Oceanside United Reformed Church

SUMMARY: where we're at in Romans & where we're going in this passage RELEVANCE: why does this matter to me? THEME: Nothing in your life is wasted, because God's golden chain holds you: his purpose is to make you look like his Son, and he's so sure of the ending he's already written it in the past tense. v. 28 THE GOOD GOD PROMISES Not everything is good. But everything is working for good. v. 29 THE GOAL GOD PURPOSES God isn't making you comfortable. He's making you look like family. v. 30 THE GLORY GOD GUARANTEES From where you sit, your story's half-told. From where God sits, it's already written.

THEME Behind the curtain, Jesus has thrown down the dragon, he limits the beasts, and stands with his people. So see through the beasts, and stand with the Lamb. 12:1–17 JESUS HAS THROWN DOWN THE DRAGON 13:1–18 JESUS LIMITS THE BEASTS 14:1–20 JESUS STANDS WITH HIS PEOPLE

THEME: God created Adam to live with Him, serve Him, and obey Him in the Garden of Eden. Though Adam failed in his task, Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, perfectly suited obeyed God and brings life to all who trust in Him. vv. 4-9 THE ACTORS vv. 10-14 THE STAGE Vv. THE DRAMA

Happiness does not come from projecting a positive image or from covering sin, but from confession. By uncovering our sin, we experience the relief of having been covered in Christ's righteousness. BLESSING THAT IS SECURE SILENCE THAT WASTES AWAY CONFESSION THAT RELIEVES DELIVERANCE THAT GLADDENS

THEME: The Christian is one who puts no confidence in the flesh, but worships by the Spirit of God and glories in Christ Jesus. TWO KINDS OF CIRCUMCISION TWO KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS RESURRECTION POWER

THEME: God not only pities us from afar but sympathizes with our trials as one of us. And it is this elder brother who now represents us in the heavenly court. A GLORIOUS HIGH PRIEST A SYMPATHETIC HIGH PRIEST A GRACIOUS HIGH PRIEST

THEME: The trumpets warn the world, the church bears witness in the world, and the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. So, hear the trumpets. 8:2–9:21 THE TRUMPETS WARN THE WORLD 10:1–11:14 THE CHURCH BEARS WITNESS 11:15–19 THE KINGDOM COMES

SUMMARY: where we're at in Romans & where we're going in this passage RELEVANCE: why does this matter to me? THEME: When you don't know what to pray, you're not alone: the Spirit comes alongside you, groans in you, and the Father hears what he finds there. v. 26a THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS GROAN v. 26b When you don't know what to pray, you're not praying alone. THE ADVOCACY OF HIS GROAN "The children of God have two divine intercessors. Christ is their intercessor in the court of heaven… The Holy Spirit is their intercessor in the theatre of their own hearts."—John Murray v. 27 The Spirit takes hold with you, and he groans in you. THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS GROAN And the Father hears what he finds there.

SUMMARY: where we're at in Romans & where we're going in this passage RELEVANCE: why does this matter to me? THEME: Your groan doesn't mean your story has gone wrong. It means your story is half-told: the Spirit began it, hope holds you in the middle, and your body is the last chapter. v. 23a THE PLOT: YOU HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS You don't groan because the Spirit is missing. You groan because he's here. vv. 24–25 THE TENSION: YOU WAIT IN HOPE Hope isn't a wish. It's waiting for what God already promised. v. 23b THE RESOLUTION: YOU'LL BE REVEALED AS SONS God isn't saving you out of your body. He's saving your body.

THEME: The Lamb who opens the seals rules our tribulation, is coming to judge, and seals his people to stand before his throne. 6:1–11 THE LAMB RULES OUR TRIBULATION 6:12–17 THE LAMB IS COMING TO JUDGE 7:1–8:1 THE LAMB SEALS AND SHEPHERDS HIS PEOPLE