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Bro. Otis Fisher
All right, everybody open their Bible to Romans chapter 8 verse 27 continuing with the letter to Rome written by Paul. In verse 27 he says. And he that searches the hearts North what is the mind of the spirit?
Because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God. He that searches them, but the hearts. Great who we talking about here North what is the mind of the spirit now? What are we talking about?
Because he maketh intercession. Who's he? For the Saints. According to the will of God what is the will of God? I give somebody else a chance. You were doing fine. Is it first Peter David or second chapter 3 where it says he's not willing.
Second Peter 3 9 is not slack concerning his promise and some kind of slackness. But his long-suffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Now, let's be sure we understand this verse since we've gone there lots of Misinterpretations.
Those that believe that everybody has equal opportunity to be saved will use this verse. And say that it says right there that God's not willing for anybody to be lost. Well, he does and he doesn't. You must always know Russell who's speaking to whom they're speaking and the subject matter.
Go back to the first verse of chapter 3 Russell. This second epistle beloved I now write unto you in both of which I stir up your pure mind. Oh, we're remember now from that verse. Who would you suppose he's speaking to?
Believers. And We won't do it. But if you'll go all down through that chapter in every place that says us or us word or Beloved he's in has reference to the believers. So when he get the first nine Greg read it again.
All right, the Lord is not slack concerning his promises. Some men count slack, but his long-suffering to us word. There's an interesting word us word Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
All right. Throughout that birth of that chapter Russell to whom is he speaking like to believe so. The promise was his return and us word is talking to us. So it just follows that he is not willing that any of us perish.
Oh, he's not slack, he's long-suffering and he's talking to his own people, giving them time to repent. That's right.
The elect would come to repentance. Yes, so what he's really telling us in that one verse is As well as many other places He will not return until he has cause to come into the human race every one of his people in the church.
And that he has notified each and every one. There will be a last one, but when the last one has been notified Then he is free to come. And he's not going to come before that. All right, let's come back now to verse 27 of chapter 8 in Romans.
What is the purpose of prayer? All right. Someone tell me what prayer changes.
Is that all but.
Prayer does not change things. Circumstances.
Good to them that love the Lord and have called according to his purpose. That's true.
The only thing prayer changes is us, the one pray. Attitude. Our motivation, our motive, our attitude, our will. And it is all designed for our growth. For us to get close to God be susceptible to his will and Then to be able to see his will working.
Lots of things for which we do not pray we are never aware Of the fact that they are actually taking place. Therefore we miss the blessing of knowing it and all prayer does is change us. God never changes.
Neither does he change anything Because it's already done. Come now to verse 28 and we know. Which Opal just told us that all things Work together for good to them that love God. To them who are the called According to his purpose.
We are called according to his purpose. You're not called into Christianity For the satisfaction of your parents or a loved one or teacher. You're called By the purpose and will of God. Go to Ephesians 1 11.
Make a note at Romans 8 28. To go to Ephesians 1 11 when you get to Ephesians 1 11 make a note to go to Romans 8 28. These two verses must always be read together. 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. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance. Being predestinated according to the purpose of him. Who work of all things? After the counsel of his own will.
That's how everything is working together. He works all things we don't. The government doesn't even though we think we do and they think they do. So this is the way that all things are working. God is the originator of everything.
Except what? Sin. So it follows them that everything is good pure and holy. In his first state Satan can only use that which God sins. Satan can generate nothing but sin is forced to use whatever God sins.
Everything God sins is good and holy. Satan will twist and pervert everything to fit his own desire. And that's sin In this verse. We also noted does not say We are working all things. Either by design or prayer or anything else.
It does say that all things work themselves together according to the will of God. Second Timothy.
Eight and nine. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his president. But be thou partaker of the affections of the gospel according to the power of God who has saved us.
Called us with an holy calling not according to our works But according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Do you bet you nailed it? That nails it down.
Give us that reference again.
One. Thank you for that's good that just nails it down. Oh this I want to ask a question here, all right, I might know the answer to this but I can't express it very well but How can something good and holy sent from God?
You turn to something sinful. How can it? Yeah, only if we use it that way sin resides in our mind. It's. So it's it's our motive and the way we observe it the way we look at it the way we use it. Of course, that's the side Satan is trying to get us to do.
But he can't make us do anything. So there's no way I can explain most things that occur. Things sent from God that is worldly things or events or circumstances. They don't ever become sinful. They may not change.
It's something in us. That's right. That would be a good exercise, but you already blown it. Sometime. Sometime after you forget what Greg just said. Write down a list of things that are simple then write down a list of things that are good.
Understand what I'm saying. You would have nothing on the other side. Because things are neither good or bad. It's how we use them and how we perceive them and we know that everything comes from God. We have a good handle on the beginning.
Everything is good. But then again, the things are not good or bad. All right first. 29 For whom he did for know what is for know what? Pat what's it for? Yeah I Is there Afternoon. There is no for knowledge with God or after knowledge.
The foreknowledge is in our mind from our viewpoint and We have to look at it like that from our viewpoint that he knew before I was ever born. I'm gonna be born but not to him. It's just always been there's no past Or future with God.
It's all present. Now if you can understand that you explain it to me. That's right. So 29 says for whom he did for know that picks out a group doesn't it. He also did predestinate the same group. He predestinated them to be conformed to the image of his son.
That he might be the firstborn among many brethren if he's a firstborn. Then there would necessarily have to be a second born and a third and a fourth. So whom he did for know the whom isolates a certain group.
Who also did predestinate this same group to be conformed. Russell conformed means what? You're to follow is conformed passive or active great to be. All right, then it's not for us to adhere to it what's happening here.
It comes from the word form so someone forms us into. The image they want us to be in that's right. Now we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his son. That's Will that will be the end result of our brief stay here on this earth?
We right now each one of us are being conformed. That's somebody doing something. That's right. To the image of his son that we might be the firstborn. Among many brethren, so he's just talking about one group of people here.
God has neither foreknowledge or after knowledge. He exists only in the now. God is not a man that he should think as a man. And I forget that nearly every minute. If he remembers anything it means that the thing is immediately in his presence.
He doesn't have to remember things. He doesn't make decisions. It doesn't come to a decision to use this plan over that plan. That's man's way of thinking. The foreknowledge of God exists only in the mind of the believer.
Here on earth everyone can think only in relation to time and. There's no way we can get away from that to have foreknowledge. It would be impossible for man. We can and do have foreknowledge. It would be impossible for man to function without it.
Without foreknowledge would be like forgetting everything as soon as it was finished. But with God not so he has completed all things and eons past. So I beg of you do not think that God depends upon the ability of knowing What you are going to do in order to work all things to the right end.
He doesn't depend upon your knowing it. God does not respond to man or anything else. Moreover whom he did predestinate still dealing with the same group then he also called and Whom he called of them he also justified and whom he justified then he also glorified now David.
The predestination has taken place. The calling has taken place. The justification has taken place. What about the glorification? And that's the only way you can make sense out of that verse is to understand that's how God sees it right now from our viewpoint time.
That'll happen at the rapture, right? So from our view it has not happened from God's thing was done. That's why it's written like it is. Go to first Peter verse chapter 2 verse 9. But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood and a holy nation you are he says a peculiar people.
That you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness Into his marvelous light in first Peter 2 21. For even here unto were you called? Because Christ also suffered for us. Leaving us an example that you should also follow in his steps.
So if you have not suffered yet, don't think you're going to escape it because you will. Our suffering today Cannot hold a candle to the suffering of the early Christians during the time of Rome and time this was written even I guess is about 30 years after it Lord had returned In first Peter 5 and 10.
But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ. After that you have suffered a while. Make you perfect. Establish strengthen and settle you. The word establish is not a misprint.
We would tend to think the means establish. But they didn't. That's an old English term, let me be sure you understand. To be established Means that you have by someone else been placed In a fixed position facing one way forever.
Established. You cannot do it to yourself. Second Peter 1 and 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things That pertain unto life and godliness. Through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
Now All of you turn to the second Peter 1 3. And let's look at this for just a little bit Greg. I'd like you to read it again. The knowledge of him All right. He has given us all things pertaining unto life and goodness godliness.
He has given unto us all Things that we need for this life. It's everybody with me. Then Russell, why do we praise it and spend so much time praying for things? We already have everything we're going to need.
It's at our disposal. May not mean we have it right now, but it's it's there and it will be there when it's needed. We have no lack in the things that we think we do. But he's given to us everything that we need for this life.
So let's spend our prayer time on something else other than things. Yes. Why you're in this part of the Bible. Point out something in the first Peter chapter 1 verse 1 and 2. Yes. You may be fixed to come to it or you may not but it's a verse.
It's commonly Misunderstood because it makes it sound like the election is according to poor knowledge. And It says in verse 2 elect according to poor knowledge to the poor knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit cetera.
Interesting thing is if you look this verse up in a Greek Bible. The word First two starts with the word elect. But in the Greek the word elect is actually in verse 1. And it's between the words be and strangers second line of verse 1.
So it should read like this Peter and Apostle of Jesus Christ to the elect strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia fifth Athenia according to the poor knowledge of God the Father.
It doesn't really say elect according to poor knowledge it says they're scattered. There's one point that out in case somebody You know went to that verse and saw it seems to contradict what you're saying, but it is it does not because the election is not According to poor knowledge.
That's right. And in that verse it's not even the same verse the words are not the same verse in Greek. That by the way, that's in the that's in the received text. That points out another Thing that I need to which you need to be aware if you are at a verse and It seems very plain to you that it contradicts Other verses in the scripture as long as you think it does you'll have a problem.
Always work from the basis that the Bible does not contradict itself. I can only say that about the King James. I don't know about all the others now. If you are at a verse that seems like it does contradict.
Know that the rule is the preponderance of Scripture must all agree. What does all the rest of the Bible teach? Against this one verse. And if all of it teaches security of the believer in this one verse seems to say no.
Then you know that your interpretation is wrong. Because the Bible is not wrong. There are no contradictions and the only place that we stumble is in our own interpretation of it and usually we're trying to Form a doctrine or basis of a theology on one verse.
You can't do that. You have to take the entire Bible. That's what I like so much about the way the Lord has had us study the Bible. Complete letter at one time and through all of the Bible. All right.
There is no escape from God's will. What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us. Now the us Is talking about you and me that are in Christ Jesus. Oh, you'll just have to listen.
I Cannot remember all of this even though I wrote it. I want you to get every bit of it. In that verse the common interpretation of it is That if God is on our side we can win any fight against any and all odds.
If God before us who can be against us now. That's the common interpretation. It's not basically wrong. It's just that you're missing a whole lot. Let me ask you something that any of you ever played football or basketball or baseball or any sport like that where it required once in a while a substitute.
I don't know. But that's who I was. Then the one for whom you substituted if you got hit in the head that it hurt him. Alright the correct interpretation hinges on the Greek word translated for. For as many different meanings in this case that denotes substitution.
If God is for us in substitution The believer stands justified in the imputed righteousness of the substitute Jesus. Satan can never impeach the character of the believer. He would first have to deal with who the substitute.
Having a substitute neither the devil nor God can be against the believer. Instead of the devil dealing with the believer he has to deal with the substitute Jesus. Likewise instead of God dealing with the believer. He too has to deal with the substitute Himself and God is morally bound to deal consistently with himself.
Jesus the Christ is for us in substitution from eternity past to eternity future. Not only was Christ our substitute in death. But he is our substitute now and eternally. Therefore Satan can never attack our souls.
The reason no one can ever be against us is because we have a substitute. God can no more be against the believer than it can be against himself. If he did this he would cease to be God. Therefore his existence is gearing the guarantee of our existence.
To condemn the one for whom he is the substitute. He would have to revoke the death of Jesus on the cross. If the substitute Could be annulled against one believer. Then the sacrifice would be annulled against all believers.
This would be an impeachment of his own character and a division of his own nature. The believers security is identical with the character and existence of God. Safety reaches its ultimate assurance in the immutability and eternity of God.
If God before me No one can ever be against me. Why? Right. He's my substitute. Now let's come back to where we were. Verse 32. Any questions. Sometimes I think we go too fast. There's a whole lot more in there.
He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all. How shall he Not with him also freely give us all things. Who shall say anything to the charge of God's elect? Can it be God that's a question.
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect. Can God lay something to the charge of his elect. Somebody say no. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect. Question mark. It Is God that justified it cannot be God because he justified us.
Who is he that? Condemneth. Question mark. It is Christ that died a brother that is risen again. Who is even at the right hand of God who also make his intercession for us? So it cannot be Christ where he died and intercedes for us.
Even the Lord cannot bless and condemn at the same time. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Question mark show tribulation. Russell what is tribulation? Reminded that the last trip we made the Grand Canyon.
We were on the South Rim as usual and Walk down a little ways. And it's pretty steep when you first start on the path. And we met two young boys coming up. First one was a young teenager and his brother I suppose was about 10 or 11.
He was laboriously trudging along behind. He looked up with us. He says I wouldn't go down there. I said why he says it's awful. That's what tribulation is. Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as It is written for thy sake.
We are killed all the day long. We are accounted as Sheep for the slaughter. We are killed All the day long. David help us out here on the killed. Okay. Okay. We're killed by death to be liberated from the bond of anything all of the time.
All the day long. We are accounted. Accounted is a bookkeeping term and Greg's going to tell us what it is. You can't cheat. Well, what does reckon to me I reckon is when you accept something as true Accounted as the same way.
Killed we're killed all the time. It is a continuous action. We died in him on the cross that goes on all of the time. We die and die and die and die and We live and live and live. For us to live continually calls for a death continual.
Yes. You remember Paul said I buffered my body daily. So that in the end, I won't be a castaway. That's been misinterpreted also. He has to work to keep you salvation. Well, obviously that's not what it means.
To buff it your body to buff it something. What do you do when when? When you buff something, what do you do? Make it shiny so you have to apply some pressure and some heat don't you? So Paul is saying I have a fight with my body all of the time.
So that I will always be the right representative of Christ. And will not in the end of my life be looked down upon by my fellow believers. Has nothing to do with his salvation. Okay, all the day long.
We're accounted a thing is reckoned as something as having the like force and weight. This word refers to facts not superstitions or suppositions. We are Accounted as sheep for the slaughter. How many have been around the slaughterhouse.
How much noise did she make. She makes none. No noise. Nay, and all of these things we are more than conquerors. Through him that loved us more than a conqueror. Great. Statement Harvey to conquer something.
If you conquer something, what do you do now? Jesse to be more than just taking control would be one. Absolutely to be more than a conqueror is not just overcoming the situation. It is taking that situation and using it.
To produce good. Just to overcome you're just breaking even. But use every situation for the praise of God. More than a conqueror through him that loved us not through us. Not through anybody except the Lord or I am persuaded.
It's persuaded passive or acting passive. Is it perfect or imperfect? Is it? Past future or all right. So I am persuaded by something else. But That's true. Persuaded is more strong than convinced, but convinced is good.
Persuaded is like if you're walking in the park and you see a park bench that has a sign on it that says wet paint. You don't have to go touch it to see if it's wet. You're fully persuaded that what they tell you is true.
Paul says I am fully persuaded. For I am persuaded that neither death so death would do but walk for us just to him. That neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers. Or things present or things to come and we've got to stop we run out of time.
We'll start with verse 38. Study the lesson this we can come with some questions. Let's stand and would be dismissed. Greg would you dismiss this again, please? Thank you for another day. Thank you for this good place truth.
Let us all hear it. Well. Understand it. Let's put it into practice. Make our lives a better for it and give a praise to your glory. Thank you so much. All these many things we know that all good things come from you.
Let us never forget.