire you can go.” I said, “Joyce, I want to go before I
retire. I want to go when I’m young. I want to see the places that I’m preaching about.”
And so, we just—God almost miraculously provided the money for us, and we went.
Then, after we went one time, we felt like we needed to go back again to see what we
saw to understand it because it all just kind of seemed to run together. And so, we went
back again. And then, we decided, well, we needed to go again and again. There’s just
something about going that—somehow knowing that it’s the land of destiny and the land
where God is fulfilling even now so many prophesies. There’s something about it that
just seems to get together. And, each time we go it seems like it’s the last time. Then
someone will say, “Pastor, are you going to take another trip to Israel? If you do, we
want to be counted in.” And, it just seems like somehow we decide to go again. And, I
guess we’ve been eleven or twelve times, and I really believe I know that land better
than I know Tennessee—I really do. And, we’ve enjoyed traveling there.
Why? What’s so important about it? Well, let me say that the little tiny land of Israel
is, in a very real sense, the center of the world—in a very real sense.
A. Israel Is the Geographic Center
You know, Ezekiel 5:5 says concerning that land, “I have set [thee] in the midst of the
nations.” (Ezekiel 5:5) And, Israel has well been called “the hub of the world” or “the
navel of the earth.” It is the very center; it’s the geographic center. It is there in the
confluence of three great continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.
B. Israel Is the Revelation Center
But, not only is it the geographical center; it is the revelation center because it was here
that Moses and the prophets and the apostles lived and taught. From this area our Bible
comes that I’ve read to you tonight from.
C. Israel Is the Spiritual Center
But, not only is it the revelation center; it’s the spiritual center of the entire world
because it was here that Jesus was born. It is here that Jesus lived, that He walked, He
taught. It was in that land that Jesus died. It was in that place that Jesus was buried. It

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was in that place that Jesus rose again. From that place Jesus ascended, and to that
place Jesus is coming again.
D. Israel Is the Prophetic Center
It’s the prophetic center of the world. Did you know the land of Israel is the only nation
whose complete history is minutely foretold? You see, the Jews and the land are the
people and the land of destiny. If you want to know what God is really up to, if you want
to know how God’s prophetic time clock is ticking, then you need to study the Jew. As
the Jews goes, so goes the world. He is God’s yardstick. He is God’s outline. He is
God’s blueprint. He is God’s program of what He is doing with all of the other nations of
the world. And so, the land of Israel is, indeed, the prophetic center of the world.
E. Israel Is the Storm Center
The land of Israel is the storm center of the world. And, we know right now that the
nations of the world are on tender hooks, wondering what’s going to happen. Will there
be another war? We saw so many signs of the gathering clouds of war as we saw tank
convoys moving northward and troop transports moving northward up into the Galilee
area, up into the Golan Heights area, up into occupied Syria, up to the borders of
Lebanon, across the borders into Lebanon, and we saw all of that. And, I could not help
but think of the storm that’s going to come upon that land getting ready for that last
great war, the Battle of Armageddon.
F. Israel Will Be the Peace Center
But, not only is it the storm center; it’s going to be the peace center of the world. Did you
know there will not be peace until Jerusalem is at peace? Now, America will never have
peace until Jerusalem has peace. Brussels will not have peace ’til Jerusalem has
peace. Tokyo will not have peace ’til Jerusalem has peace. You see, dear friend, we
need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because the peace of Jerusalem means that
the Prince of Peace, the King of Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will rule in
Zion. And then, at that time, Jerusalem will be the peace center of the entire world. And,
“[men will] beat their swords into plowshares…their spears into pruninghooks: [and]
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, [and] neither shall they learn war any more.”
(Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3)
G. Israel Will Be the Glory Center
And, I tell you, one of these days it’s going to be, therefore, the glory center of the entire
world. One of these days the Lord Jesus Christ is going to rule and reign from Zion, and
“the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as…waters [that]
cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) This entire nation is a miracle nation, and I want to
mention to you the miracles of the nation Israel.

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I. The Miracle of Her Generation
First of all, I want you to think with me just a little bit about the very miracle of her
generation—how this nation came into being. Turn to Romans 4 with me for a moment
and look, if you will, in verse 17. Well, let’s begin in verse 16. Paul is talking about the
plan of salvation, and he says, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the
end [that] the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,
but…also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all”—that is, Abraham
is the father not only of the Jews, but the Gentiles who put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
because he’s the father of faith. But then, Paul goes on to talk about Abraham’s faith,
and he says—“(As it is written, I have made thee”—that is, Abraham—“a father of many
nations”—he’s not just the father of the Jews; he’s the father of the Arabs. But, he’s not
just the father of the Arabs; he is my spiritual father and your spiritual father because he
was the pioneer of faith. And then, he goes on to say—“I have made [him] the father of
many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God”—now, listen to this—“who
quickeneth the dead”—that is, “who gives life to the dead”—“and calleth those things
which be not as though they were”—and then, he speaks of Abraham, and he says—
“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might [be] the father of many nations,
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed”—or, “thy descendants”—“be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was
about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered
not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
(Romans 4:16–21)
Now, what does this scripture tell us? Well, it tells us many things, but it tells us this
primarily: that Abraham believed God so much that when he was a hundred years of
age, far past the time of fathering a child, when the fountain of his strength and youth
and virility was dried up, when Sarah had passed menopause and her womb was now
dead and sterile, that God had said to Abraham, “Abraham, I am going to give you a
son, and he’s going to be a son that, through that son, all the nations of the world will be
blessed,” and the Bible says that “[Abraham] staggered not [in] unbelief,” (Romans 4:20)
but he believed God and gave glory to God and thereby Isaac was born. And, through
Isaac have come all of the Jews today.
Now, let me tell you this: that every time you see a Jew walking the streets of
Memphis, Tennessee, or if you see one in Jerusalem, or if you see one anywhere else,
you know he’s here because of a miracle. This nation began with a miracle. And, I want
to say to any Jewish friends who may be here tonight, or any Jewish friends who may
be listening to me on the radio, or any who may listen afterward to this tape, that you
ought not to have difficulty believing in the virgin birth. Friend, the virgin birth was a

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miracle birth, but so was the birth of Isaac. And, if you can believe in one miracle, surely
you can believe in another. The Bible speaks of your father Abraham, who believed
God, and Isaac was born of a miracle. This nation began with a miracle.

II. The Miracle of Her Preservation

And, this nation continues with a miracle. You see, God has promised in His Word that
the Jewish nation will never ever be destroyed. I want you to look, if you will, in Psalm
89 for just a moment and see what God has said. God spoke to David. Now, David was
Israel’s greatest king, and God told David that He was never going to break the promise
that He had made with Abraham, confirmed with Isaac and Jacob, and reconfirmed with
David. And, God says, “I made a covenant, and I’m going to keep that covenant no
matter what happens.”
Psalm 89 and look with me, if you will, in verse 27. God says concerning David,
“[And] I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I
keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed”—that
is, the Jewish people—“will I make to endure for ever, and his throne”—that is, the
throne of David—“as the days of heaven”—and then, God goes on to say something
very interesting—“If his children”—that is, his descendants—“forsake my law”—and
friend, they have—“and walk not in my judgments”—and they don’t—“If they break my
statutes”—and they have—“and keep not my commandments”—and they have not kept
them—“Then”—here’s what God says He will do—“Then [I] will…visit their
transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes”—and God has done that. Few
nations on earth have suffered as the Jewish nation. Few people have known the
chastisement that these people have known. But, does that mean that because they did
not keep God’s law, because they did not obey God’s commandments, that God says,
“I’m going to break my covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David”? No, listen to
what God says—“Nevertheless”—you underscore that word nevertheless; put a star by
it—“Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my
faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my
lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall
endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as
the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah” (Psalms 89:27–37)—which means
“think about that,” “think about that.”
Now, it does not depend upon what they do. There are people today who call
themselves amilliennialists, and these amillennialists will tell you that God is finished
with the nation Israel, that Israel did not keep her part of the covenant and, therefore,
God cut them off. You better go back and read Psalm 89. You’d better read it clearly
and plainly. And, God says that this nation is going to continue and the Jew is going to

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remain. The King of Egypt could not diminish him. The Red Sea could not drown him.
Jonah’s whale could not digest him. The fiery furnace could not devour him. The
gallows of Haman could not hang him. The nations of the world have not been able to
assimilate him. The dictators of this world have not been able to annihilate the Jew
because God has said that His seed is going to endure. (Psalms 89:29, 36) Other
nations, when they’re driven from their homeland, when they are dispersed, are soon
assimilated, absorbed by those other cultures and those other nations, but not the Jew.
After eighteen centuries, the Jew has not been assimilated. She’s still clinging—he is
still clinging—to his tradition. He is still clinging to his laws. He’s still clinging to his
statutes. He’s still clinging to his language. You could no more destroy the Jew than you
could remove God from His throne.
I want you to turn to Jeremiah 31, and I want to show you another amazing passage
of Scripture. Jeremiah 31:35—Jeremiah [Link] “Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the
sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and…the stars for a light by
night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof road; The LORD of hosts is his
name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of
Israel…shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.” (Jeremiah 31:35–36) You
see what God is saying? God is saying, “If you want Israel to cease from being a
nation”—go back to verse 35—“then you’re going to have to take the sun out of the
sky.” You’re going to have to, with your hands, sweep down all of the stars that twinkle
at night, if you, dear friend, are going to keep Israel from being a nation. Look in verse
37: “[For] thus saith the LORD; If [the] heaven…can be measured, and the foundations of
the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off…the seed of Israel for all that they
have done, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:37) Friend, whenever you can measure the
heavens and when you ever discover the foundation of the earth, that’s the time God’s
going to cast off Israel. What he is saying in a poetic language is that in order to destroy
the Jews, first of all, you’d have to destroy the power that regulates the universe. You’d
have to snatch the sun, the moon, and the stars from the very hand of God. You could
no more destroy Israel than you could destroy the universe. That’s what God is saying
here in this verse of Scripture.
And so, the Jew, by conception, is a miracle. The Jew, by continuation, is a miracle.
The indestructible Jew has left his mark on history. As a matter of fact, all history
revolves around six Jews. Did you know that? You think about it. I’m going to mention
Jesus as one of the six, but I don’t mean to compare Him with any of the others. But,
Jesus was of the tribe of Benjamin; Jesus was a Jew. Who are these six? Moses,
Jesus, Paul, Karl Marx, Freud, Albert Einstein. And, if you’ll think about it, those six men
have become the pivotal points of all history.

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III. The Miracle of Her Restoration
But, not only is Israel a miracle nation because of her generation, and not only a miracle
nation because of her continuation or preservation, but she is a miracle nation because
of her restoration, because God has brought this nation back after so many years. The
most amazing and dramatic event of our times, in my estimation, is not when man first
walked on the moon—no. This amazing and dramatic event of our day, our age—
anything since I was a boy—was not V-J Day or D-Day or anything else. It was May 14–
15, 1948, when the Republic of Israel was reconstituted as a nation. And, God brought
these Jews back, and in fulfillment of prophecy, a nation was born in a day.
I want you to turn to Amos 9 and see what the Bible has to say about that event, and
I believe that Amos is talking about that very event in Amos 9:14–15. And, God says
here, “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the
waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine
thereof; [and] they…also [shall] make gardens, and eat the fruit of them”—now friend,
you cannot drive around in that land without seeing those waste villages now that have
been rebuilt, to see the vineyards that are there and the gardens that are there and say,
“Yes, God has kept His word.” And then, look in verse 15, and God says—“And I will
plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I
have given them, saith the Lord thy God.” (Amos 9:14–15) God says, “I’m going to bring
them back. I’m going to plant them there, and they’re not going to be removed.”
A. A Military Miracle
Now, really, militarily, Israel should not exist as a nation. When the Balfour Declaration
allowed the Jews to go back and find a homeland, and then finally they were given
statehood in 1948, there were six hundred and fifty thousand Jews in Israel. They were
surrounded by six Arab states, forty million Arabs, six hundred and fifty thousand Jews,
and they won that fight because the Arab nations, who were incensed by the idea of
Israel being there like they were intruders and an interloper, had sworn by all they knew
holy to drive Israel into the sea. But, it did not happen—not because, in my estimation,
the Arab was inferior; not because, in my estimation, that the Jew was superior; but only
because God was fulfilling His prophecy. God has brought them back into this land, and
I believe He’s kept them there by a military miracle. The ’48 War, the Six-Day War in
’67, and all of these other wars seem to me that if you look at them, you’d have to say
that somehow, some way, that there was another hand moving in these military affairs.
B. A Sociological Miracle
But, not only is the land of Israel and her continuation and her reimplantation in the land
a military miracle; it’s a sociological miracle. I mean, they have returned back to Israel
from many nations with many backgrounds. As a matter of fact, from more than sixty

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different nations they’ve come. And, a noted sociologist, who saw what was happening
as these Jews were coming back, said, “It will take three generations before you
become a nation.” That is, he said it’ll be impossible to happen less than about a
hundred years. But then, later on, it happened in less than one generation, and this
sociologist said, “I eat my words. You have done it in half a generation.” One of their
famous generals, Moshe Dayan, said in Israel, “We do not have a melting pot. We have
a pressure cooker.” And, these people have come back into one land and become one
people.
C. An Agricultural Miracle
The land is an agricultural miracle. You travel in Israel… You want to know what Israel
is rich in? It’s rich in rocks. I tell you, boy, if they could find a way to export those, they
wouldn’t have any problems. Sixty percent is desert, and it rains primarily only in the
winter. And yet, the land is as fertile as can be. And, as we traveled from Dan to
Beersheba, we could not help but see fertile crops after crops after crops all up and
down as we looked because the Israelis, with large-scale water projects, are making the
desert to blossom as a rose. And, Israel is one of six nations in the world that produces
enough food for itself and for other nations—only one of six, an agricultural miracle. You
can stand on the Mount of Megiddo and look out to the Valley of Jezreel, where the
Battle of Armageddon is going to be fought. At one time, that was a malaria-filled
swamp, and now, the most verdant pastures and farms that you’ve ever seen. It has
become a breadbasket. Avocados are grown there. Strawberries are grown there.
Cotton is grown there. Peaches are grown there. Plums are grown there. Record-
producing milk cows graze there. Bananas and all of these things are growing in
abundance and shipped to the other nations around the world.
D. A Linguistic Miracle
Israel is a linguistic miracle. Do you know what they speak there now? They speak
Hebrew, but Hebrew was a dead language. A hundred years ago nobody spoke Hebrew
for a primary language. And, when languages die, they don’t come back. And yet,
Hebrew is being taught, and it is one nation where the children teach the parents to
speak the mother tongue because the children go to school and learn Hebrew and then
teach the parents to speak Hebrew. And, if Amos or Isaiah were to come back today
and go to Jerusalem, he could walk up and down the streets of Jerusalem and carry on
a conversation speaking the Hebrew language of that day and of that age. It is a miracle
nation.

IV. The Miracle of Her Regeneration

But, I want to say, dear friend, not only her conception, and not only her preservation,

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not only her restoration, but her regeneration is going to be a miracle. My heart was
moved by the plight of the Arab people. The Arab people are so loving, so friendly, so
warm. Sometimes we get the idea that God loves the Jew more than He loves the Arab.
I don’t think so. “With God there is no respect of persons.” (Romans 2:11) And, God
loves the Arab people. Sometimes we have the idea that all that the Jew does is
righteous. I don’t think so. I think they’ve made many mistakes. I think they’re making a
great deal of mistakes right now, and I believe they’re headed for the judgment of
Almighty God. It breaks my heart to say that. So many times we want to wave the flag
for Israel and sprinkle a little bit of holy aura over all that they do because of these
prophecies. But, if you know the prophecies, dear friend, you know that the nation Israel
is headed for dark days, and they’re headed for a conflict and a confrontation with the
Almighty.
I want you to look into the book of Zechariah with me for a moment, and I want you
to see what God is going to do in the last days. This, on the one hand, frightens me. On
the other hand, it encourages me. I want you to look here in Zechariah [Link] God says,
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when
they shall be in…siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:2)
There is coming a time when all of the nations of the world are going to be tightening
the noose against Judah and Jerusalem. That’s what Jeremiah—excuse me, that’s what
Zechariah—has to say. One of these days in the Tribulation period, the nations of the
world, under the control of antichrist, are going to, one more time, try to exterminate
God’s ancient people. This tribulation, this trouble, this battle, this war, this persecution
is going to bring the Jew, many of them, in a wholesale way.
Yet, one by one they are coming to Jesus Christ. Look, if you will, in chapter 12 of
Zechariah, verses 9–10: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I”—that is,
Jehovah—“will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will
pour upon the house of David”—that is, upon the Jew—“and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom
they have pierced”—I tell you, I asked a Jewish rabbi about this verse one time. I said,
“Explain that to me: ‘They shall look upon me whom [they’ve] pierced.’” (Zechariah
12:10) Jehovah is speaking here. How can you pierce Jehovah? I’ll tell you how: “[God
became] flesh, and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14) and they nailed Him to a tree. I asked
the rabbi; I said, “Explain that verse to me.” He said, “I can’t explain it.” I can explain it,
dear friend. “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10):
they’re going to see the Lord Jesus when He comes in power and great glory—“and
they shall mourn for him, as one [that] mourneth for his only son, and shall be in
bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:9–10)
And, what’s going to be the result of that? Look, if you will, in chapter 13:1. Glory,

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hallelujah! Thank God for it. “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of
David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)
Hallelujah! Glory to God. They’re going to come to the Lord Jesus in repentance and
faith. Turn to chapter 14. Look with me, if you will, in verse 2: “For I will gather all
nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled,
and the women ravished; and half…the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue
of the people shall not be cut off from the city”—it’s going to look dark. It’s going to look
dismal. It’s going to look like the very end for God’s ancient people. But remember, God
has sworn by His holiness that Israel will endure as a nation. And, therefore, verse 3
says—“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought
in the day of battle”—now, here’s a sweet verse—“And his feet”—the Lord’s feet—“shall
stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and
the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the
west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove
toward the north, and half of it [to] the south.” (Zechariah 14:2–4) And then, look in the
last part of verse 5: “and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.”
(Zechariah 14:5)
What a day that’s going to be when our dear Lord, who left from that Mount of
Olives, was taken up, will come again in like manner as we’ve seen Him go. (Acts 1:11)
And, those blessed nail-pierced feet will touch that Mount of Olives, and all the saints
will come with Him. And, He will destroy the antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon. And,
the scales will fall from their eyes, and they will mourn for Him. And, a nation, indeed,
will be born in a day, and they will come to know their precious and glorious Messiah.
That’s why we go to the land. I tell you, it just thrills me and excites me as I think about
these things that are coming to pass.

Conclusion
But, I want you to go back to the text that we started with, and I want to make an
application to you tonight. I want you to go back, if you will, to Romans 9 for just a
moment, and I want you to see the heartbeat of the great Apostle Paul. Romans 9—and
let’s look at this scripture again. Paul said, as he thought about all of these things…
Paul, being a student of prophecy—Paul, having the revelation of the Holy Spirit, being
an apostle—said this: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my
heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:1–3) Let me tell you how Paul felt about
Israel and how you need to feel about Israel—but not only how you need to feel about
Israel; how you need to feel about every unsaved person.

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 A. Paul Had a Sincere Concern
Paul had a sincere concern for Israel. Look at it. Paul said, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie
not, my conscience also bearing me witness…That I have [a broken heart for my
people].” (Romans 9:1–2) Do you have a broken heart for your people? Do you agonize
over the lost? Do you have a burden for lost souls? If I were to ask you tonight, “How
many of you are burdened for lost souls,” would you lift your hand? I dare say almost
everyone would lift his or her hand because you’d be ashamed not to lift your hand. But,
many of you would have a twinge of conscience because the Holy Ghost would not bear
witness, and you know in your heart you’d be telling a lie. Listen to what Paul says: “I
say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy
Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.” (Romans 9:1–2)
Do you love lost souls? Paul did. Do you love the nation Israel? Paul did. God, give to
me a sincere concern for the lost and for God’s ancient people, Israel.
B. Paul Had a Steadfast Concern
But, I want you to notice something else: not only was it a sincere concern; it was a
steadfast concern. Look at it again. He says in verse 2, “I have great heaviness and
continual sorrow in my heart.” (Romans 9:2) You know what’s wrong with many of us?
Pay attention: we hear a message on soul winning and a concern for the lost, and we
get all motivated about it. We get all stirred up. We get all warm around the heart, all
wet around the lashes. But, no sooner has the sound of the preacher’s voice died out in
our ears and we get to the restaurant or back to the ballgame, back to the television,
back to the desk—we forget it. Paul said, “I have…continual sorrow.” (Romans 9:2) I
want to be like that. I want to have a sincere concern for souls. I want to have a
steadfast concern for souls.
C. Paul Had a Sacrificial Concern
I want you to notice the last thing he said. He said—and I want you to read with me here
in verse 3: “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3) He had a sacrificial concern for souls. Do
you know what Paul was saying in this verse? Look at it. You have to read it, reread it,
and read it again because you don’t really believe he said what he said. But, if I can
understand what black ink means on white paper, if I can understand what Paul is
saying, it is this: Paul was saying, “I would be willing to go to hell if they could go to
heaven”—“I could wish that [I] myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3)
Now, of course, he could not go to hell, that they might go to heaven, and a man
who is saved can never be unsaved. That’s not what Paul is trying to teach or imply.
But, how could Paul make such a statement? The only way that I can possibly figure

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this out is this: that Paul was so full of Jesus that this was the Spirit of Jesus speaking in
Paul, because that’s exactly what Jesus did: He made Himself a curse, that we might be
saved. That’s exactly what He did. Jesus allowed Himself to be separated from God,
and Jesus took the curse and bore the separation, that we might be saved and go to
heaven. And, the great heart of the Apostle Paul so agonized for souls. He had a
sincere concern. He wasn’t lying; he was telling the truth. The Holy Ghost was bearing
him witness. He had a steadfast concern. It was continual sorrow. He had a sacrificial
concern for his people, for the Jews.
God, give us that kind of concern for the Jews—but not just for the Jews, but for our
people, too. Sometimes people ask me, “Brother Rogers”—almost every person who
interviews me at length, may it be the television, or radio, or something like that, they’ll
say—“I want to ask you a question: Do you believe that a Jew without Jesus Christ is
lost?” And, if I say, “Yes,” I sound like a bigot. And, if I say, “No,” I deny everything that I
believe. And, let me tell you how I answer that question. When somebody asks me, “Mr.
Rogers, do you believe that a Jew without Jesus Christ is lost?” I want to tell you how I
answer that question. I tell them, “I believe that one of my own children without Jesus
Christ is lost.” Nobody is lost because he’s a Jew, and nobody is saved because he’s a
Gentile. You’re saved or you’re lost according to what you do with Jesus Christ. Get that
down big, and plain, and straight. It is not a matter of race. It is not a matter of place. It
is not a matter of face. It’s a matter of grace. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) And friend, if that’s bigoted to believe that Jesus is
the only way for Jew or Gentile, you’re looking at a bigot. But, that’s not bigoted; that’s
the gospel, friend—that “God so loved the world, that he [sent] his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
I want every head bowed and every eye closed. Father, thank you for your Word
tonight. Lord, we just are excited tonight as we think of what is happening. And Lord, we
realize that your Word in many ways is being fulfilled before our very eyes. Lord, we
pray tonight that if there are those here tonight without Jesus Christ, be they Jew or
Gentile, be they young or old, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, that, Lord, they might
say “yes” to Christ and be saved. For we pray in His wonderful name. Amen.

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 Predestined for Hell?
Absolutely Not!
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: May 3, 1998

Main Scripture Text: Romans 9:1–23

“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the
vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
ROMANS 9:23

Outline
Introduction  
I. God’s Sovereign Choice
II. God’s Spotless Character
III. God’s Steadfast Concern
Conclusion

Introduction
Would you take your Bibles and turn to Romans chapter 9? And, when you’ve found
Romans chapter 9, would you look up here? Let me ask you a very serious and a very
somber question. Did God just predestine some people for heaven? And did God just
predestine some people for hell? Are we just pawns on the chessboard of faith? No.
Absolutely not! We’re just going to learn some things about the character of God this
morning, and about the sovereignty of God, and the God who predestines, and the God
who elects. But we’re going to learn that God wants everybody saved. We’re going to
learn that today, and I want you to take God’s Word, and look here in Romans chapter
9, verses 1 through 3. Paul says, “I say the truth in Christ; I lie not. My conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow
in my heart, for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen, according to the flesh.”
Now, here you have the heartbeat of the apostle Paul, and it’s the heartbeat of an
evangelist. It’s the heartbeat of one who wants souls saved, and he had a sincere
concern for the lost. He said, “I say the truth in Christ; I lie not, my conscience also
bearing me witness.” He wasn’t telling a lie; he was sincere. If I were to ask you if you
have a concern for the lost, most every person in this building would lift his or her hand,
but you might have a twinge of conscience. Paul says, “my conscience bears me

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witness”—I am telling you the truth.
Not only was he sincere in his concern; he was steadfast in it. In verse 2, he says
that I have continual sorrow—that is, he didn’t blow hot and blow cold. Night and day,
everywhere, the thing that drove him, and impelled him, and gave him no rest, was his
concern for the lost. And he even had a sacrificial concern. He says, in verse 3, “I could
wish that I myself were accursed from Christ.” If I read this correctly—and most
commentators agree—that what Paul is saying is that I would be willing to go to hell, if
they could be saved. That was impossible. Jesus had already died for him. Jesus had
already baptized His soul in hell. But this is the Spirit of Christ that was in this man. He’s
concerned, and what he is primarily concerned about, are his brothers and sisters in the
flesh. Paul was a Jew—I believe the greatest Christian ever lived. And Paul is
concerned about fleshly Israelites—not spiritual Israel; there is a spiritual Israel, but
here he’s talking about natural Israel—my brothers, my sisters, according to the flesh,
Paul said, I want them saved.
Now, what brought this up was this: that Paul had been talking about the gospel,
how Jew and Gentile could be saved, and some Jews were saying, Now, wait a minute;
wait, Paul. We’re the chosen people. God’s made some promises to us. Has God gone
south on His promise? I mean, isn’t God going to keep His promise to us? Aren’t we the
chosen people? What’s all this about the Gentiles. Where does that come in? Now,
there are three things I want you to learn today as we think about this: Is man
predestined for hell? And they all three, really, deal with the character of God, because,
until you understand the character of God, you don’t know really anything about
salvation or anything else. Now, I didn’t say understand God; none of us understand
God. But we understand some things that God has chosen to reveal to us about His
character.
Now, here are the three things I want you to notice, and it’s going to help to solve the
problem, because, very frankly, folks, the ninth chapter of Romans is one of the hardest
chapters in all of the Bible, and you can get led astray very easily. And there are some
who read this, and say, God has just chosen some when they’re little children; little
babies just to go to hell, there’s nothing they can do about it; and God has chosen
others to go to heaven, and there’s nothing they can do to keep it from happening. And
there’s a lot of theology that believes that. I don’t believe it. I don’t accept it for a
moment. And I want you to see three reasons why.

I. God’s Sovereign Choice

Now, the first thing I want you to see is what I’m going to call God’s sovereign
choice—God’s sovereign choice. Paul is reminding these people that God is a
sovereign God, and He can choose whom He will, for what He will. Now, begin again in

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verse 3—he says, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my
brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh.”
Now, he mentions now fleshly Jews, and he talks about nine prerogatives—nine
blessings, nine privileges—that God gave to these His chosen people. He calls them
Israelites—what a glorious name is Israel, it means prince—and so they have a great
heritage. And then, he says, “to them pertaineth the adoption.” God said, Israel is my
son; God adopted a whole nation. “And the glory…”—that means the Shekinah glory of
God that led them out of Egypt and into Canaan, that rested in the tabernacle and in the
temple—”The glory and the covenants”—what is this? Solemn promises that has God
has made agreements with His people. We talk about the Abrahamic covenant, we talk
about the Davidic covenant, and these are covenants that God has made that are
unbreakable. “And the giving of the law”—he’s talking now about the Ten
Commandments, and the law that God gave on Sinai, which is the basis of all true law
in the world today, God’s Ten holy Commandments. God gave them to the Jew. “And
the service of God”—he’s talking about all of the types, and sacrifices, and all of the
wonderful ways that the Jews worship God, the Levitical offerings and all of this—all of
them pointed to the Lord Jesus, but God gave them to the Jew. “And the promises”—
God made a promise to Israel, and, friend, God is not finished with the Jews. God loves
Israel. Never forget it. The Jews are people of destiny; they are people of promise. They
are a God-ordained, God-decreed, God-raised-up, God-protected nation, and if you
want to know what God is doing in the world, just look at Israel, and it is the center point
of all world history; it all revolves around Israel. And God has made these promises, and
not a one of God’s promises will fail. And then, he talks about “whose are the fathers”—
the fathers, now, he’s talking about are the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, David, Jacob—
what a lineage! These stars in the Hebrew heaven—he’s talking about them. And then,
he saves the best for the last: “and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came,”—
Messiah came—”who is over all, God blessed forever.” That is, God came, Messiah
was God, He’s over all, He’s Lord, He’s blessed forever, He is the eternal God. Messiah
came from the Jews. I was speaking to some Jewish rabbis, and they said, Now, you
Baptists ought not to be trying to win Jews to Christ, that’s not right. I said, Listen. You
proselytized me. I serve a Jewish Messiah. All that I believe is rooted in that Old
Testament. He is the Messiah. And so, God is talking here about His sovereign choices.
God chose the Jewish nation.
Now, watch this. Not all of Israel is, is Israel, though. Look in verse 6. God is saying,
I haven’t failed to keep my word; you might think I have: “Not as though the word of God
hath taken none effect, for they are not all Israel which are of Israel,”—that is, not every
Jew is a part of the spiritual promise—”neither because are they the seed of Abraham
are they all the children,”—it’s not necessarily according to parentage or lineage—”but

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in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. God did
not choose Ishmael; God chose Isaac. And Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Look
down to verse 13: “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated.” Now,
there were two sons; they were twins, but God made a sovereign choice, and God said,
I choose Jacob. Now, this is God’s plan. Don’t argue with it. You may not like it; you
may like to say, as one man said, How odd of God to choose the Jews, but He did. He
chose Abraham out of all the people, and then, Abraham’s son, Isaac, and then, He
chose Isaac’s son, Jacob. And so, what God is showing here is just simply His
sovereign promise.
Now, right now, we’re starting to get into some deep water. Okay, don’t check out on
me now. This is important. You need to listen to this very carefully, because, it’s in this
verse where God says—look at it—verse 13: “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I
hated.” How could God ever hate a little baby? Well, actually, it says that, even before
the children were born, look in verse 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.” Why did God call Jacob and not Esau? Was
it anything that Jacob had done? No, he hadn’t even been born. It is God’s sovereign
choice.
Now, be very careful. God here is not talking about two little babies, one born for
heaven and one born for hell. That’s not what it’s talking about at all. This is national,
not personal. Write that down on a piece of paper. It is national and not personal. Let
me give you a verse that will help clear this up. Genesis 25 and verse 33—put that
down in your margin. Now, speaking to the mother of these two little twins—”and the
Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb”—she might have said, It feels like it—
”Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy
bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall
serve the younger.” He’s not talking about one particular baby and another particular
baby, one born for blessing and one born for bane; he’s talking now about two nations.
God, in His providence, said, I’m going to use the Jews. My choice is for the Jewish
nation.
Number two: God here is not talking about salvation at all. Look, if you will, in verse
12: “And it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.” He’s not talking about
salvation; he’s just simply saying that Israel is going to be my choice, and the
descendants of Jacob are going to be my spiritual leaders in the world, and the elder,
that is, Esau, will serve the younger. Nothing is said here about one twin going to
heaven, and another twin going to hell. You don’t spell saved s-e-r-v-i-c-e.
And also, here’s something you need to be very careful about. When it says that,
verse 13, “Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated,” it doesn’t mean that God

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despised Esau. It doesn’t mean that God had vehemence toward Esau. He may have
had, later on, because of what Esau did, but not before Esau was born. It wasn’t that
God said, All right, you don’t have any choice about it; before you were born, I hate you.
You mean, you’re going to die and go to hell, because I hate you. Friend, anybody who
can read the Bible knows that God doesn’t despise little unborn babies. He’s not talking
about despite. What he’s talking about here is preference. Now, this, you have to
understand the way this word is used in the Bible here. We’re talking about preference,
not abhorrence. The Bible uses the word hatred differently than we do. For example, the
Bible says, “No man can serve two masters; he’ll love the one and hate the other.” That
doesn’t mean he says, Well, I really love this boss. I despise you. It just means he
prefers one. You can’t have two lords in your life.
Let me give you the classic passage here that helps to illustrate this. Turn in your
Bibles, or write down Luke 14, verse 26. Now, our Lord is talking to all of us. Now, listen
to me: “If any man come unto me and hate not his father and mother and wife and
children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
Now, do you think in order to be a Christian, you’ve got to despise your father and your
mother? Do you think in order to be a Christian you have to despise your brother and
your sister? You think in order to be a Christian you have to despise your own precious
children? Do you think because I gave my heart to Jesus Christ I hate the girl named
Joyce? I love her all the more. She knows that she gets far more love out of me being
second in my life than she’d ever get being first, because Jesus Christ is first. The word
here does not mean to despise; it does not mean to abhor, not in Bible terms. He’s only
speaking of preference. Jesus is saying, I must come first. And, back in those days,
God said, Jacob will be first. I have chosen, I have preferred, Jacob. Now, God just
makes His sovereign choices. That’s all there is to it. God chooses whomever He wants
to choose.
Now, God loves lost sinners. We’re in the book of Romans. Put down Romans
chapter 5 and verse 8. If you think that God hates you, let me tell you God doesn’t hate
you. You say, Well, I’m a sinner. He still loves you. Romans chapter 5, verse 8: “But
God commendeth his love—His love—toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.” God loves the lost; God loves sinners. Don’t get the idea that God
predestined Esau to go to hell and God predestined Jacob to go to heaven. Now, Esau
may have gone to hell; but he wasn’t predestined to go to hell. But you can be sure that
God is a God who makes sovereign choices.
Now, the choice that God made was to service, not to salvation. God called me to
preach. I have two brothers. God called me to preach, He didn’t call either of my
brothers to preach, that I know of. Now, because God chose me to preach, does that
mean that God consigned both my brothers to hell? No. Because God chose Jacob to

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serve, to lead, for a spiritual blessing, does that mean that God consigned Esau to hell?
Not at all! So, the very first thing I want you to do is that you need to recognize God’s
sovereign choice. God chooses whom He will, when He will, for what He will. He’s God.
You might as well admit it: He’s God. God’s sovereign choice—and God is working in
the nations of the world. And here, God is talking about nations, God is talking about
service, and God is talking about preference.

II. God’s Spotless Character

Now, here’s the second thing I want you to see: not only God’s sovereign choice, but
I want you to notice God’s spotless character—God’s spotless character. There are
some who might want to argue with God, and say, Well, God, you don’t have a right to
do it that way. Maybe you’re a little unrighteous if you just choose one person above
another. Look in verse 14: “What shall we say, then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? 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 who showeth mercy.” Now, who decides whether or
not God’s going to have mercy? You want to know? God—God. God says, I will have
mercy upon whom I will have mercy. Well, does that mean God will not have mercy
upon you? No. Do you want mercy? You may have it. The Bible says, in Titus 3:5, “It’s
not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us.” The Bible says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth
and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” God does as He pleases, but He always pleases
to do right, and there’s no unrighteousness with God. And I’m telling you that anybody
who will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, and any mother’s child who
says, God have mercy on me, God says, I will have mercy on him. “God will have mercy
upon whom he will have mercy,” and He will have mercy on him who uncovers his sin
that God might cover it. He will have mercy on the man that comes unto Him “in faith,
not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Yes, listen to me, folks. Pardon—pardon—is according to God’s sovereign will. God
always wants to be merciful, but punishment—punishment—is according to man’s sinful
wickedness. You have God’s sovereign will; you have man’s sinful wickedness. Look at
the illustration he gives here, beginning in verse 17 of this chapter: “For the scripture
saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up.” Now, who was
Pharaoh? Well, Pharaoh was a high muckety muck of Egypt. Pharaoh was the king, the
most powerful man upon the face of the earth, and he was raised up to sit upon that
throne. Now, here it’s not talking about God raising him from childhood; it’s talking about
God raising him up in power and authority. Sometimes we get all upset when we see

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powerful people in high places who are not doing right, isn’t that right? Well, let me tell
you something: God is sovereign. Here’s one of the great verses in the Bible now, and
you need to pay attention to it. He says, “For this purpose have I raised thee up, that I
might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the
earth. Therefore, having mercy upon whom he will have mercy,”—now, watch this—
”and whom he will he hardeneth.” Now, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and then God
judged Pharaoh, and God made Pharaoh an example.
You remember the story of Pharaoh pursuing the Israelites? They came to the Red
Sea—the Red Sea 48-lane super highway, opened up that Red Sea, and Israel went
through, and then, when Pharaoh and his chariots began to go through, it all closed in
on them. Remember that? You haven’t read the book, but you’ve seen the movie. Now,
listen. God said that all the world, everybody in the world, knows the story of Moses
going through the Red Sea and then God judging Pharaoh. And it is example, a picture,
of God’s righteousness, and God’s judgment. Just as God is good, God is righteous.
God says, I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and whom I will, I will harden.
Now, this is a very interesting thing. You say, Well, Pastor, what hope did old Pharaoh
have—I mean, if God, just simply sitting off on a throne, hardened his heart, and then
judged him, and cast him into hell—what chance did he have? Now, listen carefully.
God did not say, I have chosen to send him to hell. God says, I’m going to give glory in
my judgment upon him. You see, God makes even the wrath of man to praise Him.
There was an example that was needed of God’s righteousness and God’s judgment.
God said, I’m going to use Pharaoh. Now, God is going to be glorified. Just put it down.
God is going to be glorified, and God’s love is magnified in heaven, and God’s justice is
manifest in hell. But whether it be love or justice, God is going to be glorified in His love;
He’s going to be glorified in His justice. People say, Well, God is too good to punish sin.
No, friend. God is too good not to punish sin. God is a holy God.
Now, the reason that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart is very simple: Pharaoh first
hardened his own heart. Now, you read about seventeen to twenty times in the Exodus
passage where Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. About half of those times, Pharaoh’s
heart was hardened by Pharaoh, before it was ever hardened by God. God did not take
a little tender child, and say, Now, I’m going, from childhood, I’m going to make your
heart hard, and you’re going to get harder and harder and harder and harder, and then
I’m going to cast you into hell. No, first of all, Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Let me
give you a couple of scriptures to put down—Exodus chapter 8 and verse 15: “But when
Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart.” Put down Exodus 3, verse
32: “And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also.” Now, before God ever hardened
Pharaoh’s heart, his will was set. All God did was to crystallize the sin that was already
in him. The Bible says, “To the froward, God will show himself froward.” When a man

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has a hard heart against God, all he does is rebel against God, and what happens is
that his heart gets harder. The Bible says, “Beware, lest there be in any of you a heart
of unbelief,” and then, “and in the day of provocation, harden not your heart.”
The Bible speaks of those whose hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
First of all, Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and, as a righteous judgment, and in order
to make an example of this man whose will was already set against God, God
crystallized the thing. God brought him judgment, and God used him as an example.
But Pharaoh was already a wicked sinner. He had murderous ways. He’d killed
thousands of people. He’d blasphemed the God of heaven, and God had warned him,
and God had entreated him, and God had sent His word to him, and God had sent His
messenger to him, but this man stubbornly, arrogantly said no to God. It was then that
God hardened the heart of a man whose heart was already hardened. Now, don’t get
the idea that God just raised up Pharaoh to send him to hell. No, God warned Pharaoh.
He wouldn’t take the warning.
Here another example that some people wrongly use. Begin in verse 19. It’s a
classic passage about the potter and the clay. Paul, you know, is a very logical man, so
you can just hear the wheels turning in the minds of people. And, when he’s talking
about the sovereignty of God, and how God rules over things, people—look in verse 19:
“Thou wilt say then unto me, Why did thee yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will.”
I mean, if God is sovereign, how can He blame me for sinning? If I was created to be a
sinner? And, what Paul is going to say here in just a moment, as one preacher said
somewhere, Your arms are too short to box with God. Don’t you start arguing with God
about that. “Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Have not the potter
power over the clay? Of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honor and another
unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known,
endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction, and that he
might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he hath afore
prepared unto glory.” Somebody said, Well there it is, Pastor. There’s God—He just
takes a lump of clay, takes humanity, says, This one is for heaven, this one’s for hell;
this one’s for heaven, this one’s for hell; this one’s for heaven, this one’s for hell. These
I’m going to keep; these I’m going to destroy.
Now, use a little sense. What potter in his right mind would be making vessels so he
could turn around and destroy them? What potter is going to sit there, and say, I’m
making this one, I’m going to get a whole stack of them over here on the wall, and then
I’m going to take a broomstick, and I’m going to break them all. It sounds more like a
madman. No, the Bible says God formed these vessels; it doesn’t say He created them.
Now, God is the Creator, but that’s not what he’s saying here. It’s not the idea that God

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is creating some for honor and some for destruction. The Bible says that c is forming
them. God has a plan; God has a purpose. And, the Bible says that God is molding
these, that he is long-suffering with them. Look, if you will, in this passage of Scripture
here. Look in verse 22: “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power
known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath?” Here’s God working
with them. Here’s God’s hand on them—a patient, loving, long-suffering God; not an
arbitrary God—a long-suffering God. First Peter 3, verse 9: “For the Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is”—what? he’s—”long-
suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.” Here is the potter, longsuffering with these.
But you say, But, wait a minute—it says the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.
Well this is adjectival use. He’s saying here vessels of wrath that are ripe, ready, for
destruction. Doesn’t mean that he made them fit for destruction; it is that they are ready
for destruction. Well, how did they get ready? Vincent, in his word study, says this, and I
want you to listen. I don’t want to get too involved, but this is a very important part. This
is the middle voice. You say, Oh, Pastor, what a blessing to know that; I wanted all
morning for you to tell me about the middle voice. No, this is the middle voice. What
does it mean? It means simply that they fitted themselves for destruction. It is not the
potter that fits them for destruction, it is not the potter who makes them for destruction; it
is the potter who is long-suffering. It is the vessels of wrath who fit themselves for
destruction. Friend, I want to tell you something. God never made anybody to go to hell.
God never made anybody to go to hell. God wants people saved; He wants you saved.
Put down 1 Timothy 2, verse 4—it speaks of “God, who will have all men to be saved
and come into the knowledge of the truth.”
Now, you can harden your heart, and if you harden your heart, God may harden it
also. That’s the reason the Bible says, in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 15, “Today, if
you’ll hear God’s voice, harden not your heart.” There may be somebody here today,
you’re listening to this sermon, you say, I don’t want that; you become stiff, recalcitrant
clay, and you will not yield yourself to the potter’s hand, you’ll harden your heart. God
will just put you in the kiln and harden you further, and then you’ll be destroyed—but
you can be saved. The Bible speaks of those who are hardened by the deceitfulness of
sin. God does not create a man in order to damn him.
Now, if you go to hell, you’ll take all the blame. If you go to heaven, you’ll give Him
all the glory. “God shows mercy to whom he will show mercy, and whom he will he
hardens,” but He did not harden Pharaoh until Pharaoh first hardened himself, and God
did not destroy that vessel until that vessel made itself fit for destruction—fitted for
destruction.

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III. God’s Steadfast Concern
Now, here’s the third thing I want you to notice. What we’re talking about is the
nature of God. We’re talking about God’s sovereign choice. God is sovereign; He’s
absolutely God. We’re talking about God’s spotless righteousness. Is God unrighteous?
No! Is God unfair? No! Well, let me say, God may be unfair. You know, God is not fair;
He’s just. When we talk about God being fair, we think we’re owed something. We don’t
get it. We’re dissatisfied, further dissatisfied; somebody else gets it before we do, if they
get more than we got. No, God is just. God doesn’t owe us anything, but God is just. But
it’s not until you see the justice of God that you cry out for the mercy of God. But God
will give mercy to whom He will give mercy. Now, here it is—look: there’s God’s
sovereign choice. God chose Israel; they’re His chosen people, and He’s not forgotten
His promise. There’s God’s sovereign choice. There is God’s spotless character. And
the third thing—and here’s what I want you to notice: there’s God’s steadfast concern.
What is the book of Romans all about? It’s about redemption; it’s about salvation; it’s
about getting people saved. Notice in verse 23: “And that he might make known the
riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, whom he hath afore prepared unto glory.”
God is making us, friend, ready for glory, “even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews
only, but thank God also of the Gentiles. As he saith also in Osea,”—that’s Hosea—”I
will call them my people which were not my people, and her beloved which was not
beloved”—all hell-bound sinners like we were, Gentiles, the aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel. God has taken both Jew and Gentile, and God has called them
with His mighty love, that we might be saved. God wants you saved; God wants me
saved.
I’m going to give you some scriptures, quickly; you just jot them down in case you
think that God ordained some people to hell. Listen to these scriptures—John chapter 3,
verses 16 and 17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,”—it
doesn’t say God just loved a certain portion of it; He loved the world—”that
whosoever…”—not a few, but—”whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through him might be saved.” Isaiah 53, verse 6: “All we like sheep have gone
astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all.” I’ll tell you, the iniquity of my sin was laid on the Lord Jesus. He didn’t
just die for some elect; He died for every person. The Bible says, in Romans 8, verse
32: “He that spareth not his own Son but delivered him up freely for us all.” He died for
you, my friend; He wants you saved. First Timothy 2:4, it speaks of God, who will have
“all men to be saved.” First John 4, verse 14: “And we have seen and do testify that the
Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” And then, that classic passage in 1
John chapter 2: “And he is the propitiation”—that means He’s the satisfaction—”for our

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sin, and not for ours only, but also for the sin of the whole world.” And then, the way
God just wraps up the final invitation in the Bible, over there in Revelation chapter 22
and verse 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 of the water of
life freely.”
Whosoever will—if you want to be saved, just come ahead. You want to see if you
are the elect—just come on to Jesus. You are, my friend: Whosoever heareth shall
shout the sound, spread the blessed tidings all the world around. Tell the joyful news,
wherever man be found: whosoever will may come, and whosoever cometh need not
delay. Now, the door is open, enter while you may. Jesus is the truth, the only living
way. Whosoever will may come, whosoever will. The promise is secure, whosoever will
forever must endure. Whosoever will, ‘tis life forever more; whosoever will may come,
whosoever will. Whosoever will, sound the proclamation over dale and hill, ‘tis a…—
listen to this—’tis a loving Father calls the wanderer home. Whosoever will may come.
God so loved the world, and that’s the reason Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God says, Yes, I’ll have mercy upon
whom I’ll have mercy, and I’ll tell you, upon whom He will have mercy, that one that will
come to Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.”
That’s the reason I’m glad to be a gospel preacher. You show me any time, any place,
anywhere where anybody ever came to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, and He
didn’t save them, I’ll close my Bible, and never preach again. I’ll promise you, on the
authority of the Word of God, He’ll save you.

Conclusion
Now, He’s a sovereign God, and He’s a righteous God, but He’s also a loving God. And,
when you’re saved, you’re predestined to heaven; but, when you’re born, you’re never
predestined to hell. And God sent you here today to be saved. Do you believe that?
Bow your heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. Begin to pray for
those round about you now. Friend, if you want Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,
you might pray this prayer: Dear God—just pray it out of your heart. I know that you love
me. I’m a sinner. My sin deserves judgment, but I need mercy. I’m not going to harden
my heart against you, Lord. I open my heart. Come into my heart, into my life now.
Forgive my sin. Save me, Jesus. Pray that from your heart. Precious friend, just say,
Save me, Jesus, and mean it. Then pray this: Thank you for saving me, Lord. I’ll not be
ashamed of you. Give me the courage now to make it public. Don’t let me deny you,
because you died for me. In your name I pray. Amen.

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 Salvation
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: April 16, 1989

Main Scripture Text: Romans 10

“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
ROMANS 10:1

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Source of Salvation
II. The Simplicity of Salvation
III. The Submission of Salvation
IV. The Security of Salvation
V. The Satisfaction of Salvation
VI. The Scope of Salvation
Conclusion

Introduction
Would you take God's Word and turn please to the book of Romans, which has been
called the constitution of Christianity. And, open please to Romans chapter 10. When
you've found it look up here and I want to ask you a question. What is man's greatest
need? What is it? Is it education? Is it in the realm of economics? Is it social reform? Is
it healing? What is man's greatest need? Jesus Christ did not come primarily as an
educator. He didn't come as a social reformer. Though he healed, he did not come
primarily as a healer. Jesus Christ is speaking in Luke chapter 19 and verse 10 and he
said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke
19:10). Man's greatest need is salvation. Man needs to be saved.
Now, when you say salvation some people tune you out. But, my friend, we saw
here on this platform just a few moments ago a display of man's three great problems.
He doesn't have four and he doesn't have two. He has three. They are Sin, sorrow, and
death. That's all of the problems that mankind has. And, the only answer to those
problems is salvation. Man's greatest need is salvation, to be saved. That's the reason
when the apostle Paul looked at his Israelite relatives who were very religious but like
so many today—Jew and Gentile—so very lost he said this, “Brethren, my heart's desire
and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). That's what I
want for us to think about salvation.

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 The message is going to be very simple, deep, and important. And, if you're not
absolutely certain that if you died right now whether you'd go to Heaven, I want you to
pay attention. If you are certain that you're saved, but you have an unsaved loved one—
all of us do—and you want to learn how to more clearly present the Gospel to that
unsaved loved one, by all means pay attention.

I. The Source of Salvation

Now, the very first thing I want you to notice beginning in verse 2 is what I'm going to
call the source of salvation. Look. The apostle said, “…that they might be saved. For I
bear them record that they have a zeal of God—that is, they're very zealous about
God—but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness,
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them” (Romans 10:1–5). Now,
what is he saying? He's saying this. That nobody can behave themself into the Kingdom
of Heaven. That's what he's saying.
What is the source of salvation? The source of salvation is in the grace of God not
the goodness of man. It is in the mercy of God, not the merit of man. Now he says, here
that, “the law, keeping the law, the Ten Commandments, it can't save. It doesn't help to
save.” Now, so many people don't understand that. Man is so ignorant. There, man is
ignorant of God's righteousness. He always gets it not only wrong but backward. For
example, the Bible says, Believe and be baptized. What do we do? We sprinkle little
babies and call it baptism. And, then later on we hope that child grows up and will
believe. The Bible never says, “Be baptized and believe.” It is always, Believe and be
baptized. If you're baptized before you believe that's like having your funeral before you
die. It's backward. First believe and then be baptized. Baptism pictures that death,
burial, and resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ. Or, for example the Bible says, “But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). What do most of us do? We seek things first and God
second and we wonder why it doesn't work.
Again the Bible says that we're to become like little children so we can enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven. What do we do? Well, a little child comes forward and says, “I want
to give my heart to Christ.” And, sometimes we ask that child a lot of adult questions
and if a little child can't answer the adult questions then we say the little child is not
ready. When Jesus said, the adult has to become like the little child. We get it backward
so many times. And, especially this is true in belief and behavior. We have the idea that
first somehow if you behave then that brings you into a right relationship with God. We

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think that the works come first and the righteousness comes second. But, I want you to
put this down. Look at it really clearly and plainly in verse 3. It says, “For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:3–4). That is, quit
trying to keep the law and start trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let me give you the testimony of the apostle Paul. It's found in Philippians chapter 3
beginning in verse 4. He says, “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any
other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more” (Philippians
3:4). You want to brag about your goodness? Paul says. Let me tell you about me.
“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel…” (Philippians 3:5). Well,
circumcision was wonderful. To be of the stock of Israel was wonderful. Of the tribe of
Benjamin. What a noble tribe. A Hebrew of the Hebrews. As touching the law, a
Pharisee. Now, the Pharisees were the most punctiliar in keeping the law. They were so
careful about every detail. He was a Pharisee “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:6). Nobody
could point a finger at the apostle Paul and say, “He's an adulterer, or he's a liar, or he's
a thief, or he's a Sabbath-breaker, or he's a blasphemer, or that he has not honored his
father or his mother.” He said, “Nobody could point the finger at me and say that I am
not keeping the law. The righteousness is which is by the law,” he said, “I'm blameless.”
But now, notice what he else he said. He says, “But what things were gain to me, those
I counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7). Now what did he mean? He said, “I took all
of those things that I had been trusting in that I thought were on the profit side of the
ledger and I took them off the profit side of the ledger and I put them on the loss side,
the debit side of the ledger. I put them on the loss side of the balance sheet. Not only
were they were they not helping me. They were actually keeping me from Jesus
because I was trusting in those things.” “Well,” you say, “there's nothing wrong with
them.” Well, there's nothing wrong with a super highway. As a matter of fact, I'd rather
ride on a super highway than ride on a rocky road. But, suppose you're on a super
highway headed the wrong way. And then the further you go and the better the
highway, the worse it is because you're getting further and further from your destination.
You see, friend, listen to me. The worst form of badness is human goodness when
human goodness becomes a substitute for the new birth. Paul said, “…what things were
gain to me—the very things I was trusting in—those I counted loss…” There are about 5
billion people on the face of this earth. If you were to take all 5 billion people and extract
from all 5 billion one character trait from each one of them—the very best character trait
of the best thing in that person, take all of those things, distill them, and put those things
into one man—that one man would still have to bow before God and cry out for mercy to

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be saved. Salvation is not in the merit of man but the mercy of God, not in the goodness
of man but the grace of God.
Now, let's look at verse 4. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness…”
(Romans 10:4). Quit trying to be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments. The law
says do this and thou shalt live. The Gospel says live and then thou shalt do. The law
says pay me what you owe me. The Gospel says I fully forgive thee all. The law says,
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The Gospel says, “Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1
John 4:10). The law says, “…Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). But, the Gospel says,
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans
4:7). The law says, The wages of sin is death. But the Gospel says, “…but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The law demands
holiness. The Gospel provides holiness. The law says do. The Gospel says done. It is
done in full. The law makes blessing the result of obedience. The Gospel makes
obedience the result of blessing. The law places the day of rest on Saturday, at the end
of the week. The Gospel places the day of celebration on Sunday, the first day of the
week. The law says if. The Gospel says therefore. The law says that salvation is wages.
The Gospel says salvation is a gift. The law says run, but it gives us no legs. The
Gospel says fly, and it gives us wings of grace.
Dear friend, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Quit trying to be saved by
being good. Listen, dear friend. Salvation is not a goal to be achieved. It is a gift to be
received. You simply receive salvation. And, how do you receive it? Look again at verse
4. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that—what?—
believeth” (Romans 10:4). Not to the one who tries, but to the one who trusts. John G.
Pathen was a missionary to the South Sea Islands. And, those people who lived on a
particular island did not have the Gospel in their language. So, he set out to put the
Gospel in their language to give them a New Testament. And, when he came to this
word “believe”, which doesn't mean just mere head belief, and it doesn't mean just mere
intellectual belief. It means commitment and trust. He was searching for a word. And, he
kept asking the natives, “What is your word for trust? What is your word for heart faith?
What is your word for commitment?” They never could understand just the word that he
wanted. He kept searching for that word.
One day he was in his thatched hut writing a messenger came in—one of the
natives who had come running across the island with a message—and delivered the
message. And, he was out of breath. And, there was a big chair there. And, this native

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just simply sat down in that chair and just leaned back and just relaxed. Pathen said,
“What did you do to that chair?” He said, “I didn't do anything to the chair.” “No, no, no,
when you sat down, what were you doing? When you just placed all of your weight upon
that chair and just relaxed and trusted that chair, what were you doing? Give me the
word.” And, he gave him the word for what it meant to sit down on a chair and just relax
and put your weight upon that chair. And, that's the word he put in there for believe. To
whosoever rests his weight and commits himself to Christ that—my dear friend—is the
end of the law when a person quits trying and begins to trust the Lord Jesus. That's the
source of salvation. Not the goodness of man, but the grace of God.

II. The Simplicity of Salvation

Second thing I want you to see is not only the source, but I want you to see the
wonderful simplicity of this salvation. Notice if you will beginning in verse 6. “But the
righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall
ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend
into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The
word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which
we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation” (Romans 10:6–10). I call that, my dear friend, the simplicity of salvation.
Some people do not understand just how gloriously simple it is. Friend, it is simply
glorious, but it is gloriously simple.
Now, look at it. Watch it. He says, in verse 6 “…Say not in thine heart, Who shall
ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)” (Romans 10:6).
Friend, we don't need to send a messenger and say, “Lord Jesus, would you please
come down and become a man and die for us?” We don't need to send a messenger to
Heaven to plead our case and say, “God, planet earth needs a Savior. Please send
him.” You don't have to ascend to Heaven to do that.
Now, let's continue to read. Verse 7 says, “Or, Who shall descend into the deep?
(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” (Romans 10:7). We don't need
somebody to go down into the nether world—into the gloomy recesses of the grave and
death, and hell, and Hades—and rescue and liberate Jesus and bring him up from the
dead. We don't have to do that. Why? Because, dear friend, he has come down from
Heaven and he has come up from the grave already. Listen. “But what saith it? The
word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which
we preach” (Romans 10:8). Let me tell you how close salvation is. You, it's not way up
there. You don't have to go up there. It's not way down there. You don't have to go way

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down there. Let me tell you how close salvation is and how close it is to you today.
You're going to be surprised when I tell you this. You want to know how close it is? You
want me tell you where it is? He says it's near you, “…is nigh thee…” (Romans 10:8).
But, then he goes on further to say how close it is. Watch. It's in your mouth, and it's in
your heart. “…The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart…” (Romans
10:8). You say, “In my heart?” I said, “Yeah.” You say, “Well, I'm not even saved.” I said,
“It's still in your heart. In my mouth?” I said, “Yes. It's in your mouth.” You said, “How did
it get in my mouth? How did it get in my heart?” I said, “I just put it there when I
preached. I just preached it into your mouth. I just preached it into your heart.” “…The
word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart…” (Romans 10:8). That is the
word of faith that we preach. I have just put it in your heart. I have just put it in your
mouth. Does that mean you're saved? No. But, it means you're very close. The word is
near you. It’s not way up there and it’s not way down there. Here and here. Now, that
doesn't save you. That only increases your judgment unless you do something with the
word that I just preached into your heart, and the word that I just preached into your
mouth.
What do you do with the word that has been placed there? Well, look at what he
says in verse 9. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”
(Romans 10:9). What do you do with the word that's been preached into your heart?
You believe it. What do you do with the word that has been put in your mouth? You
confess it. My dear friend, when you take this salvation that is so close, it's already in
your heart. The Word of God is there. When you believe it and confess it, that's
salvation. And, that's simple. The Word is there. It's close to you. It's in your heart. It's in
your mouth. And, so you believe with your heart. You just put all of your weight upon the
Lord Jesus Christ just like that man did when he walked into that room and sat upon
that chair. And you say, “Glory to God. It is so. I am saved.” You see, the heart is private
and the mouth is public. What a man believes in his heart is what he confesses with his
mouth. Do you know what confession is? It is faith turned inside out. That's the reason
God always links the heart and the mouth together. For a person to say, “Well, I'm
saved, but I'm not letting anybody know about it,” is a contradiction. The Scripture says
when we believe on him, we'll not be ashamed. When we believe with our heart, we
confess with our mouths. Confession shows possession.
So, dear friend, here's the way it works. You witness to somebody—and all of us
who are soul winners have done this—and we get down to where we're drawing the net
and we say, “You need to receive Jesus Christ. Will you right now with all of your heart
and soul trust Jesus Christ, believe on him, quit trying and start trusting, commit your life
to him? Would you pray this prayer?” And, we lead them in a prayer. And, then we

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check them out. And, we say, after they've prayed that prayer and asked Christ to save
them, we say, “Are you saved?” They say, “Well I really don't know. I don't think I am.”
Well, are they saved? No, they're not. They're really not. But, then you come to
somebody else and you share the Gospel with him. You tell him that Christ has died for
them and that He's come down, that's the incarnation. And, you tell them He's come up,
that's the resurrection. You tell them that he died, and that salvation is by trusting him.
And, you say to that person, “Ask him to save you.” And, he does. And, then you say,
“Are you saved?” He says, “I sure am. I sure am.” Is he? Yes, he is. You see, when he
says amen to what God has said, God says, “amen” to what he has said. If you say,
“you're not,” God says, “That's right, you're not.” If you say, “I am,” God says, “That's
right, you are.” Isn't that wonderful?
You see, dear friend, just confess and mean it. What's in your heart is in your mouth.
The word “confess” means to agree with God. You say, “amen” to what God has said.
And, God says, “amen” to what you have said. And, dear friend, you believe in your
heart, you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful. How simple it
is just to trust Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I've talked to you about the
source of salvation, it's the grace of God. I've talked to you about the simplicity of
salvation, it is a commitment to Christ that leads to a glad confession. I am saved.
Hallelujah!

III. The Submission of Salvation

Third thing I want you to see. I want you to see, dear friend, the submssion of
salvation because some people may think that I'm talking about what they call an easy
believism or cheap grace. Oh no. Look again in verse 9. What is it that we confess?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…” (Romans 10:9). The Greek
language puts it a little different. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus, Lord.
Now, you see, dear friend, when you receive Christ, you don't receive him as Savior. He
is Savior. But, you just receive him. Your salvation is not like a cafeteria line where you'll
say, “Well, I'll have a little savior hood today, but no lordship, thank you.” No. Listen.
“…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31). What is it
that you confess? What is it that you confess? That Jesus Christ is Lord. That, my
friend, is a very serious commitment. Nobody's saved who just simply tries to patch
Jesus Christ onto their life. You see, salvation is free, but it is not cheap. You pay
nothing, but it costs everything. You come to Christ and you commit yourself to him as
Lord and Savior, Master, Mediator, and Messiah.
Now, have you made that commitment to him? We have some people who have the
idea that you can receive Christ as Savior one time and receive him as a Lord the other
time. Oh no. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…” (Romans

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10:9). All right, that's what I call the submission of salvation. You know, back in Bible
times it meant something to say, “Jesus is Lord.” Because you know what the Roman
you've said in order to keep everybody together? They said, “you can have whatever
religion you want.” That's fine. We'll just take all of the religions together in a great big
syncretism and mish-mash. We'll just homogenize everything. That's fine. But, in order
to have a unifying force—no matter what else you believe—you must believe this,
Caesar is Lord. And, so sometimes they'd find a Christian, and those Roman soldiers—
like that Roman soldier portrayed here on the platform—would come to that Christian
and say, “Say this. Kaiser kurios. Caesar Lord.” The Christian would shake his head. He
would say, “Christos kurios. Christ is Lord.” Do you know what that meant? It meant the
dungeon. Do you know what that meant? It meant the rack. Do you know what that
meant? It meant the lion's den. It meant death. Many Christians could have saved their
life if he would just offer a pinch of salt to Caesar. But, he wouldn't do it. Why wouldn't
he do it?

IV. The Security of Salvation

Why, my dear friend, was there this submission of salvation. I'll tell you why.
Because there was this security of salvation. Listen to it now. Listen. I've talked to you
about the source. I've talked to you about the simplicity. I've talked to you about the
mission of it. Let me talk to you about the security of it.
Look at verse 9 again. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead…” (Romans 10:9).
Hey folks. The reason that these Christians would not say that Caesar is Lord, the
reason they would say that Christ is Lord—they gladly and fully confessed it—is
because they knew that he'd come up from the grave. And, they were no longer
intimidated. They had perfect security. No man is ready to live until he's no longer afraid
to die. They believed that Cod raised him from the dead. Why did God just choose that
one thing? Why doesn't it say, “Believe that he was virgin born? Or believe that he lived
a sinless life? Or believe that he died on the cross?” Why does the Bible say, “…believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead…” (Romans 10:9). Because all of
the others are included in that. You see, he had to come down as a man in order to be
raised from the dead. He had to die in order to be raised from the dead. He had to be
the Son of God in order to be raised from the dead. God would not have raised a liar ,a
fake, a fraud, or an impostor. He is shown to be the Son of God with power by the
resurrection. They knew that he'd come out of that grave. You see, that's the security,
that's the security of salvation.

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V. The Satisfaction of Salvation
You believe that God raised him from the dead. But, think with me a little further.
Think with me not only about the security of it, but think about the satisfaction of it. See
what happens here. For the Bible says in verse 10, “For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the
scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him” (Romans 10:10–12). That's the satisfaction of it. The Lord is rich to
those who call upon him. In Phillips translation he gives it this way. Whose boundless
resources are available to all who call upon the Lord. That's the satisfaction that we
have in the Lord Jesus. That's the reason the verse just before that says that we'll not
be ashamed. Look at it again. He says here in verse 11, “For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:11). The word
ashamed actually has the idea of being in a hurry to get away. Have you ever noticed
that when you mention Jesus in some circles they want to change the subject? Have
you ever noticed that? They kind of get hot under the collar. And, they're just like
switching channels on a television set. They say, “Hey, how about that ball game the
other night?” They want to get away and they're kind of in a hurry to get away. They're a
little embarrassed in a restaurant if you bow your head to ask God's blessing, mention
Jesus. They kind of rub their eyebrows when they're praying, you know. They they're
just a little embarrassed about the whole thing. Do you know why they're ashamed?
They don't know what they have in Jesus. They don't know, they don't know of his
boundless resources that are available to all. Ashamed of Jesus? Ashamed of the one
who meets my every need, supplies? Oh no, dear friend. There's the satisfaction of
salvation. Not satisfied with yourself. Oh no. We fail, but I'm satisfied with Jesus.
You see, dear friend, that salvation is that wonderful gift when I have in him that
submission. He is Lord and I have that security. God has raised him from the dead and
when I have that supply his boundless riches are available to me. I can't be ashamed of
him, just can't do it. If you're ashamed to let it be known he is your Savior, you haven't
got the right stuff in here. Cause if you had in here, you'd have it up here. “For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”
(Romans 10:10–11).

VI. The Scope of Salvation

One last thing I want you see is not only the satisfaction of it, but I want you to see
the scope of it. Oh, my dear friend, look at verse 13. Ha, and this, oh, what a wonderful
verse this is. This says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be

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saved” (Romans 10:13). If you're a whosoever would you lift your hand? See? That's
everybody, folks. That's all of us. It doesn't leave anybody out. You want to be saved?
Ask him. You say, “Well I think I've committed the unpardonable sin.” Friend, ask him to
save you and he will. Anybody who wants to be saved can be saved. Anybody who is
committed the unpardonable sin doesn't want to be saved. You want to be saved? I tell
you, if you're whosoever, ask him. You say, Well, “I've sinned too deeply. I've done a
terrible, horrible thing.” You're a whosoever. Just ask him. I don't care what you've done.
You say, “Well, maybe I'm not one of the elect.” Just call on him. He'll save you. The
elects are the whosoever wills. I mean, you want Christ? Call on him. You say, “Well I
need a special feeling.” He doesn't say anything about a special feeling. He says, “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Man,
you ask him to save you. He will. You don't have to go up in Heaven and ask him to
come down. He's already done that. You don't have to go rescue him from the grave.
He has risen from the dead. The word is in your heart and in your mouth. It's the word of
faith that we preach. And, I'm telling you right now. I say, “Lord Jesus, save me. I trust
you.” And, you just cast your weight on him and he'll do it. He will.

Conclusion
Let's pray. I want to help you right now to do it. While heads are bowed and eyes are
closed, if you're not absolutely certain if you died right now you'd go to Heaven, would
you pray a prayer like this? “O God, I know that you desire to save me. Jesus, you died
to save me. You've been raised from the dead. I'm going to quit trying and start trusting
right now. I trust you to save me right now. I believe on you. I trust you. Come into my
heart, Jesus. You are Lord, Master, Messiah, Mediator. You're all of these and more. I
trust you, Jesus. Thank you for saving me, Jesus. Thank you. Just thank you.
Hallelujah. It's done by your grace. And. now, Lord, I will confess with my mouth
what's in my heart. In your name I pray. Amen.”

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 Man’s Greatest Need
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: June 9, 1985

Main Scripture Text: Romans 10:1–4

“For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
ROMANS 10:3

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Righteousness That Is Needed
II. The Resource That Is Near
III. The Requirement That Is Necessary
A. Confession
B. Commitment
C. Confidence
D. Courage
Conclusion  

Introduction
Would you take your Bibles please this morning and turn to Romans chapter 10 and if
you need a Bible there may be one there in the pew rack before you. God’s Holy Word,
Romans chapter 10. I want to begin reading in verse 1. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they
have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness
which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them” (Romans
10:1–5).
I want to speak to you on Man’s Greatest Need. A while back I was on an airplane
and I was at the front of the airplane to get a newspaper. And, while I was up there I met
another man, very well dressed man, he looked like a professional man when I first saw
him. And, he also was looking for a newspaper and he was complaining about the
nature of the newspapers on the airplane. I thought he, like myself, was dissatisfied with
the newspaper because it did not have a conservative solid base to it. But, he was

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disturbed because the newspaper was not liberal enough and so we got into a
discussion and I said, “Sir, what do you do?” I found out that he was a Washington
lawyer and then he turned to me and he said, “And, what do you do?”
I said: “I’m a minister.”
He said: “What kind?”
I said: “A Baptist minister.” Then we got to talking about reading and what we read.
He said: “Well, what do you read?” And, I told him the scope of my reading and how
I read.
And, he said: “Well, you read in a very narrow scope.”
He said: “How do you know what is really going on in the world?”
And, he said: “Now, do you know what the real problems are so you can preach to
them?”
I said: “Sir, a man only has three problems.”
“Oh, no,” he said, “A man has many more than three problems.”
I said: “Oh no, man just has three problems.”
“Oh,” he says, “No, man has more than three problems.”
I said: “Sir, man only has three problems.”
He said: “Well, what are the three problems that man has?”
I said: “These three sin, sorrow, and death. He doesn’t have any other problems.”
“Oh”, he said, “He has more problems that those.”
I said: “All right, think about it for a while and let me know of a fourth one.” So, he
took his lawyers mind and began to think and then he came back to me.
And, he said: “Man only has three problems, sin, sorrow, and death.”
And, I want to tell you, dear friend, that I have the one book and the only book that
has the answer to those three problems. Isn’t that right? The problem of sin, the
problem of sorrow, and the problem of death and the last two problems are rooted in the
first problem, the problem of sin. Life is short. Death is sure. Sin the cause and Christ
the cure.
Now dear friends, there’s only one cure, one answer to man’s problem, and that one
answer is man’s greatest need. And, that is salvation, to be saved. Now, when you talk
about being saved, somebody says, “Oh, that’s not so important.” My dear friend, it was
for salvation of the lost world that Jesus Christ came out of the ivory palaces and into
this world of woe. Jesus said in Luke chapter 19, verse 10: “For the Son of man is come
to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Jesus did not come primarily as the great social worker. Jesus did not come
primarily as the great educator. Jesus Christ did not come primarily as the great
physician or the great healer. Jesus Christ came primarily to seek and to save that
which is lost. And, the great Apostle Paul said this, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy

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of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy
1:15). That is man’s greatest need, and that is what causes the great heart of God to
throb and beat with love today, that He wants to save a bruised and bleeding humanity.
Salvation is man’s greatest need. That’s the reason he says here in Romans chapter
10, verse 1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might
be saved.” Notice what a poignant statement. “My heart desire,” “My heart’s desire and
prayer” because prayer follows desire, like night follows day, and the bosom of a
spiritual man. “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved.” And, God’s desire and my prayer for you this morning is if you’re not saved that
you might be saved.
Now, Paul discusses salvation in the rest of the tenth chapter of Romans and there
are three basic things I want you to notice with me this morning. The very first thing that
would have you notice is the righteousness, the righteousness this morning that is
needed. The second thing that I would have you to notice is the resource that is near.
And the third, the requirement that is necessary.

I. The Righteousness That Is Needed

All right now, look at the righteousness that is needed. I begin now in verse 2. I want
you to hear this word “righteousness” over and over again. “For I bear them record that
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of
God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness
which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
It is very obvious, very clear that God here is talking about righteousness, what it is,
how to obtain it. Now, man is always backward when it comes to spiritual truth. He
always gets things a hundred and eighty degrees out of phase. Man thinks that a man is
righteous because of what he does. Man thinks that righteousness is a reward, man
thinks that righteousness is a goal to be achieved. That if he can do certain things that
will make him righteous. But, Paul said in another place, “…if righteousness come by
the law”—that is, by keeping the Ten Commandments, by being good—“then Christ is
dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
If a man could be saved by living a good life, I ask you, my friend, why then did
Jesus die? “…if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Now, Paul,
the Apostle, said in Philippians chapter 3 and you might want to put this in your margin,
verses 4 through 7: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in

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the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning
zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:4–7).
Now, what is Paul saying here? Paul is saying, “Folks, I had it all, everything that
you want to name, I had it. I had race. I was a Hebrew. Of the Hebrews, of the tribe of
Benjamin, I had religion. I was a Pharisee. I had righteousness. That is, my own
righteousness as touching the law blameless. I had ritual.” You’ve never seen anyone
more ritualistic than was Paul.
Paul had all of that, but he said, “I count all of these things but lost.” He said, “I used
to have them on the positive side of the ledger. I took them off the positive, I put them
on the negative side, not only were they not assets, they were actually liabilities.” You
see, a road may be a very good road, but if you’re headed the wrong way on it, no
matter how good it is, it just helps you to get to the wrong destination all the faster. What
good is a super highway if you’re headed the wrong way. That’s what Paul was on. Paul
was on a road that seemed like a good road, but he was headed the wrong way
because he was trying by his own righteousness to be right with God. Over, and over,
and over again, preachers have to preach this message that it’s not by works of
righteousness that we have done. “…but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus
3:5). Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church was raised in a very godly home.
You could not have had a better background than John Wesley. When he got to be a
young man he went off to Oxford University there to study the reading of theology and
he studied theology. When he was at Oxford he and some other young men got
together and they got a club. Do you know what they called it? The holy club. Oh, how
these men longed to be holy, how these men longed to be right with God.
John Wesley said to himself, “If I know all of this theology, then I must I must share
this theology.” And, he went off to America, to Georgia, to be a missionary there to the
heathen. While he was there he realized that he himself had never been born again. He
said, “I went off to convert the heathen, who shall convert me?” When John Wesley
came back to England at Aldersgate, he was there in a meeting and you remember
those words. He said, “I felt my heart strangely warm.” And, he repented of his sin and
like a little child cast all of his self-righteousness, all of his theology, all of his good
deeds in the dust, and said, “Lord Jesus I trust you always to come into my heart.
Forgive me and save me.” Have you done that?
Look at verse 4 here in this passage of Scripture. “For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.” You are not saved by keeping the law. The
law says, “Do this and thou shalt live.” The gospel says, “Live and thou shalt do.” The

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law says, “Pay me what thou owest.” The gospel says, “I freely forgive all.” The law
says, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Gospel says, “Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1
John 4:10). The law says, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). The gospel says,
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans
4:7). The law says, “…the wages of sin is death”—the gospel says—“…the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The law demands holiness. The gospel provides holiness. The law says, “Do.” The
gospel says, “Done.” The law places the day of rest at the end of the week. The gospel
places the day of rest at the beginning of the week. The law makes blessing the result
of obedience. The gospel makes obedience the result of blessing. The law says, “Run,”
but it doesn’t give us any legs. The gospel says, “Fly,” and it gives us wings. Oh, thank
God for the gospel. What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
Christ dying for sinful flesh brought to us light, and life, and immortality in the gospel.
Dear friends, if you want to be saved, let me tell you this morning, you’re going to
have to stop trying and start trusting. Stop trying and start trusting. “Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” And, that word, “believe” means to
“cast yourself upon Him totally, completely, wholly.” Him and Him alone.
John G. Patton was a missionary to the South Sea Islands and these people did not
have a written language. So first of all, what he had to do was to learn their language.
And, then he had to reduce their language to writing, then he had to translate the
Scriptures into that language. Then, he had to teach them to read in order that he might
teach them the Scriptures. And so, he was learning the language, translating the
Scriptures, when he came to this word that we find here in Romans chapter 10 and
verse 4. “Christ is the end of the law to him that believeth” the same word that is found
in John [Link] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish…”
When he came to this word he thought he wanted a word in their language that
would translate “belief.” Now, it couldn’t be just mere intellectual belief, he knew that
word, but he was looking for the word that meant, “to rely on completely” and “nothing
else to trust.” And, he kept asking the natives, “Do you have a word like this?” And,
none of them seem to understand the word that he wanted.
And, so he kept asking and finally he brought one of the more intelligent natives in
and he said, “I want you to watch what I’m doing.” And, John Patton sat down in a chair
and relaxed in that chair completely, put all of his weight on that chair, and he asked the
native, he said, “Now, what am I doing to this chair?” “Well,” he said, “You’re sitting in

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that chair, you’re resting in that chair.” That wasn’t quite the word that John Patton
wanted so this time he took both feet off the floor and put his heels on the rungs of that
chair and sat back and just relaxed completely and leaned on that chair and placed all
of his weight on that chair. And, he said to the native, “Now, what am I doing to this
chair? The native said, “You have no other means of support, you have put all of your
weight, you’re resting fully, totally, completely upon that chair.”
He said, “Say it in your language. He said, “Fokaronagrongo.” “Say it again.”
“Fokaronagrongo.” He said, “That’s my word for, “God so loved the world that he gave
His only begotten Son that whosoever ‘fokaronagrongo’ believes on Him”—who places
all of his weight, who trust Him, Him only, Him always to support him, “that person shall
not perish.” “Christ is the end of the law to everyone that believeth.” I cannot work my
soul to save that work my Lord has done, but I will work like any slave for the love of
God’s dear Son. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, “but according to
His mercy He saved us.” Now, that is the righteousness that is needed.

II. The Resource That Is Near

The second thing I want you to see, I want you to see what I am going to call the
resource that is near. Look if you will in verses 6 and following. “But the righteousness
which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into
heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the
deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is
nigh thee…”—just underscore that phrase—“even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is,
the word of faith, which we preach” (Romans 10:6–8).
Now, look if you will at verses 6 through 8. Now, what Paul is saying is, “You don’t
have to go off to find Jesus, you don’t have to go on some pilgrimage, you don’t have to
go to some Tibetan mountaintop, you don’t have to go on a safari to Heaven. You don’t
have to ascend up into Heaven to bring Christ down from above. You don’t have to go
up, up, up, and say, ‘Lord Jesus, won’t you please come down and save this sinful
race.’ Why? Cause He has already come down.” And, then Paul says, “You don’t have
to go into Hell to bring up Christ again from the deep, from the abyss, to bring Him again
from the dead.” Why? Listen folks, not only has He come down from Heaven, but He’s
come up from the grave. He’s already done that.
He has suffered, bled, and died for us. And, His incarnation, His crucifixion, His
resurrection, that’s already done. You don’t have to get Him to do that that is done. It is,
salvation is not spelled D-O, it’s spelled D-O-N-E, done, do you see? Now, Paul says,
“Listen, Jesus is so close The Word is so near that it’s even in your mouth and it’s in
your heart. You say, “Well, wait a minute Preacher, how did it get in my mouth? How did
it get in my heart?” I preached it there. I just put it there.

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 You see, Paul says, “The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, it is
the word of faith that we preach.” I have just preached Christ crucified into your heart.
It’s there right now in your heart. I just put it there. It is there in your mouth, I just put it
there. “The Word is night thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of
faith which we preach.” Now, you can have it in your heart and not be saved. You can
have it in your mouth and not be saved, but oh, you are so close to being saved. The
resource that is near, you are just a confession away from being saved.
You see, dear friend, this is how close you are to salvation. Everybody in this
building this morning is just a hairbreadth from being saved. Jesus Christ is here, you
don’t have to bring Him down. You don’t have to bring Him up. He is here, the Word of
God is here. Salvation is so very close to you. It is right now in your mouth waiting to be
articulated, it is right now in your heart waiting to be received and believed.

III. The Requirement That Is Necessary

Now, the third thing I want you to notice. Number one, the righteousness that is
needed. Only righteousness from Christ, that’s the only kind. Secondly, the resource
that is near. The word is so near that it is in your mouth and in your heart. Third thing,
the requirement that is necessary. What does God say is necessary, therefore for you to
be saved? Begin now in verse 9. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him”—Hallelujah—“For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9–12).
Now, notice the requirement that is necessary.
A. Confession
First of all, there is a confession. Look at it in verse 9. “That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth.” Dear friend, the word is in your mouth right now. I have preached it there,
but you now confess with your mouth. Now, dear friend, when a man believes in his
heart, he’s always willing and ready to confess with his mouth. Do you know what
confession is? Confession is faith turned inside out.
I hear people say that they’re saved, but they’re not going to confess it, they’re not
going to make it public, they say, “It is a private matter.” They’re absolutely correct when
they say, “It is a private matter.” The heart is private, but the mouth is public. And, the
Bible says, “That private thing, that happens in the inner sanctum of your heart will be
made outward if it is real.” Confession is faith turned inside out. Jesus Christ said,
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and

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sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). But Jesus said, “Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which
is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
Now I want to make it very abundantly clear, it is believing in the heart that saves us.
It is confession with the mouth however that shows that we’re saved. And, I am totally
convinced that the faith that will not lead to confession will not lead to Heaven. If you are
ashamed of the Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is ashamed of you. You are not saved
because you confess, but you do confess because you’re saved. “With the heart man
believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
B. Commitment
Number one, a confession, but number two, a commitment. What do you confess?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.” Literally, in the Greek
language, “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus Lord,” “Jesus Lord,” or “Jesus
is Lord.” You see, this is the conviction of salvation, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Do you
believe that? Are you willing to confess it? Sometimes we hear people talk about
receiving Christ as your Savior. I use that language sometimes, but really, dear friend,
that’s not Bible language. The Bible doesn’t say, “You receive Jesus Christ as your
Savior.” The Bible says, “You receive Jesus Christ, as many as received Him.” You
don’t receive Him as anything. You just receive Him.
Now, you say, “What’s the difference?” Well, suppose I married a couple here last
night. And, suppose when that couple stood right down here at the marriage alter I said
to that young man, “Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Suppose
he said, “Well, I take her as housekeeper.” I’m afraid we might not have had a wedding.
No, you see, he just takes her. Now, He is Savior, but He’s also Lord. He’s also Lord.
I’ve heard people say, “Well, you know, about twenty years ago, I made Jesus Christ
my Savior. Now today, I’m going to make Him my Lord.” I beg to differ with you, dear
friend. If He’s not your Lord, He’s not your Savior. He’s not your Savior. The Bible says,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord.” He’s called Lord many
more times in the Bible than He’s called Savior. Savior He is, Lord He is. Salvation
however, is not a cafeteria line where you say, “Well, I believe I’ll have a little Savior
hood today, no Lordship thank you.” That when you come, and make that commitment,
if you’re ready to say, “I take myself off the throne, no longer am I ruler in my own life, I
advocate the throne, Lord Jesus, by faith I enthrone you. Take control of my life, make
me the person you want me to be.” That is the commitment of salvation.
C. Confidence
Now, the third thing I want you to notice. Look at the requirement. First of all, the

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confession, the confession is because of the commitment, and the commitment is
rooted in the confidence. Listen, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is
Lord and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead.” That, my
dear friend, is the confidence that God has raised Him from the dead. Why do I confess
Him? Because He’s Lord. How do I know that He is Lord? Because God has raised Him
from the dead.
And, the Bible says He is “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to
the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). By this one
miracle. Why doesn’t the Bible say, “That if thou shalt believe in thine heart that he was
born of a virgin?” Or that He died upon the cross? Why doesn’t He speak of the
incarnation or something like that? Why the resurrection? Because, my friend, listen, the
resurrection is the capstone of all of the other miracles. If you believe in the resurrection
you believe all the other miracles. You see, there can’t be a resurrection without an
incarnation. There cannot be a resurrection without a crucifixion. He would not have
been raised from the dead had He not been the sinless Son of God. You see, when you
believe in the resurrection from the dead that means that you believe the rest of it, that
is the cornerstone miracle, that is the capstone miracle and that is the confidence.
Listen friend, if I believe that Jesus Christ walked out of that grave, what a
confidence that is. Somebody has clearly said of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, “If
Jesus Christ is still in that grave, nothing really matters, but if Jesus Christ came out of
that grave, nothing but that really matters.” Amen? I believe that with all of my heart.
You see, the confession is rooted in the commitment, and a commitment is rooted in a
confidence. I believe that God raised Him from the dead.
D. Courage
Now, watch, that confession that is rooted because of a commitment, that
commitment that is rooted in a confidence gives us a tremendous courage. Continue to
read verses 10 and 11. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” That’s the courage of salvation. Confession,
commitment, confidence, and courage.
You see, dear friend, if I believe that God raised Him from the dead, if He is the Lord
of the living and the dead, He is Lord of all, sovereign God, a very God, can I be
ashamed of Jesus Christ? “For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed.” One way that I can know that I really believe in Jesus Christ is I am
not ashamed of Jesus Christ. This word “shall not be ashamed” literally means “will not
be in a hurry to get away.” That’s what the Greek language means.
“Oh,” you say, “What does that mean?” Have you ever been in a conversation where
the name of Jesus is brought up and somebody wants to change the subject? I mean,

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just like switching the dial on the television set. And, some of them claim to be
Christians. They don’t want to carry a Bible in public. They they’re embarrassed to talk
about the Lord. Even in a restaurant when it’s time to pray they just kind of rub their
eyebrows. You know what I’m talking about? Just kind of ashamed of Jesus. Friend,
listen, if you believe these other things, gladly openly, freely, exuberantly,
enthusiastically, you’re going to want to let it be known that you love the Lord Jesus.
That’s why we ask people to come forward in a service like this and make it public,
that they’ve trusted Christ as their personal Savior. They’re not going to get all hot under
the collar when Jesus Christ is mentioned. If you could put me on the highest mountain
and give me a megaphone that would reach the universes and every person on planet
earth I would be absolutely thrilled to say, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.” He is my Lord and my Savior. Wouldn’t you? I would, I’d tell the world that I’m a
Christian, I’m not ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, if you’re ashamed of Him you
probably don’t know who He is or you’ve never trusted your life to Him. The Scripture
says, “Whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed.” That’s the reason why we ask
people openly and publicly to come and confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior. Not just in this church, but everyday, everywhere you go.
I heard a story a long time ago about a young lady in a worship service, it was an
evangelistic service, she was under deep conviction, a revival crusade, she was
weeping, she was in the back of the auditorium. A personal worker went back there to
talk with here and said, “Young lady, would you like to be saved?”
And, she said: “Yes, I would.”
The personal worker said: “Would you come to the front and confess Christ as your
personal Savior?”
And, she said: “Oh, no.”
She said: “I can’t go down there in front of all those people.”
She said: “I’d like to be saved back here.”
The personal worker said: “You can’t be saved back here. If you want to be saved
you will have to go to the front.”
She said: “I won’t do it.” The next night, it was like the second stanza of the same
song, she was under deep conviction. The same personal worker went back and talked
to her according to the story that I heard and said, “Would you come forward?”
She said: “Oh no, no, I can’t do that. I can’t go down there in front of all of those
people. Can’t I be saved back here?”
He said: “No, you have got to come forward.” Now, I know what you are thinking, but
let me finish the story. The third evening, again, she was under deep conviction. Deeply
broken. This personal worker came back and said, “Young lady, will you come forward
and confess Christ as your personal Savior and as Lord?”

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 And she said: “Oh, yes, I will. I will go anywhere, I will do anything, if I can just have
peace with God.”
He said: “Now, you don’t need to come forward, you can be saved back here.”

Conclusion
Amen. Oh, friend listen you don’t have to be saved down here. You can be saved
back there. You can be saved anywhere, but I will tell you one thing, if you are saved, if
you have given Christ your heart and life, if you do believe that He is Lord, if you do
believe that God has raised Him from the dead, you will not be ashamed of Him. You
will count it a privilege to come forward and say, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. I am not ashamed of Him.” That, my dear friend, is the courage of Salvation.
Now, I want you to see the consequence of salvation. Look at it again. Verse 12,
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is
rich unto all that call upon him” That means that God’s amazing resources are available
to those who have trusted Christ. And, I’ll tell you, dear friend, for almost forty years
now, I’ve proven that to be true. I recommend Jesus Christ to you today. Heads are
bowed and eyes are closed.

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 The Simplicity of Salvation
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: April 16, 2000

Main Scripture Text: Romans 10:1–7

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
ROMANS 10:4

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Righteousness That God Rejects
II. The Righteousness That God Reveals
III. The Righteousness That God Receives
A. You Must Confess Christ as the Reigning Lord
B. You Must Confess Christ as the Risen Lord
C. You Must Confess Christ as the Redeeming Lord
1. The Relationship Between the Heart and the Mouth
2. The Results of the Confession
a. Jesus Is Satisfying
b. Jesus Is Sufficient
Conclusion  

Introduction
Take your Bibles and turn to Romans chapter 10. Romans has been called the
Constitution of Christianity. And the more we read it, the more I believe that to be true.
Let me ask you a question. Think of the person that you love the most. What is your
deepest desire for that individual? Perhaps, your children, your parents, your kinfolks—
what do you desire for those that you love the most? Do you desire for them, for
example—parents, do you desire for your children an education? Is that your great
desire? If that’s all you desire, you’re going to raise a clever devil. That’s all. Do you
desire for your children culture? Now, we’re trying to refine young intellects and add
culture. But if that’s your heart’s desire, if culture is your hope, all you’re doing is making
the world a better place to go to hell from. Is that your desire? I mean, what do you
want? You say, “Well, I want them to be materially well off. I want them to have
sufficiency.” Well, what difference will that make, if they have it all, and then die and rise
in the judgment to face a God they do not know?
You see, Jesus came not as a great philosopher, not as an educator, not as an
economist, not as a social worker; Jesus came as a Savior—as a Savior—for man’s

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greatest need, and the desire that you ought to have for all of your loved ones, is that
that need would be met. Man’s greatest need is salvation.
Now, salvation is an old-fashioned word, and some today, in our more cultured
churches, have kind of shoved the word salvation out the back door. And that’s
something that the church across the railroad tracks talks about, but not us. But, friend,
if you listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 19, verse 10, Jesus said, “For the Son of
man…”—He called Himself the Son of man. He said—“The Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.”
And the angel, when the angel announced His birth, said, “Thou shalt call his name
Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” And, when the apostle Paul thought
of his loved ones, those who were his relatives, notice what he said in chapter 10, verse
1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.”
My heart’s desire: O God, that they might be saved. And so, we’re going to think a little
bit about salvation. And we’re going to think about it under three headings.

I. The Righteousness That God Rejects

Heading Number One is the Righteousness that God Rejects. You would think that
God would accept righteousness, wouldn’t you? But there is a righteousness that God
rejects. And I believe, in a sophisticated audience like this, perhaps the first point may
be the one that needs to be heard the most.
Look again here—Romans 10, verse 1: “Brethren, my heart’s prayer to God for
Israel is—and by the way, Israel was the most religious nation on the face of the earth
at that time—my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness…”—you say education is costly. Friend,
I want to tell you, ignorance is far more costly than education—“For they, being ignorant
of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness—
underscore that—have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. For Moses
describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things
shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith…”
And I’m going to stop reading right there for a moment. But let me tell you there is a
certain righteousness that God rejects. And the righteousness that God rejects is self-
righteousness. When a man tries to be righteous by the deeds of the law, by keeping
the Ten Commandments, by being a nice person, a better person, by doing good
deeds, God rejects that righteousness. Now, why would God do that? Well, because
God is holy and God, being a holy God, cannot countenance any sin, none whatsoever.
And man is sinful at his best, and the best that man can do is not enough, not enough.

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That’s the reason keeping the Ten Commandments can’t save you.
Number one, you can’t keep them. You don’t have what it takes to keep them in your
own strength. And, even if you kept most of them, what good is that? If you’re hanging
over a fire by a chain of ten links, and nine of them are forged steel, and one of them is
made of paper, how safe are you? A chain is not stronger than its weakest link. That’s
the reason the Bible says, if we should keep the whole law and yet offend in one point,
we are guilty of all. God demands perfection, and we just can’t supply it. Man really,
basically, is ignorant—ignorant—when it comes to spiritual things. That’s the reason we
need to go to the Word of God.
We have people today that say, “Well, I’m looking for a church that suits me.” You’d
better stop that. I mean, who are you—God? You’d better find a religion—a salvation, a
church, a truth—that suits God, and submit yourself to what God has said. Man always
gets it backward—always gets it backward—naturally.
For example, the Bible says, “Believe and be baptized.” Well, what does man do?
He baptizes little babies, and hopes one day they’ll believe. That’s backwards. The
Bible says, for example, that adults are to become like little children. What do we do? A
little child comes forward to give his or her heart to Jesus, and we take the little child
and we ask the little child a lot of adult questions. And if the little child can’t answer the
adult questions, we say the little child is not ready. But God says the adult is going to
have to become like a little child, and just come with a child-like faith.
The Bible says, “Seek ye first—seek ye first—the kingdom of God and His
righteousness…” What do most of us do? We seek things first, and put God second,
and wonder why it doesn’t work. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Now, what difference does
it make if everything seems to be going right for you, except for the main thing?
I may have told you about an experience I had not so very long ago. I flew into
Tampa, Florida. Had to go across the state. I rented an automobile, and it was a nice
automobile; not an expensive, but a very nice, brand new automobile. I got in there. It
had the greatest radio, and I found a station that had the most glorious music. The sun
was shining. It was a beautiful Florida day. This car smelled so good, looked so good. I
got on the road. It was a great road. Just going along fine, listening to the music, having
a wonderful time. But, you know, there was one thing wrong. I was on the wrong road—
in the wrong direction. And the fact that the road was so good and the weather was so
fine and I’m so oblivious, that was not wonderful, that was horrible, because there I am
just sailing along, feeling everything is fine, but, in my ignorance, going the wrong way.
And that’s the way the people of Paul’s day were. “They, being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

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 Now, listen to me—big, plain, and straight: Salvation is not a reward for the
righteous; it is a gift for the guilty. Do you understand that? You’ll never be saved.
Salvation is not a goal to be achieved; it is a gift to be received. And Paul’s heart was
just full of compassion for these people. He said they’re ignorant of God’s
righteousness, going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God. And many will come to a church and
perhaps say, “You know, I need to change my way of living. I’m going to change my
lifestyle. I want to be right with God.” And so they begin to reform themselves. I’ve often
used the illustration. If you go a sawmill—and I’ve done that on an occasion—and watch
an old log being straightened out, an old crooked tree trunk, they’ll drop that log on that
cradle, and run it through that big saw. And it lops off one side. They’ll turn it, and run it
through again. It lops off the other side. Run it through again. It lops off the other side.
And, finally, all four sides have been cut, and that log now is perfectly square, perfectly
straight. But, if you go to the end and look, the heart is still crooked, is it not? Now,
that’s what so many people do. They’re just trying to establish their own righteousness,
and they say, “I don’t do this, I don’t do this, I don’t do this, I don’t do that. What a good
boy am I!” Jesus was talking to the religious leaders of His day when He said, “My
heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” He had,
primarily, the religious leaders in mind, and the Pharisees. If you saw the Passion Play,
these were the ones who hounded Jesus to the cross—the Pharisees.
I’ve often wondered what a church full of Pharisees would be like. Suppose I were
the pastor of a church full of Pharisees. Let me tell you what it would be like. Number
one: they would attend a lot more faithfully than many of you. Number two: all of them
would tithe. Number three: they would live outwardly clean, pure, moral lives. Number
four: they would be very busy about church work. Sounds like a good church, doesn’t it?
Oh, did I forget to mention number five? They’d all be going to hell—all be going to hell.
Why? Because they’re ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness; they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of
God. So the first point is this: The Righteousness that God Rejects. The worst form of
badness is human goodness, when human goodness becomes a substitute for the new
birth.

II. The Righteousness That God Reveals

Now, here’s the second thing I want you to see. Not only the righteousness that God
rejects, but the Righteousness that God Reveals. Now, there is a righteousness, and
God has revealed that righteousness, so continue to read verse 6: “But the
righteousness which is by faith, which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine
heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above); or,

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Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the
word of faith, which we preach.”
Now, there is a righteousness that God rejects, but thank God, there is a
righteousness that God reveals, and He mentions that in these verses, verses 6 though
8. Look up here. If you’re not a Christian, let me tell you, you are so close to being
saved. I cannot tell you how near salvation is to you. I wish I had better words to
express it. You may think that you’re a long way from being saved. No, no. You are so
close. Look in verse 8: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee…” That means near
thee. How near is it? It’s in your mouth and in your heart. You don’t have to go on some
safari to find salvation. He says, “…Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into
heaven, to bring Christ down from above?” You don’t have to go up there and say, “Holy
Father, would you send us a Savior. Would you let somebody come from heaven, come
down to this earth, to save us?” Nor if that one came down and did die for you on that
bloody cross, you wouldn’t have to go down into the pit, down into hell, and say, “Oh,
let’s bring Him from the dead, let’s bring Him to life again, let’s bring Christ from the
dead.” He says, “You don’t have to do that.” Why? Look at it in verses 6 though 8. He
has already come down. Friend, He has come down. Christmas is an established fact.
Furthermore, not only has He come down from the heavens, but He has come up from
the grave. Christ walked out of that tomb. It is done. He did it—He did it. It’s already
done. It is an accomplished fact. And that is the reason that it is so close to you, so near
to you. “What saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and in thy mouth…” You
say, “It’s in my heart and in my mouth? I’m not even a Christian.” Yes, but it’s in your
heart and in your mouth. “Well, how did it get in my heart?” I just put it there. “Adrian,
how did you put it in my heart?” The word of faith which we preach—I just put it in your
heart and it’s in your mouth. You say, “In my heart?” Yep. “In my mouth?” Yes. Be
careful what you do with it, because it is there. And, in a moment, we’re going to see,
since it is there in your heart and in your mouth, what do you need to do? You need now
to believe with your heart and confess with your mouth. You don’t have to go off looking
for salvation. Folks, it is there. “The word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and in thy
mouth.”—that is, the word of faith which we preach. And God has revealed that
righteousness. You see, there’s the righteousness that God rejects; there is the
righteousness that God reveals.
I prayed before I preached this morning. God brought you here today. And God sent
me to tell you that Jesus Christ has come down from heaven; the Son of God, that He
died upon that cross, that He stepped out of that grave. He is risen. And the Word is in
your heart and in your mouth, ready today for you to receive it and be saved. Isn’t that
good news?

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III. The Righteousness That God Receives
You see, there is the righteousness that God rejects, and there is the righteousness
that God reveals. And now let me show the Righteousness that God Receives. What
should you do? Well, let’s continue to read. Look now in verse 9. Here it is. Here’s what
God will receive. Watch it in verse 9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth—
remember, it’s in your mouth—the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart—
remember, it’s in your heart—that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.” That’s black print on white paper. Look at it: “For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the
Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there’s no
difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him.”
Now, the righteousness that God receives is this: It all centers around Jesus Christ.
Look in verse 9, and let me tell you what you’re to do with Jesus. Are you listening? Are
you paying attention? In the balcony, listen—your destiny here. We’re talking about you.
We’re talking about your soul. We’re talking about heaven and hell. Pay attention. Don’t
you let that devil take this word out of your mouth and out of your heart today. Listen to
it.
A. You Must Confess Christ as the Reigning Lord
Number one: you must confess Christ as the reigning Lord of your life—the reigning
Lord. I’ve chosen the word reigning very carefully. Look in verse 9: “That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus—the Lord Jesus…” The Lordship of Jesus is the
central confession of the Christian church. Why did Jesus come to this earth? Why did
He suffer, bleed, die on that cross? Why Easter morning? Put in the margin of your
Bible, Romans 14, verse 9: “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that
he might be Lord of the dead and the living.” That’s why. That’s why Jesus came to this
earth, suffered, bled, died, walked out of that grave, that He might be Lord.
Now, what is God all about? Listen to Philippians 2, verses 9 through 11:
“Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him—speaking here about Jesus—and given
him a name which is above every name.” And that is true. There’s no sweeter name
than the name Jesus. “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.” Somehow—
somehow—we’re gotten the idea that Christ is Savior. And we use this word, “Oh, would
you accept Christ as your Savior?” I’ve been guilty of saying that. But, friend, that’s not
really New Testament language. The New Testament doesn’t say accept Christ as your
Savior. He is that, and He is Christ. But the New Testament says confess Christ as

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Lord. “That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…” Every time, ever,
ever, ever so often, somebody will say something like this: “You know, when I was a
child, I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and that settled whether I was going to heaven or
hell. And now I have made Him my Lord.” I’m sorry. God sent me here to tell you, if He’s
not your Lord, He’s not your Savior. Salvation is not some sort of a cafeteria line where
we say, “Well, I believe I’ll have a little Savior here today, but no Lordship, thank you.”
No! Jesus is Lord. We have a lot of people who come down church aisles like they’re
doing God a wild favor, so they can have a little fire insurance and not go to hell,
accepting Christ, “as their Savior.” Now, He is Savior, and He does save; but, friend,
you cannot have what He gives unless you receives what He is. He is Lord. Have you
ever taken yourself off the throne and put Jesus Christ on the throne?
You know, the church is called the bride of Christ. Let’s just imagine there’s a
wedding. The vows have been said. The cake has been cut. The rice has been thrown.
Tom and Susie are in the car. They’re driving off. Susie looks over to Tom, and says,
“Tom, would you please take me home?” He says, “Well, Susie, I can’t take you home.
You know our home won’t be finished for two weeks. We’re going on our honeymoon.
And then, when our home is finished, I’ll take you home.” Susie says, “No, Tom. I don’t
mean that home. I mean my home. I want you to take me back to my mother. I want to
go home. Now, Tom, I want you to understand something. I am glad that you are my
husband. When we got married, I took you as my husband. I’m glad that you’re my
husband, but I want you to take me back to my home. Now, Tom, I know that you love
me, and I want you to know I’m grateful to be your wife. And, Tom, I’ll try to come see
you on weekends. And, Tom, if I get sick, I’ll call you. And, if I need anything, I’ll call
you, but Tom, I’m going back to my old way of life, but I’m happy to have you as my
husband. I’m going back to my old way of life. Tom, take your hands off my life.” Have
you ever known anybody that said, “Now, Lord Jesus, I take You as my Savior; thank
You; that’s done; now, I’m going back to my old way of life; oh, yes, Lord, I’ll come and
see you a few times on weekends; and, Lord, if I need anything, if I’ll get sick, I’ll call on
You”? Friend, that is the kind of religion that is filling hell—filling hell. People have never
really made the authentic confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. You’re not saved by
doing good works—I don’t mean that. We’re talking about the righteousness which is by
faith, but it is faith in Christ as the reigning Lord. Now, have you seen Him as your
reigning Lord?
B. You Must Confess Christ as the Risen Lord
Not only are you to confess Him as reigning Lord, but look in verse 9: as risen
Lord—as risen Lord. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead…” Why does He say that?
Why doesn’t He say, if you believe in the virgin birth, or if you believe that He died on

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the cross, or if you believe that He’s the Son of God? Why did He say that you’re to
believe that God has raised Him from the dead? Well, friend, that’s just shorthand for all
of the rest of it. You see, the resurrection that we’re celebrating this time of the year is
the capstone of all of the rest of it. You see, in order for Him to be raised from the dead,
He had to be a man, to come and be raised from the dead. That’s the incarnation. In
order for Him to be raised from the dead, He had to die on the cross in order to be
raised from the dead. That is the crucifixion. In order for Him to be raised from the dead,
He had to be the Son of God in order to be raised from the dead, because the Bible
says, “He’s shown to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.”
All of our Christian faith is wrapped up in that. The incarnation, the crucifixion, the
resurrection, the deity of Christ—it’s all in this one statement. You see—listen—to be a
New Testament Christian, you believe in Christ as the reigning Lord. You believe in
Christ as the risen Lord, believe that He walked out of that grave. I believe that with all
of my heart. There’s more proof that Jesus Christ rose from the dead than there is that
Julius Caesar ever lived.
C. You Must Confess Christ as the Redeeming Lord
And then, thirdly, you confess Him as the reigning Lord, as the risen Lord, and,
therefore, as the redeeming Lord. Look again in verses 9 and 10. Look. What saith it? “If
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus—the reigning Lord—and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead—that’s the risen Lord—thou shalt
be saved.” He is the redeeming Lord. “For with the heat man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And that’s what
man needs. That’s why Paul said, “Look, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel
is that they might be saved.”
1. The Relationship Between the Heart and the Mouth
Now, I want you to see the relationship, therefore, between the heart and the mouth.
He says, “Believe with your heart; confess with your mouth.” You’re not going to bootleg
a blessing. You’re not going to sneak into heaven. Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of
me and of my words before this sinful and adulterous generation, then I’ll be ashamed
of you when I come in the glory of the Father with the holy angels.” But Jesus said, “If
you will confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father.” Now, notice the
relationship. The heart is private; the mouth is public. What man believes in his heart,
he will confess with his mouth.
In a few moments, I’m going to give a public invitation. I’m going to ask you to do
something all glorious and all wonderful. I’m going to ask you to leave your seat, and
openly and publicly, unashamedly, come forward, letting the whole world know, if
possible, that you believe in Jesus Christ. You say, “Oh, no, pastor. I couldn’t do that. I

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don’t want all those people to know I believe in Jesus. I don’t want all those people to
know that I’m a sinner and lost and on my way to hell, and now I’ve received Christ, and
I’ve been saved and redeemed. I don’t want everybody to know that I have associated
my life with Him.” You know what’s going to happen to you? You’re going to die and go
to hell. Why? Because you’re ashamed of Jesus.
Walking down one of these aisles doesn’t save anybody. Shaking the hand of any
preacher is not going to save anybody. We all have enough good sense to know that.
That isn’t what saves. It’s what it indicates that saves. What does it indicate? We’re not
ashamed of Jesus. Friend, if you could give me a megaphone or a microphone and put
me on the tallest mountain or building in this world, I would be happy to tell the whole
world I believe in Jesus Christ. He is my Lord. You’re not going to sneak into heaven,
ashamed of Jesus. Can it be? Somebody who hung naked on a cross for you, and
suffered excruciating pain of the cross, and you say, “I’m going to preserve my dignity.
I’m not going to go forward.”
People leave churches two ways; some leave dignified, and some leave justified,
and you’re going to have to make up your mind. You can’t be ashamed of the Lord
Jesus. You know, what confession is? It is just faith turned inside out. “That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead…” You see, a confession literally means an agreement. You
agree with God. You just say amen to what God has said. God says, “Look. Jesus is
your Lord. He died for you. He was buried. He rose again.” You say, “Amen to that.
Hallelujah. I receive it, I believe it, and that settles it.”
Put down Matthew 10, verses 32 and 33: “Whosoever, therefore—Jesus is
speaking—shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father,
which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father, which is in heaven.”
2. The Results of the Confession
Now, let me tell you what happens when you do this. Here’s the two-fold result. Now,
look at it. We’re coming into the landing strip here, but look in verse 11.
a. Jesus Is Satisfying
Here’s the first result of that. “For the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed.” Now, that is true that you’ll not be ashamed of Jesus, but that’s
not the full meaning of that word—“…whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.” What the full meaning is this, and listen to it very carefully. And you may
have a translation that gives it this way: “…whosoever believes on him will not be
disappointed”—will not be disappointed. I’ve lived long enough to know one thing. I
have never, never known, nor will I ever know, a person who ever really truly gave his

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or her heart to Jesus Christ who was disappointed in Jesus. I have been serving Him
more than a half a century and I can tell you, He is more precious to me this moment
than ever. I am not disappointed in Jesus. Nor will you be. Nor has anybody ever been.
You’ll never find anybody who, in repentance and faith, has given his or her heart to
Jesus Christ who says, “Oh, I am disappointed.” No, you will not be. What is the first
result? Jesus is satisfying.
b. Jesus Is Sufficient
Here’s the second thing that you’ll find. Not only is Jesus satisfying, but you’re going
to find that Jesus is sufficient. He is sufficient. Look in verse 12—look at it: “For there is
no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him.” Phillips translates that, “…whose boundless resources are available
to all”—rich unto all.
I read in the paper yesterday where old Bill Gates lost 11 billion dollars. It breaks my
heart. Riches fly away. What do you have that you cannot lose? You want to know how
rich you are? You add up everything you have that money cannot buy and death cannot
take away. Then you’ll know how rich you are. “The same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him.” True riches, true wealth, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dr. Bill Bright, who founded Campus Crusade, is a friend of mine. I love him. He’s a
dear man. He told a story that moved me greatly about a very rich Englishman. His
name was Baron Fitzgerald—Baron Fitzgerald, very wealthy. He had a wife and a baby
son. The wife, the son, and the Baron lived together in their wealth and their opulence.
And then the wife sickened and she died, and left Baron Fitzgerald with the boy, who
was now in his teens. This father, who already loved the son, began to pour more and
more love into his son, his only son, his beloved son. And he loved his son, and almost
doted on the son. But then, the tragedy compounded. The son got sick. And after many
sleepless nights on the father’s behalf, praying for his son, yet the son died. Now, Baron
Fitzgerald was a connoisseur of art, and he collected magnificent art from all over the
world. They had this art treasure. And then, of course, the time came when Baron
Fitzgerald died. And he left in his will that his art was to be auctioned at his death,
because there were no heirs. All of the collectors and all of the people from around
came that were connoisseurs of art to buy these precious, precious treasures worth
many millions in English pounds. And they were all there as the auction began. But
there was one painting, done by an unknown artist, not particularly significant. It was a
painting of Baron Fitzgerald’s son, his beloved son. And the auctioneer said, “The rules
of the auction are these. This picture is to be auctioned first. What am I bid?” There was
an embarrassing silence, because nobody wanted that painting of his man’s son that he
loved so much. Finally, a thin voice came from the back of the room and made a bid,
just a pittance, a little bit. Nobody else bid. The gavel came down, and said, “The

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painting is sold, and the auction is over.” “Over? What do you mean over? It’s just
beginning.” He said, “No, it’s over. Let me read the stipulations of the will.” And the
lawyer read, “That the picture of my son is to be auctioned first. And whoever buys the
picture of my son gets the whole collection—gets the whole collection.” Why? What was
this man doing? He knew none of those people. He didn’t need the money. He’d already
gone. He wanted his own dear son to be honored, and so what he said is, “Whoever
gets my son, gets it all—gets it all.” And that’s what God is saying here in the gospel. “I
love My Son—I love My Son. And when you get My Son, when you get Jesus, you get
everything that comes with Jesus.” Well, “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call
upon Him.”

Conclusion
In just a moment, I’m going to ask you to give your heart to Jesus Christ. In baseball,
you have three chances to get on base when you come to bat—or three opportunities,
basically. You’re standing there, and the ball comes to you, and you have three strikes.
You miss the ball three times, and don’t get walked—you’re out. It’s three strikes and
you’re out. In order for you to go to heaven, you have three opportunities. You say,
“Wait a minute, Adrian. I thought you said there’s only one way.” Well, listen to me.
Three opportunities. Number one, you could die before the age of accountability. You
could die as a little baby. All little babies that die go straight to heaven—do you know
that? Straight to heaven. You could die as a little baby. See, if you died before the age
of accountability, before you knew the difference between right and wrong, then you go
straight to heaven. Do you understand that—do you? If you understand that, that’s
strike one. I mean, if you can understand what I’m saying, you’ve already passed the
age of accountability. So that opportunity for you to go to heaven is gone, right?
Now, number two. There’s another opportunity for you to go to heaven, and this is
purely theoretical. You could live an absolutely perfect life, never sin, ever one time,
deed, word, thought—never, never, never, ever sin, be absolutely perfect. You wouldn’t
need to be saved. Now, would the person who’s has done that, would you stand up? I
want to see you. No. There’s not a person in this building who could say, “Pastor
Rogers, I have never sinned ever in thought, word, or deed—never.” “For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God.” May I tell you, you’ve got two strikes
against you.
There’s only one other way, therefore, that you can be saved, and that is to give
your heart to the Christ who died for you on that cross. And the Bible says, “Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” And God sent me here to tell you that
you need to be saved, and He will save you. And I want you to confess Him today as
the reigning, risen, redeeming Lord, say, “Lord Jesus, thank You that You did come

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down. Thank You that You rose from the dead. Thank You that You died for my sins,
and I now receive You as my Lord and my Savior.”
Would you bow your heads in prayer? And those of you who are saved, would you
begin to pray for those round about you who may not be saved? Thank God for your
own salvation. How many here today would say, “Pastor Rogers, I am saved and I know
it, not because of my own self-righteousness, but because I have truly repented of my
sin, trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior, and I know, by God’s grace, I am
saved”? While heads are bowed and eyes are closed, if you can share that testimony
with me and give God the glory, would you just lift your hand? Hold it up. “I know I’m
saved.” That’s most of us, but not all of us. Those of you who could not lift your hand,
the reason I did that is to cause you to think, because you’re the one I want to invite to
pray this way, and I want you to pray in your heart this way: “Dear God”—that’s right,
just speak to Him—“Dear God. I know that You love me and I know that You want to
save me. I’m a sinner and I need to be saved. Jesus, I believe You’re the Son of God. I
receive You now as the Lord of my life. I believe that You were raised from the dead.
And I trust You now as my reigning, risen, redeeming Lord. I give you my heart. Thank
You—thank You—for saving me. Now, Lord, what I believe in my heart, help me to
confess with my mouth. Help me never to be ashamed of You. In Your name I pray.
Amen.”

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  Salvation    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      May  10,  1998    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  10:1–13  

“That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  
heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.”  
ROMANS  10:9  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. The  Freeness  of  Salvation
II. The  Nearness  of  Salvation
III. The  Richness  of  Salvation
Conclusion

Introduction  
Would  you  take  God’s  Word  and  be  finding  Romans  chapter  10?  As  you’ve  found  it,  
look  up  here  and  let  me  ask  you  a  question.  Of  all  of  the  needs  that  humanity  has,  what  
is  the  greatest  need?  Is  it  education?  If  it  were  education,  when  the  Lord  Jesus  came  to  
this  earth,  He  would’ve  come  as  an  educator.  Is  it  finance?  If  that  is  true,  when  the  Lord  
Jesus  came,  He  would’ve  come  as  an  economist,  perhaps  as  a  banker.  Is  it  peace?  
Well,  if  that’s  true,  Jesus  would’ve  come  as  a  diplomat.  But  what  is  man’s  greatest  
need?  Why  did  Jesus  come?  Well,  we  don’t  have  to  guess  about  it.  Luke  19:10,  Jesus  
said,  “[I  have]  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.”  Now,  salvation  is  man’s  
greatest  need.  To  be  saved  is  man’s  greatest  need.  But  do  you  know  when  I  say  that—I  
know  having  preached  as  long  as  I  have  preached—that  that  falls  flat,  to  say  that  man  
needs  to  be  saved?  That’s  an  old-­fashioned  word.  It’s  almost  out  of  vogue;;  it’s  out  of  
date  to  be  saved.  Well,  we’ve  heard  that  before,  haven’t  we?  But  one  of  these  days,  
friend,  it  will  make  a  colossal  difference.  
•Now,  we’ve  heard  a  lot  about  the  Titanic,  and  when  people  sailed  on  the  Titanic,
there  were  some  who  sailed  with  very  exclusive  provisions  and  very  fine  
accommodations,  and  there  were  some  below  in  the  steerage.  But  do  you  know  when  
the  final  tally  came  back  to  the  New  York  office,  they  put  them  in  two  categories:  saved  
and  lost?  Now,  some  of  you  may  be  going  to  hell  first  class,  but  there’s  coming  a  day  
when  you’re  going  to  stand  before  God,  and  the  thing  that’s  going  to  matter  more  than  

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anything  else  in  this  world  is  this:  Are  you  saved  or  are  you  lost?•  
Look  in  God’s  Word  here—Romans  chapter  10.  I  begin  in  verse  1:  “Brethren,  my  
heart’s  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved.”  Paul’s  
heartbeat,  Paul’s  passion,  Paul’s  prayer  for  Israel,  is  that  they  might  be  saved.  “For  I  
bear  them  record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but  not  according  to  knowledge.  For  
they  being  ignorant  of  God’s  righteousness,  and  going  about  to  establish  their  own  
righteousness,  have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness  of  God.  For  
Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  [for]  everyone  that  believeth.”  (Romans  
10:2–4)   Now  I  just  want  to  pause  right  there,  and  I  just  want  to  talk  about  this  salvation.  

I. The  Freeness  of  Salvation

And  the  very  first  thing  I  want  to  tell  you  about  is  the  freeness  of  this  salvation.  It  is  
absolutely,  totally  free.  Now,  most  people  who  even  think  of  salvation  think  that  
salvation  roots  in  the  merit  of  man.  If  you  were  to  walk  up  and  down  the  streets  of  this  
city,  or  any  city,  and  ask  people,  “Are  you  going  to  heaven”,  they’ll  say,  “I  hope  so.”  And  
if  you  were  to  say,  “Why,”  they  would  say,  “Well,  I’m  trying  to  live  as  best  I  know  how.”  
They  think  that  salvation  is  a  reward  for  the  righteous.  But  salvation  is  not  a  reward  for  
the  righteous;;  salvation  is  a  gift  for  the  guilty.  And  if  you  don’t  understand  that,  you’re  
never  going  to  have  salvation,  because  Paul  talks  about  his  brothers  in  the  flesh,  the  
Jewish  nation,  and  he  says,  “…I  bear  [the]  record…they  have  a  zeal  for  God,”—they’re  
very  religious,  very  zealous—“but  not  according  to  knowledge.  For  they  being  ignorant  
of  God’s  righteousness…going  about  to  establish  their  own  righteousness,  have  not  
submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness  of  God.”  (Romans  10:2–3)  
You  see,  that’s  when  something  good  can  become  something  bad:  if  it  keeps  you  
from  the  best.  There  are  many  people  in  this  congregation  and  many  who  are  listening  
to  me  across  the  nation.  You’re  going  to  go  to  hell,  not  because  you’re  a  drunkard,  not  
because  you’re  a  thief,  but  because  you  never  were.  You  think  the  gospel  is  for  the  
harlot;;  you  think  the  gospel  is  for  the  thief;;  you  think  the  gospel  is  for  the  drunkard.  Most  
of  the  people  in  America  are  egomaniacs  strutting  to  hell,  thinking  they’re  too  good  to  be  
damned,  trusting  in  their  own  religion.  
The  Apostle  Paul  was  one  of  these.  I  want  you  to  put  in  your  margin  this  passage  of  
Scripture—it’s  very  insightful.  Philippians  3,  verses  4  through  7.  Here’s  what  the  Apostle  
Paul  said  of  himself.  Now,  I  want  you  to  listen  to  a  very  religious  man  talking.  He  says,  
“Though  I  might  also  have  confidence  in  the  flesh.  If  any…man  thinketh…he  hath  
whereof  he  might  trust  in  the  flesh,  I  more.”  (Philippians  3:4)  Paul  said,  “If  you  want  to  
get  in  a  bragging  contest  about  who’s  a  good  boy,”  he  said,  “Let  me  just  tell  you  about  
myself.”  He  said,  “[I  was]  circumcised  the  eighth  day,  of  the  stock  of  Israel,  of  the  tribe  of  
Benjamin,  an  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews.”  (Philippians  3:5)  He  said,  “You  ought  to  know  

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my  ancestors;;  you  ought  to  know  my  lineage.  You  ought  to  know  I  am  a  blueblood.  ‘As  
touching  the  law,  a  Pharisee.’  (Philippians  3:5)  You  want  to  talk  about  
accomplishments?  I  rose  up  in  the  ranks  until  I  held  the  highest  religious  position  in  the  
nation.  ‘Concerning  zeal,  persecuting  the  church.’  (Philippians  3:6)  You  talk  about  a  
man  who  practiced  what  he  believed,  I  was  the  one.”  He  said,  
“Touching…righteousness  which  is  [by]  the  law,  blameless.”  (Philippians  3:6)  “If  you  
were  to  take  the  Ten  Commandments,”  Paul  would  say,  at  least  outwardly,  “I  have  kept  
every  one  of  them.”  But  then  notice  verse  7—here’s  the  thing  I  want  you  to  see:  “But  
what  things  were  gain  to  me…I  counted  [but]  loss…”  (Philippians  3:7)  Paul  said,  “I’m  
going  to  take  my  heritage,  my  pedigree,  I’m  going  to  take  my  accomplishments,  I’m  
going  to  take  my  zeal,  I’m  going  to  take  my  good-­old-­boyishness,  and  I’m  going  to  take  
that  from  the  positive  side  of  the  ledger,  and  I’m  going  to  put  it  on  the  negative  side  of  
the  ledger.”  He  says,  “I’m  going  to  count  it  as  loss.  I’m  going  to  take  my  goodness,  and  
I’m  going  to  count  it  as  badness,  as  loss.”  Well,  you  say,  “Pastor,  that  doesn’t  make  
sense.  How  could  you  put  striving  to  keep  the  Ten  Commandments  and  striving  to  be  
religious,  how  could  you  put  all  of  that  on  the  negative  side?  Granted,  it  may  not  get  him  
to  heaven,  but  at  least  let’s  keep  it  over  here  on  the  positive  side.”  No,  he  said,  “I  count  
all  these  things  but  loss.”  Why?  Because  those  were  the  things  he  was  trusting  in,  and  
those  were  the  things  that  were  keeping  him  from  the  Lord.  
•Now  you  see,  well,  let  me  illustrate  it  this  way.  I  was  down  in  Florida  one  day;;  I  had
an  engagement  in  South  Florida.  I  had  a  wonderful  flight,  got  off  the  plane  in  Tampa,  
and  I  was  going  over  to  Ft.  Lauderdale.  So  I  rented  an  automobile,  and  they  gave  me  a  
very  nice  car.  I  think  it  was  an  upgrade,  and  I  was  so  happy  to  have  it.  The  sun  was  
shining.  It  was  one  of  those  beautiful  Florida  days—we’ve  got  some  good  ones  down  
there.  It  was  a  beautiful  day,  and  so  I  turned  on  the  stereo,  and  I  got  the  most  gorgeous  
music—oh,  it  was  beautiful,  violins  and  all  of  that  playing—I  just  turned  it  up  real  loud,  
nobody  in  the  car  but  myself,  and  then  I  got  on  this  road.  It  was  an  incredible  road,  very  
little  traffic,  the  sun  was  shining,  the  road  was  good,  the  car  was  beautiful,  the  music  
was  glorious,  and  here  I  am  on  my  way  to  something  I  looked  very  forward  to,  just  
driving  along,  just  so  happy.  And  then,  after  I’d  driven  about  two  hours,  I  thought,  “I  
ought  to  be  there  by  now,  ought  to  be  getting  closer.  This  doesn’t  look  familiar;;  
something  is  wrong.”  And  I  got  to  looking  around,  and  I  said,  “Where  is  the  sun?  Let  me  
get  myself  oriented  here.”  And  then  it  dawned  on  me.  I  was  going  the  wrong  way.  I  was  
on  the  wrong  road.  I  was  making  good  time  on  the  wrong  road.  And  the  good  car,  and  
the  music,  and  all  of  these  things  that  might  be  good,  were  bad  because  they  were  
taking  me  in  the  wrong  direction.•  
Now  folks,  that’s  what  religion  is  without  the  Lord.  You  see,  the  worst  form  of  
badness  is  human  goodness—if  human  goodness  keeps  you  from  salvation.  Paul  said,  

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“The  things  I  counted  for  gain,  they  were  loss.”  He  said,  “My  brothers,  my  sisters,  the  
Jews  according  to  the  flesh,”  he  said,  “I  bear  them  record…they  have  a  zeal  [for]  God,  
but  not  according  to  knowledge.  …And  [they]  going  about  to  establish  their  own  
righteousness,  have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness  of  God.”  
(Romans  10:2–3)   You  see,  then,  in  verse  4,  he  says  this:  “Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  
for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  [believes].”  (Romans  10:4)  You  see,  there’s  the  law.  
The  law  says,  “Do,”  and  we  can’t.  But  the  gospel  says,  “Done.”  The  law  demands  
perfection,  but  only  the  gospel  gives  perfection  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
John  Patton  was  a  missionary  in  the  South  Sea  Islands,  and  he  was  with  a  tribe  that  
did  not  have  a  Bible.  So  he  was  translating  the  Bible  into  their  language,  a  very  
laborious  thing  to  do.  They  did  not  know  the  Bible,  and  he  had  to  learn  their  language,  
and  so  he  got  to  the  word  believe,  “trust”.  “Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law”—you’re  going  to  
see  it  in  verse  4—“to  everyone  that  believeth.”  (Romans  10:4)  And  so  he’s  saying,  
“Now,  what  is  the  word  for  belief?”  So  they  gave  him  the  word  for  intellectual  belief,  like  I  
believe  two  and  two  is  four.  He  said,  “No,  that’s  not  the  word  I  want.  I  want  the  word  for  
belief  that  means  ‘trust,  confidence,  reliance  upon’.”  And  he  kept  asking,  and  they  
couldn’t  give  him  the  word.  He  kept  asking.  He  said,  “What  is  this  word,  what  is  this  
word?”  They  couldn’t  understand  him.  He  was  in  his  hut,  a  straw  hut,  and  it  was  a  
sweltering  day,  and  he  was  writing,  and  a  native  came  into  the  hut.  The  native  had  been  
running;;  he  was  absolutely  exhausted.  That  native  came  into  that  hut,  and  he  was  just  
so  tired.  There  was  a  chair  there,  and  he  just  sat  down  in  the  chair  like  this,  and  Patton  
looked  at  him.  He  said,  “What  did  you  do?”  He  said,  “I’m  sorry,  I  just  sat  down.”  “No,  no,  
no,  no.  What  did  you  do?”  “Well,”  he  said,  “I  just  sat  down.”  He  said,  “But  what  do  you  
call  it  when  you  just  committed  yourself  completely,  totally  to  that  chair?  What  did  you  
do?”  “Oh,”  he  said,  “That.  Facca-­ron-­rongo.”  He  said,  “What?”  “Facca-­ron-­rongo.”  That’s  
the  word  he  put  in  his  Bible  for  “reliance  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  When  you  just  say,  
“Lord  Jesus,  I  just  cast  myself  upon  you.  Not  just  intellectual  belief,  but  Lord,  here  I  am;;  
I  trust  you.”  And  you  see,  salvation  is  the  gift  of  God.  We’re  thinking  now  of  the  freeness  
of  it.  Don’t  miss  my  point:  the  freeness  of  it.  
There  was  a  Baptist  preacher.  He  told  a  wonderful  story.  I  could  never  get  it  out  of  
my  heart.  It  was  his  own  testimony.  He  said,  “I  was  doing  things  before  I  was  saved  that  
I  ought  not  to  have  done.  My  eyes  were  watching  things,  my  hands  were  handling  
things,  my  feet  were  going  places,  that  were  all  wrong.  So,”  he  said,  “I  went  to  the  
doctor  to  see  if  the  doctor  could  help  me.”  He  said,  “The  doctor  I  went  to  was  named  Dr.  
Law”—Doctor  Law—“and  I  said,  ‘Dr.  Law,  I’ve  got  some  problems,  and  I  want  you  to  
help  me.  My  hands—I’ve  got  a  hand  problem.  My  hands  are  handling  things  they  ought  
not  to  handle.’  And  Dr.  Law  said,  ‘Let  me  look  here,’  and  said,  ‘No,  the  problem  is  not  
your  handsF  the  problem  is  your  heart.’  He  said,  ‘No,  Doctor,  it’s  my  hands.’  ‘You  trust  

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me.  It’s  your  heart.’  He  said,  ‘Well  now,  Doctor,  it’s  not  just  my  hands;;  it’s  my  eyes.  My  
eyes  have  been  looking  at  some  things  they  ought  not  to  be  looking  at.  What’s  wrong  
with  my  eyes,  Doctor?’  ‘It’s  not  your  eyes;;  it’s  your  heart.’  ‘No,  Doctor,  it’s  my…’  ‘No,  it  is  
your  heart.’  ‘Well,  Doctor,  what  about  my  feet?  They’re  going  places  they  ought  not  to  
go.  I’ve  got  a  foot  problem.’  ‘No,  you’ve  got  a  heart  problem.’  ‘Dr.  Law,  are  you  
absolutely  convinced  that  I  have  a  heart  problem?’  ‘Yes,  and  furthermore,  it’s  fatal.  
You’re  going  to  die  of  your  heart  problem.’  ‘Well,  Dr.  Law,  can  you  cure  me?’  ‘Oh,  no,  I  
can’t  cure  you.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  don’t  cure  anybody.  All  I  do  is  diagnose.  That’s  my  
job.  I’m  just  here  to  diagnose.  I  cannot  cure  anybody.’  ‘Well,  and  you  say  I’m  going  to  
die.  Is  there  no  hope?’  ‘Oh,  no,  there’s  hope.’  ‘Well,  where’s  my  hope?’  ‘Well,  Dr.  
Grace.’  ‘Dr.  Grace?  Where  is  he?  Can  I  find  him?’  ‘He’s  right  across  the  hall.’  ‘Well,  do  I  
need  to  make  an  appointment?’  ‘No,  just  go  knock  on  the  door.  He  never  turns  away  a  
patient.’  ‘Oh  well,  will  it  cost  a  lot?’  ‘No,  he  has  never  charged  a  patient.’”  So,  he  leaves  
Dr.  Law,  and  he  goes  and  knocks  on  Dr.  Grace’s  door,  and  there,  as  Dr.  Grace  opens  
the  door  as  a  kindly  physician  standing  there,  he  says,  “Come  in.  How  did  you  know  to  
come?”  “Well,  Dr.  Law  told  me  I  had  a  heart  problem,  and  you  could  help  me.  Can  you  
help  me?”  “Yes,  I  can.”  “What  medicine  are  you  going  to  give  me?”  “I’m  not  going  to  
give  me  any  medicine;;  I’m  going  to  give  you  a  transplant.”  “A  what?”  “I  am  going  to  give  
you  a  transplant;;  I  am  going  to  give  you  a  new  heart.”  “Will  it  hurt?”  “It  might.”  “What  will  
it  cost?”  “Not  a  thing  in  the  world.”  “And  Dr.  Grace  opened  my  chest,”  he  said,  “And  
reached  in  while  I  was  still  conscious,  and  pulled  out  the  most  vile,  filthy,  stinking  heart.  I  
could  not  believe  that  such  a  thing  had  been  in  me,  causing  my  eyes  to  do  what  they  
did,  my  hands  to  do  what  they  did,  my  feet  to  do  what  they  did.  And  then,  Dr.  Grace  put  
within  me  a  new  heart.  And  when  he  did,  I  felt  a  change  of  nature  that  went  through  me,  
that  affected  my  eyes,  my  hands,  my  feet.”  You  know,  Dr.  Law,  friend,  is  the  law  of  God.  
Dr.  Grace,  His  name  is  Jesus—Jesus.  “Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  
[for]  everyone  that  believeth.”  (Romans  10:4)  What  I  need,  what  you  need,  what  every  
mother’s  child  in  America  and  in  the  whole  world  needs,  is  Dr.  Grace  and  a  brand  new  
heart,  amen?  

II. The  Nearness  of  Salvation

Now,  we’re  talking  here  about  the  freeness  of  salvation,  but  now  here’s  the  second  thing  
I  want  you  to  see:  I  want  you  to  see  the  nearness  of  salvation.  Begin  reading  now  in  
verse  6:  “But  the  righteousness  which  is  by  faith  speaketh  on  this  wise,  Say  not  in  thine  
heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven?  (that  is,  to  bring  Christ  down  from  above:)  Or,  
Who  shall  descend  into  the  deep?  (that  is  to  bring  Christ  up  again  from  the  dead.)  But  
what  saith  it?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,”  that  means  near  thee,  “even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  
thy  heart:  that  is,  the  word  of  faith,  which  we  preach.  That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  

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mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  
dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness;;  and  
with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation.”  (Romans  10:6–10)  
Now,  Paul  wanted  his  brothers  and  sisters  in  the  flesh,  the  Jews,  to  be  saved,  and  
he  says,  “Here’s  the  way  to  do  it.”  And  he’s  saying  to  them,  and  he’s  saying  to  us,  that  if  
you  want  to  be  saved,  salvation  is  very  near.  You  may  not  dream  how  close  you  are  
today  to  being  saved.  Those  of  you  in  the  balcony,  you’re  so  close  to  being  saved.  
Those  of  you  in  that  far  corner  over  there,  you’re  so  close  to  being  saved,  you  just  don’t  
know  how  close  you  are.  Now  what  is  Paul  saying?  He’s  saying  you  don’t  have  to  go  on  
a  pilgrimage,  you  don’t  have  to  go  up  into  heaven,  and  appear  before  the  throne,  and  
say,  “God,  we’re  a  bunch  of  sinners  down  here,  and  we’re  in  a  mess—can  you  help  us  
out?  Would  you  come  down,  Lord?”  You  don’t  have  to  do  that.  Why?  One  Christmas,  
two  thousand  years  ago,  He  already  did  that,  amen?  He  stepped  out  of  heaven.  Well,  
they  nailed  Him  to  a  cross,  and  put  Him  in  a  grave,  but  you  don’t  have  to  go  down  into  
hell,  and  say,  “Lord  Jesus,  please  come  out  of  that  grave,  please  give  victory  over  
death,  Hell,  sin  and  the  grave.  Come  out,  please!”  You  don’t  have  to  descend  into  the  
deep;;  He’s  already  been  raised.  I  mean  these  are  accomplished  facts.  The  incarnation  
and  the  resurrection,  sandwiched  with  the  crucifixion,  have  already  taken  place,  so  he  
says,  “[Don’t  say]  in  [your]  heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven?…Or,  Who  shall  
descend  into  the  deep?”—bring  Christ  down  to  bring  Him  up—“The  word  is  nigh  thee”—
let  me  tell  you  how  close  salvation  is,  now  listen  close,  you’ll  miss  this—“the  word  is  
nigh  thee,  even  in  [your]  mouth,  and  in  [your]  heart.”  (Romans  10:6–8)  
You  say,  “Pastor,  that’s  silly.”  No,  that’s  what  Paul  said.  The  word  is  so  close;;  let  me  
tell  you  how  close  you  are  to  being  saved  today.  If  you’re  not  saved,  let  me  tell  you  how  
close  you  are  to  being  saved.  Jesus  Christ  and  salvation  are  already  in  your  mouth,  
already  in  your  heart.  Now,  you  say,  “Now,  wait  a  minute—in  my  mouth?  In  my  heart?  
How  did  it  get  in  my  mouth.  How  did  it  get  in  my  heart?”  I  just  put  it  there.  “Well,”  you  
say,  “Adrian,  how  did  you  put  it  there?”  Listen:  “The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  
mouth,  and  in  thy  heart…the  word  of  faith  which  we  preach.”  (Romans  10:8)  You  see  
what  I  did?  I’m  telling  you  right  now  that  salvation  is  by  grace  through  faith.  I  have  put  
this  in  your  mouth  and  in  your  heart;;  it  is  there.  It’s  in  your  mouth;;  it’s  in  your  heart.  Well,  
what  do  you  do  with  what  is  in  your  mouth  and  in  your  heart?  Listen—Romans  10:9  and  
10:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  
heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.”  I  put  it  there;;  I  told  
you  what  it  is.  It  is  there;;  it  is  waiting  on  you.  
Now,  right  now  you  confess  and  believe,  and  God  says  you’ll  be  saved—you’ll  be  
saved.  You  don’t  have  to  bring  Jesus  down;  He’s  come  down.  You  don’t  have  to  bring  
Jesus  up;  He  has  come  up.  It  is  done;  it  is  a  finished  thing.  “Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  

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for  righteousness  to  everyone  that  believeth.”  (Romans  10:4)  And  now  it  is  ready  for  
you.  So  close  you  are—it  is  in  your  heart  and  in  your  mouth—“that  if  thou  shalt  confess  
with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  
from  the  dead,”  (Romans  10:9)  friend,  you’ll  be  saved.  That’s  not  what  I’m  saying;;  it’s  
what  God  has  said.  That  means  you  will  not  go  to  hell;;  it  means  you  will  receive  a  new  
heart,  a  new  nature,  and  one  day  you’ll  spend  eternity  with  the  redeemed  of  all  of  the  
ages.  
Now  listen.  What  is  the  confession  that  you  make?  The  confession  that  you  make:  “if  
you  confess  with  your  mouth  that  Jesus  is  Lord.”  (ESV,  Romans  10:9)  Now,  here’s  
where  many  people  are  going  to  miss  salvation:  they  want  to  receive  Christ  as  their  
Savior  and  that’s  it.  Now,  friend,  He  is  Savior,  but  the  Bible  says,  “Confess  Him  as  
Lord”—confess  Him  as  Lord.  Do  you  know  what  that  means?  That  means  to  take  
yourself  off  the  throne  of  your  life  and  put  Jesus  Christ  on  the  throne  of  your  life.  
Salvation  is  not  just  some  intellectual  belief  that  you  tack  on.  It  is  doing  what  that  man  
did  to  that  chair.  It  is  trusting  the  Lord  Jesus.  It  is  committing  everything  to  the  Lord  
Jesus.  It  is  saying,  “Jesus  Christ  is  Lord.”  Now,  He  is  Lord,  isn’t  He?  And,  friend,  if  you  
don’t  receive  who  He  is,  you  cannot  have  what  He  gives.  He  is  Lord.  That  doesn’t  mean  
that  you’re  saved  by  good  works.  It  just  simply  means  that  you  bow  the  knee  to  Him,  
and  you  say,  “Jesus,  I  take  hands  off  my  life;;  I  give  you  my  life.”  
•Let’s  just  imagine  a  scene.  There’s  been  a  wedding.  The  rice  has  been  thrown,  the
confetti  has  been  thrown,  the  cake  has  been  cut,  the  hugs  have  been  given,  the  gifts  
have  been  exchanged,  and  Sue  and  Bill  are  in  the  car  driving  away  from  the  wedding.  
Sue  and  Bill,  just  been  married,  and  Sue  says  to  Bill,  “It  was  a  beautiful  wedding;;  oh,  it  
was  so  wonderful,  I  just  enjoyed  it  so  much.  Now,  Bill,  will  you  take  me  home?”  Well  he  
says,  “Sue,  you  know  we  can’t  go  home  yet;;  the  house  is  not  ready,  and  this  is  our  
honeymoon.”  “Oh,  no,  no,  I  don’t  mean  that  home;;  I  mean  my  home.  I  want  you  to  take  
me  back  to  my  mother.”  “What?”  “To  my  mother,  Bill,  you  know.  I  have  accepted  you  as  
my  husband,  and  that  was  a  wonderful  ceremony,  but  I  want  to  go  back  home  to  my  
mother.  And,  Bill,  don’t  expect  me  to  change  the  way  I’ve  been  living.  Now,  Bill,  don’t  
get  me  wrong.  I  love  you,  Bill,  and  I  hope  to  see  you  on  weekends,  if  it’s  convenient,  
and  also,  Bill,  I  want  you  to  know  that  I’m  glad  that  you’re  committed  to  take  care  of  me,  
so,  Bill,  if  I’m  sick,  or  need  money,  or  have  any  problems,  you  know  I  can  call  on  you,  
Bill,  because,  after  all,  I’ve  taken  you  as  my  husband.  And,  we  did  have  a  wonderful  
ceremony;;  it  was  just  wonderful  when  I  took  you  as  my  husband.  But  now,  Bill,  take  me  
back  to  my  house;;  don’t  get  any  idea  that  what  we  did  down  there  at  the  church  is  going  
to  change  the  way  I  live.  Take  your  hands  off  my  life.”  Now,  what  kind  of  a  marriage  
would  that  be?  It’s  the  same  kind  of  salvation  that  some  people  think  they  have.  They  
say,  “Now,  Lord  Jesus,  I  take  you  as  my  Savior.  Now,  Lord,  I  may  even  come  to  Bellevue  

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and  visit  you  every  Sunday,  or  so  often,  and  if  I  get  in  trouble,  or  I  need  some  money,  or  if  
I’m  sick,  I’ll  call  on  you,  but  in  the  meanwhile,  I’m  going  to  go  on  with  my  life  just  the  way  it  
was.•  
Friend,  I’m  going  to  tell  you  something:  that’s  not  going  to  work—that  is  not  going  to  
work.  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and…believe  in  thine  
heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead…”  (Romans  10:9)  You  see,  when  you  
believe  that  God  raised  Him  from  the  dead,  you  believe  all  the  rest  of  it.  I  mean  that’s  
the  capstone.  He’s  shown  to  be  the  Son  of  God  by  the  power  of  the  resurrection  from  
the  dead.  And  so  if  you  believe  in  the  resurrection,  you  have  to  believe  in  the  crucifixion.  
And  if  you  believe  in  the  crucifixion,  you  have  to  believe  in  the  incarnation.  And  if  you  
believe  in  the  resurrection,  the  crucifixion,  the  incarnation,  you  have  to  believe  in  the  
Deity.  So  the  capstone  of  the  whole  thing  is,  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  
the  Lord  Jesus,  and…believe…that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  
saved.”  (Romans  10:9)  
Friend,  there’s  the  freeness  of  it,  and  there’s  the  nearness  of  it.  He  is  so  near—He  is  
so  near.  “The  word  [of  God]  is  [near  you,]  nigh  [you],  even  in  [your]  mouth,  …in  [your]  
heart:  [It]  is,  the  word  of  faith,  [that]  we  preach;;  That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  
the  Lord  Jesus  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  
dead…”  (Romans  10:8–9)  
Now,  confession  is  very  important.  Jesus  said,  “[If  you  are]  ashamed  of  me  and  of  
my  words  [before]  this  sinful  and  adulterous  generation;;  …[I’ll]  be  ashamed  [of  you]  
when  [I]  [come]  in  the  glory  of  [the]  Father  with  the  holy  angels.”  (Mark  8:38)  “[But  if  you]  
[will]  confess  me  before  men,  …I  will  confess…[you]  before  my  Father…”  (Matthew  
10:32)  The  Bible  says,  “Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  say  so.”  (Psalm  107:2)  That’s  the  
reason  later  on  in  this  service  I’m  going  to  give  you  an  invitation  to  openly  and  publicly,  
unashamedly,  say  that  you’re  trusting  Jesus.  Why?  Well  you  see,  confession  shows  
possession.  Now,  walking  an  aisle  can’t  save  anybody.  Shaking  a  preacher’s  hand  can’t  
save  anybody.  It’s  what  that  indicates  that  saves  us.  Jesus  is  simply  saying,  “Look,  if  
you  are  ashamed  of  me,  I  have  to  be  ashamed  of  you.”  Do  you  know  the  mark  that  
you’re  really  trusting  Jesus?  Read  it  in  verse  11:  “For  the  scripture  [says  that]  
whosoever  believeth  [in]  him  shall”—what?—“not  be  ashamed.”  (Romans  10:11)  
•I’ve  often  told  the  story  of  a  girl  who  was  in  a  service,  revival  service,  and  she  was
under  conviction  in  the  back  just  weeping  copiously.  A  personal  worker  went  forward—it  
was  during  the  invitation—and  said,  “Won’t  you  come  forward  and  confess  Christ  as  
your  Lord  and  Savior?”  She  said,  “Oh,  no,  there  are  too  many  people;;  I  can’t  do  that.  I’d  
like  to  be  saved  back  here,  please.”  And  the  personal  worker  said,  “You  can’t  be  saved  
back  here.”  So  the  next  night,  same  thing,  same  song,  second  stanza;;  she’s  under  deep  
conviction.  The  worker  goes  back  and  says,  “Won’t  you  come  forward  and  confess  

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Christ?”  She  says,  “Oh,  no,  I  can’t  do  that;;  I  would  be  frightened.  I  don’t  want  to  stand  
there  in  front  of  all  those  people.  Can’t  I  be  saved  back  here?”  He  said,  “I’m  sorry;;  you  
can’t  be  saved  back  here.”  Now,  I  know  what  you’re  thinking,  but  you  let  me  finish  the  
service.  And  so  the  third  night,  he  goes  back  there,  she’s  weeping  again,  and  he  says,  
“Young  lady,  won’t  you  come  and  give  your  heart  to  Jesus,  openly  and  publicly?”  She  
says,  “Yes,  I  will,  I  will;;  I’ll  go  anywhere,  I’ll  do  anything,  if  I  can  just  have  peace  with  
God.”  He  said,  “Now  you  don’t  need  to  come  to  the  front;;  you  can  be  saved  back  
here.”•  
Now,  folks,  that’s  what  we’re  talking  about.  Jesus  said,  “If  you’re  ashamed  of  me,  I’ll  
be  ashamed  of  you.”  If  God  would  give  me  a  microphone,  I  would  stand  on  the  tallest  
building  of  the  world;;  I’d  like  to  say  it  with  all  of  my  heart  that  Jesus  is  Lord  and  I  love  
Him—if  they  kill  me  for  doing  it.  I’d  want  to  do  it.  So  don’t  you  let  your  pride  keep  you  
from  coming.  The  Bible  says,  “When  we  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus,  we  will  not  be  
ashamed  of  Him.”  (Romans  10:11)  It  is  so  near.  “The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  [your]  
mouth  and  in  your  heart”  (Romans  10:8) —but  you’ve  got  to  confess  with  your  mouth  
and  believe  with  your  heart.  And  God  says—God  says—that  you’ll  be  saved.  

III. The  Richness  of  Salvation

Now,  here’s  the  third  and  final  thing  I  want  you  to  see.  I  want  you  to  see  not  only  the  
freeness  of  it—“Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness”  (Romans  10:4) —and  I  
want  you  to  see  not  only  the  nearness  of  it,  but  I  want  you  to  see  the  richness  of  it.  
Look,  if  you  will,  beginning  now  in  verse  12  of  this  same  chapter,  if  you  will.  Oh,  this  
is  such  a  wonderful  scripture.  “For  there  is  no  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  
Greek:  for  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him.”  (Romans  10:12)  
Moffatt  translates  that,  “His  boundless  resources  are  made  available  to  those  who  call  
upon  him.”  “For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.”  
(Romans  10:13)  I  don’t  believe  that  anybody  is  predestined  to  go  to  hell.  I  believe  that  
God  wants  everybody  saved.  I  believe  that  whosoever  is  in  the  Bible,  and  the  same  
Lord  over  all,  whether  you’re  Jew,  whether  you’re  Greek,  whether  you’re  the  chosen  
race,  or  not  the  chosen  race,  whoever  you  are,  wherever  you  are,  if  you  will  call  upon  
the  name  of  the  Lord,  He  will  save  you.  And  if  you  show  me  any  time,  any  place,  
anywhere,  where  anybody  ever  comes  to  Jesus  in  repentance  and  faith  and  He  doesn’t  
save  them,  I’ll  close  my  Bible  and  never  preach  again.  I  tell  you  He’ll  save  you;;  He  will  
save  you.  “For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.”  
(Romans  10:13)  
Now,  He  is  rich—“[He’s]  rich  unto  all  [who]  call  upon  Him.”  (Romans  10:12)  I’ve  been  
walking  with  the  Lord  now  since  I  was  a  teenage  boy,  and  I’ll  tell  you  this:  I’ve  failed  Him  
sometimes,  but  He  has  never  failed  me.  His  resources  have  been  there  for  me  every  

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time  I’ve  called  upon  Him.  I’m  not  talking  about  financial  resources,  though  He’s  done  
that;;  I’m  talking  about  the  life  of  God  that’s  in  my  heart,  and,  friend,  He  has  met  my  
need.  Friends  all  around  me  are  trying  to  find  what  the  heart  yearns  for  by  sin  
undermined.  I  have  the  secret,  I  know  where  ‘tis  found;;  only  true  riches  in  Jesus  
abound.  “[He]  is  rich  unto  all  who  call  upon  Him”  (Romans  10:12) —not  some,  anybody  
who  wants  to  be  saved.  
Now,  Paul  started  out  telling  these  people  who  were  very  religious—“[had]  a  zeal  
[for]  God,  but  not  according  to  knowledge”  (Romans  10:2) —they  need  to  be  saved.  And  
yet  Paul  himself,  talking  about  it,  called  himself  the  chief  of  sinners.  So  what  does  that  
mean?  Listen  to  me.  There’s  nobody  in  this  building  today,  nobody  so  good  you  don’t  
need  to  be  saved.  If  you  haven’t  been  saved,  say,  “Amen.”  Nobody  so  good  that  you  
don’t  need  to  be  saved,  if  you  haven’t  been  saved.  And  secondly,  there’s  nobody  so  bad  
that  you  cannot  be  saved.  See,  that’s  what  it’s  all  about.  

Conclusion  
Now,  folks,  salvation  is  by  grace  through  faith;;  you  trust  the  Lord  Jesus.  Let  me  just  
share  this  story  and  I’ll  be  finished—true  story.  There  was  a  preacher,  a  minister,  and  
he  was  educated  in  a  seminary,  very  religious.  He  was  a  so-­called  Christian  minister,  
but  he  was  what  we  call  a  liberal.  Now,  when  I  mean  liberal,  I  don’t  mean  he  was  just  
progressive  in  his  ideas;;  I  mean  he  doubted  sincerely  the  blood  atonement,  the  
crucifixion,  the  bodily  resurrection,  the  virgin  birth.  He  just  didn’t  believe  these  things.  
But  he  was  one  of  these  men  that  had  a  good  heart,  as  men  have  good  hearts.  I’m  not  
talking  about  a  new  heart;;  I’m  just  talking  about  he  was  a  nice,  loving  guy.  Would’ve  
made  a  good  neighbor,  a  great  granddaddy,  and  he  just  loved  people.  Went  about  as  
best  he  could,  helping  hurting  people.  A  little  girl  knocked  on  his  door  one  night  late  at  
night.  He  went  to  the  door  and  opened  the  door,  and  there  was  a  little  ragged  girl  
standing  there,  a  frightened  little  girl.  She  said,  “Sir,  are  you  a  minister?”  “Well  yes,  
young  lady,  I  am.”  “Well,  sir,  are  you  a  man  of  God?”  “Well  I  would  like  to  think  I’m  a  
man  of  God.  Darling,  may  I  help  you?”  “Sir,  could  you  come  with  me  and  help  get  my  
mother  in?”  “Well,  darling,  what’s  wrong  with  your  mother?  She  hasn’t  been  drinking,  
has  she?”  “Oh,  no,  no,  no,  no.  You’ve  got  to  help  get  my  mother  in.  My  mother’s  dying.  
My  mother  doesn’t  know  how  to  get  into  heaven.  My  mother  doesn’t  think  she  has  long  
to  live,  and  my  mother  asked  me  if  I  would  go  find  a  minister  to  help  get  my  mother  in.  
Sir,  you’re  a  minister;;  you’re  a  man  of  God.  Sir,  come  help  get  my  mother  in.”  “Well  let’s  
go,  child.”  They  went  down  through  the  streets  into  the  back  part  of  that  city,  down  to  a  
little  hovel  of  a  home.  There  she  was  on  a  deathbed,  no  nurses  to  attend,  no  doctor  
there,  no  hospice,  this  precious  little  girl  watching  her  mother  die.  The  woman  looked  up  
at  the  minister  and  his  heart  was  broken.  She  said,  “Are  you  a  minister?”  “Yes,  madam.”  

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“Are  you  a  man  of  God?”  “Well  I  want  to  be.”  “Can  you  tell  me  how  to  get  to  heaven?  I’m  
dying.”  Do  you  know  what  he  did?  He  began  to  give  her  platitudes  about  God’s  love,  
about  the  goodness  of  God,  about  the  beauties  of  heaven,  about  how  God  is  merciful,  
and  all  of  this,  and  how  it  pays  to  live  a  Godly  life.  And  after  a  while,  she  just  shook  her  
head  at  him  and  said,  “Don’t  you  understand?  I’m  dying.  I  can’t  do  any  of  that.  I  can’t  
live  a  good  life.  I  can’t  do  all  of  those  things  that  you’re  talking  about,  and  I’m  about  to  
die.  Don’t  you  have  a  message  for  a  dying  woman  like  me?”  And  this  man  realized  he  
didn’t  have  a  message  for  a  woman  like  that,  but  he  remembered—and  mothers,  I  want  
you  to  hear  this  on  Mother’s  Day—he  remembered  his  mother,  who  was  a  godly,  
praying  woman,  who  believed  in  the  old-­time  religion.  And  he  told  her  the  story,  not  
really  believing  it  himself,  how  Jesus  came  to  this  earth,  took  our  sins,  and  carried  them  
to  the  cross  in  agony  and  blood,  and  said,  “It’s  finished,”  and  paid  the  sin  debt,  and  how  
Jesus  walked  out  of  the  grave.  And  then  he  told  her,  “The  Bible  says,  ‘For  God  so  loved  
the  world  that  he  gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  
not  perish  but  have  everlasting  life.’  (John  3:16)  And,  if  you  will  pray  and  ask  Him  to  
come  into  your  heart,  He  will  forgive  your  sin,  and  He  will  save  you.”  Later  on,  here’s  
what  that  preacher  said,  and  here’s  how  we  know  the  story.  He  said  to  a  group  of  
preachers  when  he  was  giving  his  testimony.  He  said,  “Gentlemen,  that  night  that  lady  
got  Him,  and  so  did  I—so  did  I.  I  realized  that  my  so-­called  religion  was  not  enough.  I  
needed  Jesus.  And  so  do  you.”  “Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  
one  that  believeth.”  (Romans  10:4)  
Now,  Paul’s  heart’s  prayer  and  heart  desire  to  God  for  Israel  was  that  they  might  be  
saved,  and  that’s  my  desire  for  you  today.  Would  you  bow  your  heads  in  prayer?  Heads  
are  bowed  and  eyes  are  closed.  Father,  I  pray,  I  pray  now  that  many  in  this  day,  in  this  
room,  in  this  hour,  will  give  their  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  people  who  are  listening,  
wherever  it  may  be,  will  come  into  your  fullness,  O  Lord,  into  your  richness.  We  thank  
you,  Lord.  We  thank  you  in  Jesus’  holy  name.  Now  while  heads  are  bowed  and  eyes  
are  closed,  if  you  would  like  to  receive  Jesus  Christ  as  your  personal  Savior,  if  you  
would  just  pray  and  tell  Him  that  you’re  a  sinner,  that  you  cannot  save  yourself,  that  you  
believe  that  Jesus  Christ  paid  your  sin  debt  on  the  cross  with  His  blood,  then  pray  like  
this:  “Lord  Jesus,  I  turn  from  my  sin  to  you.  I  confess  you  as  Lord.  I  believe  that  God  
raised  you  from  the  dead,  and  I  trust  you  to  save  me.  Help  me  never  to  be  ashamed  of  
you.  In  your  name,  amen.”•  

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  This  Thing  Called  Salvation    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      April  22,  1984    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  10:1–13  

“That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  
heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.”  
ROMANS  10:9  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. The  Condition  of  Salvation
II. The  Confession  of  Salvation
III. The  Commitment  of  Salvation
IV. The  Confidence  of  Salvation
V. The  Courage  of  Salvation
VI. The  Consequences  of  Salvation
Conclusion

Introduction  
We’re  reading  Romans  chapter  10.  The  Book  of  Romans  has  been  called  the  
Constitution  of  Christianity,  and  if  you  had  to  be  shipwrecked  on  an  island  with  the  Bible,  
I  don’t  think  you  could  do  better  than  the  Book  of  Romans.  
Romans  chapter  10:  “Brethren,  my  heart’s  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  
they  might  be  saved.  For  I  bear  them  record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but  not  
according  to  knowledge.  For  they  being  ignorant  of  God’s  righteousness,  and  going  
about  to  establish  their  own  righteousness,  have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  
righteousness  of  God.  For  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  
that  believeth.  For  Moses  describeth  the  righteousness  which  is  of  the  law,  that  the  man  
which  doeth  those  things  shall  live  by  them.  But  the  righteousness  which  is  of  faith  
speaketh  on  this  wise,  Say  not  in  thine  heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven?  (that  is,  to  
bring  Christ  down  from  above:)  or,  Who  shall  descend  into  the  deep?  (that  is,  to  bring  
up  Christ  again  from  the  dead.)  But  what  saith  it?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  
mouth,  and  in  thy  heart:  that  is,  the  word  of  faith,  which  we  preach;;  that  if  thou  shalt  
confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  
raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  
righteousness; and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation.  For  the  scripture  

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saith,  Whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  ashamed.  For  there  is  no  difference  
between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek:  for  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  
him.  For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved”  (Romans  
10:1–13).  
I  ask  you  a  question—I  hope  most  of  you  already  know  the  answer:  What  is  the  
greatest  need  that  man  has?  Is  it  education?  Is  man’s  greatest  need  economic?  Is  
man’s  greatest  need  social?  What  is  man’s  greatest  need?  I  say  it  without  contradiction  
and  without  equivocation:  man’s  greatest  need  is  salvation.  If  man’s  greatest  need  had  
been  healing,  Jesus  would  have  come  primarily  as  a  healer;;  but  He  did  not.  If  man’s  
greatest  need  would  have  been  economic,  Jesus  would  have  come  primarily  as  one  
who  led  in  that  realm,  but  He  did  not.  He  did  not  come  primarily  as  a  social  worker.  
Jesus  Christ  is  a  Savior—a  Savior.  
We  don’t  have  to  guess  as  to  why  Jesus  came,  because  the  Bible  tells  us  in  Luke  
chapter  19  and  verse  10:  “For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  
was  lost”  (Luke  19:10).  That’s  why  Jesus  left  the  glories  of  Heaven;;  that’s  why  Jesus  
came  to  this  old  sin-­cursed  earth;;  that’s  why  he  suffered,  bled,  and  died,  was  buried  and  
raised  again:  that  he  might  save  the  lost.  Salvation is man’s greatest need, and as long
as I’m the pastor of this church I’m going to be preaching salvation, so help me God.  
Now  I  was  talking  to  some  people  the  other  day,  and  they  said,  “Well,  there’s  just  
one  thing  wrong  with  our  pastor:  he’s  just  too  evangelistic.”  Impossible!  Impossible  for  a  
preacher  to  be  too  evangelistic!  Now  there  are  people  who  really  don’t  like  an  
evangelistic  church.  There  are  people  really  who  don’t  like  pleading  for  souls,  and  giving  
a  gospel  invitation.  To  some  people,  it’s  undignified,  and  to  other  people,  it’s  a  bother.  
There  are  some  people  that  get  a  little  hacked  if  the  invitation  goes  to  long,  because  
they  want  to  be  first  in  the  cafeteria  line.  I’ve  never  let  those  people  bother  me,  and  I  
know  every  now  and  then  they’ll  move  their  membership  to  another  church.  That  
doesn’t  bother  me  either.  I’m  not  trying  to  be  arrogant  about  it;;  but  I’ll  tell  you  there’s  
something  wrong  with  people  that  don’t  know  how  to  plead  and  pray  for  souls  during  an  
invitation  period.  There’s  something  wrong  with  their  Christianity.  I  wonder  if  they  even  
know  the  Lord  Jesus  that  I  know?  
Friend,  that’s  what  it’s  all  about,  that’s  the  bottom  line—and  incidentally,  do  you  
know  what  I’ve  discovered  in  many  years  of  ministry?  Those  who  leave  because  you’re  
evangelistic,  go  to  somewhere  else.  Don’t  worry  about  it.  For  every  one  you’ll  lose,  you’ll  
gain  ten,  and  the  ones  you  get  will  be  a  lot  better  than  the  ones  you  lose.  I’ll  just  
promise  you  that.  And  if you try to please everybody, you’ll please the devil most of all.  
A church that is worthy of the ground upon which it sits, must be an evangelistic
church.  And  may  God  always  help  this  place  to  be,  as  my  pastor  friend  in  Florida  says,  
“a  lighthouse  for  the  lost,  and  a  greenhouse  for  the  saved.”  And  I  believe  we  have  to  

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keep  those  things  in  balance.  I  believe  we  must  preach  in  such  a  way  as  to  help  the  
saints  to  grow,  but,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  wooing  the  lost  for  Jesus  Christ.  
Now  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  this  thing  called  salvation,  and  since  I  hadn’t  given  
my  message  a  title  until  just  now,  I’ll  just  call  it  that:  “This  Thing  Called  Salvation.”  That  
sounds  good  enough  to  me,  and  that’s  what  we’re  going  to  call  our  message  this  
evening:  “This  Thing  Called  Salvation.”  And  there  are  several  things  I  want  you  to  see  
about  it,  and  they  all  come  around  an  Easter  theme.  

I. The  Condition  of  Salvation

The  very  first  thing  I  want  you  to  see  is  what  I  want  to  call  the  condition  of  salvation.  
“Brethren,  my  hearts  desire  and  prayer  to  God”—verses  1  to  4;;  here  it  is—“Brethren,  my  
heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved.  For  I  bear  them  
record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but  not  according  to  knowledge.  For  they  being  
ignorant  of  God's  righteousness,  and  going  about  to  establish  their  own  righteousness,  
have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness  of  God.  For  Christ  is  the  end  of  
the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth”  (Romans  10:1–4).  
Now  what  is  the  condition  of  salvation?  If  you  were  to  go  out  here  and  ask  the  
average  man  on  the  street,  “How  does  a  man  get  to  Heaven?  How  does  a  man  become  
a  child  of  God?”  I  dare  say,  if  you  were  just  to  go  randomly,  at  least  nine  out  of  ten  
would  tell  you  something  that  a  man  must  do  in  order  to  be  saved;;  that  is,  some  form  of  
works.  He  would  say,  “Well,  do  good;;  keep  the  Ten  Commandments;;  obey  the  Golden  
Rule;;  go  through  particular  rituals;;  treat  a  fellow  as  you  want  to  be  treated,”  or  whatever.  
He’d  have  his  little  standard  of  morality;;  and  he  thinks  that  somehow  salvation  is  a  goal  
to  be  achieved  by  living  good.  Man,  classically,  gets  things  backwards  and  he  just  
always  does  that.  You  know,  the  Bible  says,  “Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  
righteousness;;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you”  (Matthew  6:33).  Man  
generally  puts  things  first,  and  God  second,  and  they  wonder  why  neither  things,  nor  
God,  work  out.  
The  Bible  says,  for  example,  “Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ…and  then  be  
baptized”  (Acts  16:31–33).  So  many  denominations  take  little  babies,  little  infants,  and  
baptize  them;;  and  then,  when  they  grow  up,  they  teach  them  to  believe.  That’s  
absolutely  backward.  We  just  get  it  backward.  Isn’t  that  strange?  When  the  Bible  says,  
“Believe  and  be  baptized,”  real  baptism  follows  real  belief.  And  if you were baptized
before you were saved, that’s like having your funeral before you die. You have gotten
it backward.  
Or,  for  example,  the  Bible  says,  “Except  ye…become  as  little  children,  ye  shall  not  
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven”  (Matthew  18:3).  What  do  we  do  when  a  little  child  
comes  forward?  We  ask  that  little  child  a  lot  of  adult  questions,  and,  if  the  little  child  

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can’t  answer  the  adult  questions,  we  say  the  little  child  is  not  ready  to  be  saved.  But  to  
the  contrary,  God  says  it’s  the  adult  that  has  to  become  like  the  little  child,  and  we  just  
got  everything  all  backward.  When  man  comes  to  spiritual  things,  he  generally  gets  
things  inverted,  and  he  gets  them  180  degrees  out  of  sync.  
Now  the  people  in  Paul’s  day,  the  Jewish  nation,  the  custodians  of  the  faith,  they  
had  it  all  figured  out.  They  thought  they  knew  how  to  be  saved;;  they  thought  they  could  
be  saved  by  keeping  the  law.  They  were  religious,  but  they  were  lost.  And  I  want  to  tell  
you—the hardest man to reach is not the thief, not the drunkard, not the dope  pusher;
the hardest man to reach for salvation is a religious man who’s never met the Lord
Jesus Christ. Because you can never get that man to see that he’s lost.  He  thinks  that  he  
has  a  form  of  godliness,  he  has  a  zeal  of  God.  Look  again  in  verses  2  to  3:  “For  I  bear  
them  record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but  not  according  to  knowledge.  For  they  
being  ignorant  of  God's  righteousness,  and  going  about  to  establish  their  own  
righteousness,  have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the  righteousness  of  God”  (Romans  
10:2–3).  
Now  the  Apostle  Paul  had  that  same  problem.  I  want  to  read  you  something  from  
Philippians,  chapter  3.  Here’s  how  Paul  describes  himself  in  verses  4  to  7:  “Though  I  
might  also  have  confidence  in  the  flesh.  If  any  other  man  thinketh  that  he  hath  whereof  
he  might  trust  in  the  flesh,  I  more:  circumcised  the  eighth  day,  of  the  stock  of  Israel,  of  
the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  an  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews;;  as  touching  the  law,  a  Pharisee;;  
concerning  zeal,  persecuting  the  church;;  touching  the  righteousness  which  is  in  the  law,  
blameless.”  Now  you  think  a  man  who  had  all  that  religious  zeal  and  all  of  those  things  
going  for  him,  you  would  think  that  certainly  that  would  be  enough.  “But,”—Paul  said—
“what  things  were  gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for  Christ”  (Philippians  3:4–7).  
Now  what  does  all  that  mean?  Paul  saw  that  all  of  his  religious  background,  all  of  his  
good  deeds,  all  of  his  law-­keeping,  all  of  the  rest  of  it,  all  of  his  religious  assets  were  
actually  liabilities.  They  had  to  be  taken  from  the  profit  side  of  the  ledger  and  put  on  the  
loss  side  of  the  ledger.  All  of  the  things  that  I  count  as  gain,  now  I  count  them  but  loss.  
Now  how  could  all  of  these  things,  as  wonderful  as  they  seem,  and  as  good  as  they  
seem,  how  could  they  be  things  that  Paul  said  were  loss  to  me?  Well,  let  me  explain  it.  
You  might  have  a  beautiful  highway,  a  super  highway,  fine  as  it  can  be;;  but,  if  you’re  
going  the  wrong  way  on  that  highway,  rather  than  getting  to  your  goal,  it  is  taking  you  
further  and  further  away  from  your  desired  destination.  Now  Paul’s  highway  was  a  
beautiful  highway,  but  the  only  problem  is  that  it  was  headed  in  the  wrong  way,  away  
from  Christ.  As  the  Bible  says,  in  the  Book  of  Proverbs  chapter  14  and  verse  12:  “There  
is  a  way  which  seemeth  right  unto  a  man,  but  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of  death”  
(Proverbs  14:12).  
Now  listen  to  the  way  of  salvation.  Here’s  the  condition  of  salvation—look  in  verse  4:  

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“For  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth”  (Romans  
10:4).  Now  there’s  nothing  wrong  with  the  law.  God  gave  the  law.  But  the  law  is  but  a  
schoolmaster  to  bring  us  to  Christ.  The  law,  the  Ten  Commandments,  and  all  of  the  
other  things  that  cling  to  and  around  the  Ten  Commandments,  all  those  were  given  for  
us  to  show  us  that  we  cannot  keep  them  apart  from  Christ.  The  law  says,  “This  do,  and  
thou  shalt  live”;;  the  gospel  says,  “Live,  and  then,  thou  shalt  do.”  The  law  says,  “Pay  me  
what  you  owe  me”;;  the  gospel  says,  “I  freely  forgive  all.”  The  law  says,  “Thou  shalt  love  
the  LORD  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might”  
(Deuteronomy  6:5);;  the  gospel  says,  “Herein  is  love,  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  
loved  us,  and  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins”  (1  John  4:10).  The  law  
says,  “Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things  which  are  written  in  the  book  
of  the  law  to  do  them”  (Galatians  3:10);;  the  gospel  says,  “Blessed  are  they  whose  
iniquities  are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins  are  covered”  (Romans  4:7).  The  law  says,  “The  
wages  of  sin  is  death”;;  the  gospel  says,  “The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  
Christ  our  Lord”  (Romans  6:23).  The  law  demands  holiness;;  the  gospel  provides  
holiness.  The  law  says,  “Do”;;  the  gospel  says,  “Done.”  The  law  makes  blessing  the  
result  of  obedience;;  the  gospel  makes  obedience  the  results  of  blessings.  The  law  
places  the  day  of  rest  at  the  end  the  week’s  work—those  under  the  law  keep  Saturday;;  
the  gospel  places  it  at  the  beginning  of  the  week’s  work—we  keep  the  Lord’s  Day.  The  
law  says,  “If”;;  the  gospel  says,  “Therefore.”  Under  the  law,  salvation  is  a  wage;;  under  
the  gospel,  salvation  is  a  gift.  The  law  says,  “Run,”  but  it  gives  us  no  legs;;  the  gospel  
says,  “Fly,”  and  it  gives  us  wings.  “For  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  
every  one  that  believeth”  (Romans  10:4).  
You  can’t  be  saved  by  keeping  the  Ten  Commandments.  You  never  could  be  saved.  
Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty.  And  so  what  is  the  
condition  of  salvation?  That  we  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  trust  Him  alone,  
and  Him  always,  for  our  salvation.  

II. The  Confession  of  Salvation

Now  the  second  thing  I  want  you  to  notice  is  the  confession  of  salvation.  Look  in  verse  6  
and  following:  “But  the  righteousness  which  is  of  faith  speaketh  on  this  wise,  Say  not  in  
thine  heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven?  (that  is,  to  bring  Christ  down  from  above:)  
or,  Who  shall  descend  into  the  deep?  (that  is,  to  bring  up  Christ  again  from  the  dead.)  
But  what  saith  it?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart:  that  is,  the  
word  of  faith,  which  we  preach;;  that  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  
and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  
saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness;;  and  with  the  mouth  
confession  is  made  unto  salvation”  (Romans  10:6–10).  I’ve  already  spoken  to  you  about  

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the  condition  of  salvation,  the  confession  of  salvation.  Now  what  these  verses  are  telling  
us,  verses  6  through  10,  is  this:  that  salvation  is  available  to  every  person,  no  matter  
where  he  is;;  and  it  may  be  much  closer  to  you  than  you  think  for  you  to  go  on  a  holy  
pilgrimage,  for  you  to  find  the  Lord.  
While  I’m  speaking  to  you,  there  are  those  who  have  been  in  Bethlehem  that  we  just  
sang  about—“Bethlehem,  He  was  Born  There.”  And  there  are  those  who  take  a  
pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem  this  time  of  the  year.  There  are  those  who  take  a  pilgrimage  to  
Galilee  this  time  of  the  year.  What  are  they  going  over  there  for?  I  enjoy  going  to  the  
Holy  Land,  but  I  don’t  go  over  there  to  seek  God.  I  certainly  don’t  go  over  there  to  seek  
salvation.  Friend,  if  the  God  that  I  serve  is  not  right  here,  I  don’t  want  Him.  As  a  matter  
of  fact,  He  is  everywhere  and…—listen  to  what  the  Scripture  says.  The  Scripture  says,  
“The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth”  (Romans  10:8),  so  we  don’t  have  to  go  on  a  
pilgrimage.  
Look.  Look  what  he’s  saying.  He’s  saying  here,  we  don’t  have  to,  in  verse  6—“Say  
not  in  thine  heart,  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven?  (that  is,  to  bring  Christ  down  from  
above…)”  (Romans  10:6).  You  don’t  have  to  go  up  to  Heaven  and  say,  “God,  won’t  you  
send  your  Son?  Please,  God,  send  your  Son  into  the  world.  Please  let  Him  come  down  
as  the  Savior  of  men.”  Friend,  He  has  already  come,  He  has  already  been  born  in  
Bethlehem,  and  so,  I  don’t  have  to  go  to  Heaven  and  invite  God  to  send  His  Son.  Or,  
notice  again  in  verse  7:  “Or,  Who  shall  descend  into  the  deep?  (that  is,  to  bring  up  
Christ  again  from  the  dead)”  (Romans  10:7).  I  don’t  have  to  try  to  persuade  God  to  raise  
His  Son  from  the  dead;;  Jesus  has  already  been  raised  from  the  dead.  
Now  what  is  he  saying  here?  Listen  to  me.  Here’s  a  great  truth.  If  you’re  an  unsaved  
person,  pay  attention.  I  don’t  need  to  go  to  the  heights  to  bring  Christ  down.  I  don’t  need  
to  go  to  the  depths  to  bring  Christ  up.  Christ  has  already  come  down,  and  Christ  has  
already  been  raised  from  the  dead.  Salvation  is  near;;  He’s  already  come  from  the  
grave.  Jesus  Christ  is  alive  and  well.  He’s  in  this  building  tonight.  And  the  word  is  nigh  
thee.  Let  me  just  tell  you  how  close  Jesus  is  to  you  tonight.  You  might  be  surprised  just  
how  close  Jesus  Christ  is  tonight—Jesus  Christ.    
The  Word  of  God  that  tells  about  Jesus  Christ  is  already  in  your  heart,  and  is  already  
in  your  mouth.  An  unsaved  person—listen  to  it  now,  listen  to  it:  “But  what  saith  it?”—
verse  8—“The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart”  (Romans  10:8).  
“Well,”  you  say,  “how  did  the  Word  of  God  get  in  my  mouth?  How  did  the  Word  of  God  
get  in  my  heart?”  I  just  put  it  there.  I  just  put  it  in  your  mouth.  I  just  put  it  in  your  heart.  
How?  It  is  the  word  of  faith,  which  we  preach.  What  I’m  doing  right  now  is  putting  the  
word  in  your  heart.  What  I’m  doing  is  putting  the  word  in  your  mouth.  You’re  not  yet  
saved.  
Now  pay  attention  to  what  Paul  is  saying.  Paul  is  saying  you  don’t  have  to  go  and  

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turn  your  mouth  up  to  Heaven  and  say,  “Oh,  God,  please  send  Jesus  to  come  down.”  
You  don’t  have  to  send  Him  to  the  heights,  and  you  don’t  have  to  say,  “Oh,  Jesus,  
please  come  out  of  the  grave.”  You  don’t  have  to  do  that;;  that’s  all  been  done.  Now  
listen.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  take  this  word  that  I’m  preaching  to  you  tonight.  I  have  put  
it  into  your  heart;;  I  have  preached  it  into  your  mouth.  It  is  there,  it  is  there  right  now—
that’s  how  close  your  salvation  is.  
The  Word  of  God  is  nigh  in  your  heart,  the  Word  of  God  is  nigh  in  your  mouth,  and  is  
waiting  on  one  thing:  for  you  to  believe  in  your  heart,  and  to  confess  with  your  mouth.  
The  Word  is  already  there.  I  mean,  that’s  how  close  you  are  to  salvation.  I  have  taken  
the  Word  of  God  tonight,  and  with  the  anointing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  I  pray  and  I  trust,  I  
have  put  that  word  in  your  heart  and  I  have  put  that  word  in  your  mouth;;  it  is  there  
waiting  to  be  articulated,  after  you  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  You  are  just  that  
close  to  salvation.    
Everyone  sitting  here  tonight,  listen  to  it  again:  “But  what  saith  it?  The  word  is  nigh  
thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart:  that  is,  the  word  of  faith,  which  we  preach”  
(Romans  10:8).  And  I  want  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  what  you  do  with  that  word  that  I  put  
in  your  heart  and  in  your  mouth  is  very,  very  important.  You’re  not  yet  saved,  even  
though  I  put  the  word  in  your  heart.  You’re  not  saved,  even  though  I  put  the  word  in  your  
mouth.  There  is  something  you  must  do,  you  must  say  amen  with  your  heart,  and  you  
must  confess  with  your  mouth.  Notice  in  verse  9:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  
mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  
dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved”  (Romans  10:9).  
Now  I  want  you  to  notice  the  relationship  between  the  heart  and  the  mouth.  We’re  
talking  here  about  the  confession  of  salvation.  You  see,  when  you  believe  in  your  heart,  
that’s  private;;  but  when  you  confess  with  your  mouth,  that’s  public.  Are  both  a  part  of  
salvation?  Absolutely,  totally.  For  what  a  man  truly  believes  in  his  heart,  he  will  confess  
with  his  mouth.  Confession  is  but  faith  turned  inside  out,  and  therefore  confession  
brings  possession.  
Now  pay  attention.  The  condition  of  salvation  is  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  
How  can  a  man  believe?  There  must  be  a  preacher.  We  don’t  have  to  go  off  looking  for  
Christ—He’s  here.  Not  in  the  heavens  above,  or  in  the  depths  below—He’s  here.  And  
what  we  need  is  a  man  of  God,  a  preacher,  who  will  take  the  Word  of  God  and  preach  
Christ  into  the  hearts  of  people,  and  into  the  mouths  of  people.  
Now  they’re  ready  to  believe  with  their  heart  and  confess  with  their  mouth,  and  the  
moment  a  person  who  hears  the  Word  of  God  says,  “All  right,  I  do  believe  with  my  
heart,  I  say  amen  with  my  heart,  and  then,  I  confess  with  my  mouth,”  that  person  then  is  
saved.  Confession  brings  possession.    
Now  you  need  to  understand  what  the  word  confess  means.  Look  at  it  here  in  verse  

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9:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus”  (Romans  10:9).  Do  you  
know  what  the  word  confess  literally  means?  It  means,  “agree  with”—“agree  with.”  That  
is,  when  you  come  into  agreement  with  God,  when  you  put  away  your  own  self-­
righteousness  and  your  own  ways,  and  you  say,  “Okay,  God,  I  agree—I  agree  with  
you.”  The  moment  you  agree  with  God  by  faith,  salvation  takes  place.  You  see,  God  
doesn’t  take  rebels  to  Heaven.  
Now  here’s  what  happens.  A  preacher  may  preach,  and  someone  will  come  forward  
in  that  service,  and  that  person  is  seeking  God,  perhaps;;  he  wants  to  know  God.  And  so  
the  soul  winner  takes  the  Word  of  God,  and  he  reads  the  Scripture  to  him,  and  shows  
him  how  to  be  saved,  by  trusting  in  Christ.  According  to  verse  4,  it  says,  you’re  not  
saved  by  keeping  the  Ten  Commandments—you’re  saved  by  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  
Would  you  pray  and  ask  Him  to  come  into  your  heart?  And  so  the  penitent  sinner  bows  
his  head  and  he  prays  like  this:  “Lord,  I’m  a  sinner,  and  I’m  lost,  and  I  need  to  be  saved,  
and  I  want  to  be  saved.  I  open  my  heart,  I  invite  you  to  come  into  my  heart  and  save  me  
Lord  Jesus.  Amen.”  
Now  is  he  saved?  I  don’t  know  whether  he  is  or  not.  I  know  what  he  said;;  but  I  don’t  
know  whether  he’s  saved  or  not,  because,  you  see,  just  repeating  words  can’t  save  
anybody.  You  understand  that,  don’t  you?  “But,”  I  ask  him—I  suppose  I’m  a  soul  
winner—I  say,  “All  right  now,  you  prayed  and  asked  Christ  to  come  into  your  heart.  Did  
Christ  come  into  your  heart?  Are  you  saved?”  He  says,  “Well,  I  don’t  know.  I  hope  so.  
I’d  like  to  be.  I  need  to  be.  I  don’t  know  whether  I’m  saved  or  not.  I  said  those  words,  but  
I  don’t  know  whether  I’m  saved  or  not.”  I’ll  tell  you,  friend,  he’s  not—he’s  not.    
But  now,  let’s  get  somebody  else.  I  bring  him  down  here  and  I  say,  “There’s  the  
gospel.  I  put  it  into  your  heart.  I  put  it  into  your  mouth.  I  preach  it  into  your  heart.  I  
preach  it  into  your  mouth.”  I  say,  “Let’s  pray.”  He  prays,  “Lord  God,  I’m  a  sinner.  I’m  lost.  
I  need  to  be  saved.  I  open  my  heart.  I  receive  Jesus  Christ  as  my  Savior.  Come  into  my  
heart,  Lord  Jesus.  Forgive  my  sin,  and  save  me.”  I  look  up,  I  say,  “That’s  wonderful!  
Now  let  me  ask  you  a  question—Are  you  saved?”  “Yes,  I  am.”  “How  do  you  know  you’re  
saved?”  “Well,  God  said  if  I  believed  and  confessed  with  my  mouth,  that  I  am  saved.  
And  I  do  believe,  I  do  confess—I  am  saved.”  
And  when  he  says  he’s  saved,  do  you  know  what?  God  says  he’s  saved  too.  Listen.  
When you say amen to what God says, God says amen to what you say.  Do  you  
understand  what  I’m  saying?  When  a  man  believes  in  his  heart  and  confesses  with  his  
mouth,  he  is  saved.  
Now  some  people  just  don’t  believe  that  they  can  take  God  at  His  word,  and  
therefore,  they’re  always  hoping,  wanting,  wishing,  but  never  saying,  “Bless  God,  I  
believe  I  am  saved.”  Now  when  you  come  to  that  place  of  spiritual  audacity,  to  take  God  
at  His  word  and  say,  “God  is  not  playing  games;  God  means  business;  I  believe;  I  

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confess;;  I’m  saved,”  and  God  says,  “Yes,  you  are  saved,”  that’s  what  it’s  all  about.  “That  
if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  
God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  
believeth  unto  righteousness;;  and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation”  
(Romans  10:9–10).  My  dear  friend,  what  you  say  about  it  is  what  God  is  going  to  say,  
and,  if  we  could  only  learn  to  stand  on  the  Word  of  God  and  say,  “Yes,  by  God’s  
grace—hallelujah!—I  am  saved.”  
You  don’t  have  to  run  off  looking  all  over  the  universe  for  Jesus.  He’s  here  tonight.  
And  you  don’t  have  to  run  off  all  over  looking  for  the  word  of  God.  I  tell  you,  you’re  so  
close  to  salvation,  that  salvation  is  right  now.  That  word  of  God  concerning  salvation  is  
right  now  in  your  heart.  It  is  right  now  in  your  mouth,  just  waiting  on  you  to  believe  with  
your  heart,  and  confess  with  you  mouth.  

III. The  Commitment  of  Salvation

Now  let’s  move  on;;  just  stay  where  you  are,  we’re  going  to  move  on  in  the  Scripture.  All  
right  now—number  one,  the  condition  of  salvation:  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  
righteousness  for  everyone  that  believeth—that’s  the  condition.  The  confession  of  
salvation:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  
thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with  the  
heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness;;  and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  
salvation”  (Romans  10:9–10).  Now  the  next  thing  I  want  you  to  notice  is  the  commitment  
of  salvation.  Look  again,  if  you  will,  in  verse  9:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  
the  Lord  Jesus…”—literally,  “that  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  Jesus  is  Lord”—
“thou  shalt  be  saved”  (Romans  10:9).  Now  pay  attention.  Salvation  is  the  gift  of  God;;  but  
you  cannot  have  God’s  gift,  you  cannot  receive  what  Jesus  gives,  unless  you  also  
receive  who  Jesus  is,  and  Jesus  is  Lord.  These  are  more  than  mere  words.  Early  
Christians  were  fed  to  the  lions  because  they  were  willing  to  repeat  these  words:  “Jesus  
Christ  is  Lord.”  
Now  I  hear  people  today  talk  about  accepting  Christ  as  your  Savior.  Have  you  
received  Christ  as  your  Savior?  I  use  that  terminology  sometimes,  and  I  suppose  we  all  
do,  but,  if  I  wanted  to  be  very  technical  about  it,  I’d  have  to  tell  you  I  don’t  find  that  
terminology  in  the  Bible.  We  don’t  receive  Christ  as  our  Savior.  He  is  our  Savior,  but  we  
receive  Christ—period.  Period.  And  that  means  all  that  comes  with  it.  
Now  just  before  I  went  into  pulpit,  I  had  a  counseling  session  with  a  couple  going  to  
get  married—that  couple  is  here  tonight.  But  suppose  Jane  and  Steve  stand  before  me  
and  I  turn  to  Steve  and  I  say,  “Steve,  will  you  take  Jane  to  be  your  lawfully  wedded  wife,  
to  have  and  to  hold  from  this  day  forward,  in  sickness  and  health,  ”and  so  forth,  and  he  
says,  “Well  now,  let  me  think  about  that.  Well,  I  tell  you  what—I  will  take  her  as  

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housekeeper;;  I  will  take  her  as  sweetheart;;  my,  well,  that’s  all  I’m  going  to  take  her  as.”  
She  says,  “I  won’t  take  you  at  all,  Bud.”  Now  listen.  You  don’t  take  her  as  something—
you  take  her,  you  take  her.  You  don’t  just  take  Jesus  as  your  Savior.  He  is  your  Savior,  
but  He  is  Lord.  Do  you  know  the  Bible  calls  him  Lord  433  times,  and  calls  Him  Savior  24  
times?  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth,  that  Jesus  is  Lord.”  Is  He  the  Lord  of  
your  life?  I  mean,  is  He  the  Lord  of  your  life?  People  say,  “Now  that  you’ve  received  Him  
as  your  Savior,  why  not  make  Him  your  Lord?”  I  want  to  tell  you,  dear  friend,  if  He’s  not  
your  Lord,  I  don’t  think  He  is  your  Savior.  
Salvation is not the cafeteria  line where you say, “I believe I’ll have a little Savior-­
hood today, but no Lordship, thank you.”  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  
Lord  Jesus…”  (Romans  10:9)—this  is  the  commitment  of  salvation.  Are  you  committed  
to  His  Lordship?  I  am.  I  don’t  believe  that  I’m  saved  by  obeying  Him,  but  I  obey  Him  
because  I’m  saved.  And  the  greatest  desire  of  my  life  is  to  please  the  One  who  is  my  
Lord.  That’s  the  commitment  of  salvation.  

IV. The  Confidence  of  Salvation

Now  I  want  you  to  see  something  else—I  want  you  to  see  the  confidence  of  salvation.  
Notice  again:  “That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved”  
(Romans  10:9).  Now  why  did  the  Apostle  Paul  say  that?  Why  didn’t  he  say,  “If  thou  shalt  
confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus  and  believe  in  thine  heart  in  the  virgin  birth”?  Or,  
“Believe  in  thine  heart  in  the  crucifixion”?  Or,  “Believe  in  thine  heart  in  this  deity,  thou  
shalt  be  saved”?    
I’ll  tell  you  why:  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  includes  all  of  those  others;;  the  
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  capstone  of  all  of  those  others.  If  you  believe  in  His  
resurrection,  of  course  you  believe  in  His  incarnation.  He  had  to  be  a  man  in  order  to  
live  and  die,  and  be  buried,  to  be  raised  again.  If  you  believe  in  His  resurrection,  of  
course  you  believe  in  His  crucifixion;;  because  He  had  to  be  crucified  in  order  to  be  
raised  again.  If  you  believe  in  His  resurrection,  of  course  you  believe  in  His  deity;;  
because  God  would  not  have  raised  a  charlatan,  a  fake,  or  a  fraud.  And  so  you  see,  it  is  
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  which  is  the  capstone  of  all  of  the  other  miracles,  and  
that’s  the  reason  I  have  chosen  this  text  for  this  Sunday  night:  “That  if  thou  shalt  thou  
confess  with  thy  mouth  that  [Jesus  is  Lord],  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved”  (Romans  10:9).  
Now  don’t  you  worry  your  pretty  little  head  about  trying  to  figure  out  how  God  raised  
Jesus  from  the  dead,  or  how  he’s  going  to  raise  us  up  either—that’s  God’s  business;;  
He’s  still  God.  
There  was  a  missionary  many  years  ago  before  we  had  the  communications  that  we  

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have  in  the  world  today.  And  this  English  missionary  was  speaking  to  a  Burmese  prince,  
and  he  was  telling  this  Burmese  prince  about  life  in  England;;  and,  among  other  things,  
he  told  him  about  the  cold  winters  in  England,  and  he  told  him  about  skiing,  and  he  told  
him  about  ice-­skating  on  the  water.  Now  the  man  in  Burma  had  never  seen  ice,  and,  
after  he  finished,  the  man  said  to  the  missionary—the  prince:  “I  know  you’re  a  good  
man,  and  I  know  you  try  to  be  honest;;  but,”  he  said,  “if  everybody  in  the  world  were  to  
testify  to  me  that  water  could  become  so  hard  that  you  could  walk  on  it,  I  still  wouldn’t  
believe  it.”  He  had  no  way  to  conceptionalize,  he  did  not  know  what  ice  was,  and  he  just  
said  it’s  impossible.  Those  who  live  in  Northern  climates  take  it  for  granted.  Now  friend,  
just  ’cause  you  can’t  understand  something,  don’t  say  it  can’t  happen.  Listen.  Jesus  
Christ  came  out  of  that  grave;;  and  that  is  the  confidence  of  salvation.  

V. The  Courage  of  Salvation

Now  there’s  one  other  thing  I  want  you  to  see,  and  that  is  the  courage  of  salvation.  
Look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  11:  “For  the  scripture  saith,  Whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  
not  be  ashamed”  (Romans  10:11).  That’s  why,  when  I  finish  preaching  tonight,  I’m  going  
to  ask  those  of  you  in  whose  heart  I  have  put  the  Word  of  God,  those  of  you  in  whose  
mouth  I  have  put  the  Word  of  God;;  I  am  going  to  ask  you,  when  I  finish  preaching  
tonight,  to  leave  your  seat  and  come  forward—if  you  believe  that  Jesus  is  Lord,  if  you  
believe  that  God  raised  Him  from  the  dead.  If  you  are  willing  to  say  amen  to  what  God  
says,  I’m  going  to  ask  you  to  leave  your  seat  and  come  forward.  Why?  For  the  Scripture  
says,  “Whosoever  believeth  in  him  shall  not  be  ashamed.”    
Do  you  know  what  this  word  ashamed  literally  means?  It  means  he’ll  not  be  in  a  
hurry  to  get  away.  Have  you  ever  been  in  a  group  of  people,  having  a  wonderful  
conversation,  and  you  bring  up  Jesus?  He’ll  kind  of  look  at  his  wife  and  say,  “Excuse  
me,  I’ve  got  to  go.”  Or,  if  you  are  in  a  restaurant  and  you  say,  “Let’s  ask  God  to  bless  
the  food,”  he  gets  all  hot  under  the  collar,  and  he  looks  around;;  you  know,  he’s  just  
embarrassed.  Brother,  I  want  to  tell  you,  I’m  not  embarrassed  about  Jesus.  I’m  not  
embarrassed  about  Jesus.  I’m  not  in  a  hurry  to  get  away  when  His  name  is  mentioned.  
Where  is  John  Bramlett?  John,  I  thought  I  saw  you  here  somewhere.  Where  are  you,  
John?  There  he  sits.  I  remember  after  ole’  big,  bold  John  Bramlett  got  saved,  I  saw  you,  
John,  at  a  Memphis  State  football  game.  And  a  couple  of  your  old  buddies  from  the  old  
life  came  up  to  you,  and  they  had  a  bottle  of  hooch  in  their  hip  pocket,  and  they  said,  
“John!—John  Bramlett!  How  are  you  doing?”  John  says,  “Wonderful,  brother!  Did  I  tell  
you  what  Jesus  has  done  for  me?”  And  boy,  did  it  get  quiet  around  there.  I’ll  tell  you.  I  
don’t  know  whether  you  remember  that  or  not,  John?  I’m  not  ashamed  of  Jesus;;  but  I  
almost  wanted  to  duck,  you  were  so  bold.  That’s  what  the  Scripture  says.  Oh,  my  friend,  
that  is  the  courage  of  salvation:  “For  the  scripture  saith,  Whosoever  believeth  on  him  

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shall  not  be  ashamed”  (Romans  10:11).  I’m  not  ashamed  of  Jesus.  God  gave  us  a  
burning,  passionate,  blazing  emotion—a  love  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  died  for  us.  
He’s  Lord.  He  has  been  raised  from  the  dead.  

VI. The  Consequences  of  Salvation

Now  there’s  one  other  thing,  and  I’ll  be  finished.  I  want  to  speak  to  you  not  only  about  
the  courage  of  this  salvation,  but  I  want  to  speak  to  you  about  the  consequences  of  
salvation.  Look,  if  you  will  now,  in  verses  12  and  13.  Paul  says,  “For  there  is  no  
difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek:  for  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  
that  call  upon  him.  For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved”
(Romans  10:12–13). And I  have  chosen  this  little  phrase:  “the…Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  
all  that  call  upon  him.”  Do  you  know  what  that  literally  means?  Phillips  translates  it  this  
way:  “His  boundless  resources  are  available  unto  all.”  He  is  rich  unto  all—His  boundless  
resources.  
I  was  sitting  up  here  on  the  platform,  thinking  about  something,  and  it  almost  
frightened  me  when  I  thought  about  it.  I  realized  that  I  have  almost  been  saved  40  
years.  Now  I  know  that’s  hard  for  you  to  believe,  because  I  look  like  I’m  20;;  but  I  have  
almost  been  saved  40  years.  I  was  sitting  over  here  thinking  about  it  before  I  got  up  to  
preach—40  years.  And  I  was  thinking  about  this  verse,  and  I  thought  how  true  it  is:  His  
boundless  resources  have  been  available  to  me!  And  I  am  here  to  testify  to  you,  not  one  
time  has  He  failed—not  one,  not  one  time.  Oh,  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich,  rich,  rich  
unto  all  that  call  upon  Him!  That’s  the  consequences  of  salvation.  Now  of  His  infinite  
riches  in  Jesus,  He  giveth  and  giveth  and  giveth!  

Conclusion  
Again,  my  testimony  to  you  this  Easter  season  is,  we  have  a  wonderful  dear  Savior.  And  
the  condition  of  salvation  is,  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  The  confession  of  salvation  is,  
“confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus”  (Romans  10:9).  The  courage  of  salvation  is,  
not  to  be  afraid  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  The  confidence  of  salvation  is,  that  “God  hath  raised  
Him  from  the  dead”  (Romans  10:9);;  the  consequences:  He’s  “rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  
him”  (Romans  10:12).  L et’s  bow  in  prayer.  

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 Authentic Christianity
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: July 14, 1996

Main Scripture Text: Romans 10:11–17

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
ROMANS 10:17

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Object of Faith
II. The Origin of Faith
III. The Objective of Faith
IV. The Operation of Faith
Conclusion

Introduction
Would you be finding in God’s Word Romans chapter 10? When you’ve found it, look up
here. In just a moment, we’re going to read some selected verses from Romans chapter
10, but let me tell you today that we are talking about faith. Now, faith—faith—is the
medium of exchange in the kingdom of heaven. If you go to the grocery store for a loaf
of bread, you use dollars, but when you come to heaven’s bakery for a loaf of bread,
and pray, “give us this day our daily bread,” you must come with your hands filled with
faith, because, you see, faith possesses what grace provides—faith possesses what
grace provides. Now, grace is God’s ability; faith is our responsibility, and in order to
have the blessings of God, in order to please God, we’ve got to be people of faith. And,
folks, if there was ever a day, a time, for an earth-shaking, mountain-moving, devil-
defying faith in God, this is the day, and this is the time.
The Bible tells us that unbelief is the supreme evil. Do you know why men today are
lost, die, and go to hell? Not because they’re liars, thieves, or perverts, but people die
and go to hell today because they believe not. The Bible says, “He that believeth on sis
not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed.” There’s no greater sin than to aim the gun of unbelief at God and pull the
trigger. The Bible says, “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar.” Unbelief says,
“You, God, cannot be trusted. If You exist, You’re not a trustworthy God.” It was unbelief
that locked the doors of Canaan and kept the people of Israel in the wilderness for forty
years. It was unbelief that tied the hands of Jesus in Nazareth when there were so

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many sick that needed to be blessed, so many who needed His touch, but the Bible
says, “He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief.” And I’ll tell you
today that your unbelief can tie the hands of Jesus in your life, and Jesus wants to move
in and to bless you. The Bible teaches that the very life of a Christian is to be the life of
faith. Now, you are in Romans chapter 10, but in Romans chapter 1, verse 17, the Bible
puts it in one sentence: “The just shall live by faith.” That’s the way you’re to live. That’s
the way you’re to draw your breath. That’s the way you’re to serve God—by faith. The
Bible says, if we can believe, nothing is impossible, but may I tell you that, in the
spiritual realm, if you do not believe, nothing is possible.
I want you to notice with me today four things about faith, as they come out of our
text that we’re going to read, but, first of all, let’s read together, beginning in verse 11:
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” That
literally means you’ll not be put to shame, you’ll not be disappointed. It pays to serve
Jesus. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord
over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever…”—and I’m glad that’s there—
“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? and how shall
they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I. The Object of Faith

I’m going to stop reading there, and let me begin to talk to you about biblical faith,
and, first of all, let me talk to you about the object of faith, because, you see, faith is no
better than its object. Now, of course, our object, the true object of faith, is God Himself.
Look in verse 11: “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him”—I’m sick and
tired of people saying, “Well, just believe. Just believe. Have faith.” The question that
rushes to the threshold of my mind is, “Faith in what?” Faith is no better than its object.
The power of faith, the authenticity of faith, is in its object. You see, friend, people think
that there’s something mystical or magical about just believing, that believing makes it
so. Believing does not make it so. It is God that our faith must be in. Now, we remember
over there when Jesus had withered a fig tree, and the disciples were amazed, in Mark
chapter 11, that Jesus had withered a fig tree, and He said, “Why, if you have faith in
God, you can say to this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the midst of the sea.” I
often hear people say, “Faith moves mountains.” No, no, no, no. God moves mountains.
It is God that moves mountains. “Jesus answered and saith unto them, Have faith in

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God”—and, in the emphatic there. He’s not saying, “Have faith in God.” He’s saying,
“Have faith in God.” When you have faith in God, it is God that moves mountains.
Faith is not, therefore, positive thinking. Now, I like positive thinking. As a matter of
fact, I like to be around positive thinkers. I don’t like to be around negative people. I
don’t like to get behind a person when I’m driving who expects every light to turn red,
and by the time we get there it has. I don’t like that! I mean, I like positive thinking. And
positive thinking can do some things, but it can’t do everything. A little boy came home
and told his dad, he said, “Dad, I think I flunked my math test.” His dad said, “Oh, son,
don’t say it that way. Be positive!” He said, “Okay, Dad, I’m positive I flunked my math
test.” There, there are some things that positive thinking can do, and there are some
things that positive thinking cannot do. But, you see, what positive thinking is, is merely
faith in yourself, when you think about it. It’s not faith in God. It’s faith in your self. And if
you simply live your life by positive thinking, I can tell you, beyond the shadow of any
doubt or peradventure, that will only last you so long, and then you’re going to come to
great disappointment, because it’s going to dawn on you that you do not have what it
takes.
I’m going to tell you something else. When you put faith in faith, not only is it going
lead to disappointment; it’s going to make you a victim of Satan’s attack. You see,
Satan wants to sever your relationship with God. Well, what is it that ties you to God?
It’s faith. So, where is Satan’s warfare? Satan’s warfare is against your faith. Now, don’t
spend so much time examining your faith. Spend time getting to know God. I’m going to
say more about that in just a moment, because the object of faith is God Himself. Now,
what the devil wants you to do is to look to anything but God. Satan will get you looking
around at other church members, and he’ll say, “Look at those hypocrites.” Or Satan will
get you to looking at sinners, and he’ll begin to tell you about all of the evil, wicked,
diabolical schemes of the people of this world in order to get you discouraged. Or,
somehow, Satan will get you to looking at your emotions, and how do you feel, and, do
you feel like you’re saved? Or, do you feel like you’re a child of God? He’ll do anything
to keep you from looking to Jesus, but the Bible says we’re to be looking unto Jesus—
Hebrews 12, verse 2—the Author and Finisher of our faith. Sometimes Satan will get us
to look at Satan.
Now, friend, you need to glance at Satan; you need to gaze at God. Don’t become
obsessed with evil, but overcome evil with good. Look to God. Have faith in God. But if
the devil cannot get you to look at others, if the devil cannot get you to look at yourself
and your emotions, if the devil cannot get you to look at him, do you know what the devil
will do? This is the slyest trick of all. The devil will get you to examining your faith, and
he’ll give you this much. He’ll say, “All right, all right, yes, sure. Sure, you know God by
faith; yes, I agree to that. But how do you know that your faith is strong enough?” Now,

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folks, if the devil hasn’t done that to you, just hang on to your wheel. Now, listen. Don’t
put faith in faith. Put faith in God. You see, it is not the strength of your faith or the
quality of your faith. The weakest faith that links you to God is better than the strongest
unbelief or faith in the wrong object. Just put your faith in Almighty God. And if the devil
ever comes to me, and he says to me, “Adrian, your faith is so weak, it is no good.” I
just say, “Yeah, devil, you’re right, but isn’t Jesus wonderful?” Isn’t Jesus wonderful?
And, you see, folks, it is faith in Jesus, not faith in faith. Here’s what Charles Spurgeon
had to say about it. He said, “The weakness of your faith will not destroy you. A
trembling hand may receive a golden gift.” I love that. Don’t put faith in faith. You see, it
is the sort of faith—not the size of faith—that counts. Have faith in God.
I remember reading in Mark chapter 9 about a father who had a son, a demon-
possessed boy, and the father wanted Jesus to do something for this boy. And the
father said, “Lord, if You can, do something for my son.” And here’s what the Lord said,
in Mark chapter 9, verse 23: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are
possible to him that believeth”—If thou canst believe. Now, he said, “Lord, if You can do
something.” Jesus said, “You’ve got the if in the wrong place. I can do it. If you can
believe, all things are possible.” And then here’s what this father said, and I’ve
resonated with this so many times, and I know that this is the heartbeat of many hearts
here today—verse 24: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with
tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Don’t you love that? Lord, I believe! Help
my unbelief! None of us have ever had perfect faith, but he had faith, and Jesus moved
in and did for this man what needed to be done. So, we are to be looking unto Jesus.
Now, folks, let me tell you something. If you want strong faith, don’t try to work up
faith. Get to know God. Get to know God, the object of our faith. If you want to cross a
bridge, and you’re not certain whether it can hold you up or not, you could sit trembling
on one side trying to stir up enough courage to cross that bridge, but if you observe the
bridge, and you notice the bridge is made of steel and concrete, and then you see great
semi-trucks going back and forth across it, then you don’t have to make yourself
believe, because as you see the bridge and what it can do, faith is what? It’s the by-
product. It’s the outgrowth of just simply seeing what that bridge is and what it can do.
Now, you are to put your eyes upon Jesus, and the Bible says you are to be “looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Now, it’s not great faith in God we need
nearly, nearly so much as it is faith in the great God. I’ve often used this illustration. My
lovely wife Joyce, who’s here today, that I love with all my heart, and my grade-school
sweetheart, has been a wonderful and a precious wife to me through many, many
years. Sometimes I travel, and somebody might ask, “Well, Adrian, when you are gone,
who watches Joyce for you?” I say, “What do you mean?” “Well, how do you know that
Joyce doesn’t have a boyfriend when you’re gone?” “What’s that?” “How do you know

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that Joyce does not have a boyfriend when you’re out of town?” “I’m not worried about
that.” “You’re not worried about that?” “Not at all.” “Not even a little bit?” “Not one
scintilla of an iota, for a skinny second, am I worried about that.” And you’d say, “Oh,
what great faith!” I’d say, “Oh, no, what a great wife! What a great wife!” Now, folks, you
see, it’s not really a compliment to call somebody a great person of faith. If there is a
compliment, the compliment goes to God, because the only reason any of us can have
great faith is because we have a great God. Do you understand this? So, what should
you do? If you want faith to grow in your heart, understand the object of faith is God
Himself, and get to know God.
Put these verses in the margin of your Bible—Psalm 9, verse 10: “And they that
know thy name will put their trust in thee.” Now, the name stands for the character, the
attributes, the abilities of God. “They that know thy name will put their trust in thee.”
And, again, the Bible says, in Daniel 11 and verse 32—and I love this verse; it says this:
“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits”—the people
that do know their God. So, what is the object of faith? Who is the object of faith? God
Himself—God Himself. So, if you would have strong faith, number one, you must know
God. Because to know God is to love Him, and to love Him is to trust Him. To trust Him
is to obey Him. And to obey Him is to be blessed.

II. The Origin of Faith

Now here’s number two: not only must you see the object of faith, but you must
understand the origin of faith—the origin of faith. How does faith come? Well, look, if
you will, in verse 14: “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?” Now, skip down to verse 17: “So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Plain English: faith comes by hearing God—
by hearing the Word of God. And so, while the object of faith is God Himself, the origin
of faith is the Word of God. It’s not enough that you know God or even believe that God
exists. You must hear God. You can never have faith unless you hear God. Now, folks,
that was a good “amen,” but it didn’t get one. Maybe I didn’t say it right. Now, there’s a
good place for an amen. Listen. You cannot have faith until you hear from God. Okay?
Now, faith is not guessing at the will of God. You can never have faith if you’re
merely guessing at the will of God. Faith is believing what God has said. You can’t have
a better definition of that. Faith is believing what God has said. The Bible says, in verse
17, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” We have these fellows
on television today, these joy boys preaching, who say, “Just name it and claim it.”
There’s a Greek word for that, and it’s baloney. Now, listen. You can’t name it and claim
it. That makes you God. You can believe it and receive it, but you can’t believe it until

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you get a word from God. You see, if you were to name it and claim it, you’d make a
terrible mess out of things. There’s an ancient fable about a King Midas who wanted the
gift, he loved gold so much, he wanted what is called the “Midas Touch,” that everything
he would touch would turn to gold. He got his wish, and for a while, everything was
wonderful. He was turning everything to gold, until he kissed his daughter, and she
turned to gold. Started to eat some food, and it turned to gold, and he realized what he
had thought was a blessing was a curse. And if we had faith that we could spend for
whatever we want, we’d make a tremendous mess out of things, wouldn’t we? You see,
faith is the way that God controls things, because God’s not going to give you faith for
anything that is out of His will. You don’t generate faith. You don’t work it up. Faith
comes.
Now, in the natural realm, you can generate faith. I gave the illustration of crossing a
bridge, and you can have faith in that bridge. You can have faith in a chair. You think
the chair is strong enough, you’re exercising faith in the seat that you’re in. If you’re out
in a restaurant today, and eat a meal, that’s faith, and it’s taking more every day, but
that’s natural faith. If you get sick, the doctor tells you that you have a disease you’ve
never heard of, he writes a prescription that you cannot read, for a medicine whose
name you cannot pronounce, and a druggist that you don’t know gives you a bottle of
liquid that tastes like poison, and you take it, and go back for more. Now, that’s faith;
that’s faith in the natural realm, but you can’t take that kind of faith and put it over in the
spiritual realm. In the spiritual realm, you’ve got to hear from God. It is not self-
generated. You don’t work it up. It comes down.
Now, let me give you a couple of verses. Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 8: “For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” What
is the gift of God? The grace and the faith. The gift of God. That’s the gift of God. God
gives you salvation, and then God gives you faith to believe for salvation. Let me give
you another verse—Philippians 1, verse 29: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” It is given to you to
believe on Him. You see, the instrument that God uses—the origin of faith—is the Word
of God.
Now, if you want faith, stop asking God to give you faith, and start studying the Word
of God. Saturate your soul with the Word of God. Learn how to meditate. Learn how to
listen to God till you get a word from God. Now, without a word from God, you don’t
have real faith. You remember what the Bible says over there in Hebrews chapter 11
and verse 1? It says this: that “faith—faith—is the substance of things hoped for.” Now,
listen. We use the word hope in a different sense than which the writers of the Bible
used the word hope. The Bible uses the word hope to mean bedrock, rock-ribbed
assurance based on the Word of God.

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 For example, the Bible calls the Second Coming of Jesus what? The blessed hope.
Not the blessed maybe; the blessed certainty. How do I know that Jesus is coming
again? Because God has said so. He cannot lie, and I know that Christ is coming again.
Therefore, that is a blessed hope. Now, the Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things
hoped for.” What does the word substance mean? Well, the English word substance,
sub-stands, something beneath that we stand on, something that’s solid. Substance
means that we’re not walking around on eggshells and Jell-O. Now, the Greek word has
very much the same meaning. Faith is the solid ground that we stand on because of
hope that is a rock-ribbed promise from the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God. Now, if you don’t hear God, you’re only guessing at the will
of God, and if you’re only guessing at the will of God, how do you expect to have faith?
The origin of faith is the Word of God, because faith is believing what God has said. Oh,
if we could only learn this!
Now, how does God communicate His Word? Well, look again in this verse. It says,
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” There are two Greek words
for the word word. One Greek word is the word logos, and the other Greek word is the
word rhema. Now logos means the revelation of God, like the Bible is the logos of God.
It’s the complete revelation; it is the factual truth of our faith. That’s the logos. But He
doesn’t use that word in verse 17; He uses the word rhema, which means a spoken
word, a communication, where somebody speaks to you and says, “This is right,” and
that’s what He uses in this verse. So He says that faith comes when God communicates
to you, when God speaks to you. So many people think that they use the Bible in the
wrong way. They kind of use the Bible as sort of a talisman. They say, “Oh, I believe the
Bible is the Word of God.” Well, folks, I believe it’s the Word of God, too, but if that’s all
you have, you’ve just got paper bound in leather. You know, you see one of these B-
grade movies, and the vampire’s coming in, and somebody gets a Bible, and says,
“Back, back,” you know, like there’s something about this leather and these words. Oh
no, no, no. Faith comes by hearing God. When you get a word from the Word, and you
read the Word of God, and the truth of that word comes off the page and into your heart,
and God speaks to you, and you have a word from God, then you can act on it, and live
by it. Now, listen to me. The object of faith is God Himself. Know Him. Now the origin of
faith is the Word of God. Hear Him.

III. The Objective of Faith

Now, here’s the third thing I want you to see: the objective of faith. What is the
objective of faith? Well, the objective of faith is to honor God. See, faith honors God,
and, therefore, God honors faith. Listen to me. Faith is not some way that man gets his
will done in heaven; it is God’s way of getting heaven’s will done on earth. As Jesus

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prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” You see, if you know the will of God, then
what would be the objective of faith? That would be that the will of God would be done.
You say, “Well, I knew there was a trick. I knew there was some fine print in the
contract. Now, you’re telling me that all I can have is the will of God.” Yes, that would be
like telling a minnow that all he could have is the Atlantic Ocean. The will of God does
not mean fewer blessings for you; it means more blessings for you. God wants for you
what you’d want for yourself if you had enough sense to want it. God is a good God.
God doesn’t need anything, but, you see, God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek
Him, and this verse, this scripture that we have, says, “The Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon Him,” that God still is in control, that the objective of faith is that God is
honored.
Recently, I was on a cruise ship, and I went out on the deck to see them dock that
ship, and it’s always a beautiful thing to me to watch them bring a big ship into the
wharf, because it’s a monstrous thing, and you could put a big gash in the side of the
boat or take down the wharf if you don’t know what you’re doing. But when the tugs and
the others get that boat just in the right position, they take some great ropes, the
hawsers, and they connect them to the dock, to the wharf, and then the wenches on
that ship begin to go round and round and round and they begin to bring that ship closer
and closer, as gentle as a baby’s breath, right up to that wharf. It’s a beautiful thing to
see. And as you’re on board the ship, as I was, and you’re watching those ropes go out,
and you see that happen, when you’re standing on the ship, do you know what it looks
like? It looks like they’re pulling the shore to the ship. It looks like they’re pulling that
wharf over to the ship, but they’re not. They’re pulling the ship to the wharf, and that’s
what prayer is. Prayer, sometimes it might seem like we’re pulling heaven down here,
but what it’s doing, it’s just bringing us up there. Do you understand? What prayer is
doing is just bringing us to heaven, bringing us to the will of God—not getting a man’s
will done in heaven, but getting heaven’s will done on earth. That is the objective of
faith. And remember this: that’s the reason that we must always pray in the will of God.
Put this verse in your margin—1 John 5, verse 14: “And this is the confidence that
we have in him, if we ask him anything according to his will, he heareth us.” Any prayer
to God in the name of Jesus, in the will of God, prayed in faith, will be answered. “This
is the confidence that we have in him, if we ask him anything according to his will, he
heareth us.” But what does that do? That keeps God in control. Faith is not something
you have to spend for whatever you want whenever you want it. When God wants
something done, He’ll put faith in your heart. Have you ever had God just put faith in
your heart for things? I have. I’ve had God just put faith in my heart. There have been
other times when I’ve wanted something. I would pray, and I would say, “Now, Lord, I
really believe this.” But I didn’t believe. You know, I thought if I said it enough, maybe I

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could fool God or fool me. I didn’t fool either one. But there have been other times when
I felt that God speaking to my heart, and God says, “I’ve heard you. I’ve heard you. This
is my will. You have what you asked.” Pray, believe, you’ll receive. Pray in doubt, you
do without.

IV. The Operation of Faith

Now, the object of faith is God Himself. The origin of faith is to hear God. The
objective of faith is to honor God. So you must know God; you must hear God; you must
be willing to honor God. Now, here’s the last thing—here’s the last thing. Now, listen to
it. The operation of faith is to obey God. Now, look, if you will, also here in this scripture
that we have here, Romans chapter 10. Go back to it, if you will, for a moment, and see
what He says about the operation of faith. Look, if you will, in verse 16: “But they have
not all obeyed the gospel, for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not
heard? Yes verily, their sound went out unto all the earth, and their words to the end of
the world.” It takes more than hearing God. Listen to it. Look in verse 20: “But Esaias is
very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; and I was made manifest
unto them that asked not after me.” He’s talking now about the Gentiles. “But to Israel,
he saith, All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying
people.” Now, what does this tell us? It tells us that the operation of faith is to obey God.
Let me give you a definition of faith. One definition I’ve already given you, and that’s
“believing what God has said.” But let me go beyond that. Faith is belief with legs on it.
Got that? Faith is belief with legs on it. Now, some person might say, “Well now, Pastor,
some people have faith, and some don’t, and if I don’t believe, it’s not my fault. I just
don’t have it!” Friend, if you don’t believe, it is your fault. The Bible says, in the book of
Hebrews, “Beware lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” Unbelief never
comes out of the head; it comes out of the heart. It is not an intellectual, mental thing; it
is a moral thing, a spiritual thing. You say, “Well, I know some intellectuals who don’t
believe.” I know some intellectuals who do. You say, “Well, I know some ignorant
people who believe.” I know some ignorant people who don’t. What we believe is not
contrary to reason; it just goes beyond it. But I’m saying this: that the operation of faith
is to obey God. What we believe, we live by. Our English word believe comes from an
old English word, by-live. James says very clearly and plainly, “Faith without works is
dead.” Can that kind of faith save anyone? Of course not! But the operation of faith is
obedience.
Now, He says here, “All day long have I stretched forth my hands.” Look, if you will,
in verse 21: “…to a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Now, look at the word
gainsaying. Do you know what the word gainsaying means? It means to debate. It

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means to speak against. Gainsaying. Now, when God speaks, for example, you’re here
today, and God is speaking to your heart, but do you know what you may be guilty of?
You may be guilty of gainsaying. You may be guilty of being disobedient, because of
gainsaying. You see, to gainsay means to debate. You take the Word of God, and you
parade it past the judgment bar of your mind, and you say, “Well, I think I agree with
that. No, I don’t agree with that.” Well, I wouldn’t expect you to act like you agree with
something you don’t agree with, but if you do not agree to the Word of God, it is not
because you cannot; it is because you will not. But you said, “Adrian, I thought you said
that faith is a gift of God.” It is a gift of God. Breathing is a gift of God, because God
gives you lungs, and God gives you air, but you can smother it, if you want. You can
smother it, if you want. And faith is a gift of God, but God will not force you to believe.
But when you do believe, you act upon what you believe, and, therefore, you obey God,
and the cycle is complete.

Conclusion
Now, let me sum it up—let me sum it up. Now, listen to me. The object of faith is
God Himself, not faith in faith, not positive thinking; and if the object of faith is God
Himself, then wouldn’t you be wise to get to know God? Wouldn’t you be wise to get to
know God? Because the Bible says, “They that know thy name will put their trust in
thee.” And name means character. So, the object of faith is God Himself. Now, the
origin of faith is the Word of God. Now, how are you going to trust a God and obey a
God that you do not hear from? So, you’ve got to hear from God, and the Bible says,
“How shall they hear without a preacher?” That’s why you’re here, and that’s why I’m
here today. You’ve got to hear from God; not from the preacher, but from God. Anything
I can talk you into somebody else can talk you out of. But if the Holy Spirit of God
speaks to your heart and says what He is saying is true, then you’re hearing from God.
So, the origin of faith is the Word of God. So you must not only know God; you must
trust God. And then, the operation of faith is that God’s will is done. Why else would you
know the will of God, if God’s will is not to be done? So, the objective of faith is that God
is glorified, God is honored. “For without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.” Faith honors God, and God honors faith. So, you must know God, you must
hear God, you must honor God, and then you obey God.
Now, if you don’t obey God, you’re at the very threshold of faith, but all you have is
what James calls is a dead belief. You become disobedient. You become gainsaying.
But I can tell you, and I’ll give you this testimony. As a teenage boy in West Palm
Beach, Florida, on a summer night after I’d walked my girlfriend home, the girl I’m
married to today, after I was already a church member, after I’d already been baptized,

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but I had no assurance, I stopped on the corner of 39th Street and Calvin Avenue in
West Palm Beach, Florida, and I prayed a prayer like this. I said, “God, I am confused. I
don’t know whether I’m a Christian or not. I don’t know whether I am saved and the devil
is trying to make me doubt it, or whether I am lost and the Holy Spirit has me under
conviction. But I have read in Your Word that You said, “For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And You said in Your Word, “Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” And I looked up into that starry sky that night; I
didn’t bow my head, but I looked straight up into heaven. It wasn’t disrespect; I was
humble, but I looked straight up, and I said, “God, I know now that You died for my sins.
I know that You want to save me, because the Bible says so. And, right now, once and
for all, now and forever, with all of my heart, like a child, I trust You to save me. I don’t
ask for a feeling; I don’t look for a sign. I stand on Your Word. If I was saved already,
this won’t take it away, but if I was not, right now, this moment, I trust You to save me,
and, from this moment on, I am walking in that faith.” And, folks, a wonderful river of
peace started to flow in my heart. I was a teenage boy, and that river is still flowing, for
the Bible says clearly and plainly, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.” Isn’t that wonderful? It’s wonderful. It’s wonderful.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. No one
stirring please; no one moving. If you would like to be saved, you can do the same thing
I did. You don’t have to look straight up into the heavens. You can bow your head. You
can pray silently in your heart, but you can say, “Lord, today—today—I want to put my
faith in You. I have heard Your Word. I want to honor You. And now, Lord, I trust You
and I will obey You. I will follow You by grace, wherever You lead me, because You
have saved me.”
Father, I pray that You’ll bless these today who will say yes to Christ, and I pray that
many will do it. In Jesus’ holy name.

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 Biblical Faith: What It Is
and How to Have It
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: November 14, 1993

Main Scripture Text: Romans 10:11–17

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
ROMANS 10:17

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Reality of Biblical Faith
II. The Root of Biblical Faith
III. The Release of Biblical Faith
Conclusion

Introduction
Be finding please Romans chapter ten. Biblical Faith: What It Is, and How to Have It.
When you've found it—Romans chapter ten—look up here, if you will, please, and let
me tell you this: If there were ever a time for us to have an earth-shaking, mountain-
moving, devil-defying faith in Almighty God, this is the time, this is the day, and this is
the hour.
I don't know what you will accomplish in your Christian life, but I can tell you the
measurement that will measure what you will accomplish. The Bible says this, clearly
and plainly: according to your faith, be it unto you. Not according to your fame. Not
according to your feelings. Not according to your fortune. Not according to your friends.
Not according to your fate. But according to your faith, be it unto you. Faith is the
medium of exchange in the kingdom of heaven.
When you go to the grocery store to get groceries, you get groceries with dollars.
But we receive from God by faith. Faith is the medium of exchange. Faith is the greatest
asset that we have. Unbelief is the greatest stumbling block. Unbelief is the chief
wickedness. Unbelief is the mother sin, the father sin, the parent sin—the sin of all sins
is unbelief. It was unbelief that caused Eve to sin against God in the Garden of Eden.
She failed to believe the Word of God. It was unbelief that unlocked the doors to the
Promised Land, and the Israelites did not go in, the Bible says, because of their

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unbelief. It was unbelief that tied the hands of Jesus, when Jesus was there in His own
hometown, and the Bible says He could do no mighty works there because of their
unbelief. And the sovereign God has limited Himself to work according to the faith, the
belief, of the people of God.
Did you know the sin that sends people to hell today? It is not lying; it is not murder;
it is not rape; it is not arson; it is not sexual perversion; it is not pride; it is not
arrogance—it is unbelief. You see Jesus died for all those other sins. Those sins have
been paid for. So the Bible says, He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he
that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed. It is unbelief that
shuts the door to heaven.
Now, folks, if you can believe, all things are possible to Him that believes. And, in the
spiritual realm, if you do not believe, nothing is possible. The Bible says, in this book of
Romans, that the just shall live by faith. Just as you live physically by breathing and
from nourishment that you take from food, you live spiritually by faith. Romans one,
verse seventeen: the just shall live by faith.
Now, look here in Romans chapter ten and verse eleven: For the scripture saith,
whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. That literally means, He'll not be put
to shame, for there's no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For the same Lord
overall is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they've not believed?
And, how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear
without a preacher? And, how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written,
how beautiful of the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report? So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Several things I want to put into your heart today. And, how I pray God the Holy
Spirit will rivet these things into your soul. How I pray God, He will indelibly write these
things upon your heart. Now, please listen today—listen—because you need—
desperately need—to believe God. Oh, the blessings of God that will come to you, if you
will learn to believe God. Pray, believe, and you'll receive. Pray, and doubt—you’ll do
without. It is absolutely necessary that you learn how to believe God. So, as we look at
this passage of Scripture, you keep Romans chapter ten open there before you, and
look at the lessons that are there that tell you how to have a Biblical faith.

I. The Reality of Biblical Faith

The very first thing I want you to notice is what I'm going to call the reality of Biblical
faith. Look in verse eleven. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth—now, watch
this—on Him—underscore that—shall not be ashamed—whosoever believeth on Him.

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Now, faith must have the right object to be real faith. I'm talking about the reality of faith.
Now, you know there are sometimes people who just say to you, oh, just have faith. Oh,
only believe. When a person says to me, just have faith, the first question in my mind is,
faith in what? They say, only believe. I say, only believe what? There is no power in
faith alone. Don't think there's something mystical or something magical about just
believing. Put this down big, plain, and straight: your faith is no better than its object.
Misplaced faith is a dangerous thing. It is not faith that moves mountains. It is God that
moves mountains. Did that get it? It is not faith that moves mountains. The Bible says,
in Mark chapter eleven and verse twenty-two, He said unto them, have faith in God—
whosoever believes in Him. You see, there are so many people who think of faith as
positive thinking. That's what people think faith is. Faith is not positive thinking. It will
help you to think positively, and there's nothing wrong with positive thinking. But the
majority of people think there's something mystical and magical of only believing. But
the reality of Biblical faith is in verse eleven: that we are to believe on Him. Your faith is
no better than its object.
Now, if you make faith just simply positive thinking, you know what's going to happen
to you? You're going to get discouraged, because there's going to come times when
you're trying to think positively, and you're not going to be able to think positively. A little
boy came to his dad, and he said, Dad, I think I flunked my math test today. His dad
said, now, you've got to be positive, son. He said, I'm positive I flunked it. I mean, if you
look into yourself, and you're trying to think positively, actually, you're going to find that,
rather than encouraging you, it's going to discourage you, because after a while, its
going to dawn on you that you don't have what it takes in the place of discouragement.
I'm going to tell you something else: If you put faith in faith, you're a sitting duck for
the devil. Now, the devil will come to you, and the devil will say, well, you're not good
enough to be saved. You say, well, I know it, but I don't have any faith in myself. Well,
the devil says, there are hypocrites in the church. And, you say, well, I'm not putting
faith in hypocrites; I'm trusting the Lord. The devil will say to you, but, you don't feel just
right. And, you say, well, I'm not trusting my feeling; I'm trusting the Lord. You think he'd
go away, wouldn't he? But you know what he'll do—and this is the slyest thing of all?
He'll say, well, you say you're trusting the Lord, but how do you know your faith is good
enough? How do you know your faith is strong enough? How do you know that your
faith is the real thing? And, folks, if you're not careful, that's his dirtiest and most sly
trick, and many people will go under when he says this. And, if the devil ever pulls that
stump on you, you just tell him, look, devil, I am not putting my faith in faith; my faith is
in Jesus. Now, there's a difference in that. You see, the least amount of faith in the right
object is better than strong faith in the wrong object. We are to believe in Him.
Do you remember what the Bible says there in Hebrews chapter twelve, verse one?

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We're to be looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith—looking unto Jesus.
Don't look at your look. Don't put faith in your faith. Put faith in God. You see, the reality
of faith is not positive thinking. It's not faith in faith. It is faith in God. Weak faith in the
right object is better than misplaced faith in the wrong object. You say, will God honor
weak faith? He certainly does. If He didn't, most of us wouldn't have anything from Him.
Do you remember that story in Mark chapter nine, where there was a man who had
a little demon-possessed boy, and he came to Jesus, and he said, Lord, if you will, you
can heal my boy? And, in verse twenty-three, Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe,
all things are possible to him that believeth. And you know what his father said? And
straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe. Help
thou mine unbelief. And, you know, Jesus gave him just what he needed. He had a
weak faith. But, you see, it was weak faith in God. I'm not saying we ought to have weak
faith; far better to have strong faith. But Jesus said, if you have faith like a grain of
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, be thou removed, and be cast into the
midst of the sea. What's He saying? The least amount of faith is greater that the
greatest amount of difficulty, if it is faith in God. Put your faith in God. And, by the way, if
you want your faith to be strong, don't put faith in faith. Put your faith in God. You see,
that's the way to have strong faith: to find out who God is.
I've used this illustration many times: if you wanted to cross a bridge and you didn't
know whether it could hold you up—let's say the bridge going across our Mississippi
River here—you were afraid, and you tremble, and you try to make yourself believe, and
screw up your courage, and get faith, so you can cross the bridge. That would be
ridiculous. Look at the bridge. It's made of concrete and steel, and semi-trucks are going
over it ever day. And, when you see the bridge, and can understand what the bridge
can do, then it's easy for you to cross the bridge, when you see who God is. Rather than
putting faith in positive feelings, rather than putting your faith in faith, put your faith in
God, and your faith will grow.
Let me use another illustration. I heard this so many years ago, but I can't get it out
of my mind. Up in the northern parts, near the source of the Mississippi, it was a bitter
cold winter, and the Mississippi River had frozen over, and there was a man who, rather
than going to the bridge, decided he would walk across the frozen ice. He didn't see
anyone else out there. It looked so crusty and so thick. He said, well, I believe I can
walk across. I won't have to take the journey down to the bridge. And this man began to
walk across that river on ice. When he got out there a pretty good distance from the
shore, and he looked at the other shore, he said, maybe I ought not to be out here. I
mean, maybe this ice won't hold me up. If I fall through, they'll never know what
happened to me. I'm a fool. What am I doing out here? And he turned around to go back
to the other side, and it was as far to the other side as it was where he's in the middle.

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He said to himself, I’d better walk softly. Then, he said to himself, I’d better get down on
all fours, so I won't put my weight in any one place. Then, he said to himself, that's not
enough. I’d better lie down and squirm across. I'm going through. What a fool I am! My
wife will never know what happened to me. He began to whimper and cry, and then he
heard it, a roaring cracking sound. Oh, he said, the river, the ice is breaking. He said,
I'm a goner. He put his face down. He began to pray, God, save me; help me, Lord. The
noise got closer and closer, that rumbling roaring, but the ice didn't seem to be
breaking. He looked up, and there was a man with a team of horses with a wagon
loaded with logs driving across that river—that was the noise that he heard. Well, when
he saw that, he jumped up and brushed the ice off of him, and took his stroll across the
rest of the river.
Now, what was the difference in these two men? The second man knew the ice. The
second man knew the ice. Friend, where does faith come from? It comes from a
knowledge of God. He that believeth on Him—on Him—shall not be ashamed. Do you
want to have strong faith? Don't try to make yourself believe. Get to know God. Put
these verses down—Psalm nine and verse ten: and they that know Thy name will put
their trust in thee. Put this verse down—Daniel eleven and verse thirty-two: They that do
know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Now, that's the reality of Biblical faith.
Your faith is no better than its object. You must know God.

II. The Root of Biblical Faith

Now, here's the second thing I want you to see. Not only the reality of Biblical faith, but I
want you to see the root of Biblical faith. All true Biblical faith is rooted not only in
knowing God, but in hearing from the God that you know. Look in verse fourteen: How
should 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? And
then, look down, if you will, please, in verse seventeen: So then, faith cometh by
hearing, by the Word of God. Are you listening to me? Please, listen. In order to have
faith, you must hear from God. Did that sink in? Did that sink in? In order to have faith,
you must hear from God. You cannot know the will of God by guessing at it. This verse
says—verse seventeen—that faith comes—you don't generate it; it comes. God gives
faith. Ephesians chapter two and verses eight and nine says this: for by grace are you
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It what? Faith is the gift of God. Grace is
the gift of God, and so is the faith to receive the grace. Philippians chapter one and
verse twenty-nine: for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for his faith. Now, that verse tells us two things—I'm going to
choose one of them. It is given to us to believe. God gives faith.
No one can believe God, unless God enables him to believe. Did you hear that? No

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one can believe God, unless God enables him to believe. And, how does God enable
you to believe? God gives you His Word. God gives you a word. Faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, you
don't name it and claim it. God speaks, and you believe it, and receive it. Do you hear
that? You don't name it and claim it. God speaks; you believe it, and receive it.
Now, Hebrews 11:1—put it in your margin right by verse seventeen. Faith is the
subject of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now, the word hope, what
does that mean? Well, today, it means, maybe. It means strong desire. Liked I hoped
FSU would win yesterday, but perish the hope—perish the hope. That's the way we use
hope today, but, friend, the word hope in the Bible does not mean what our modern
word means. Hope in the Bible—please listen—it means bedrock assurance based on
the promise of God. That's what hope is. It means assurance mingled with anticipation.
That's the reason the Bible calls the Second Coming of Jesus the blessed hope. That
doesn't mean it's the blessed maybe; it's the blessed hope. How do we know? He's said
so. He's not here yet, but we know He's coming. That is the blessed hope, not the
blessed maybe. We know He is coming. How? Because He has said so. Now, listen to
this. Faith is the subject of things hoped for. Look at the word substance. You know
what the word substance means? Well, it could mean guarantee, but, actually, the
Greek word is very much like our English word, sub stand—something beneath you can
stand on. When you're living by faith, you're not walking around on eggshells and jell-o.
Friend, faith is not jell-o. Why? Because it is the substance of things hoped for—things
that God has said. Do you see that? That's where faith comes from. The root of faith is
the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Now, how does God communicate His Word? We said, you cannot have faith,
unless God speaks. Well, how does God speak? Well, there are two words for the word
word in the Greek language. One is logos, and the logos—Jesus, you know, is called
the logos, the Word of God—the logos, we could say, is the Bible, the written Word, that
tells of Living Word. Jesus is the logos; the Bible is the Logos.
The logos, we could say, is the Bible, the written Word that tells of the Living Word.
Jesus is the logos; the Bible is the Logos. That just simply means the Word—the Word.
The Revelation of God, given in Christ, revealed in the Bible, that's the logos. But
there's another word that is translated word, and it is rhema—rhema. And that's the
word that is used here in verse seventeen. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
rhema of God—the rhema of God. Not the logos, but the rhema. Now, what does that
mean? What does the word rhema mean? It means an utterance. It means a spoken
word. It is, I guess we could call it, a word from the Word. You take the Bible, that's the
logos, and you’re reading, the Bible begins to speak to you out of the Word of God. You
get a rhema from the logos. You get an utterance from God, and God speaks to you,

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and you hear in your heart, you hear from God. That's the reason, folks, that, before I
preached today, I got on my knees back yonder, and said, O God, help me to preach.
Because, friend, in order for you to have faith, you don't have to hear from Adrian;
you've got to hear from God. You've got to hear from God. You see, all I can do is be
the Western Union boy, but it is God that gives the message. It's not enough to hear a
sermon. Look, if you will, in verse fourteen: “How shall they then how shall they call on
him in whom they have not believed. And how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard?” Now, look, if you will, in that phrase, “of whom.” Now, the New
American Standard gives it this way: “How shall they believe in Him whom they have
not heard.” Not of whom, but whom. You must hear God. You must get a rhema from
God. How does God speak? How does God speak to you and give you something?
You're reading the Bible, or you're praying, and God puts that portion in your heart. God
says, this is from me. You say, well, He never speaks to me that way. Are you listening?
Do you have a quiet time? Are you saturated with the Word of God? Are you ready to
do His will? Do you want to hear Him? Are you reporting for duty? The root of faith is the
rhema of God. The reality of God is faith in God, not faith in faith. The root of faith. You
must hear from God.

III. The Release of Biblical Faith

Now, here's the third thing I want you to see quickly, and that is the release of Biblical
faith. What does faith do? Well, I want to talk not only about the root of this faith, but the
result of his faith, and then it will bring me the next point. What is the result of this faith?
What does faith do? What does it do? Even before we talk about releasing it, let's talk
about the result. What does biblical faith do? What is the purpose of faith? Listen
carefully. Faith is not getting man's will done in heaven. It is getting God's will done on
earth. Now, the result of faith is the will of God. Now, notice I said you cannot have faith
unless you hear from God. Well, do you know what you're going to hear from God?
You're going to hear the will of God. When God speaks, God is going to say, this is what
I want done, and therefore, I want you to believe it. Now, you cannot have faith for
anything that's not the will of God. If it's not the will of God, there's no possible way that
you can have faith for it. Why? Because faith is the gift of God. Faith comes from
hearing the Word of God, and God's not going to give you a word on something that's
not His will. And that's wonderful, because that keeps God in control. Don't think that
you can just believe, that you can believe for whatever you want and have it.
For example, if I had enough faith, could I turn this building into solid gold? Not
unless God wanted it turned into solid gold. And, that keeps God in control. Do you
remember hearing about King Midas, who wanted the Midas touch? He wanted the
touch; that whatever he touched would turn to gold. He just loved gold. And so, he got

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his wish. He said, now, I'm going to be very wealthy; whatever I want will turn to gold.
But when he went to eat his food, it turned to gold. He couldn't eat it. When he kissed
his beautiful daughter, and she was no longer a daughter that he could love, and what
he thought would be a blessing became a curse. And, if you had unlimited faith, it would
become the same curse to you. If you could just say, well, I can believe and have
whatever I want, well, you'd make a mess of things; it would put you in the driver's seat
rather than God. You see, the result of faith is that the will of God is done. You say, oh,
that means fewer blessings for me. No, it means more blessings for you, because,
friend, the will of God is not something that you must do; it is something that you get to
do.
First John chapter five and verse fourteen: and this is the confidence that we have in
Him: if we ask Him anything according to His will, He hears us. What is the reality of
faith? It is faith in God. What is the root of faith? You hear from God. What is the result
of faith? The result of faith is that God's will is done.
Now, how do you release faith? What do you do? How does it get down into private
personal experience? How, today, are you going to release your faith? Now, true faith—
listen to me—does more than merely believe. It obeys. If what you say you believe does
not translate into action, you do not really believe.
But notice in verse sixteen: but they have not all obeyed the gospel. Wait a minute. I
thought we are to believe the gospel. That's right—when you believe it, you are to obey.
Let me tell you what faith is. Faith is belief with legs on it. Well, you say, Pastor Rogers,
if I can't believe, then it's not my fault; it's God's fault, because God didn't give me faith.
You said, no one can believe, unless God speaks to Him; and maybe God didn't speak
to me, and it's not my fault. I've got a word for you. Look, if you will, in verse sixteen: but
they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our
report? See, not everybody here is a believer. So then, faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God, but I say, have they not heard? Yes, but they didn't obey.
God spoke, but why didn't they obey? Why didn't they believe? Look in verse twenty-
one: but to Israel he saith, all day long have I stretched forth my hands to a disobedient
and gainsaying people. God is speaking. God brought you hear today, and God said, I
love you. But not everybody will obey the gospel. Not everybody will release their faith.
God stretches out His hand, but there are people who are disobedient and gainsaying.
Do you know what the word gainsaying means? It's not a very pretty word, is it? The
word gainsaying means obstinate. You debate. You hear the Word of God, and God
speaks; the Holy Spirit says, yes, that is true, but you parade it past the judgment bar of
your mind, say, I don't think I'll believe that. I don't think I'll obey that. God says, I love
you. And, God stretches out His hands—all day long have I stretched out my hands to a
gainsaying and disobedient people. They've not all obeyed the gospel.

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 Oh, friend, listen. You must release your faith by obedience. Years and years ago,
men dreamed of a railroad that would span the continent, coming from the west coast
toward the east coast, and coming from the east coast to the west coast, obviously they
called it the Transcontinental Railroad. They began on the west coast to build those
rails; they began on the east coast. And they came to a place out west where the rails
met. They got the governors of two states there, and they were going to connect those
railroads, and when they came to the place where they were going to connect those
rails, they brought a steam engine this way, and a steam engine that way. And they
were there to blow the whistles, and there was a great fanfare, and other things, I
imagine. But one of the things that they did, they took a golden spike, and a silver
hammer, and when the railroad was almost complete, except the one spike, they took
that golden spike, and drove it with the silver hammer, and when they did, the people
gave a shout, because the East and the West were united.

Conclusion
Friend, when Jesus hung on Calvary's cross, He did more than unite East and West; He
united God and man. With one hand, He took sinful man, and with the other hand, He
took Holy God, and, as they drove those spikes into His hands, the only silver that was
there was the silver of His tears, the only gold, the gold of His blood. And, on the cross,
with His blood, Jesus reconciled God and man. Now, listen to me. If you go to heaven—
and I hope you will—you're not going to get there on the wagon of works. You're not
going to climb up there on the ladder of logic, and your not going to ride there on the
rocket of reason. You're going to get there on the railroad of redemption, the old T and
O—Trust and Obey. Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but
to trust and obey. The release of your faith is you say, God, I believe it. And therefore, I
obey it. I give you my heart, and I promise you this, on the authority of the Word of God:
if you'll trust Him, He'll save you. For the Scripture that I'm reading from says, for
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you would pray a prayer like this: God, I'm a sinner; I'm lost; I need to be saved. I
can't save myself. Jesus, you died to save me. You promised to save me, if I would trust
you. I do trust you right now—right now, like a child. Come into my heart, forgive my sin,
and save me. Father, I pray today, please, O God, that many in this building will say yes
to Jesus, and be saved. In His wonderful name I pray. Amen.

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    Faith:  What  It  Is  
and  How  to  Have  It    
By  Adrian  Rogers  
Date  Preached:      May  17,  1998    

Main  Scripture  Text:    Romans  10:17–21  

“So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.”  
ROMANS  10:17  

Outline  
Introduction  
I. The  Object  of  Faith
II. The  Origin  of  Faith
III. The  Objective  of  Faith
IV. The  Operation  of  Faith
Conclusion

Introduction  
Would  you  take  God’s  Word,  find  Romans  10.  In  a  moment,  we’re  going  to  begin  our  
study  in  verse  17.  Now,  the  book  of  Romans  is  the  foundation  for  our  faith.  It  is  the  
constitution  of  Christianity.  It  is  the  solid  rock  upon  which  we  stand.  And  the  book  of  
Romans  tells  us,  I  suppose,  more  than  any  other  book  in  the  Bible,  about  the  grace  of  
God.  
I  love  the  word  grace.  It  is  a  beautiful  word.  I  think  the  only  word  more  beautiful  to  
me  is  the  name  Jesus.  But  grace,  think  what  a  beautiful  word  that  is.  And  what  is  grace?  
Well,  let’s  make  an  acrostic  out  of  grace—G-­R-­A-­C-­E—God’s  riches  at  Christ’s  
expense—G-­R-­A-­C-­E—have  you  got  that?  God’s  riches  at  Christ’s  expense.  That  
means  Jesus  Christ  on  the  cross,  dying  in  agony  and  blood  for  our  sins,  provides  for  us  
all  of  the  riches  of  God.  We  studied  about  that  last  week.  “For  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  
rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  Him.”  (Romans  10:12)  God’s  riches  at  Christ’s  expense—
that’s  grace.  
But  listen,  folks.  Faith—faith—lays  hold  of  what  grace  provides.  Now,  without  faith  
there’s  no  way  that  you  can  acquire  the  grace  of  God.  The  grace  of  God  can  come  into  
your  life  only  through  faith.  Ephesians  2,  verses  8  and  9:  “For  by  grace  are  ye  saved  
through  faith…”  Now,  what  is  faith—F-­A-­I-­T-­H?  Forsaking  all,  I  trust  Him.  That’s  faith.  
Forsaking  all—forsaking  my  good  works,  my  good  intentions,  forsaking  my  sin,  

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forsaking  all  that  I  am  by  nature  and  by  the  first  birth—I  turn  my  back  on  that,  and  I  take  
Jesus.  Grace—God’s  riches  at  Christ’s  expense.  Faith—forsaking  all,  I  trust  Him.  So,  
when  I  put  my  hand  of  faith  in  God’s  hand  of  grace,  that’s  salvation.  “For  by  grace  are  
ye  saved  through  faith.”  (Ephesians  2:8)  It  is  faith  that  receives  what  grace  provides.  
And  so,  when  Paul  tells  us  about  grace,  then  he  goes  on  to  talk  to  us  about  faith  and  tell  
us  what  faith  is  and  how  we  can  understand  faith.  You  see,  faith  makes  God’s  grace  
available  and  real  to  us.  Grace  is  God’s  ability.  Faith  is  man’s  responsibility.  Now,  listen.  
Grace  is  God’s  ability.  Faith  is  man’s  responsibility.  Jesus  died,  but  we  must  believe  and  
receive,  or  the  death  of  Jesus  does  us  no  good  whatsoever.  So,  it  is  our  responsibility  to  
respond  to  God’s  grace.  All  that  we  receive  we  receive  by  faith.  
Do  you  want  to  be  saved?  Well,  Romans  5,  verse  1,  says,  “Therefore  being  justified  
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  You  want  to  be  
sanctified?  “Sanctifying  our  hearts  through  faith,”  the  Bible  says.  Do  you  want  your  
prayers  answered?  “Therefore…[whatsoever  things]  ye  desire,  when  [you]  pray,  believe  
that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them.”  (Mark  11:24)  Do  you  want  to  overcome  
the  world?  “This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith.”  (1  John  5:4)  
It  is  faith  that  is  the  medium  of  exchange  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  That’s  the  
reason  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  said,  “Be  it  unto  you  according  to  your  faith”  (Matthew  
9:29)—according  to  your  faith.  That  is  the  measure.  Your  faith  is  the  measure  of  your  
victory,  your  success;;  all  of  the  things  that  grace  provides,  they  come  to  us  by  faith.  So  
it  is  so  very,  very,  very—I’ll  say  it  one  more  time—very  important  that  you  learn  what  
faith  is.  
And  so,  Paul,  now,  who  has  been  talking  about  the  grace  of  God,  now  talks  about  
faith  in  that  grace,  beginning  in  verse  17.  So  look  at  it:  “So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  
and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.  But  I  say,  have  they  not  heard?  [Yea]  verily,  their  
sound  went  into  all  the  earth”—now,  he’s  quoting  the  Scripture  here,  the  Psalms,  that  
say  that  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  is  seen  in  nature  throughout  all  of  the  earth—”and  
their  words  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  But  I  say,  Did  not  Israel  know?  First  Moses  saith,  I  
will  provoke  you  to  jealousy  by  them  that  are  no  people,  and  by  a  foolish  nation  I  will  
anger  you.  But  [Isaiah]…[says],  I  was  found  by  them  that  sought  me  not  [and]  I  was  
made  manifest  unto  them  that  asked  not  after  me.  But  to  Israel  he  saith,  All  day  long  I  
have  stretched  forth  my  hands  to  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.”  (Romans  
10:17–21)  Now,  we’re  going  to  think  about  faith  today.  Now,  don’t  think  that  this  is  just  a  
nicety;;  this  is  a  necessity.  And  I  want  to  say  that  lack  of  faith  is  not  weakness;;  it  is  
wickedness.  And  no  one  who  does  not  believe  has  the  excuse  to  say  they  cannot  
believe,  because  “[the  Lord]  [has]  dealt  to  every  man  [a]  measure  of  faith.”  (Romans  
12:3)  
Unbelief  is  a  terrible,  horrible  sin.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  1  John  chapter  5,  verse  10,  

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says,  “He  that  believeth  not  God  hath  made  him  a  liar.”  Unbelief  is  a  slander  against  the  
character  of  God.  It  was  unbelief  that  led  Eve  to  that  sin  in  the  Garden  of  Eden.  It  was  
unbelief  that  locked  the  doors  of  the  Promised  Land  to  the  children  of  Israel.  It  caused  
them  to  wander  in  the  wilderness.  It’s  unbelief  that  sends  men  to  hell.  Listen  to  this  
scripture—John  chapter  3,  verse  18.  Here  are  the  words  of  Jesus—listen  carefully:  “He  
that  believeth  on  him  is  not  condemned:  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  
because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.”  There  are  
some  people  that  will  tell  you  that  Jesus  only  died  for  the  elect,  but  that’s  not  what  the  
Gospel  of  John  says.  It  says  the  only  reason  men  are  not  saved  is  not  because  Jesus  
didn’t  die  for  them,  but  because  they  didn’t  believe  in  him.  “He  that  believeth  on  him  is  
not  condemned:  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  because  he  hath  not  
believed…”  (John  3:18)  Jesus  died;;  salvation  is  there.  But  they  refuse  to  believe,  and  
therefore—therefore—they’re  not  saved.  
It’s  the  same  thing  when  Jesus  was  in  His  hometown  of  Nazareth.  And  the  Bible  
says  that,  “[Jesus  could  do  no]  mighty  works  there  because  of  their  unbelief.”  (Matthew  
13:58)  He,  the  Almighty,  the  sovereign,  limited  himself—limited  himself—by  their  
unbelief.  He  allowed  their  unbelief  to  keep  Him  from  doing  mighty  works  there.  “[He  can  
do  no]  mighty  works  there  because  of  their  unbelief.”  (Matthew  13:58)  Do  you  mean  to  
say  that  He  was  not  sovereign,  He’s  not  all  powerful,  He’s  not  all  glorious?  Of  course  He  
is;;  He’s  all  of  those  things.  But  He  has  said,  “Be  it  unto  you  according  to  your  faith.”  
(Matthew  9:29)  He  limited  himself;;  He  allowed  himself  to  be  limited  by  their  unbelief.  “He  
that  believeth  on  him  is  not  condemned:  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  
because  he  hath  not  believed…”  (John  3:18)  
Unbelief  is  not  mere  weakness;;  unbelief  is  wickedness.  Unbelief  never  comes  out  of  
the  head.  People  don’t  have  intellectual  problems.  It  may  show  up  as  an  intellectual  
problem,  but  unbelief  comes  out  of  the  heart.  The  Bible  says,  “[Beware]…lest  there  be  
in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief.”  (Hebrews  3:12)  And  over  there  in  Romans  
chapter  1  and  verse  17,  the  Bible  says,  “The  just  shall  live  by  faith.”  The  way  that  we  
live  the  Christian  life  is  not  by  striving,  it’s  not  by  trying;;  it’s  by  trusting.  “The  just  shall  
live  by  faith.”  (Romans  1:17)  Now,  I’m  saying  all  of  that,  all  of  that  is  just  the  front  porch  
to  get  us  into  the  house.  All  what  I’m  saying  is  the  importance  of  faith  that  lays  hold  and  
receives  what  grace  provides.  I  want  us  to  see  what  true  biblical  faith  is.  

I. The  Object  of  Faith

And  the  very  first  thing  I  want  you  to  see  is  what  I  want  to  call  the  object  of  faith.  What  
do  you  place  your  faith  in?  That’s  so  very  important,  because  so  many  people  call  
things  faith  that  are  not  faith  at  all.  Well,  some  people  say,  “Just  believe,  you  know—it’s  
positive  thinking.”  Well,  I  like  positive  thinking.  I’m  very  much  in  favor  of  positive  

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thinking,  but  positive  thinking  is  not  faith.  Some  people  think  hoping  for  the  best  is  faith,  
or  giving  it  your  best,  or  whatever.  They  have  all  kinds  of  ideas  about  what  faith  is.  But  
faith  is  no  better  than  its  object.  
•Yesterday,  I  was  in  the  Atlanta  airport  coming  to  Memphis.  They  called  the  flight.  I
got  up,  gave  my  ticket,  along  with  Joyce,  to  the  lady.  We  went  through  the  thing,  went  to  
seat  15  D  and  E,  and  sat  down.  After  a  while,  somebody  else  came  and  said,  “You’re  in  
our  seat.”  I  said,  “No,  here  we  are;;  there  we  are—that’s  us.”  Then,  after  a  while,  I  heard  
somebody  say  on  the  intercom,  “Would  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Rogers  please  identify  themselves?”  
I  said,  “How’d  they  know  I’m  on  this  plane?”  So  I  pushed  the  little  thing,  and  after  a  while  
the  lady  came  to  me—this  was  just  yesterday—she  said,  “Mr.  &  Mrs.  Rogers,  you’re  
supposed  to  be  going  to  Atlanta,  but  this  airplane  is  going  to  Shreveport.”  Now,  friend,  I  
didn’t  want  to  go  to  Shreveport.  Now,  I  had  a  lot  of  faith  in  Delta,  had  a  lot  of  faith  in  that  
airplane,  I  had  a  lot  of  faith  in  the  ticket  system,  and  the  person  who  took  my  tickets,  
and  so  forth,  but  folks,  all  that  faith  didn’t  do  me  one  whit  of  good  if  I’m  on  the  wrong  
airplane,  isn’t  that  right?•  
Now,  misplaced  faith  is  a  terrible  thing.  You  put  faith  in  the  wrong  place.  You’ve  got  
to  put  your  faith  in  your  right  place,  and,  you  see,  the  Bible  never  tells  us  to  put  faith  in  
faith.  That’s  just  positive  thinking.  What  is  the  object  of  our  faith?  The  object  of  our  faith  
is  Almighty  God.  Now,  you’re  in  chapter  10—go  back  to  verse  11,  if  you  will:  “For  the  
scripture  saith,  Whosoever  believeth”—now,  watch  this—“on  him…”—underscore  that:  
on  Him—“on  him  shall  not  be  ashamed.”  (Romans  10:11)  The  object  of  your  faith  is  
Almighty  God.  There’s  nothing  mystical  or  magical  about  believing.  Faith  is  no  better  
than  its  object.  Now,  listen  to  me  very  carefully.  Some  people  say,  “Faith  moves  
mountains.”  That  is  not  true.  It  is  God  that  moves  mountains.  Pay  attention.  It  is  not  faith  
that  moves  mountains;;  it  is  God  that  moves  mountains.  The  Bible,  in  Mark  11,  verse  22,  
Jesus  in  that  context,  “Jesus  [answered  them,  and  said],  Have  faith  in  God”—in  God.  
Your  faith  is  no  better  than  its  object.  So  many  people  just  misplace  this.  Faith  in  faith  is  
nothing  but  positive  thinking.  
•A  little  boy  came  home  from  school,  and  his  dad  said,  “How’d  you  do  on  the  test
today?”  He  said,  “Well,  I  think  I  flunked  my  math  test.”  The  father  said,  “You  need  to  be  
more  positive  than  that.”  He  said,  “Okay,  I’m  positive  I  flunked  my  math  test.”•  
Positive  thinking  is  not  faith.  Faith  in  faith  is  not  faith.  You’ve  got  to  have  faith  in  God.  
If  you  put  faith  in  faith,  faith  in  positive  thinking,  you’re  going  to  get  discouraged.  There  
are  people  that  will  tell  you  that,  if  you  believe  it,  you  can  achieve  it,  and  all  of  this.  And  
they  tell  salesmen  this,  and  they  tell  athletes  this,  and  they  tell  all  these  people  this,  but  
that’s  just  simply  not  true.  That  is  not  true.  Just  because  you  believe  it,  you  can’t  
achieve  it.  And,  just  because  you  think  you  can  do  it,  you  cannot  do  it.  And,  after  a  

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while,  you’re  going  to  find  yourself  so  discouraged,  and  Satan  is  going  to  say  to  you,  
“You  really  don’t  have  what  it  takes.”  
Now,  listen  to  me.  Your  faith  is  no  better  than  the  object  of  that  faith.  Weak  faith—
weak  faith—in  the  right  object  is  better  than  misplaced  faith  in  any  object.  Weak  faith  in  
God  is  better  than  strong  faith  in  anything  else.  Don’t  get  the  idea  that  because  your  
faith  is  weak,  it  won’t  work.  You  may  be  afraid  to  fly  on  an  airplane  at  all,  but  if  you  get  
on  it,  you’ve  exercised  faith  in  that  airplane,  and  you’re  just  as  safe  as  the  pilot  and  the  
steward.  It’s  a  weak  faith.  If  faith  is  what  counts,  it’s  not  the  size  of  your  faith;;  it’s  the  
object  of  your  faith  that  really  counts.  
So  many  people  fail  to  understand  this.  If  you’ll  look  in  the  Bible,  almost  everybody  
who  got  a  blessing  from  God  had  weak  faith.  A  few  had  strong  faith,  but  most  of  them  
had  weak  faith.  There  was  a  man  whose  son  was  demon-­possessed,  and  he  came  to  
Jesus,  and  he  said,  “Master,  if  you  can  do  anything  for  my  boy,  please  do  it.”  Jesus  
said,  “If  you  can  believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth.”  You  know  what  
that  man  said?  He  said,  “Lord,  I  believe;;  help  my  unbelief.”  Have  you  ever  been  there?  
We  all  have.  “Lord,  I  believe,  I  have  faith;;  but,  Lord,  help  my  unbelief.”  You  know,  
Spurgeon  said,  “A  trembling  hand  can  receive  a  gorgeous,  wonderful  gift.”  It’s  not  faith  
in  faith;;  it’s  not  the  quality  of  your  faith;;  it’s  the  object  of  your  faith  that  really  counts.  
Again,  the  Bible  says,  in  Hebrews  chapter  12,  we’re  to  be  “looking  unto  Jesus  the  
author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.”  (Hebrews  12:2)  Look  to  Jesus,  the  object  of  your  faith.  
He  is  the  author;;  He  is  the  finisher  of  your  faith.  It  is  faith  in  Him.  That’s  the  object  of  
your  faith.  If  you  don’t  have  your  faith  in  the  right  place,  what  good  is  your  faith?  Then  
you’re  going  to  Shreveport,  friend,  when  you  ought  to  be  going  to  Memphis.  You’ve  got  
to  put  your  faith  in  the  right  place.  That’s  just  all  there  is  to  it.  Looking  unto  Jesus,  
Hebrews  12,  verses  1  and  2.  And  that  word  looking  unto  Jesus  literally  means,  “looking  
away  from  everything  else”  and  looking  unto  Jesus.  Now,  the  reason—the  reason—
some  folks  don’t  have  faith  is  that  they  have  their  eyes  on  everything  else  other  than  the  
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Don’t  look  at  others;;  look  to  Jesus.  Don’t  look  to  yourself;;  look  to  
Jesus.  Don’t  look  at  circumstances;;  look  to  Jesus.  Don’t  look  at  Satan;;  look  to  Jesus.  
Look  away  from  everything  else.  That’s  literally  what  the  Greek  word  means  when  it  
says,  “Looking  unto  Jesus.”  It  literally  means—literally  translated  it  means—“looking  
away  from  everything  else,  and  looking  to  Jesus.”  That’s  the  reason  why  I  said  faith  is  
what?  Forsaking  all,  I  trust  Him.  The  object  of  your  faith  must  be  God.  Your  faith  is  no  
better  than  its  object—looking  unto  Jesus.  
You  know  what  the  devil  will  do  to  you?  Let  me  tell  you  what  a  dirty  devil  the  devil  is.  
The  devil  will  want  to  make  you  doubt  your  salvation,  and  here’s  what  he’ll  say  to  you:  
“You  say  you  trust  Jesus?  Well,  just  how  strong  is  your  faith?  Maybe  your  faith  is  not  
strong  enough  to  save  you;  maybe  you  don’t  have  good  enough  faith;  maybe  you  don’t  

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have  strong  enough  faith.”  And  the  first  thing  you  know,  you  get  to  examining  your  faith,  
open  up  your  innards,  and  pull  out  your  faith,  and  look  it  all  over,  and  examine  it.  You  
say,  “Well,  I  wonder  if  I  really  have  that  saving  faith.”  You  know  what  the  devil’s  trying  to  
get  you  to  do?  The  devil  is  trying  to  get  you  to  look  at  your  faith  rather  than  looking  to  
Jesus.  Now,  listen.  Don’t  put  faith  in  faith,  put  faith  in  Jesus.  When  the  devil  used  to  pull  
that  trick  on  me,  he  used  to  say,  “Well,  Adrian,  how  do  you  know  that  you  really  believe  
enough?”  I  just  learned  how  to  turn  the  tables  on  him.  I  say,  “You  know,  devil,  you’re  
right;;  my  faith  is  weak,  but  Jesus  is  wonderful.  I’m  not  putting  my  faith  in  my  faith.  I’m  
putting  my  faith  in  Jesus.”  Jesus  never  said,  “Look  at  your  look”;;  He  said,  “Look  unto  
me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth.”  (Isaiah  45:22)  Don’t  look  at  your  look.  
Don’t  put  faith  in  faith,  put  faith  in  Jesus.  Faith  in  faith  is  positive  thinking.  Faith  in  Jesus  
is  salvation.  
Now,  the  object  of  faith  is  God.  So,  what  should  be  your  ambition,  then?  To  know  
God—to  know  God.  That’s  the  reason  the  Bible  says  we’re  to  be  “looking  unto  Jesus  
the  author  and  [the]  finisher  of  our  faith.”  (Hebrews  12:2)  You  see,  if  you  look  to  
yourself,  you’re  going  to  be  discouraged  and  weak.  Put  your  eyes  upon  Him.  “The  
scripture  saith,  Whosoever  believeth  in  him  shall  not  be  ashamed.”  (Romans  10:11)  I  
hope  this  is  getting  through  to  you.  Your  great  need  today  is  to  learn  of  Him,  to  come  to  
know  Him.  If  the  object  of  your  faith  is  God  then  the  ambition  of  your  heart  ought  to  be  
to  know  Him.  The  more  you  know  about  Him,  the  more  you’re  going  to  find  faith  as  the  
byproduct  of  your  heart.  When  you  look  to  Jesus,  when  you  discover  the  God  of  the  
Bible,  when  you  come  to  see  Him,  you’re  going  to  find  out  that  faith  is  axiomatic  in  your  
heart  and  in  your  life.  Let  me  give  you  a  verse—Psalm  9,  verse  10:  “And  they  that  know  
thy  name”—that  is,  the  character  of  God—“will  put  their  trust  in  thee.”  Daniel  11  and  
verse  32:  “And  they  that  know  their  God  shall  be  strong  and  shall  do  exploits.”  And  so,  
the  object  of  faith  is  God  himself.  Not  positive  thinking,  not  your  own  ambitions,  not  your  
own  will,  not  your  own  intentions—just  know  God.  “They  that  know  thy  name  will  put  
their  trust  in  thee.”  (Psalm  9:10)  Romans  10,  verse  11:  “Whosoever  believeth  in  him  
shall  not  be  ashamed.”  

II. The  Origin  of  Faith

Now,  here’s  the  second  thing  about  biblical  faith:  not  only  the  object  of  it,  but  the  origin  
of  it—the  origin  of  it.  Now,  if  the  object  of  this  faith  is  to  trust  Him,  then  you’ve  got  to  
hear  from  Him,  so  the  origin  of  your  faith  is  the  Word  of  God.  The  object  of  your  faith  is  
God  himself—you  trust  Him.  But  the  origin  of  that  faith  is  to  hear  Him.  Now,  look,  if  you  
will,  in  verse  17:  “So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.”  
(Romans  10:17)  Go  back  to  verse  14:  “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?”  

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(Romans  10:14)  That’s  a  very  logical  question.  Go  back  up  to  verse  8:  “But  what  saith  
[thee]?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart:  that  is,  the  word  of  
faith…”  (Romans  10:8)—the  word  of  faith.  Now,  the  object  of  faith  is  God  himself,  so  
you  must  know  Him.  But  the  origin  of  faith  is  the  Word  of  that  God—you  must  hear  Him.  
You  must  learn  to  listen  to  God,  if  you  would  have  faith.  You  see,  you  cannot  pray  
outside  the  will  of  God  and  get  your  prayer  answered.  And  in  order  to  pray  in  the  will  of  
God,  you’ve  got  to  hear  the  Word  of  God.  Now,  where  does  this  faith  come  from?  You  
don’t  generate  faith.  You  don’t  just  clench  your  fist,  grit  your  teeth,  and  say,  I  am  going  
to  believe.  Faith  cometh—look  in  verse  17:  “Faith  cometh  by  hearing.”  (Romans  10:17)  
That  is,  it  comes  from  outside  of  you;;  you  don’t  generate  that  faith.  
Now,  you  can  have  natural  faith  in  the  natural  realm;;  we  all  live  by  natural  faith.  
You’re  putting  faith  in  the  chair  that  you’re  sitting  in  right  now;;  you’re  putting  faith  in  the  
engineer  that  put  this  roof  over  us.  When  you  go  to  the  restaurant,  you’re  putting  faith  in  
the  cook.  That’s  natural  faith.  We  all  live  by  faith  every  day  in  chairs,  planes,  food.  Ron  
Dunn,  who  spoke  for  us  the  other  night,  said  this:  “He  says  the  doctor  tells  us  that  we  
have  a  disease  that  we’ve  never  heard  of,  writes  a  prescription  that  we  cannot  read,  for  
a  medicine  whose  name  we  cannot  pronounce,  which  we  take  to  a  druggist  that  we  do  
not  know,  who  gives  us  a  bottle  of  liquid  which  tastes  like  poison,  which  we  take  and  go  
back  for  more.”  That’s  faith,  but  that’s  faith  in  the  natural  realm.  
But  we’re  not  talking  about  that.  We’re  talking  about  biblical  faith  that’s  in  the  
supernatural  realm.  You  don’t  generate  that;;  God  gives  it.  You  don’t  work  it  up;;  it  comes  
down.  Peter  said,  in  2  Peter  chapter  1,  verse  1,  he  talks  about  “[those  who]  have  
obtained  like  precious  faith…”  And  then,  in  Philippians  chapter  1,  verse  29:  “For  unto  
you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  
sake.”  That  is,  the  believing  on  Him  is  given  to  you.  Nobody  can  believe  in  God  unless  
God  enables  Him  to  believe.  Now,  listen  to  me.  The  only  way  that  you  can  believe  in  
God  is  to  hear  from  God,  and  God  must  enable  you  to  believe.  And  the  instrument  that  
God  uses  to  enable  you  to  believe  is  His  Word.  Faith  is  not  a  leap  in  the  dark;;  it’s  a  step  
in  the  light.  You  hear  from  God.  But  without  a  word  from  God—listen  to  me  very  
carefully—without  a  word  from  God  you  have  no  basis  for  faith.  There  are  some  people  
today  who  say,  “You  name  it  and  claim  it.”  That  is  absurd.  You  can’t  claim  it  unless  God  
names  it.  “Faith  [comes]  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  Word  of  God.”  (Romans  10:17)  
Now,  put  in  your  margin  Hebrews  chapter  11  and  verse  1.  Here’s  a  description  of  
faith:  “Now  faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen”—
“…Faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen.”  Think  
about  that  word  hope.  What  does  that  word  hope  mean?  It  doesn’t  mean  “maybe”,  not  
in  the  Bible.  It  may  mean  it  in  modern  English,  but  in  the  Bible  the  word  hope  means  
“bedrock  assurance”,  and  that  assurance  is  based  on  the  Word  of  God.  The  Second  

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Coming  of  Jesus  is  called  what?  The  blessed  hope.  That  doesn’t  mean  the  blessed  
maybe;;  it  means  the  blessed  certainty.  And  “faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for.”  
(Hebrews  11:1)  That  is  bedrock  assurance  based  on  the  Word  of  God.  Again,  the  Bible  
calls  hope  the  anchor  of  the  soul.  Well,  you,  friend,  you  don’t  put  your  anchor  in  a  chunk  
of  cloudbank;;  you  put  your  anchor  in  something  that  is  strong  and  solid.  So  now,  pay  
attention  now,  because  we’re  going  to  learn  something  about  hope.  Hope  is  bedrock  
assurance.  
Now,  look  at  the  word  substance.  The  Bible  says,  “Faith  is  the  substance  of  things  
hoped  for.”  (Hebrews  11:1)  I  looked  this  up  in  some  different  translations,  or  studied  
some  different  translations.  One  gives  it,  “hope  is”—for  the  word  substance  gives  the  
word  assurance.  Another  gives  the  word  confidence.  Another  gives  the  word  guarantee.  
Another  gives  it—and  I  love  this—“the  title  deed”.  What  happens  is  this:  that  we  have  
bedrock  assurance,  we  have  substance,  we  have  the  title  deed,  according  to  the  Word  
of  God.  
The  point  I’m  making  is  this:  that  the  object  of  faith  is  God;;  the  origin  of  faith  is  the  
Word  of  God.  If  you  don’t  hear  from  God,  you’ll  never  have  faith.  Well,  let  me  just  put  it  
this  way:  if  you  don’t  hear  God—not  just  hear  from  God,  if  you  don’t  hear  God—you’ll  
never  have  faith.  That’s  the  reason  I  asked  you  to  pray  at  the  beginning  of  this  service,  
“Help  me  not  to  hear  Adrian;;  help  me  to  hear  God.  Adrian—God,  help  him  to  be  the  
Western  Union  boy,  as  he  brings  the  word.”  But  it  is  the  Word  of  God  that’s  going  to  
bring  faith  in  your  heart.  
Now,  look  in  verse  17:  “…Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God”  
(Romans  10:17)—that  is,  hearing  the  Word  of  God.  The  word  that  is  translated  word  
there  is  not  the  word  logos,  which  means  “the  revelation  of  the  Bible”,  like  we  call  the  
Bible  the  Word  of  God—that’s  the  logos;;  but  it’s  a  different  word,  it’s  the  word  rhema.  
“…Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  [rhema]  of  God.”  (Romans  10:17)  And  
that  word  means  “the  communication  of  the  Word  of  God”,  not  just  “the  Word  of  God”.  I  
don’t  mean  when  I  say,  “Just  the  Word  of  God,”  to  deprecate  the  Word  of  God,  but  it  is  
not  the  Bible  that  you  hold  in  your  hand  that’s  going  to  give  your  faith;;  it  is  God  speaking  
to  you  out  of  that  Bible.  Not  the  logos  that  you  have  in  your  hand—that  is  the  Word  of  
God—that  is—but  you  need  to  have  God  speak  to  you.  You  need  a  rhema,  a  
communication  of  the  Word  of  God.  You  can  hear  with  your  ear  everything  that  I  say  
this  morning  and  not  have  faith,  but,  oh,  if  God  speaks  to  your  heart…  You’ve  got  to  
hear  God.  You’ve  got  to  get  a  communication  of  that  Word  from  God.  And  my  job  is  not  
to  just  teach  you  some  sermon  outline;;  my  job  is  to  get  you  to  listen  to  God  as  God  
speaks  to  you.  You’ve  got  to  hear  from  God;;  you’ve  got  to  hear  more  than  a  sermon;;  
you’ve  got  to  hear  more  than  a  pastor;;  you’ve  got  to  hear  God.  
Look  in  Romans  10,  verse  14:  “How  then  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom  they  have  

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not  believed?”  Now,  look  at  that  little  phrase  in.  The  New  American  Standard  gives  it  
this  way:  “How  [shall]  they  believe…”—“how  [shall]  they  believe  in  him  whom  they  have  
not  heard?”  (NASB  Romans  10:14)  It  doesn’t  say  “in  whom”,  but  “whom  they  have  not  
heard”.  Now,  what  is  the  difference?  Well,  they  basically  mean  the  same  thing,  but  it  
means  that  God  has  to  be  speaking  to  you.  You’ve  got  to  hear  God  today.  I  hope  that  
you  go  away  from  here  today  not  just  simply  hearing  Adrian,  but  that  you’ve  heard  God.  
Because  faith  comes  when  you  hear  God.  God  speaks  to  you.  There  is  a  rhema.  God  
takes  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  truths  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  God  applies  those  to  
your  heart,  and  God  is  speaking  to  you.  You  must  hear  Jesus  today.  You  must  hear  
Jesus  saying  to  you  today,  “Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  
will  give  you  rest.”  (Matthew  11:28)  He  is  speaking  to  your  heart  today,  if  you  will  listen.  

III. The  Objective  of  Faith

Now,  here’s  the  third  thing  I  want  you  to  see:  I  want  you  to  see  not  only  the  object  of  our  
faith,  which  is  God  himself;;  the  origin  of  our  faith,  which  is  to  hear  from  God  and  to  get  a  
word  from  God;;  but  I  want  you  to  hear,  also,  friend,  the  objective  of  our  faith.  Why  does  
God  use  faith?  What  is  faith  all  about?  Is  faith  something  that  you  can  put  in  your  pocket  
to  spend  for  whatever  you  want?  Can  you  just  say,  “Well,  I  have  faith  so  I’ll  have  a  
bigger  house.  I  have  faith  so  I’ll  get  well.  I  have  faith  so  I’ll  have  friends.  I’ll  have  faith  so  
I  can  get  married.  I’ll  have  faith  so  I  can  have  a  Cadillac.  I’ll  have  faith  so  I…”—no,  no,  
no,  no,  no.  Faith  is  not  man’s  way  of  getting  man’s  will  done  on  earth;;  faith  is  God’s  way  
of  getting  God’s  will  done  in  heaven.  Now,  it’s  very,  very  important  that  you  see  this,  
because  so  many  of  us  think  that  faith  is  something  that  we  can  use  for  ourselves.  
Look,  if  you  will,  in  verse  12:  “For  there  is  no  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  
Greek:  for  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him.”  (Romans  10:12)  
Now,  that’s  the  will  of  God—that  you  be  saved.  Go  back,  if  you  will,  or  down  to  15,  and  
look  at  verse  15  of  this  same  chapter:  “And  how  shall  they  preach,  except  they  be  sent?  
as  it  is  written,  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the  gospel  of  peace,  and  
bring  glad  tidings  of  good  things!”  (Romans  10:15)  Now,  the  preacher  is  to  be  sent;;  the  
preacher  doesn’t  originate  his  own  message.  I  don’t  sit  back  there  in  my  study,  or  in  my  
study  at  the  house,  and  say,  “Now,  what  do  I  want  these  folks  to  know?  What  do  I  think  
will  be  good  ideas  for  them?”  No,  I  am  to  be  a  messenger  boy  with  beautiful  feet,  
running  with  glad  tidings.  I  have  been  sent  where  God  says,  “Go  tell  them  this.”  
Now,  we  have  workers  here  at  our  church  who  buy  things  for  the  church,  cleaning  
fluids,  and  paper  goods,  and  so  forth.  Well,  we  don’t  just  say,  “Go  buy  whatever  you  
think  you  want,  or  whatever  you  think  that  we  need.”  There  is  a  requisition,  a  purchase  
order,  something  that  is  given  so  that  they  come  back  with  the  right  stuff.  You  see,  they  
don’t  originate  all  of  that.  The  object  of  somebody  who  goes  to  the  supply  store  with  a  

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purchase  order  is  to  get  what  the  leader  says  we  need,  what  the  administrator  says  we  
must  have.  And  faith,  faith  is  God’s  way  of  getting  the  things  done  that  He  wants  done  
through  us.  And  that’s  the  objective  of  faith.  
Now,  if  you  make  faith  some  sort  of  a  Midas  touch,  that  makes  God  your  servant.  
But  God  is  not  your  servant;;  you  are  God’s  servant.  And  again,  faith  is  not  getting  man’s  
will  done  in  heaven;;  it  is  getting  God’s  will  done  on  earth.  And  you  say,  “Well,  wait  a  
minute,  Adrian—you  mean  to  say  that  I  am  hemmed  up  by  the  will  of  God?”  Yep,  just  
like  a  minnow  hemmed  up  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  The  will  of  God  doesn’t  mean  fewer  
blessings  for  you;;  the  will  of  God  means  more  blessings  for  you.  But  the  objective  of  
faith  is  that  God’s  Word  that  He  sends  will  have  its  effect,  God’s  order  form  will  be  done,  
and  God  will  do  it  through  us.  So  what  you  need  to  do  is  to  find  the  will  of  God,  because  
the  Bible  says,  “This  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  him…if  we  ask  him  any  thing  
according  to  His  will,  he  [hears]  us.”  (1  John  5:14)  Well,  how  do  we  know  His  will?  We  
know  His  Word.  Well,  how  do  we  trust  His  Word?  We  know  His  person.  
So,  the  object  of  faith  is  God  himself.  The  origin  of  faith  is  the  Word  of  God.  The  
objective  of  faith  is  the  will  of  God.  Now,  if  you’re  not  interested  in  the  will  of  God,  forget  
faith.  So,  what  should  you  do?  If  the  object  of  faith  is  God,  get  to  know  God.  If  the  origin  
of  faith  is  the  Word  of  God,  begin  to  listen  to  God.  If  the  objective  of  faith  is  the  will  of  
God,  then  submit  to  God.  God  doesn’t  give  His  faith  to  rebels.  Friend,  learn  to  trust  the  
Lord.  Let  God  stay  in  control.  

IV. The  Operation  of  Faith

Now,  here’s  the  final  thing,  and  we’ll  just  wrap  this  up.  What  is  the  operation  of  faith?  
The  operation  of  faith  is  to  obey  God.  Now,  pay  attention.  For,  the  object  of  faith  is  God;;  
so  know  Him.  The  origin  of  faith  is  the  Word  of  God;;  so  hear  Him.  The  objective  of  faith  
is  the  will  of  God;;  so  yield  to  Him.  And  then,  the  operation  of  faith  is  the  work  of  God;;  so  
obey  Him.  
Now,  watch  this.  If  you  say  that  you  believe  God,  but  you  don’t  obey  God,  you  don’t  
really  believe  Him.  Faith  is  belief  with  legs  on  it.  Faith  obeys.  Now,  if  we  believe,  
obviously,  it  is  because  God  has  enabled  us  to  believe.  But  if  we  don’t  believe,  we’re  the  
ones  held  responsible.  Look,  if  you  will,  at  this—look,  if  you  will,  in  verses  17  and  18:  
“So…faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.  But  I  say,  Have  they  not  
heard?  Yes  verily,  their  sound  went  [out]  into  all  the  earth  and  their  words  unto  the  ends  
of  the  world,”  (Romans  10:17–18)—but  skip  down  to  verse  21—“but  to  Israel  he  [said],  
All  day  long  have  I  stretched  forth  my  hands  unto  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.”  
(Romans  10:21)  Now,  they  have  not  all  obeyed  the  gospel.  You  must  obey  the  gospel.  
“All  day  long,”  God  says  to  Israel,  “have  I  stretched  [out]  my  hands  [to]  a  disobedient  
and  gainsaying  people.”  (Romans  10:21)  Now,  what  does  that  mean?  Well,  you  know  

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what  disobedience  is:  just  not  obeying.  
What  about  gainsaying?  We  don’t  use  that  word  very  much  today,  but  it  means  
“obstinate”.  It  means  people  who  just  refuse  the  Word  of  God.  Here’s  the  Word  of  God,  
and  it  goes  forth,  and  God  is  stretching  out  His  hands.  There  are  some  people  who  say,  
“Oh  well,  God  just  calls  some,  and  when  God  just  calls  some,  they’re  going  to  come,  
and  ain’t  nothing  can  stop  it.”  You’d  better  read  the  Bible,  friend.  He  says,  “all  day  long  
have  I  stretched  [out]  my  hands  [to]  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.”  (Romans  
10:21)  God  is  stretching  out  His  hand,  but  they  wouldn’t  believe—they  wouldn’t  believe.  
They  refused.  Gainsaying  means  that  they  are  not  only  disobedient,  but  they  are  
obstinate.  They  say,  “No!”  They  take  the  Word  of  God,  and  they  parade  it  past  the  
judgment  bar  of  their  mind,  and  they  make  a  jury  of  themselves,  and  they  say,  “No,  I  
don’t  think  so;;  I’m  not  going  to  obey  that.”  
Friend,  the  operation  of  faith  is  obedience  to  God.  You’re  not  saved  by  faith  and  
works;;  you’re  saved  by  faith  that  works.  And  if  it  hasn’t  changed  your  life,  if  it  doesn’t  get  
down  into  shoe  leather,  if  it  doesn’t  get  down  into  your  heart,  if  it  doesn’t  make  you  a  
different  person,  if  it  doesn’t  cause  you  to  obey  the  Word  of  God,  don’t  tell  me  you  have  
faith;;  don’t  tell  me  you’re  going  to  heaven.  “Faith  without  works  is  dead”  (James  2:26)—
that’s  what  James  tells  us.  Now,  you’re  not  saved  because  of  your  works;;  you  work  
because  you’re  saved.  But  God  stretches  forth  His  hand,  and  people  can  say  no  to  Him,  
and  if  they  say  no  to  Him,  God  says,  “I’ve  stretched  [out]  my  hands  all  day  long  [to]  a  
disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.”  (Romans  10:21)  They’ve  not  all  obeyed  the  gospel.  
So,  when  you  believe,  you  obey.  
“Trust  and  obey,  
for  there’s  no  other  way  
 to  be  happy  in  Jesus  
 but  to  trust  and  obey.”  
–JOHN  SAMMIS

Conclusion  
So,  have  you  followed  me?  The  object  of  faith  is  God—know  Him.  The  origin  of  faith  is  
the  Word  of  God—hear  Him.  The  objective  of  faith  is  the  will  of  God—yield  to  Him.  It  is  
heaven’s  way  of  getting  God’s  will  done  on  earth.  And  then,  the  operation  of  faith  is  to  
obey  God—say,  “Yes  Lord.”  It  is  belief  with  legs  on  it.  
Now,  that  brings  me  to  one  last  thing.  You  say,  “Pastor,  is  faith  the  gift  of  God?”  Yes,  
faith  is  the  gift  of  God.  “Does  that  mean  if  God  gives  it,  then  I’m  going  to  automatically  
believe?”  No.  Breathing  is  a  gift  of  God.  God  gives  me  lungs,  and  God  gives  me  air.  
That  was  a  gift  from  God—that  was  a  gift  from  God;;  but  I  can  smother,  if  I  want  to—
foolish.  Breathing  is  a  gift  of  God.  You  can  smother.  Faith  is  a  gift  of  God.  

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 God  gives  you  His  Word,  and  God  gives  you  His  Spirit,  but  then,  God  says,  
“Whosoever  will  may  come—Whosoever  will  may  come.”  “All  day  long  have  I  stretched  
[out]  my  hands  [to]  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying  people.”  (Romans  10:21)  So,  it’s  time  
right  now  for  you  to  do  the  most  wonderful  thing  that  you  could  possibly  do,  and  that  is  
to  trust  this  great  God  for  salvation.  “For  by  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith…”  
(Ephesians  2:8)  You  put  your  hand  of  faith  in  God’s  hand  of  grace,  and  that’s  salvation.  
Would  you  bow  your  heads  in  prayer?  Heads  are  bowed  and  eyes  are  closed.  While  
heads  are  bowed  and  eyes  are  closed,  would  you  pray  for  those  round  about  you  who  
may  not  yet  know  Jesus.  And,  precious  friend,  right  now—right  now—I  want  to  lead  you  
in  a  prayer.  If  you  don’t  know  Jesus,  pray  this  prayer:  God,  I  believe  that  you  are  the  
Almighty.  I  want  to  put  my  faith  in  you.  I  believe  the  Bible  is  your  Word,  and  you’ve  
spoken  to  me  out  of  your  Word  today.  And  I  know,  Lord,  that  you  want  to  save  me,  and  I  
yield  myself  to  that  today.  And  now,  I  will  obey  you  by  confessing  you  as  my  Lord  and  
Savior,  right  now.  Father,  I  pray  that  many  will  come  to  Jesus.  In  His  dear  name  I  pray.  
Amen.•  

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 Is God Through with the Jews?
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: May 24, 1998

Main Scripture Text: Romans 11:1

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also
am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
ROMANS 11:1

Outline
Introduction  
A. Israel Is the Geographic Center of the World
B. Israel Is The Revelation Center of the World
C. Israel Is the Spiritual Center of the World
D. Israel Is the Prophetic Center of the World
E. Israel Is the Storm Center of the World
F. Israel Will Be the Peace Center of the World
G. Israel Will Be the Glory Center of the World
I. Proof #1: The Convicting Power of God
II. Proof #2: The Careful Preservation of God
III. Proof #3: The Controlling Plan of God
IV. Proof #4: The Continuing Promise of God
V. Proof #5: The Culminating Purpose of God
A. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel in His Time
B. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel Through His Son
C. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel According to His Word
D. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel by His Grace
E. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel for His Glory
Conclusion  

Introduction
Take your Bibles and find, if you would, please, Romans chapter 11. We’re making our
way through the book of Romans. We call that the constitution of Christianity, a solid
word for an unsure age, foundations for our faith. That’s what it’s all about, and we’ve
come today to chapter 11. Now, this chapter is a wonderful chapter, but it is full, and I’m
going to try to go through thirty-six verses. Some of them we’ll touch very lightly, and
some none at all. As a matter of fact, I’ve already preached this message once this
morning, and I took it back to the shop, went back to my study, and I said, How can I
condense this a little bit more, and how can I clarify it a little bit more, because it’s really

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a convoluted passage of Scripture, but it has great, great blessings in it, and great
significance for these days in which we live. Because all of us have a feeling that we are
kind of looking into the muzzle of a loaded cannon, and the storm clouds of
Armageddon are gathering more and more and more, and the central focus of all of that
is Israel, the land and the people. And that’s what we’re dealing with today. Today is a
message that deals in many ways with Bible prophecy, and it deals with the land of
Israel. The title of the message: Is God Through with the Jew?
You may say, What does that have to do with me—I’m not a Jew; I’m a Gentile?
Well, it has everything to do with you, and, friend, it has everything to do with Bible
prophecy. Almost 100 percent of the Bible prophecies are related to Israel—the land
and the people. So, you need to listen up today, because you’re going to learn
something that will be an encouragement to you. Now, I say that Israel—the nation
Israel—is the focal point in today’s world, and Israel is in the headlines of every
newspaper, not only in America but around the world. The eyes of the world are focused
on the little nation of Israel, and well they should be, for Israel is the land and the people
of destiny. As the Jew goes, so goes the world. Israel is God’s yardstick, God’s outline,
God’s blueprint, God’s program, and God’s prophecy for all of the other nations of the
world.
Now, Paul has been talking about God’s plan, and how it includes the Gentile, and
some of the Jews may have been asking, What about us? What about the promises that
God has made to us? And so, Paul asks a rhetorical question in chapter 11 and verse 1:
“I say, then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid.” Now, He’s saying, I’m not
finished with the Jew. I have not cast away my people. I have not been unfaithful. I have
not broken my promises. I have not altered my covenants. I have not forgotten my
Word. Paul says, God forbid that God could ever do that. And so, Paul is going to show
us, in just a moment, that God is not finished with the Jew. And I hope that you will
understand that today.
Israel, in many ways—the nation and the people—are the center and the focus of
the entire world.
A. Israel Is the Geographic Center of the World
The land of Israel that I’ve visited many times, and I’m looking forward to going back
to, is the geographic center of the world. In Ezekiel 5:5, God says to that land, “I have
put you in the midst of the nations.” That is, you are in—as some give it—the navel of
the nations. Israel is a land bridge between three continents, Asia, Africa, and, Europe.
It’s a great military and economic crossroads, right there in the very hub of the world.
B. Israel Is The Revelation Center of the World
It is the geographic center of the world; it’s the revelation center. The book that I hold

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in my hand, that I’m preaching from, was written in that land by those people, by and
large. It’s here where Moses and the prophets gave us the Word of God.
C. Israel Is the Spiritual Center of the World
It is the spiritual center, because Jesus is of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is a Jew, and
He was born in the land of Israel. He lived in the land of Israel. He taught in the land of
Israel. He was crucified in the land of Israel. He was buried in the land of Israel. He rose
in the land of Israel. He ascended from the land of Israel. He’s coming back to the
Mount of Olives, right there by Jerusalem. So it is the spiritual center.
D. Israel Is the Prophetic Center of the World
It is the prophetic center. If you want to know what God is doing in the world, if you
want to understand Bible prophecy, you’ll never understand it apart from understanding
what God is doing in Israel.
E. Israel Is the Storm Center of the World
It is the storm center. As we’ve said, the clouds of Armageddon are gathering, even
as we’re talking.
F. Israel Will Be the Peace Center of the World
But, thank God, it will be the peace center. That’s the reason the Bible tells us to
pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And there will never be peace in this world until there’s
peace in Jerusalem, and there won’t be peace in Jerusalem without Jesus, the Prince of
Peace.
G. Israel Will Be the Glory Center of the World
And it is the glory center. One of these days, when the earth shall be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the Lord as waters that cover the sea, the law shall go forth
from Zion, and God is going to rule and to reign on this earth from Jerusalem.
Frederick the Great, it is said, one time asked his court chaplain, Can you give me
proof of the inspiration of the Word of God? How can I know that the Bible is the
inspired, infallible Word of God? And, Frederick the Great’s court chaplain gave one
answer. He said, The Jew, sire. That is, just look at God’s dealing with Israel. You see,
Israel, this nation, is a God-created, God-decreed, God-loved, God-called, God-elected,
and God-protected people. And it is not without significance that Jerusalem, the capital
of this land, is the most important city upon the face of the earth. Not Washington, not
Moscow, not London, not Paris, not Tokyo, but Jerusalem—the most important city
upon the face of the earth. And, in the book of Zechariah chapter 12 and verse 3, the
Bible says, “In the last days Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone for all the nations of
the world.” And, friend, that is true today in a very real way. And there’s more pressure
being put on Israel right now to sacrifice her sovereignty, and to take Jerusalem, and to

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make it an international city, rather than the capital of God’s ancient people, and God’s
ancient lands.
So, Paul comes to this question in the book of Romans: “Has God cast away his
people? God forbid.” And then, he gives five proofs that he has not. And that’s what the
message is going to consist of today: these five proofs.

I. Proof #1: The Convicting Power of God

And the first proof is what I want to call the convicting power of God—the convicting
power of God. Write that down, and look, if you will, in verse 1 again: “I say, then, hath
God cast away his people? God forbid.” Now, notice the illustration he gives: “For I also
am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” Paul says, I am a Jew;
I am exhibit number one. And why did Paul use himself as an example? Because there
were other Jews around. Well, he was a believing Jew. He believed in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and he said that he was a pattern; God made him a pattern. He said of himself,
in another place, he was one born out of due time—that is, he was not in the due time,
but he was out ahead of his time.
I want you to think about how the apostle Paul was saved. He certainly wasn’t a
pattern for my salvation; he wasn’t a pattern for Bob’s salvation; for Jamie or Jim’s
salvation, that are sitting here on the platform with me. We weren’t saved the way the
apostle Paul was saved. Paul was on the road to Damascus, persecuting Christians,
and suddenly he saw a light above the brightness of the noonday sun; he was knocked
off his horse, he was blind. Jesus appears to him, literally, and the heavens are rolled
back, he sees Christ, and the Lord speaks to him, and the apostle Paul is converted.
And then, the apostle Paul becomes, as he says, a missionary to the Gentiles. Notice in
verse 13: “For I speak unto you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I
magnify my office.” God used him to evangelize the pagans of this world. Well, that’s
what God is going to do with Israel. There is coming a day, friend, when God will
supernaturally appear to Israel. They will see Him. I mean, the heavens are going to roll
back. They’re going to see Jesus as Paul saw Jesus, and a nation will be born in a day.
Now, let me give you a scripture for that, in case you wonder about that. Zechariah
chapter 12, verses 8 through 11: “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.” Now, the day he’s talking about is the day that he’s already talked about,
when all the nations of the world are going to come against Jerusalem. This is the
beginning of Armageddon. And the Antichrist and his forces will be bivouacked there in
the Valley of Megiddo, and they’re getting ready for that last sortie against Jerusalem,
and it’s going to look dark for the people of God. And God says, in that day—in that
day—as the noose tightens around Jerusalem and the people of Jerusalem, God says,
in that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. “And he that is feeble

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among them at that day shall be as David.” Now, David was a mighty warrior, and God
says, “in that day the puny Israelite is going to be like David, and the house of David
shall be as God, and the angel of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in that
day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem,”—and now,
watch this—“and I will pour upon the house of David,”—now, he’s talking about Jews
now—“and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications.”
Now, watch this point: “And they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced.” Did you
read that? That’s not New Testament. How did Jesus die? He died on a cross. They
pierced His hands and His feet, and God says, “In that day they are going to see me
whom they have pierced.” Now, folks, not only the Jews, but we pierced Him also. But
that’s not the point he’s making right now; He’s making the point that they’re going to
see Him. Now, who is speaking? Jehovah is speaking. Who is he speaking to? His
people. Well, Jehovah is a spirit; God is a spirit. How can you pierce a spirit? Well, the
only way I know is that spirit has to take flesh. He has to become incarnate; He has to
die upon a cross. “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and shall mourn
for him as one mourneth for his only son.” Oh, friend, just as the apostle Paul saw the
Lord Jesus—the resurrected as glorified Jesus—these Jews in that day are going to see
Him.
And then, Paul became a witness to the nations of the world. And these Jews are
going to become a witness to the nations of the world. In Revelations chapter 7, John
the apostle had a foreglimpse into glory, and he saw a great number of Jews, he said
144,000 of all the tribes of Israel, they are sealed with the seal of God in their
foreheads, and then he tells, in Revelation chapter 7, beginning about verse 9, of the
witness of these 144,000. And, he said, “And I saw a great multitude of all kindreds,
tribes, peoples, nations, a multitude that no man could number, and these are the ones
that have come out of the great tribulation, washed their robes white, and made them
whiter than the blood of the Lamb.” These are people who have never heard the gospel
who will be witnessed to by these 144,000 Jews. Can you imagine what it’d be like
now—not one apostle Paul, but 144,000 apostle Pauls preaching the gospel of Jesus
Christ who had been miraculously converted. So, what’s he saying? He’s saying, Listen,
God’s not finished. I am an example; I am a pattern of what God is going to do with the
Jew. So, the very first thing that I want you to put down of these five proofs is this: the
converting power of God. Now, if you don’t think that Israel can come to Christ, you
don’t understand the power of God. The same power that convicted the apostle Paul is
the power that will bring them to Jesus.

II. Proof #2: The Careful Preservation of God

Now, here’s the second reason—not only the convicting power of God, but here’s

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the second reason: the careful preservation of God. Now, God is carefully preserving
His people. Look in verses 2 and following: “Has God cast away his people which he
foreknew? Wast ye not what the scripture saith to Elijah?”—don’t you know what the
Scripture said to Elijah—“how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Lord, they killed thy prophets, dig down thine altars, and I am left alone, and they seek
my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved myself seven
thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” Now, here’s the
therefore: “Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace.”
Now, what does that mean? That means—a remnant means—that which is left, that
which is saved, that which is not destroyed. Old Elijah was there, having a contest with
450 prophets of Baal. He said, Lord, I’m the only one, there’s nobody left, and now
they’re trying to kill me! And God says, Son, look up here; let me tell you something.
You’re not the only one left. And when you die, Israel will not die. Why, right over here
I’ve got seven thousand. He had more than seven thousahd, but there were seven
thousand right there who had not bowed the knee to Baal. God always has a remnant;
God always has a faithful people. And Israel, there has always been a remnant of
believing Jews, and there always will be, because God is the one who preserves Israel.
Go back to chapter 9 and verse 27: “Isaiah also cried concerning Israel, though the
number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.”
Now, friend, listen to me. The Jews were not the chosen people because of their
faithfulness, and they’re not going to be rejected because of their unfaithfulness. Now,
God here is talking nationally; He’s talking personally. He’s saying there will always be a
nation Israel. The Jewish nation, the Jewish faith, are indestructible.
I want to give you a great passage to put in your margin. This is one of the greatest
passages in the Bible, in my estimation. It’s found in Psalm 89, and it’s talking about
God’s irrevocable covenant and promise to David. Now, this is what He says to King
David, beginning in verse 27: “Also I will make him…”—it’s talking now about David—
“also I will make him, my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” And, this is a
prophecy for David’s greater son, the Lord Jesus—when every knee shall bow. “My
mercy will I keep with him for evermore”—just underscore evermore. “My covenant shall
stand fast with him. His seed”—that is, His descendants—“also will I make to endure
forever”—underscore that: endure forever. “And his throne, as the days of heaven.”
Now, He talks about David’s descendants, his seed, and He says this: “if his children
forsake my law and walk not in my judgments,”—and, by the way, they did forsake
God’s law—“and if they break my statutes,”—and they have broken his statutes—“and
keep not my commandments,”—and they have not kept them, God says—“then will I
visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.” God said, I’ll take

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them to the woodshed, and boy, He’s done that. But notice the nevertheless in verse
33, and friend, just underscore that in your Bible: “Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I
not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break
nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness, and I
will not lie to David: his seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.
It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” Then,
he says, “Selah.” What does that mean? It means, just think about that. Selah means,
just ponder that.
God is saying, Look, I have made a promise to David. If his descendants, if they
break my laws, if they won’t keep my statutes, then they’re going to be punished, but I
am going to keep my word. God has always had a remnant, and this nation is God-
elected, God-decreed and God-preserved. God prophesied that they would be
disobedient, they would be disbursed, they would be discredited, but they would not be
destroyed. And the king of Egypt could not diminish them, the Red Sea could not drown
them, Jonah’s whale could not digest them, the fiery furnace could not devour them, the
gallows of Haman could not hang them, and the nations of the world cannot assimilate
them, and the dictators of this world cannot annihilate God’s ancient people the Jews.
They have known all kinds of persecution, but, you see, what God is talking about here
is His preserving power. He has a remnant according to grace.
Now, you think about the Jews today. Did you know that they are less than four-
tenths of one percent of the world’s population? Let that sink in. Four-tenths of one
percent, not even one half of one percent, the Jews. And yet the Jewish people have
captured almost twelve percent—almost twelve percent—of all of the honors in science,
in health, in medicine, in music, and public life. Of the Nobel Prize winners for the last
twenty-five years, of them one-third to one-fourth have been Jews. Now, four-tenths of
one percent, and yet one-third to one-fourth of the Nobel Prizes have gone to Jews. You
don’t realize how God has touched your life through the Jewish nation. If you’ve ever
taken an aspirin, Bayer, who developed aspirin, was a Jew. If you have been vaccinated
against polio, Sabin and Salk were Jews. If you’ve gone to the dentist, and he
deadened your gums, why, Stricker, who developed Novocain, was a Jew. If you’ve
ever had an infection and used streptomycin, Waxman was a Jew. If you’ve ever had
psychoanalysis, Freud was a Jew. If you’ve been giving to the Salvation Army, or have
been ministered to by the Salvation Army, the mother of William Booth, the founder of
the Salvation Army, was a Jew. If in college you studied philosophy, Spinoza and other
philosophers, many of them have been Jews. As a matter of fact, all history really
revolves around six Jews: Moses, Paul, Marx, Freud, Albert Einstein, and then, in the
category all by himself, Jesus. All Jews; they’re all Jews, whether for good or bad. I’m
not saying that Marx was good; I’m just simply saying that they were Jews, that God has

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preserved these people. And then, out of these, this nation, God has a remnant of
believers; as He told Elijah, I’ve got seven thousand who’ve not bowed the knee to Baal.

III. Proof #3: The Controlling Plan of God

And so, what you see is the convicting power of God; what you see is the continuing
preservation of God; and then, I want you to see what I’m going to call the controlling
plan of God. Because, see, God has a plan. Now, watch this. Begin in verse 11, and
see what he says here in verse 11 of chapter 11: “I say, then, have they stumbled that
they should fall?”—talking about the Jews—“God forbid. But rather, through their fall,
salvation has come unto the Gentiles. For to provoke them to jealousy.” God let the
Gentiles get saved so that we could live godly lives and cause Jews to want what we
have, which, by the way, brings me to a point. If there’s an unconverted Jew here
today—and maybe there is—I certainly would hope that he would see by the joy, the
love, the faith, the victory that you have, that he’d say, I want some of that—I want some
of that. That’s what he’s saying here: that he would see in us the beauty of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now, notice what he says in verse 12: “Now, if the fall of them be the
riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much
more their fullness.”
Now, what’s he saying? He’s saying, Look, in my plan I had a Jewish Messiah. The
Jews rejected Him, but that gave me the platform to go to the Gentiles. And Paul
became the apostle to the Gentiles, and you and I are reading from a Jew who wrote to
us the book of Romans, and we’re listening to it today, and we’re being blessed by the
mysterious plan of God. But God says, Listen—that came about in a strange way when
the Jews turned from the gospel, and we Gentiles are blessed. But now, notice what
he’s saying; I want you to listen to his inference here. He’s saying, listen—If God kept
His word to the Gentiles, and He did keep His word to the Gentiles—remember that
Israel was not to be just simply a reservoir into which God poured His blessings, but it
was His pipeline through which God would disburse His blessings. And God said to
Abraham, Abraham, through you all the nations of the world shall be blessed. What God
is saying is this: If I have prophesied that the Gentiles would be saved, and they have
been saved, how much more then will I keep my word to Israel and bring them back to
me? Notice in verse 12: there is a fullness coming for Israel, do you see that? He says,
“God forbid. Now, if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of
them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness.”
Now, folks, listen to what he’s saying. In verse 15, he speaks of their receiving: “For
if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of
them be?” What is the point—what is the point? Listen to the point—you have to follow
Paul’s logic. Paul is saying that God is doing all of this according to a magnificent plan,

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and they were diminished, they fell away. But he’s saying they will come back. They’re
diminished now, but they will be full. They went away, but they will be received. And
what God is saying, If I kept my word to the Gentiles, I’m going to keep my word to the
Jews. And if I could take unsaved pagan Gentiles and bring them to Israel’s Messiah,
how much more can I take Israel and bring Israel to her own Messiah.

IV. Proof #4: The Continuing Promise of God

Now, here’s the next thing. Not only the power of God, the preservation of God, the
plan of God, but the continuing promise of God. That’s the next thing. Notice, if you will,
in verse 16 of this same chapter. And folks, think with me real fast. Now, look here in
verse 16: “For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root be holy, so
are the branches.” Now, what he’s talking here is the covenant he made with Abraham
and with Isaac and Jacob. He’s in the Old Testament. When a woman would be baking
bread, according to Old Testament law, she had to take a pinch of that dough and offer
it up to God. Numbers tells us about that. She’d take part of that dough and offer it to
God. It belonged to God. Now, that meant that the whole lump was holy because that
pinch of dough had been offered to God. All of the bread belonged to God, who gives us
our daily bread. And then, he says also the same thing: “If the root be holy, so are the
branches.” That is, the tree is going to be like the roots of the tree. Now, what he’s
saying is this: that God made promises to Abraham, God made a covenant, an
unbreakable covenant with Abraham, and so, if that little lump of dough, Abraham, was
holy, all the loaf belongs to me, God is saying. And if Abraham, the root, is mine, the
tree is mine. Now, what God is simply saying is this: I am going to keep my covenant
promise to Abraham. And God has not broken His promise, and God cannot break His
promise to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob.
Now, Abraham is the tree, and we who are Gentiles have simply been grafted in.
Look in 17 and 18 of this: "And if some of the branches be broken off,”—that’s
unbelieving Jews—“and thou being a wild olive tree”—that’s you, mister—“were grafted
in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree, boast
not against the branches. But if thou boast, remember, thou bearest not the root but the
root tree.” We have entered into Israel’s blessings. We’re just grafted in; that’s all we
are. We’re the wild olive. The Jews are the true thing. And so, what he is saying is this:
that if I can take people like Bob Sorrell and Adrian and Jamie Fish and Jim Whitmire
and graft them in to the true olive tree, if I can bring them in, after those unbelievers
were broken off, how much more can I bring my own people back in to their own tree, in
my time, and bring them back in. If I can take unbelieving pagans, and make believers
out of them, how much more can I bring Jews to their true Messiah. I was speaking to
some Jewish rabbis—and, by the way, I love Jewish rabbis; they are witty, charming,

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delightful, and very intelligent—and they were saying, You know, we don’t think you
ought to proselytize us. I said, Look, folks—you proselytized me, you proselytized me. I
belong in that olive tree only by the grace of God. I’m rooted in Abraham, just as every
Jew is rooted in Abraham. Is this getting too deep for you? I hope not.

V. Proof #5: The Culminating Purpose of God

Let’s move on to the third thing here. I’m trying to simplify it, but you have to see
these things. Now, here’s the next thing that he has, and that is the culminating purpose
of God. What is the culminating purpose of God? What is God aiming at? Well, begin in
verse 25, and we’ll be finished here in just a moment. But look, if you will, in verse 25.
And he says, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest
ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so, all Israel shall be saved. As it is
written, it shall come out of Zion, the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from
Jacob.” Now, he’s not talking here about spiritual Israel; he’s talking about natural Israel.
God never called spiritual Israel Jacob. He’s talking about literal fleshly Jews here.
Now, let me tell you how God is going to consummate His purpose and His plan with
the Jews. Now, be very alert right now. How’s God going to do it?
A. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel in His Time
Number one, He’s going to do it in His time. Say that: in His time. Say it again: in His
time. Now, look in verse 25—look at it now, so your eyes can see it: “I would not,
brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own
conceits, that blindness in part…—not all, the blindness is not total and it is not final—
blindness in part has happened to Israel until—until—the fullness of the Gentiles be
come in.” If you want to get a blessing sometime, just study the untils in the Bible—just
study the untils. God does things in His time, whether you like it or not. God has a
purpose. God is visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name—that’s
what the book of Acts says—and afterwards He’s going to return and build again the
tabernacle of David. He does it until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. What is the
fullness of the Gentiles? That’s the church. One of these days, the Church is going to be
complete. When will the Church be complete? When will the last soul be saved? I don’t
know when the last soul will be saved, but when the last soul is saved, that will be the
fullness of the Gentiles.
Now, today, we’re going to give an invitation in just a moment—not quite yet—but
I’m going to ask a minister to stand right here, and I’m going to ask those who will give
their hearts to Jesus to leave their seats and come. And suppose there’s a minister
standing right here, and suppose a 12-year-old girl comes right down here, and says to
that minister, I’m giving my heart to Jesus Christ. And suppose in heaven God says,

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That’s it; that’s it, that’s the last one, that’s the last one. Gabriel, get ready; that’s the last
one. The fullness of the Gentiles has come in. There’s a number known to God alone. I
don’t know, you don’t know, nobody knows when that last soul is going to be saved, but
the Bible tells us God is going to do it in His time, and blindness in part is happened to
Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
B. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel Through His Son
So, number one: it is in His time. Number two: it is through His Son. Look, if you will,
in verse 26: “And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, There shall come out of
Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Who is the deliverer?
His name is Jesus. Just in the darkest hour for Israel, this is when they’re going to look
upon Him whom they have pierced, and this is what the Bible says in Zechariah chapter
12, verse 9: “It shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations
that come against Jerusalem, and I will pour upon the house of David and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look
upon me whom they have pierced.” That’s what he’s talking about right here—the
deliverer shall come out of Zion. And then, he says, in Zechariah chapter 13 and verse
1: “In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness.” What is that fountain? There’s a
fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath
that flood lose all their guilty stains.
C. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel According to His Word
So number one—listen: it is in His time. Number two: through His Son. Say that:
through His Son—that’s verse 26. Now, next: according to His Word. Say that:
according to His Word. Look, if you will, in verse 27 now: “This is my covenant unto
them,”—that means an unbreakable promise—“when I shall take away their sins. As
concerning the gospel, their enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they
are beloved for the fathers’ sakes’,”—that is, the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—
“for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Now, what does that mean?
God keeps His word. God is not a liar. If God says He’s going to do it, He’s going to do
it. You say, I don’t understand it. You don’t change it. You say, I don’t believe it. That
doesn’t make any difference. God will keep His word.
D. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel by His Grace
It is in God’s time. It is through God’s Son. It is according to God’s Word. Now, next
of all, I want you to notice it is by God’s grace. Begin in verse 30, and look at this: “For
as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their
unbelief, even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also
may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have

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mercy upon…”—how many?—“upon all.” Again, don’t get the idea that God only wants
some people saved. God says all are unbelievers, and God says, I want mercy upon all.
But the point is that God is going to do this just out of sheer grace, and remember that
over there in chapter 11, verse 6, “It is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more
grace, and if by works it’s no more grace, otherwise work is no more work.” What does
He mean by that? I’m just going to do it by my grace. I mean, this is the sovereign God
who is going to do this.
E. God Will Consummate His Purpose with Israel for His Glory
It is through His Son, friend; it is by His grace; and, finally, it is for His glory. Look at
this in verses 33 through 36. Paul just gets through writing. I can just see him as he
wipes his tears, and just throws up his hands, and he says, “Oh, the depth of the riches,
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath
been his counselor, or who hath first given to him and it should be recompense unto him
again? For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever.
Amen.”

Conclusion
Now, you say, Pastor Rogers, I don’t understand predestination; I don’t understand
election; I don’t understand foreknowledge; I don’t understand all of this. Well, help
yourself; neither do I. And there’s not a person in this room who does, and not anybody
out there who does. And you know how I know? The apostle Paul didn’t know. He says,
Who can understand this? Who has been God’s counselor? His ways are past finding
out, so why don’t you quit trying and begin to live by the Word of God, what God has
revealed to you. You say, I don’t understand how there can be an election, and God can
know ahead of time, and yet man has a free will. Just believe it. It’s not up to you to
synthesize these things; it’s not up to you to put these things together. No, you just
simply believe. When the Bible says “whosoever will may come,” believe it. And when
the Bible says that God wants to have mercy upon all, believe it. And when the Bible
says Christ died for the whole world, believe it, and just say, Who can understand the
ways of God, the mind of God?
And right here in this passage of Scripture, I want to tell you something, folks:
theology turns to doxology. Paul just says, What a mighty God—what a mighty God! But
what he is showing is this: that God is not finished with the Jew. He shows the power of
God that convicted him, that’s going to happen to the Jew one time. He shows the
preservation of the God that kept that remnant in Elijah’s day, and how God is
preserving the Jews today. He shows the plan of God, incredible—the Jews turn from
Him, but Paul turned to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles get saved, and then, the Jews are

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going to come back, and a great number of them are going to get saved. And then, he
talks about the promises of God, that God has made a covenant with Abraham.
Abraham is the root. The root is holy; so is the tree. Got that? That first lump belongs to
God; so does the whole loaf of bread belong to God. Now, that’s the promise of God,
God will not break His promise.
And then, finally, the purpose of God. “So all Israel shall be saved.” Doesn’t mean
every Jew will be saved; it means those who trust in Him are the true Israel. They’re
going to be saved; whether they’re Jew or Gentile, they’re going to come to the Lord
Jesus Christ. I brought my notes down here to the lower floor to read something. I didn’t
get a chance to read in the first go-round today, but I want to read this to you. I was so
impressed with this. I copied this out of a news magazine I get from a Jewish
organization—not Christian at all, not Christian at all, Brother Bob. They’re so orthodox,
they won’t even spell the name God; they say G-dash-D. They would not even spell
God, lest they be accused of using God’s name irreverently. By the way, these people
are planning to rebuild the temple, the people who wrote this article.
Here’s what this Jew said, and I want you to listen to this: Israel is celebrating the
jubilee of redemption. Did you know that right this year is the Jubilee Year? Fifty years
after Israel was formed, when I was in high school playing high school football, Israel
became a nation. Israel is celebrating the Jubilee of redemption. This is the first Jubilee
in the modern history of Israel. The unique significance of this Jubilee is that it is
celebrated at the time of the End Time Redemption. Even though the people of Israel
have passed through exciting times in their biblical history, we are now living in the most
exciting time in the history of the chosen people of God. All of the prophecies of the God
of Israel are being fulfilled since the creation of the state of Israel. Over the past 50
years, God has again dramatically appeared in the life of His beloved nation and land.
All His prophetic promises are becoming a reality. According to the Word of God, three
major events will occur in the end times prior to the coming of Mashiac, ben David, that
is, Messiah, son of David.
First is the re-establishment of the state of Israel and the land of Israel. We saw that
May 14 to 15, 1948. Many of you were alive when that happened. The second is the re-
gathering of the Jewish people to the Promised Land from all over the world. We’ve
seen that, as they’ve come, even out of Soviet Russia, as they’ve come on the wings of
eagles. The third is the rebuilding of the temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem, on
the same place as the first and second temples. And this man and others are gathering
money, gathering materials, to rebuild the temple right there on the Mount of Olives.
And what he’s saying is this: Everything is at hand; we’re ready, this is the most exciting
time. This is the year of Jubilee—redemption. He just doesn’t know how much he
knows—he just does not know how much he knows.

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 And my heart almost explodes when I think of people like this who will see Him, and
say, What are those wounds in your hands? And you say, These are they where I was
wounded in the house of my friends. And in that day there will be a fountain open for the
inhabitants of Jerusalem for cleansing and for sin. Is God through with the Jew? God
forbid, and He’s not through with you, either.
Let’s bow your heads in prayer. If you want Jesus Christ as your personal Savior
and Lord, let me help you to pray right now so you can be saved. Would you pray like
this? Dear God, I am a sinner. Now, folks, you’ll never get saved until you get that far. I
am a sinner, and my sin deserves judgment, but I need and I want mercy. Jesus, I
believe that you are the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world. Thank you, Lord, that
I can be grafted into that olive tree. Thank you, Lord, that through faith I can become a
child of God. Lord Jesus, now, right now, right now, this moment, I open my heart. I
receive you, Jesus, as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life. Forgive my sin. Save me,
Jesus. Did you pray that? Then, by faith, pray this way: Thank you for saving me. I don’t
look for a sign. I don’t ask for a feeling. I stand upon your Word. You said, if I would trust
you, you would save me. Thank you for saving me. And now, Lord Jesus, give me the
courage to make it public. Help me never to be ashamed of you. In your name I pray.
Amen.

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 The Power of Effectual Prayer
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: January 26, 2003

Main Scripture Text: Romans 11:36

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are

all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
ROMANS 11:36

Outline
Introduction  
A. Jesus Is the Producer of Creation
B. Jesus Is the Preserver of Creation
C. Jesus Is the Purpose of Creation
I. The Origin of Prayer
II. The Operation of Prayer
III. The Objective of Prayer
Conclusion

Introduction
Turn, if you will, please, to the book of Romans—the Constitution of Christianity,
Romans chapter 11. And we are going to look primarily at one verse tonight.
And, before we look at that verse, I want to tell you there is a place in the Atlantic
Ocean called the Bermuda Triangle. Sometimes, it is called the Devil’s Triangle. It is
said that in that body of water, a vast body of water, sometimes airplanes have been
known to mysteriously disappear. Sometimes ocean liners and boats and fishing craft
have just disappeared. People have vanished in this so-called Bermuda Triangle, or
Devil’s Triangle. Now, I think that is more myth than mystery. And I don’t put any stock
in that, but there is another triangle, not the Devil’s Triangle, but a Divine Triangle, and it
is not myth; it is miracle. And we are going to read about it right here in Romans chapter
11 and verse 36. Listen to it: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to
whom be glory for ever.” Now, that is a divine triangle.
Can we have a triangle on the screen here? I want you to see how that works. We
are going to be talking about prayer tonight. We are going to be talking about the power
of effectual prayer. And you are going to find out that in God’s economy there is a cycle,
that things come, first of all, of Him, and then they go through Him, and then they return
back to Him. And that is the cycle of victory that we have. Really, that is the theme of

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the entire Bible. Everything starts with God. Everything operates through God.
Everything returns back to God.
A. Jesus Is the Producer of Creation
For example, the first verse in the Bible says, everything is of God. Genesis [Link] “In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It all begins with God. And then,
in Revelation chapter 1 and verse 8, Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, which was, and which is to come.” Do you see
the way that this divine triangle begins, and it continues, and it ends? “For of Him, and
through Him, and to Him.”
Think for example in the material world. How did the material world come to place?
How did it all come to be? Put in your margin Colossians 1, verses 16 and 17: “For by
him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.” In that one verse, you see the same truth, that first of all, the physical world,
He, our God, is the power of creation. It is impossible to believe that everything came
from nothing. Listen. We believe in God by faith, but the atheist has a whole lot more
faith than we have. He, by faith, believes that it all just happened.
The scientists totally reject that; some scientists totally reject that. Sir Fred Hoyle at
the British Academy of Science, who is a leading mathematician and astronomer, shook
up a lot of people in the scientific community when he said this—and let me quote him:
“We must now admit to ourselves that the probability of life arising by chance, by
evolution, is the same probability of throwing six on dice 5 million consecutive times.”
And then he goes on to say, “Let’s be scientifically honest with ourselves. The
probability of having life arise to greater and greater complexity in organization by
chance is the same probability of having a tornado tear through a junkyard and form out
the other end a Boeing 747.” And this is a scientist talking, Sir Fred Hoyle of the British
Academy of Science. He said, “Random and impersonal chance does not create
complexity and design.” No, all things are by Him.
B. Jesus Is the Preserver of Creation
But not only is He the producer of creation; He is the preserver of creation. That
same verse that I just read to you said, “By him all things consist.” Jesus is the glue of
the galaxies. He is the one who feeds the sun with fuel. He is the one who veils the
moon with beauty. He is the one who guides the planet on their courses. Take His hand
away and everything would disintegrate. It is God who just does all of this.
I was studying some about astronomy. I am not an astronomer, but I love
astronomy. And I got to thinking again about the speed of light, because I am preparing

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a message to speak at a convention about light. And you know that light travels at
182,282 miles per second—186, 282 per second. Well, how fast is that? Close your
eyes. Now open them. Light just went around the world seven times. That’s how fast
light travels. Now, the sun is 93 million miles away, and it takes light approximately 8 1/2
minutes to travel from earth to the sun at 186,000 miles per second. Now, to reach the
nearest star, however, you would have to travel 4 1/2 years at that speed, that is 27
trillion miles. That’s the nearest star. They tell us that there are stars out there in our
galaxy that are billions of light years away. As a matter of fact, the thing that we can see
furthest in the distance with the giant telescopes are things called quasars. And they are
15 billion light years away—15 billion light years away. That’s 90 billion trillion miles
away. And, who knows what is behind that?
C. Jesus Is the Purpose of Creation
Well, who keeps all of that in order? God. He calls all the stars by name. You see,
Jesus is the producer of creation. He is the preserver of creation. And He is the purpose
of Creation. The verse I just read to you from Colossians says all things were created
for Him. What’s the world coming to? What is the universe coming to? It is coming to
Jesus. It is true in the physical world. It is true in the spiritual world.
How did we get saved—because we sought God? No. I read a verse to you this
morning: “there is none that seeketh after God, no not one.” The only reason you know
Him is because He sought you. We love Him because He first loved us. By nature, we
are all running from God. If God couldn’t run faster than we could run, none of us would
be saved. Friend, I want to tell you He takes the initiative. He first loved us. Then He
takes our salvation and brings us to Himself. We have nothing to boast of. We live the
Christian life through the power He gives, and one day we are going back to Him. For it
is of Him, by Him, through Him, and to Him are all things.
It is the same thing in sanctification. It all begins with Him. I used to think, as a young
Christian, if I could just be good enough, if I could live clean enough, pure enough, then
maybe God would fill me with the Holy Spirit. That was so foolish. Because there is no
way that I could live the Christian life apart from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That
doesn’t mean I can cling to sin and have God fill me. But it does mean this: that, friend,
holiness is not the way to God. God is the way to holiness. That is so important that you
learn this.
You know, some people want to get some money. They want to borrow some
money. And they have the idea that if they can go to the banker and prove to the banker
they don’t need any money, maybe he will loan them some. Well, friend, we used to
think that about God. You know, if we could just say to God, “Now, God, I’m perfectly
clean and pure and holy; now fill me with the Spirit.” No. You see it is of Him, and
through Him, and to Him. We come to Him empty-handed, and say, “Lord, I am in a

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mess.” And God says, all right, I am the one that put that desire in your heart, and I am
going to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
It is the same thing in stewardship. What do we give to the Lord when we bring our
money here? What He has given to us. Now, what do you have that you have not
received? In the truest sense, how can you give anything to God? What do you have
that you have not received? It is of Him, and through Him, and to Him. When our
children were little, they would go out and buy me a Father’s Day present. Do you know
what they bought me a Father’s Day present with? Money I gave them. Sure, but I
enjoyed it. The whole thing is of Him, through Him, and to Him. That is the divine
triangle.
Now, having that in mind, I want to talk to you about effectual prayer. And I want to
tell you three wonderful truths about prayer. Now, listen to me now. Don’t check me out.
This is transformational, and this is truth. I want to apply it to your heart.

I. The Origin of Prayer

Let’s think first of all of the origin—the origin of prayer. It roots in the purposes of
God. That is so important. The origin of all effectual prayer roots in the purposes of God.
For of Him are all things. Now, I have told you before, the prayer that gets to heaven is
the prayer that starts in heaven. Of Him are all things. Prayer is not some way to get
earth’s will done in heaven; it is God’s way to get Heaven’s will done on earth. You see,
God is sovereign, and we are sinful. There is no way that prayer would work if it did not
begin with God. But though God is sovereign, His sovereign throne is a throne of grace.
And we can come to a sovereign God by grace. And grace means that God loves us
before we loved Him. Hebrews [Link] “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Now, have you ever thought about the fact of why we pray? Prayer is a great
mystery. Why do we pray? Why do we tell God what He already knows? Why do we ask
God to do what He already wants to do? If it already starts in His heart and mind, why
do we pray? Why does God lay that burden upon our heart? Let me give you three
reasons why we pray like this.
First of all, God gives us the privilege—listen to me—the privilege of working
together with Him. Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 1: “For we then are workers
together with him.” Now, Mark Dougharty and I, we work together. We meet, we pray,
we talk, we laugh, we plan. And it is a privilege for me to work with Mark. I know Mark
better because I work with him. He knows me better because we work together. What a
glorious privilege to work with God. I mean to think of it, Paul said we are laborers
together with him.
I have often used the illustration, but I’ll dare use it one more time of sometimes I will

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fly with a person in a private airplane and sit up in the cockpit side by side. And that
person will let me fly the plane. Well, friend, if he weren’t there, I’d be a pilot, all right; I’d
pile it in the field. But he is there to override my mistakes. And yet I am flying that
aircraft. Now, he could do it without me. I could not do it without him. But together we
are having fellowship. That’s the way prayer is. God could do it without us. We could not
do it without Him. But God has given us the privilege to pray. Prayer bonds your heart to
God.
And prayer is also the way that God disciples us. Have you ever asked God for
something and didn’t get the answer? Let me see your hand. Come on. Sure, of course
you did. And you say, “Well, why did God not answer my prayer?” A boy may ask a girl
for date, and she says no, and he says, “I wonder why. I wonder if I have bad breath.”
And so he gargles. And then, later on, he says, “I wonder if my fingernails are messy.”
So he cleans his fingernails. And then he says, “I wonder if my dress is not appropriate.”
And he begins to clean up and dress up. And then, after a while, she may say yes.
Now, that is the way God is. God is working on us. And God disciples us through
prayer. Prayer is God’s way of, when we have prayers that are not answered, to cause
us to examine our hearts.
And prayer binds us and bonds us to God. God does not want us to be independent
of Him. Now, all prayer begins in heaven. If you want your prayers answered, you are
going to have to hear from heaven. John 15, verse 16—Jesus said, “You have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my
name, he may give it to you.”
Now, Jesus said, I have chosen you. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I ordained
you, that you would bring forth fruit. And whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will
do. That means, I am the origin of the prayer. In my name means, I have signed the
purchase order.
Now, the disciples went out fishing one night and didn’t catch anything. And Jesus
said, well, cast your net on the other side of the boat. And the disciples said, look, we
have toiled all night and have taken nothing. It begins with we; it ends with nothing.
Nevertheless, at thy word, we will. And then, listening to Him, they cast out their net and
caught a boatload. The whole point is this that prayer begins with God.
So many times, we are trying to bend God’s will to our will. Prayer is not bending
God’s will to our will; prayer is finding the will of God and getting in on it. Don’t be like
the little boy who was heard praying, “Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo.” Somebody said,
“What are you doing?” He said, “I have just had a geography test and I am praying to
make Tokyo the capital of England.” You are not going to change God by prayer. God’s
will is what prayer lays hold of. Prayer is not bending God’s will to our will. Now, that is

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the origin of all prayer. It roots in the purposes of God. That’s the reason I said this
morning, “It is not, name it and claim it.”

II. The Operation of Prayer

Now, here is the second thing I want you to notice: not only the origin of prayer, but
the operation of prayer. It relies on the power of God. Now, even if you have the right
origination, if you knew the will of God, you still need the anointing to pray. Did you
know that you need God in order to pray? God is the one who gives you the desire to
pray. Remember Romans 3, verse 10 and 11. I have told you, “There is none that
seeketh after God; no, not one.” Your old nature does not want to pray. Romans 8,
verses 5 through 7: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal man”—that means the
fleshly man—“is enmity against God”—that means warfare against God—“for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
You will never train the old man to love prayer. Your may as well try to train your dog
to love opera. Your old nature does not want to pray. It is God that gives you the desire
to pray. He has put His Spirit in your heart crying “Abba Father.” If you have no desire to
pray, it is because you are not walking in the Spirit. Now, God gives not only the desire
to pray; God gives the direction to pray. He teaches us what to pray for. Matthew 6,
verse 8: “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye
have need of before you ask him.” God knows what you need to pray. God knows what
you need. Is that a comfort to you? It ought to be.
Sometimes we might want things that we don’t need. Sometimes we ask God for
things we don’t need. Mrs. Billy Graham said, “If God had answered my prayer, I would
have married the wrong man on four different occasions.” We ask God for things. I
remember one time there was a car that I thought I needed when I was in high school. A
buddy of mine had an old rattletrap car, and I think he was going to sell it for $75. I
thought, man, if I could get $75, I could have that car. I asked God for it, and God didn’t
give me $75, and I didn’t get the car. Somebody else got it, and the motor fell out of it. I
mean, literally fell out of it. I don’t see how a motor can fall out of a car. But I had to
thank God. “Lord, thank you for not letting me get that automobile.” Sometimes we think
we need things that we don’t need. And sometimes we need things that we don’t want.
My dad used to say, you need a spanking. He was right. I didn’t want one, but
sometimes we need things we don’t want. God knows what we need. And sometimes
we think we need things we already have.
I am amazed at churches in building programs that are asking God to give them the
money to build a building when they have the money in their pockets. The people have

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the money in their pockets. They are asking God to send somebody else to give them
money, rather than asking God. Listen, friend. God gives you what you need. He knows
what you have need before you ask Him. And God gives you the desire to pray. And
God gives you the direction for praying, what to ask for.
Well, you say, “Pastor Rogers, why doesn’t God therefore direct me more?” I was
thinking about this, this afternoon. I will tell you one thing. There is so much in this Bible
that we do know about that we ought to pray about and we don’t pray about. Why do we
whine about the things we don’t know about? There are so many things that are
revealed to us clearly—clearly.
Now, listen to what Jesus said—Jesus in His humanity. I want you to notice how
Jesus did not originate His prayers, but He listened to the Father. Put this down—John
5, verse 19: “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, verily, verily I say unto you, the
Son”—speaking of Himself, the s-o-n—“can do nothing of himself,”—did you hear that? I
mean God incarnate, God in human flesh, He said I can’t do anything of myself—“but
what he seeth the Father do, for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.” Jesus said, I stay tuned to heaven, and whatever I see, whatever I hear, that’s
what I say; that’s what I do. Friend, when you come to God, and abide in God, God is
going to speak to your heart. We need more loving, lingering, listening prayer. Because
the prayer that gets to heaven is the prayer that starts in heaven. All things are of Him
and through Him.
I have had experiences in my life that are so phenomenal—so phenomenal—where
God has spoken to me, and I have obeyed. I’ve asked God for something that God laid
on my heart. And it just happened in such a way that I cannot believe it’s coincidence.
There was a man named Johnny—Johnny Sowell. I had Johnny on my heart, praying
for Johnny, wanting Johnny to be saved. I was down in Florida when this happened.
And I had prayed for Johnny. I tried to witness to Johnny. Every time I would go to the
house where Johnny was boarding there would be so many people around, and they
would crowd around me, and I couldn’t get Johnny alone to talk to him. But I knew that if
I could just get Johnny alone—Johnny was about nineteen years of age—if I could get
him alone, I could lead him to Christ. I had borrowed a deacon’s home for prayer. I was
just there in his living room on my knees praying for Johnny. And I felt this strange thing
come into my heart. I felt God saying, ask Me for this. Ask Me that you can go
downtown and there in the middle of town you will see Johnny. Ask Johnny to ride to
Vero Beach with you, and tell Johnny about Jesus, and Johnny will get saved. Now,
there is no reason for this. I had no idea where he was, what his work schedule was,
where he would be in town, or anything else. No apparent reason. I am there, actually
on my knees; I believe, if I remember, I was on my face. I said, “Lord, I am going to ask
You. Therefore, I am going to go downtown, and I am going to ask you that You let me

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meet Johnny. I am going to ask Johnny to go to Vero Beach with me, and I want to talk
to him about You, and I want him to get saved.” I got in my Ford automobile, went down
to the main street, the crossroads there, and there is Johnny standing on the corner. I
said, “Johnny, I am going to go to Vero Beach. Will you ride with me?” He said, “Sure
thing,” and jumped in the car. Why should he go with me to Vero Beach? On the way
there, I talked to him about Jesus. On the way back, we stopped, parked the car, he
prayed and asked God to come into his heart.
Well, how do you want to explain that? I mean, I am not clairvoyant, but I felt God
telling me to pray this. I have had—I could name, not a lot, but enough—experiences
like that, that make me wonder why I don’t stay more in tune with the Lord. I am not
holding myself up here as a paragon of excellence in this matter. And I believe that God
many times just speaks to us clearly and plainly in plain English about His will, and we
know it is of Him. And sometimes it is not always that dramatic. But I am telling you, it is
God who originates the prayer. He is the origin of this prayer. And He is the operation of
this prayer.

III. The Objective of Prayer

Now, here is the third and final thing, as we think about prayer. And that’s the
objective of effective prayer. It results in the praise of God. It roots in the purpose of
God. It continues in the power of God. And it always results in the praise of God.
Now, God does not hear selfish prayers. God is in the business of getting glory to
Himself. There is one verse that most adequately defines prayer to me, and it is John
14, verse 13—listen to it: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.” That’s it. “When you ask in my name,” Jesus
said, “I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” For of Him, and through
Him, and to Him are all things.
Now, praise and thanksgiving complete the triangle of prayer. First of all, there is a
petition. And then, there is praise. You see, thanksgiving enjoys the gift, but praise
enjoys the giver. Don’t just merely thank God for what He has done for you, but praise
Him. Look at the verse again—verse 36: “For of him, and through him, and to him are all
things, to whom be glory forever.” The purpose of prayer is to glorify God. When you
learn that secret of wanting to glorify God, you see, prayer goes into God’s presence to
carry something away, and that’s wonderful. But praise goes into God’s presence to
remain there forever. Now, that’s the reason we are to pray in the name of Jesus. Listen
to this verse again, in John 14, verse 13: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that
will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
What does it mean to ask in His name? Does that mean to say whenever we pray for
whatever we want, we just say, in the name of Jesus, and that somehow sanctifies

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it? No. When you are asking in His Name, it means, first of all, with His approval. Could
He sign His name to it? Secondly, with His authority. Is it something that He Himself
approves and therefore gives His authority to? And thirdly, is it for His acclaim or for His
glory? Don’t just rattle off, in the name of Jesus, if you are not really praying for His
acclaim, with His approval, and in His authority.
Now, when you pray, pray in the name of Jesus. And when you pray in the name of
Jesus, and ask Him for whatever you ask Him for, ask yourself this question: “Am I
praying this prayer because God the Holy Spirit put this thing in my heart either through
the written Word or through His Spirit—the rhema that I spoke about this morning? Am I
now praying in the energy of the Spirit rather than the energy of the flesh? And is the
desire of my heart that God would be glorified?

Conclusion
Let’s put the triangle back up there again and look at it again. Look at it now. See at
the point up there. There is God in heaven. For of Him—it all starts with God. He knows
what things we have need of before we ask Him. And then, it is through Him. We pray in
the Spirit, not in the energy of the flesh, as He gives us the desire and the direction to
pray. And then, the prayer goes right back to Him, and He is the One who receives the
glory. And, when we begin to pray this way, then God begins to work in a very
supernatural way. Now, let me give you a definition of prayer, and then we are going to
have an invitation. Here is the best definition of prayer that I have ever learned. Prayer
is the Holy Spirit finding a desire in the heart of the Father, putting that desire into our
hearts, and then sending it back to heaven in the power of the cross. Would you like to
hear it again? Nod your heads. All right now, listen. Prayer is the Holy Spirit finding a
desire in the heart of the Father, putting that desire into our hearts, and then, sending it
back to heaven in the power of the cross. For of him, and through him, and to Him are
all things. And this is very simple, but very wonderful. He, Almighty God, is the purpose
of prayer. He is the power of prayer. He is the origin. He is the operation. He is the
object of all true prayer.
Bow your heads in prayer. Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. Now, let me say
this: that you cannot, you never will, pray in power outside the will of God, and you will
never know the will of God, until you abide in Him. And you can never abide in Him, if
you are not saved. And so, if for no other reason, not even to escape hell and go to
heaven, if for no other reason than to be on praying ground, you ought to be saved. But
you cannot pray in the name of Jesus, God cannot speak to you in sweet communion,
until you get saved. So, if you would like to be saved, give your heart to Jesus. Now, the
Bible says, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. And that word
believe does not mean intellectual belief alone; it means trust. You can believe an

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airplane can fly, but you don’t trust it till you get on it. Are you ready to trust Jesus?
Would you like to invite Him into your heart? Then pray a prayer like this: “Dear God, I
am a sinner and I am lost.” And, friend, don’t be ashamed or afraid to admit that you are
a sinner. You know you are. And the wages of sin is death. The soul that sinneth, it shall
surely die. The wrath of God burns against sin. You dare not face God with
unconfessed, unforgiven sin. “I am a sinner, Lord.” Confess it. “I need to be saved.” You
do need to be saved, if you have never been saved. And then, make a confession of
faith like this: “Jesus, You are the Son of God. You paid for my sin debt with Your shed
blood on the cross. God raised You from the dead. You promised to save me, if I would
trust You. I do trust You, right now, with all of my heart. Come into my heart. Forgive my
sin. Cleanse me. Save me, Jesus.” Don’t just utter the words. Pray it from your heart.
“Save me, Lord Jesus.” Did you ask Him? Then, by an act of faith, don’t look for a
feeling; don’t look for a sign, but just by an act of faith stand on the Word, and say,
“Thank you for doing it. Just thank you for doing it. I receive it by faith. If you give a
feeling, emotion, that’s fine, but I am not depending upon that. Emotions are fickle. By
faith, I thank you for saving me. You are now my Lord, my Savior, my God, and my
Friend. Begin now, Lord Jesus, to make me the person you want me to be, and help me
never ever to be ashamed of You. In Your name I pray. Amen.”
Now, look up here. We are going to sing an invitational hymn. The ministers of our
church are going to stand here at the head of every aisle all the way across the front to
receive those…

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 The Secret of Effectual Prayer
By Adrian Rogers
Date Preached: May 31, 1998

Main Scripture Text: Romans 11:36

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are

all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
ROMANS 11:36

Outline
Introduction  
I. The Origin of Effectual Prayer: The Purpose of God
II. The Operation of Effectual Prayer: The Power of God
III. The Objective of Effectual Prayer: The Praise of God
Conclusion

Introduction
You’re not going to lay down your sword and shield by the riverside unless you’ve taken
up the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior. There’s another spiritual that says,
everybody talking about heaven ain’t going there. So I hope that you know the Lord
Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Be finding please Romans chapter 11 and we’re going to spend most of our time this
morning in one verse—verse 36. We’re talking today about the secret of effectual
prayer. Now, I don’t know why we like to put the word secret in our sermon titles, but it’s
no secret. It’s right here in the Word of God how to pray and pray effectually. Down in
the Atlantic Ocean there is a great mass of water bounded on three sides that is called
the Bermuda Triangle, and some call it the Devil’s Triangle, because in that great,
massive part of the earth, the ocean’s surface, it is said that airplanes fly into that
Bermuda Triangle and disappear. Ships sail into that vast place of water and they
disappear—the Bermuda Triangle. Many people say it’s a great mystery. I think it’s a
myth. I don’t think there’s anything really to it.
I don’t want to talk to you today about the Devil’s Triangle. I want to talk to you about
the Divine Triangle. The Divine Triangle is not a myth—it’s a miracle. It doesn’t cause
things to disappear—it brings things into being. And that Divine Triangle is found right
here in the Word of God. Look at it in verse 36: “For of him and through him, and to him,
are all things.” Now, friend, that is a wonderful, wonderful thought. If God will write that
upon your heart—“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be

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glory forever.”
Now, what this verse is doing is talking about the sovereignty of Almighty God. It
says everything begins with God. He is the source of all things. Everything is
accomplished through God. He is the force of all things, and everything returns back to
God. He is the course of all things. All things are from Him and through Him and to Him.
Almighty God is sovereign. You see, this is really the theme of the Bible. How does the
Bible start? Well, in the beginning, God. All things are from Him, or of Him. And then,
how does the Bible end? In the book of the Revelation chapter 1 and verse 8: “I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and was, and
is to come.” It’s the theme of the Bible. All things, friend, come from Him and they go
back to Him.
It’s true in the material world. How did this material world get here? Let me give you
a verse of Scripture. Just put it in your margin by this verse and you can find it in
Colossians 1, verses 16 and 17, if you are fast enough to turn to it, but here’s what it
says. It just illustrates this verse. Listen to it: “For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers—all things were created by him, and for him. And
he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” That’s just a re-statement of, of
Him, through Him, and to Him are all things. You see Jesus—Jesus—is the power of
creation.
How did everything get here? Well, Jesus put it all here. Every time I see an atheist I
think, friend, don’t palm yourself off as an intellectual. You know, sometimes atheists
want to strut a little bit like they’re too intellectual to believe in God. An atheist believes
nothing times nobody brought about everything.
Now, you think about it. It’s really kind of ridiculous. Sir Fred Hoyle, Fred Hoyle, of
the British Academy of Science, a leading mathematician and astronomer, shook up a
lot of people when he said this. And let me give you what Sir Fred Hoyle had to say
about this vast universe in which we live. I quote: “We must now admit to ourselves that
the probability of life arising by chance, by evolution—now listen to this—is the same
probability of throwing six on dice 5 million consecutive times.” And he goes on to say,
“Let’s be scientifically honest with ourselves. The probability of having life arise to
greater and greater complexity in organization by chance is the same probability of
having a tornado tear through a junkyard and form out the other end a Boeing 747.” And
then he goes on to say—now this is a scientist, “Random and impersonal chance does
not create complexity and design”—“Random and impersonal chance does not create
complexity and design.”
Jesus is the reason for and the producer of creation, and He’s also the preserver of
creation, because this verse that I just read to you said of the Lord Jesus, “By him all

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things consist.” That is, they adhere together. He is what keeps the molecular structure
of this universe from flying apart. Every atom, by nature, would want to fly apart, except
that God has built into every atom an attraction that holds it together, and He has built
the gravitational force into our universe, and what some call the law of nature is but the
power of Jesus, who is the one who keeps it all together. He is the glue of the galaxies.
It’s the Lord Jesus who fuels the sun with its power. It’s the Lord Jesus who veils the
moon with its beauty. It’s the Lord Jesus who guides the planets through the universes.
There’s no natural law. It’s the laws of God that nature obeys.
Let me give you another verse. Just put this one down in your margin and meditate
on it. I was meditating on it this morning. What a great verse it is—Isaiah 40, verse 26.
He tells us to go out now and just look at the skies. Joyce and I love to do that on a
starry night. Listen to it: “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these
things.” Now, when you look at the stars, you say, who did that? Look. “Lift up your eyes
on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by
number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for he is strong in
power. Not one faileth.”
Joyce and I took a vacation some years ago down on a little island in the Bahamas
and there was no television there, no radio, nothing, really no air conditioning, just a
little place there on the beach. We loved it. And there was a dock out in front and at
nighttime Joyce and I’d just go down and get flat on our backs on the dock, and just look
up at the stars, and just lie there and talk and marvel at the stars in the universe. Now,
listen. The Bible says in this verse that He calls them all by name. Have you ever
thought about that—that God has a name for every star in the universe?
Now, let me just give you a little astronomy here. If you were to hijack a light beam,
you know how fast you’d have to travel? 186,282 miles per second. Well, you say, how
fast is that? Well, blink your eyes. Just blink them like that. All right, in that time, light
would have gone around the equator—all the way around the earth—seven times, in
time you blinked your eyes. That’s how fast it travels. Traveling at the speed of light, it
takes you eight minutes to get to the sun. Now, the sun is 93 million miles away, so light
coming 93 million miles only takes it 8 minutes to get here, but now we are talking about
the stars, and He calls all the stars by name.
The closest star to us is Alpha Centauri, which is 4 ½ light years away. Now, what is
a light year? Well, that’s the distance it takes light to travel, traveling at 186,000 miles
per second—186,000 miles per second—it takes light 4 ½ years—4 ½ years—traveling
that fast to get to the nearest star. Now, how far is that in miles? How far is a light year
in miles? Well, light will travel in a year 6 trillion miles. Now, so, 4 ½ light years away—
that’s 27 trillion miles. That’s the closest star. Now, folks, there are stars, billions of stars
in our galaxy. As a matter of fact, our galaxy is the Milky Way, and it is estimated there

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are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way. And from one rim of the Milky Way to the other
rim of the Milky Way would be 100,000 light years, going just from one rim of our Milky
Way to the other. That’s our galaxy, and they say they’ve taken that great 200-inch
telescope on Mount Palomar and looked through just the cup of the Big Dipper and
there they’ve seen as many as one million galaxies, just through the cup of the Big
Dipper, and these stars go on and on and on and on. The further thing that they believe
they’ve seen in space is what they call a quasar, which is 15 billion—listen—15 billion
light years away. That’s 90 billion trillion miles away, and who knows what’s behind
that? And God gives all of these stars names—billions upon billions upon billions upon
billions.
We’re talking about something that is 90 billion trillion miles away, and who knows
what lies beyond all of that? Who made all of that? Jesus did. Jesus made all of that for
His glory. Albert Einstein as a young man in 1932 was an atheist, but in 1950 he
became a believer in a higher power. Albert Einstein became what we would call today
a theist. That is, he said all of this could not have happened. All of the mathematical
laws and precision in the universe, the vastness, it could not happen by chance. There
has to be a higher intelligence. I wish he had known that higher intelligence is Jesus.
You see, Jesus is the producer of creation. Jesus is the preserver of creation. By Him
all things consist. And Jesus is the purpose of creation. Our verse I gave you says, “all
things were made by him, and for him.” And the word for is the Greek preposition eis
and it has the idea of progress toward an object. It has an idea of motion toward an
object. You see, look. The universe came from Him, the universe is sustained by Him,
and everything comes back to Him. People ask this question—what’s the world coming
to? It’s coming to Jesus. “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.”
It’s true in the material universe. Friend, it’s true in the spiritual universe. Think about
the things that we have in the spiritual universe. How did you get saved? “For of Him,
and through Him, and to Him are all things.” Your salvation began in the heart and mind
of God. The Bible says before He swung this planet into space, you were in His heart
and in His mind. And Christ died before the foundation of the world, in the heart and
mind of God, and God knew you before you were born, and your salvation did not
originate with you—it originated with God. “We love Him because He first loved us.” It is
of Him. And then, it is through Him. Jesus came to this earth, suffered, bled, and died
for us on the cross, and with His rich, red, royal blood paid the price of our salvation.
And then, it is to Him. Why did He do all of that? So that we could know Him and love
Him and worship Him and honor Him. It is true in salvation. “For of Him, and through
Him, and to Him are all things.”
Not only is it true in salvation, but it’s true in sanctification. Once you get saved, how
do you live the Christian life? “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him.” You see, it is

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God that gives you this ability to live the Christian life. One of the greatest lessons I’ve
ever learned about being a Christian is this: that holiness is not the way to Jesus—
Jesus is the way to holiness. “For it is of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all
things.” Not only is it true about salvation, not only is it true about sanctification, it’s true
about stewardship. You talk about giving something to Jesus. This morning we’re going
to take an offering. Well, let me tell you something. In the truest sense you won’t give
Him anything, did you know that? Why? “Of thine own have we given unto thee.”
Fathers Day is coming pretty soon, and some little boys will get from their daddies some
money to go buy their daddy a present. You see, listen: “For of Him, and through Him,
and to Him. Of thine own have we given unto thee.” Anything we give to Him, He gave
to us—everything—whether it be salvation, whether it be sanctification, whether it be a
stewardship, whether it be service it’s “of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all
things.”
Now, we said we’re going to talk about prayer. Let’s see how this relates to prayer.
There are three things I want you to learn about prayer this morning—effectual prayer.

I. The Origin of Effectual Prayer: The Purpose of God

I want you to see the origin of effectual prayer: It is of Him. And then, I want you to
see the operation of effectual prayer: It is through Him. And then, I want you to see the
objective of spiritual prayer: It is to Him. When you learn that prayer is a cycle, that like
everything else in the material world, or the spiritual world, that, “all things are of Him,
through Him, and to Him,” it will help you to understand how to pray effectual prayer.
Now, listen to me very carefully. We are going to talk about effectual prayer. What is
the origin of effectual prayer? It roots in the purpose of God. Now, that’s worth writing
down. The origin of effectual prayer, is this: it roots in the purpose of God. Now, here is
the great, great secret of effectual prayer. Listen carefully. The prayer that gets to
heaven starts in heaven. Now, the prayer that gets to heaven starts in heaven for, “of
Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.” You see, prayer is God’s way of
getting heaven’s will done on earth, not man’s way of getting man’s will done in heaven.
What we do when we pray is just close the circuit. “For of Him, and through Him, and to
Him, are all things.” God is a sovereign God.
Why has God allowed us to pray? Have you ever thought about that? Prayer is so
mysterious. I mean, God knows what we have need of before we ask Him, so why
should I ask God for what He already knows I need? And God loves me. Why should I
have to persuade a loving God to bless me or give me what I need? What is the
purpose of prayer? Could God do it without our praying? He will not do it without our
praying, and if we don’t pray, we will not have, for the Bible says, “We have not because
we ask not.” What is the reason for prayer? Well, let me just give you three of them right

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here for just a moment. You see, God has given us the privilege of working with Him.
Now, God in His administration of the universe has called us as laborers together with
Him. The Bible tells us very clearly in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 1, “We are
workers together with him.”
Now, you think about it, that Almighty God said to Adrian, “Adrian, I want you to help
me run the universe.” You say, that’s arrogance. Well then, blame the apostle Paul. He
said, “We are workers together with him.” We work together with God as we work with
one another, and we work with God in administrating the universe. God wants to move
through His people.
Well, why would He do it that way? I’ve often used the illustration of flying an
airplane. I don’t know how to fly an airplane, but there have been times when I’ve been
up with the pilot, and he would say to me, do you want to fly this airplane? I say, sure.
So he turns the airplane over to me. He’s sitting there alongside of me, of course, and
he’s got his hands on his controls. I have mine on the other controls and I’m flying the
airplane. Now, folks, I want to make it very clear he could do it without me, I couldn’t do
it without him, but there’s the joy of that fellowship as he says, I’m going to let you help
me fly this airplane. God says, I want to let you help me to run the universe, and the
way we’re going to do it is through prayer.
And so, there is that cooperation with Almighty God; when we pray we have the
privilege of working with God. And then, because of that, we also find there is that
bonding—that bonding—that we have. Did you know, if we didn’t pray, many of us
would never think about God? Many of us would take just the blessings for granted. But
God wants us to be perpetually dependent upon Him, so He teaches us to pray—He
teaches us to pray.
And then, prayer is the way of disciplining us. Have you ever prayed and not gotten
your prayer answered? Of course. And you say, well, why didn’t God answer my
prayer? Is there something wrong in my life? Have I been out of fellowship with God? Is
there unconfessed, unrepented of sin in my life? And many times we’ll find that there is.
And the Bible says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. And I think
one of the things that keeps me closer to God than anything else is the knowledge that
if my heart is not clean and pure my prayers will not get through.
So the origin of prayer is the purpose of God—the purpose of God. God has a
purpose in His heart and in His life. He wants to work in me through prayer. Now, folks,
prayer did not begin with you. As a matter of fact, if you don’t name it and claim it, it has
to begin with God. I remember reading about the disciples out fishing after the
resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus said, have you caught anything? Don’t you hate it
when you’ve been fishing all night and haven’t caught anything, and somebody asks
you that question? Have you caught anything? Here’s what they said. Now, listen to it.

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They said, “We have toiled all night and have taken nothing.” The sentence begins with
we—it ends with nothing. Anything that begins with we ends with nothing spiritually. And
then, Jesus said, well, cast your nets out on the other side. And they said, well, at your
word we will. And now, friend, we have to get God’s Word. In order for us to be fruitful in
anything that we do, we have to get it from God. The origin of prayer: it roots in the
purpose of God.
You know, the reason we don’t get our prayers answered, folks, is that we’re not
rooted in the purposes of God. We are like that little boy who was heard praying, Tokyo,
Tokyo, Tokyo. Somebody said, what are you doing? He said, I’ve just finished my
geography lesson, and I’m asking God to make Tokyo the capital of France. You see,
prayer does not bend God’s will to fit our will; prayer finds the will of God and gets in on
it. We’re going to say more about that later on, but remember this: that the origin of
effectual prayer roots in the purposes of God. “For of Him are all things.”

II. The Operation of Effectual Prayer: The Power of God

Now, here’s the second thing. Not only does the origin of effectual prayer root in the
purposes of God, but the operation of effectual prayer relies on the power of God,
because not only is prayer of Him, but it is through Him.
A. God Gives Us the Desire to Pray
You see, it’s God that gives you the desire to pray. Did you know that you don’t have
a natural desire to pray? You have a natural desire not to pray. I’m talking about your
flesh. Let me give you some scriptures. Romans 3, verse 11—we’ve already looked at
this: “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God, no, not
one. That’s what the Bible says. You have a natural inclination not to pray. Let me give
you another verse—Romans 8, verses 5 though 7: “For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For
to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because
the carnal mind is enmity against God.” That is, the fleshly mind is at warfare with God.
“For it is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be.” Your nature does not
want to pray. There’s nothing in you by nature that would cause you to seek God. No,
not at all. But God, when He puts His Spirit in you, gives you the desire to pray. Romans
8, verse 15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” God puts His Spirit into
our hearts, let’s us know that we’ve been adopted into His family, and then prayer is just
as natural as a little child saying, Daddy, Father. But the natural man, the carnal nature,
doesn’t want to pray.

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 B. God Gives Us the Direction to Pray
So, how is prayer through Him? Well, first of all, He gives us the desire to pray. And
now, listen very carefully. Not only does He give us the desire to pray, He gives us the
direction to pray. I mean, what are we to ask for? We don’t know by our own nature
what to ask for. You know, the Bible says that, “God will supply all of our need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Sometimes we want things we don’t
need, isn’t that true? Yes, that’s definitely true. Have you ever thanked God for
unanswered prayer? I have. I’ve asked God for things I thought I needed and He didn’t
give them to me, and I argued with Him, but He still didn’t give them to me. Do you
know what Mrs. Billy Graham said? Mrs. Billy Graham said, “If God had answered every
one of my prayers, I would have married three other men other than Billy Graham, and
everyone of them been wrong.” You know, you’re asking God to give you something
that’s not best for you.
Sometimes we want things we don’t need and sometimes we need things we don’t
want. Isn’t that true? My dad used to say, “You need a spanking.” I didn’t want one, but I
needed one. He was right. Well, only the Holy Spirit of God is going to show us how to
pray for things that we may not want but that we really need. And then, sometimes we
want things that we already have. You take a church like this sometimes, we’ll come to
a building program and we’ll say, “O Lord God, give us the money to build this building.”
Why should we pray a prayer like that? The money to build the building is sitting right in
the congregation, and it’s in our bank accounts. We’re asking God to give us what we
already have, where we just take what we already have, and give it back to God, and
say, “Of thine own have we given unto thee.” Sometimes we want things we don’t need;
sometimes we need things we don’t want; and sometimes we want things we already
have, but the Holy Spirit of God gives us the desire to pray, and the Holy Spirit of God
gives us the direction to pray so we can know the will of God.
Now, let me give you a key verse here. It’s not found in Romans, but it’s found in the
Gospel of Matthew. Just jot it in your margin—Matthew 16, verse 19. The Lord is
speaking to the church, corporately and as individuals, and here’s what He says: “And I
will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Well, how would you like to have
the keys to the kingdom of heaven? I mean, how would you like to have the key that
unlocks the treasury of heaven? “I give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Now, listen to this: “and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Now, what this
says in the Greek language is, whatever you bind on earth has already been bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth has already been loosed in heaven. That is, it
has already begun with God—now you need to ratify on earth that which is done in
heaven. You see, what we need to do is to look to heaven, find out what God’s plan is in

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heaven, and then transfer it to earth, and loose it on earth.
Manley Beasley, who has preached from this platform, who is now in heaven, a dear
personal friend of mine, said that the secret of success in the Christian life is, find out
what God is up to, and join Him. Just find out what God is doing in heaven, and join
Him. So many times we’re asking God to rubberstamp our plans, and bless this mess.
How did Jesus pray? Jesus prayed by this principle. Put this verse down—John 15,
verse 16: “Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the
Son—speaking of Himself—the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what he seeth the
Father do, for what things soever he doeth—the Father—these also doeth the Son
likewise.” What Jesus said is just, I look into heaven, I see what the Father is doing, I
see what the Father wants. That’s what I ask for, that’s what I get. Do you know what
worship is? Worship is placing yourself on the altar until you’re consumed.
Now, you’re in verse 36, just go to chapter 12, verse 1—look at it: “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Now, a sacrifice is to be
placed on the altar. And what happened to a sacrifice in the Old Testament when it was
placed on the altar? It was consumed by fire. Now, if that sacrifice was not a holy
sacrifice, it would not be consumed. It would be repugnant. God would refuse it. But if it
was a holy sacrifice, that is, without spot or blemish, pure, clean, that sacrifice would be
consumed. Now, you have not really worshiped until you have placed yourself on the
altar and God has consumed you with holy fire. Now, when you do that—when you do
that—when you place yourself upon the altar, and let God consume you, you are
consumed by Him, then you know what happens? Well, look at it. Look in chapter 12,
verse 1: “Brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Now, watch this: “And be not
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” When you worship,
with loving, lingering prayer, God comes and He consumes you, and then He
transforms you, and you now have the mind of Christ. You look into heaven. You see
things that are in heaven. You see what is bound in heaven, and you bind it on earth.
You see what is loosed in heaven and you loose it on earth.
C. God Gives Us the Dynamic to Pray
And, you see, it is God that gives you the desire to pray, it is God that gives you the
direction to pray, it is God that gives you the dynamic to pray, because you must pray in
faith.
And where’s that faith going to come from? Well, “of Him, and through Him, and to
Him.” You can’t conjure up faith, you can’t make yourself believe, but when you hear
God, when you’ve been alone with God, when you are worshiping God, and God

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