1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:04,100 The following message is by Pastor John Piper. 2 00:00:04,580 --> 00:00:07,700 More information from Desiring God Ministries is available 3 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:12,160 at www.DesiringGod.org. 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,580 The scripture text this morning is Romans 8, 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,720 35-39. 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,560 Romans 8, 35-39. 7 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:29,100 Who shall separate us from the love of 8 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:29,580 Christ? 9 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:36,160 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 10 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:40,320 or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 11 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,820 Just as it is written, For thy sake 12 00:00:43,820 --> 00:00:46,460 we are being put to death all day 13 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:49,840 long, we are considered as sheep to be 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:50,580 slaughtered. 15 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:55,560 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,780 through Him who loved us. 17 00:00:58,220 --> 00:01:02,300 For I am convinced that neither death, nor 18 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:07,540 life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, 19 00:01:08,260 --> 00:01:10,900 nor things to come, nor power, nor powers, 20 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,280 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,920 thing, shall be able to separate us from 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,900 the love of God which is in Christ 23 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:23,760 Jesus our Lord. 24 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:24,840 Amen. 25 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:35,220 Father in heaven, again now, as always, I 26 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:39,120 ask for your help so that I will 27 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,340 speak the word of truth according to your 28 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:47,410 scriptures in a faithful way, in a humble 29 00:01:47,410 --> 00:01:57,160 way, in a spiritually compelling way, in a 30 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:05,440 loving way, in a God-exalting way, in 31 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:06,980 a Christ-centered way. 32 00:02:10,190 --> 00:02:12,130 And I pray for those who hear that 33 00:02:12,130 --> 00:02:18,860 their hearts would be supple in the hands 34 00:02:18,860 --> 00:02:22,860 of the Holy Spirit, and that you would 35 00:02:22,860 --> 00:02:26,040 make us tender to your truth, and that 36 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,500 you would help unbelievers in our room here 37 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:32,820 who are very welcome to be here, see 38 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:39,900 freely and embrace joyfully Jesus Christ as Savior 39 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:41,180 and Lord. 40 00:02:41,180 --> 00:02:48,400 I pray for saints, imperfect Christians set apart 41 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,400 by God to be clothed with the righteousness 42 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,740 of Jesus, to be made strong and hopeful. 43 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,340 And so come, Father, and provide all the 44 00:03:01,340 --> 00:03:04,520 help that we need in these moments as 45 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,760 we worship you over your word. 46 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,420 In Jesus' name I pray. 47 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:11,420 Amen. 48 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:20,960 So Tuesday night we focused on sorrow, and 49 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:26,920 Wednesday night we focused on self-humbling, and 50 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:34,140 this morning we focus on steady hope in 51 00:03:34,140 --> 00:03:38,420 our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. 52 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:44,420 So how shall I strengthen your hope? 53 00:03:46,950 --> 00:03:53,210 Shall I try to strengthen it politically by 54 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,780 saying we're all going to come together in 55 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:04,340 a great bipartisan show of unity to demonstrate 56 00:04:04,340 --> 00:04:11,640 that the American way is unassailable and indissoluble? 57 00:04:16,130 --> 00:04:20,829 Or shall I try to strengthen your hope 58 00:04:20,829 --> 00:04:26,690 militarily and say there's no nation on the 59 00:04:26,690 --> 00:04:33,790 earth as militarily powerful as America and no 60 00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:40,410 foreign force will be able to jeopardize our 61 00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:41,170 security? 62 00:04:43,190 --> 00:04:47,130 Or shall I try to strengthen your hope 63 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:52,570 financially and say fear not, when the markets 64 00:04:52,570 --> 00:04:56,410 open tomorrow morning it will be stable and 65 00:04:56,410 --> 00:04:59,790 none of your investments will be in peril? 66 00:05:06,490 --> 00:05:10,400 Or shall I try to strengthen your hope 67 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:15,660 psychologically and direct you to one of the 68 00:05:15,660 --> 00:05:25,520 websites entitled Self-Care and 69 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:31,200 Self-Help Following Disasters, where you can read, 70 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:38,180 quote, individuals with strong coping skills maintain a 71 00:05:38,180 --> 00:05:42,240 view of self as competent and avoid regretting 72 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,300 past decisions? 73 00:05:46,500 --> 00:05:49,540 Or shall I try to strengthen your hope 74 00:05:49,540 --> 00:05:50,620 geographically? 75 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:51,560 You live in the Midwest. 76 00:05:51,940 --> 00:05:53,300 You don't live in New York and Los 77 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:53,800 Angeles. 78 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:57,640 Nobody knows we're even here. 79 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:07,210 Or shall I try to strengthen your 80 00:06:07,210 --> 00:06:16,690 hope eschatologically and tell you you're not even 81 00:06:16,690 --> 00:06:20,010 going to be here when the fireball blazes 82 00:06:20,010 --> 00:06:21,070 in your town? 83 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:32,290 Now, those six questions are easy for me 84 00:06:32,290 --> 00:06:32,930 to answer. 85 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,130 The answer is no. 86 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,980 I will not try to strengthen your hope 87 00:06:41,980 --> 00:06:43,420 in any of those ways. 88 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,280 And there's a real simple reason why. 89 00:06:46,860 --> 00:06:48,630 They're all false. 90 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:53,580 They're not true. 91 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,580 American political system is not imperishable. 92 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,560 The American military cannot protect us from every 93 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,820 destructive force. 94 00:07:09,820 --> 00:07:12,640 The financial future is not certain. 95 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,860 You may lose all your investment. 96 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,580 The Midwest is not safe from the next 97 00:07:21,580 --> 00:07:26,560 kind of terrorist attack, which may be more 98 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,540 pervasive and more deadly. 99 00:07:30,620 --> 00:07:35,940 The psychological efforts to feel competent and avoid 100 00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:37,820 regret are not healing. 101 00:07:38,180 --> 00:07:39,040 They're fatal. 102 00:07:41,610 --> 00:07:46,430 And an eschatological scenario that promises you escape 103 00:07:46,430 --> 00:07:49,050 from suffering under the providence of God did 104 00:07:49,050 --> 00:07:51,230 not work for the Christians in the World 105 00:07:51,230 --> 00:07:52,410 Trade Center on Tuesday. 106 00:07:52,590 --> 00:07:54,610 And it won't work for you. 107 00:07:57,210 --> 00:08:01,530 So, I will not contradict my calling as 108 00:08:01,530 --> 00:08:03,750 a minister of the gospel and try to 109 00:08:03,750 --> 00:08:05,870 strengthen your hope in any of those ways. 110 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:11,230 Instead, I will strengthen your hope this morning, 111 00:08:11,470 --> 00:08:14,310 first of all, by making you feel more 112 00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:16,370 vulnerable than you already do. 113 00:08:18,830 --> 00:08:19,850 For two reasons. 114 00:08:21,110 --> 00:08:25,070 Number one, you are more vulnerable than you 115 00:08:25,070 --> 00:08:26,110 think you are. 116 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:34,750 The next kind of attack, the next phase 117 00:08:34,750 --> 00:08:38,850 of terrorism, probably won't be a replay of 118 00:08:38,850 --> 00:08:42,809 Tuesday in Los Angeles or Atlanta or Chicago. 119 00:08:44,590 --> 00:08:47,610 More than likely, it would be an act 120 00:08:47,610 --> 00:08:52,150 of chemical warfare, which unleashes perhaps a deadly 121 00:08:52,150 --> 00:08:56,030 gas or poisons the water supply. 122 00:08:56,990 --> 00:08:59,250 And the death toll won't be 5,000, 123 00:08:59,310 --> 00:09:02,130 it'll be 500,000 or 5 million. 124 00:09:03,650 --> 00:09:06,350 That's very easy to conceive of. 125 00:09:07,010 --> 00:09:08,830 I mean, if my little brain can come 126 00:09:08,830 --> 00:09:13,190 up with two perfectly workable ways, then those 127 00:09:13,190 --> 00:09:16,350 who hate could come up with probably more 128 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:18,370 insidious ones. 129 00:09:19,650 --> 00:09:22,770 So, my first reason for first making you 130 00:09:22,770 --> 00:09:24,850 feel more vulnerable than you already do is 131 00:09:24,850 --> 00:09:27,270 because you are more vulnerable than you think 132 00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:27,750 you are. 133 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:29,730 There's a second reason. 134 00:09:30,830 --> 00:09:32,470 The second reason is biblical. 135 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:41,020 The Bible portrays the sufferings of Christians. 136 00:09:43,020 --> 00:09:44,460 And here, I'm going to put in a 137 00:09:44,460 --> 00:09:46,180 parenthesis, because I don't know who's in this 138 00:09:46,180 --> 00:09:48,280 room, and I hope lots of people, I 139 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,220 hope lots of unbelievers are here, sort of 140 00:09:50,220 --> 00:09:51,680 checking us out, see what we say. 141 00:09:53,740 --> 00:09:56,420 I say Christians, and I want it to 142 00:09:56,420 --> 00:09:59,380 be said loud and clear that is not 143 00:09:59,380 --> 00:10:00,900 synonymous with America. 144 00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:07,200 I listened to Kenny pray a few minutes 145 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,060 ago, and I just wondered whether every time 146 00:10:11,060 --> 00:10:14,240 he said we and our and so on, 147 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:17,480 some ears in the room were hearing American 148 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,180 instead of followers of Jesus. 149 00:10:21,220 --> 00:10:24,020 And I fear that, because I know it's 150 00:10:24,020 --> 00:10:27,320 true, especially in the Muslim world, that America 151 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,000 and Christian are almost synonymous. 152 00:10:29,740 --> 00:10:31,680 That's a real sad misunderstanding. 153 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,040 That I would just like to plead with 154 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,740 everyone not to make that mistake. 155 00:10:40,420 --> 00:10:44,540 I personally am a Christian first, and American 156 00:10:44,540 --> 00:10:45,640 way second. 157 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,400 Probably third, fourth, fifth. 158 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:49,880 I can think of some other things I 159 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:50,660 am before that. 160 00:10:51,860 --> 00:10:56,980 And if America goes down, Christianity survives, big 161 00:10:56,980 --> 00:10:57,560 time. 162 00:11:00,050 --> 00:11:00,950 They're not the same. 163 00:11:00,950 --> 00:11:05,310 But here's the point I'm making, close that 164 00:11:05,310 --> 00:11:05,930 parenthesis. 165 00:11:06,710 --> 00:11:10,750 In the Bible, the sufferings held out to 166 00:11:10,750 --> 00:11:15,110 the people of God as something Christians will 167 00:11:15,110 --> 00:11:20,090 walk through is far more extensive than anything 168 00:11:20,090 --> 00:11:21,170 that happened on Tuesday. 169 00:11:24,430 --> 00:11:27,960 For example, in 1 Peter 4, 12 following, 170 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,800 it says, Beloved Christians, do not be surprised 171 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,460 at the fiery ordeal that comes upon you 172 00:11:35,460 --> 00:11:39,260 as though something strange were happening to you. 173 00:11:40,180 --> 00:11:42,300 But to the degree that you share the 174 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:45,600 sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that 175 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,060 also at the revelation of His glory, you 176 00:11:49,060 --> 00:11:50,850 may rejoice with exultation. 177 00:11:51,590 --> 00:11:53,990 If you are reviled for the name of 178 00:11:53,990 --> 00:11:56,490 Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of 179 00:11:56,490 --> 00:11:58,430 glory and of God rests upon you. 180 00:11:58,830 --> 00:12:00,410 Make sure that none of you suffers as 181 00:12:00,410 --> 00:12:04,130 a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, 182 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:05,770 or a troublesome meddler. 183 00:12:06,370 --> 00:12:08,330 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he 184 00:12:08,330 --> 00:12:10,810 is not to be ashamed, but is to 185 00:12:10,810 --> 00:12:12,530 glorify God in that name. 186 00:12:12,770 --> 00:12:13,890 Now watch what comes next. 187 00:12:15,730 --> 00:12:20,140 For it is time for judgment to begin 188 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:22,840 with the household of God. 189 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,300 And if it begins with us, what will 190 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:30,040 be the outcome of those who do not 191 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,300 obey the gospel of God? 192 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:39,200 Therefore, as those who suffer according to God's 193 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,760 will, entrust your souls, Bethlehem. 194 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,640 To a faithful creator. 195 00:12:50,250 --> 00:12:54,950 The assurances of God that the church, the 196 00:12:54,950 --> 00:12:58,070 apple of His eye, the followers of His 197 00:12:58,070 --> 00:13:01,790 Son will walk through fire on the way 198 00:13:01,790 --> 00:13:06,410 to glory, are very great and vastly more 199 00:13:06,410 --> 00:13:10,810 extensive than anything we experienced on Tuesday. 200 00:13:10,810 --> 00:13:15,070 So for those two reasons, I begin my 201 00:13:15,070 --> 00:13:18,530 foundation laying for hope this morning by making 202 00:13:18,530 --> 00:13:23,070 you feel more vulnerable than you already do. 203 00:13:23,890 --> 00:13:26,610 I'm not into unfounded hope. 204 00:13:26,810 --> 00:13:28,390 I'm not into good feelings. 205 00:13:28,670 --> 00:13:31,050 I'm not into glossing things over. 206 00:13:32,390 --> 00:13:35,930 I'm into real hope, solid hope, biblical hope, 207 00:13:36,290 --> 00:13:38,070 in pain, not from pain. 208 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:45,910 So now, what is our hope? 209 00:13:47,390 --> 00:13:50,030 And what is the foundation of it? 210 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:52,810 Let me sum it up, then we'll go 211 00:13:52,810 --> 00:13:54,870 to the text and see it from God's 212 00:13:54,870 --> 00:13:55,990 word, not my word. 213 00:13:56,790 --> 00:14:00,830 Our hope is this, nothing can separate us 214 00:14:00,830 --> 00:14:02,550 from the love of God in Christ Jesus 215 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:04,770 our Lord, not death and not suffering. 216 00:14:05,050 --> 00:14:05,930 That's our hope. 217 00:14:07,050 --> 00:14:12,050 The foundation of it, two things, the death 218 00:14:12,050 --> 00:14:15,810 and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf, 219 00:14:17,010 --> 00:14:21,490 and secondly, the sovereignty of God. 220 00:14:24,610 --> 00:14:34,450 Christ died, 33 AD, under Pontius Pilate, in 221 00:14:34,450 --> 00:14:38,710 order, the Bible says, to bear our sins. 222 00:14:40,630 --> 00:14:43,370 And become our curse. 223 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:48,170 And endure God's condemnation so that it wouldn't 224 00:14:48,170 --> 00:14:50,190 have to fall upon those who are in 225 00:14:50,190 --> 00:14:50,510 Him. 226 00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:57,850 And secure for us an everlasting joy in 227 00:14:57,850 --> 00:15:01,370 the presence of an all-satisfying, glorious God 228 00:15:01,370 --> 00:15:03,450 of justice and grace. 229 00:15:04,790 --> 00:15:06,850 That's the foundation of our hope. 230 00:15:07,370 --> 00:15:10,610 The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on 231 00:15:10,610 --> 00:15:13,830 our behalf, sinners though we be. 232 00:15:17,170 --> 00:15:21,870 And secondly, the foundation of our hope is 233 00:15:21,870 --> 00:15:26,870 the sovereignty of God over all events and 234 00:15:26,870 --> 00:15:27,810 all persons. 235 00:15:29,190 --> 00:15:32,870 Guaranteeing that what Christ bought for us by 236 00:15:32,870 --> 00:15:37,970 His death will certainly become our inheritance. 237 00:15:39,250 --> 00:15:40,850 Now let's go to the text and see 238 00:15:40,850 --> 00:15:41,610 where I get that. 239 00:15:44,780 --> 00:15:46,640 What is our hope in this text? 240 00:15:50,300 --> 00:15:54,540 Our hope is not an easy, comfortable, secure 241 00:15:54,540 --> 00:15:57,160 life on this earth. 242 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,060 Our hope is that the love of God 243 00:16:01,060 --> 00:16:04,420 will so work as to enable us to 244 00:16:04,420 --> 00:16:10,220 enjoy the glory of God through death into 245 00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:15,140 eternity with ever-increasing joy forever. 246 00:16:17,890 --> 00:16:19,870 Now I think it would be more helpful 247 00:16:19,870 --> 00:16:21,090 to you if you were to look at 248 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:22,550 me right now, instead of looking at your 249 00:16:22,550 --> 00:16:22,950 Bibles. 250 00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:27,190 You heard it read, and I just want 251 00:16:27,190 --> 00:16:30,010 to say it to you as an ambassador 252 00:16:30,010 --> 00:16:31,850 of Jesus Christ. 253 00:16:32,590 --> 00:16:34,110 I want to say it to you. 254 00:16:35,790 --> 00:16:38,230 What shall separate us from the love of 255 00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:38,730 Christ? 256 00:16:41,410 --> 00:16:48,230 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 257 00:16:49,250 --> 00:16:54,690 or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 258 00:16:57,350 --> 00:17:01,910 As it is written, we are being killed 259 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:03,910 all day long. 260 00:17:05,069 --> 00:17:10,130 We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 261 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:12,069 No. 262 00:17:14,329 --> 00:17:19,270 In all these things, we are more than 263 00:17:19,270 --> 00:17:22,290 conquerors through Him who loved us. 264 00:17:22,290 --> 00:17:26,650 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor 265 00:17:26,650 --> 00:17:33,170 life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, 266 00:17:33,650 --> 00:17:37,370 nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, 267 00:17:37,750 --> 00:17:41,230 nor depth, nor anything else in all creation 268 00:17:41,230 --> 00:17:43,490 will be able to separate us from the 269 00:17:43,490 --> 00:17:47,190 love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 270 00:17:49,660 --> 00:17:52,820 That is the Christian hope. 271 00:17:53,380 --> 00:17:57,380 Not to escape a hijacked plane, and not 272 00:17:57,380 --> 00:18:00,280 to be found in a burning building. 273 00:18:02,790 --> 00:18:03,810 And you know what? 274 00:18:06,810 --> 00:18:09,070 Jesus would want me to say right now, 275 00:18:09,250 --> 00:18:12,450 I know He would, to everybody in this 276 00:18:12,450 --> 00:18:17,970 room, of every ethnic variety, of every descent, 277 00:18:18,190 --> 00:18:19,610 and of every religion. 278 00:18:20,670 --> 00:18:26,110 That hope can be yours, freely, for faith. 279 00:18:26,690 --> 00:18:29,570 Because Jesus bought it, and you can't. 280 00:18:30,230 --> 00:18:32,670 You can't earn it, you can't work for 281 00:18:32,670 --> 00:18:34,090 it, you can't measure up to it, you 282 00:18:34,090 --> 00:18:37,470 can't be American, or Arab, or any other 283 00:18:37,470 --> 00:18:38,470 ethnic entity. 284 00:18:38,830 --> 00:18:40,830 Those things will not count with Jesus. 285 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:47,260 Being American doesn't advance you one centimeter towards 286 00:18:47,260 --> 00:18:47,640 God. 287 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:52,480 Being any other ethnic variety doesn't hold you 288 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,940 back one centimeter from God. 289 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:01,360 Belief in King Jesus as your treasured Savior, 290 00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:06,700 and your all-surpassingly valuable King, is what 291 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:09,280 wins that hope for you. 292 00:19:10,620 --> 00:19:11,920 That's the hope. 293 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:13,820 Now let's go to foundation number one. 294 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:16,240 We've seen it already, I'll pass over it 295 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:17,880 briefly. 296 00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:21,120 The hope is, nothing can separate us from 297 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:22,140 the love of God in Christ. 298 00:19:22,220 --> 00:19:23,540 What's the foundation for it? 299 00:19:23,740 --> 00:19:24,480 Verse 32. 300 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,640 He who did not spare His own Son, 301 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,500 but delivered Him over for us all, how 302 00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:34,080 will He not also with Him freely give 303 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:35,500 us all things? 304 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,260 You see the logic of heaven in that 305 00:19:39,260 --> 00:19:39,620 verse? 306 00:19:40,340 --> 00:19:46,820 He didn't spare His own Son, therefore He 307 00:19:46,820 --> 00:19:51,680 won't fail to give us everything we need 308 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:59,300 in order to enjoy Him forever and ever 309 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:01,020 and ever. 310 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:04,200 The basis of our hope is that God 311 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,040 gave Jesus on our behalf. 312 00:20:10,710 --> 00:20:13,770 I deserve to be in the building that 313 00:20:13,770 --> 00:20:16,070 collapses, and I deserve to be in the 314 00:20:16,070 --> 00:20:19,690 plane that crashes, and worse, I deserve to 315 00:20:19,690 --> 00:20:20,270 be in hell. 316 00:20:23,510 --> 00:20:25,870 It is sheer mercy that I was not 317 00:20:25,870 --> 00:20:27,670 there and am here. 318 00:20:28,750 --> 00:20:31,250 They were no worse than I am. 319 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:40,300 And the only way I will escape hell, 320 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,280 and I probably will not escape the plane 321 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:50,600 or the building, is because Christ was sent 322 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,240 by the Father to be the mediator between 323 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,900 me and a holy God, so that His 324 00:20:56,900 --> 00:21:00,860 righteousness, not mine, would count for me, and 325 00:21:00,860 --> 00:21:07,340 His death, not my condemnation, would count for 326 00:21:07,340 --> 00:21:07,640 me. 327 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,580 And by faith in Him, the Father welcomes 328 00:21:11,580 --> 00:21:13,620 me into His presence. 329 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:14,880 That's my only hope. 330 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:16,800 That's my only hope, and sheer only hope. 331 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,440 The last foundation I would mention, or the 332 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,100 last part of the foundation, is the sovereignty 333 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:25,700 of God. 334 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:28,100 Now, you may have noticed, I sort of 335 00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:33,920 paraphrased verse 32 in a way that might 336 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:34,800 have puzzled you. 337 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,870 The verse says, He who did not spare 338 00:21:39,870 --> 00:21:41,590 His own Son, but delivered Him up for 339 00:21:41,590 --> 00:21:44,250 us all, how shall He not with Him 340 00:21:44,250 --> 00:21:46,010 freely give us all things? 341 00:21:46,010 --> 00:21:50,490 And I said, How shall He not with 342 00:21:50,490 --> 00:21:54,670 Him give us everything we need in order 343 00:21:54,670 --> 00:21:56,830 to enjoy Him forever? 344 00:21:57,550 --> 00:21:58,870 Now, why did I do that? 345 00:21:58,890 --> 00:22:00,890 Is that a legitimate way to say it? 346 00:22:03,310 --> 00:22:05,290 The reason I did is because of verse 347 00:22:05,290 --> 00:22:06,010 35. 348 00:22:07,790 --> 00:22:10,530 Verse 35 makes very clear that the sovereignty 349 00:22:10,530 --> 00:22:12,890 of God does not guarantee our escape from 350 00:22:12,890 --> 00:22:13,350 suffering. 351 00:22:14,030 --> 00:22:16,410 It does not guarantee that we won't be 352 00:22:16,410 --> 00:22:19,290 hijacked, or that we won't be in the 353 00:22:19,290 --> 00:22:21,110 World Trade Center, or that we won't drink 354 00:22:21,110 --> 00:22:22,970 the poisoned water, or that we won't breathe 355 00:22:22,970 --> 00:22:23,730 the deadly gas. 356 00:22:23,830 --> 00:22:26,210 There is no guarantee in the Bible whatsoever 357 00:22:26,210 --> 00:22:29,190 that the people of God will escape those 358 00:22:29,190 --> 00:22:30,330 events. 359 00:22:32,150 --> 00:22:35,210 It says, Who will separate us from the 360 00:22:35,210 --> 00:22:36,130 love of Christ? 361 00:22:37,130 --> 00:22:42,470 Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, or peril, or 362 00:22:42,470 --> 00:22:42,890 sword. 363 00:22:43,350 --> 00:22:44,750 They're sweeping words. 364 00:22:45,110 --> 00:22:48,930 They're meant to canvas the whole possibility of 365 00:22:48,930 --> 00:22:49,870 trouble. 366 00:22:50,950 --> 00:22:53,450 Take the word peril and the word distress. 367 00:22:54,390 --> 00:22:55,410 They cover everything. 368 00:22:57,780 --> 00:23:00,640 Every kind of possible calamity Christians will walk 369 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:00,960 through. 370 00:23:03,650 --> 00:23:05,630 I don't want to give you an unfounded 371 00:23:05,630 --> 00:23:06,490 hope this morning. 372 00:23:07,750 --> 00:23:09,590 I want to give you a founded hope 373 00:23:09,590 --> 00:23:10,210 this morning. 374 00:23:10,610 --> 00:23:12,290 And I do not give you a hope 375 00:23:12,290 --> 00:23:13,910 that you will escape these things. 376 00:23:13,910 --> 00:23:19,350 But nothing can separate us from the love 377 00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:20,730 of God. 378 00:23:23,070 --> 00:23:25,330 Nothing can separate us. 379 00:23:26,350 --> 00:23:29,950 Now you may ask, Why are you focusing 380 00:23:29,950 --> 00:23:31,950 on the sovereignty of God as the other 381 00:23:31,950 --> 00:23:32,790 part of the foundation? 382 00:23:32,890 --> 00:23:34,810 Where do you see that in this text? 383 00:23:35,810 --> 00:23:38,090 Does that just come from your theology? 384 00:23:38,410 --> 00:23:40,250 Or is that here somewhere? 385 00:23:41,210 --> 00:23:42,310 I don't see it. 386 00:23:42,490 --> 00:23:43,050 Where is it? 387 00:23:43,170 --> 00:23:43,830 Show us. 388 00:23:43,830 --> 00:23:47,320 Look at verse 36. 389 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:55,360 Just as it is written, For your sake 390 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,420 we are being put to death all day 391 00:23:58,420 --> 00:23:58,860 long. 392 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,980 We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 393 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:06,340 Now why? 394 00:24:06,580 --> 00:24:09,340 That's a quote from Psalm 44, 22. 395 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,740 Why did Paul say that? 396 00:24:16,110 --> 00:24:18,850 I mean the text would flow just fine 397 00:24:18,850 --> 00:24:20,150 without that quotation. 398 00:24:21,390 --> 00:24:22,870 That's gross. 399 00:24:25,010 --> 00:24:29,770 We're all counted as throat slit sheep. 400 00:24:31,550 --> 00:24:33,550 Why did he say that? 401 00:24:35,550 --> 00:24:39,330 For the same reason that I began this 402 00:24:39,330 --> 00:24:41,750 sermon saying I wanted to make you feel 403 00:24:41,750 --> 00:24:43,930 more vulnerable than you already are. 404 00:24:43,930 --> 00:24:45,350 I learned it from Paul. 405 00:24:45,850 --> 00:24:47,550 I preach the way I preach because he 406 00:24:47,550 --> 00:24:48,770 writes the way he writes. 407 00:24:51,870 --> 00:24:53,690 He said it because it's true. 408 00:24:55,090 --> 00:24:56,970 And Christians need to be shocked out of 409 00:24:56,970 --> 00:24:59,790 their expectations of comfort and security. 410 00:25:02,870 --> 00:25:05,250 As though God owes us anything in this 411 00:25:05,250 --> 00:25:05,610 land. 412 00:25:07,790 --> 00:25:09,310 He doesn't owe you anything. 413 00:25:09,870 --> 00:25:11,090 He doesn't owe me anything. 414 00:25:14,310 --> 00:25:17,190 This is what Paul says we may expect. 415 00:25:18,190 --> 00:25:19,890 Sometimes it's small. 416 00:25:20,890 --> 00:25:22,550 Sometimes it's this serious. 417 00:25:23,250 --> 00:25:26,030 But now here's where sovereignty comes from. 418 00:25:26,790 --> 00:25:30,870 I went back and I read Psalm 44 419 00:25:30,870 --> 00:25:35,350 in its entirety in the Old Testament. 420 00:25:35,970 --> 00:25:36,770 Where he quoted. 421 00:25:37,910 --> 00:25:40,530 Because I wanted to ask, okay, if you 422 00:25:40,530 --> 00:25:43,750 say your people are counted as sheep to 423 00:25:43,750 --> 00:25:45,450 be slaughtered and are being killed all day 424 00:25:45,450 --> 00:25:45,770 long. 425 00:25:45,930 --> 00:25:48,230 Is the portrayal of the text where you're 426 00:25:48,230 --> 00:25:50,670 getting this idea that God has lost the 427 00:25:50,670 --> 00:25:51,510 reins of the universe. 428 00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:52,610 That he's lost control. 429 00:25:52,790 --> 00:25:54,930 That he's standing either idly by or hand 430 00:25:54,930 --> 00:25:57,770 wringingly by and cannot change this or doesn't 431 00:25:57,770 --> 00:25:58,290 intend to. 432 00:25:58,590 --> 00:26:01,170 How are we to think about our sovereign 433 00:26:01,170 --> 00:26:02,870 God in relation to this event? 434 00:26:02,870 --> 00:26:05,490 And let me just read you verses 10 435 00:26:05,490 --> 00:26:09,070 to 13 and verse 19 from which this 436 00:26:09,070 --> 00:26:10,290 quote comes. 437 00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:13,270 Verse 10, Psalm 44. 438 00:26:13,930 --> 00:26:17,150 You God cause us to turn back from 439 00:26:17,150 --> 00:26:18,270 before our adversaries. 440 00:26:19,750 --> 00:26:24,270 You give us as sheep to be eaten 441 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:27,950 and have scattered us among the nations. 442 00:26:30,570 --> 00:26:33,550 You sell your people cheaply. 443 00:26:34,310 --> 00:26:37,370 You make us a reproach to our neighbors. 444 00:26:38,190 --> 00:26:41,110 A scoffing and a derision to those around 445 00:26:41,110 --> 00:26:41,530 us. 446 00:26:42,510 --> 00:26:43,170 Verse 19. 447 00:26:43,870 --> 00:26:47,730 You have crushed us in a place of 448 00:26:47,730 --> 00:26:51,950 jackals and covered us with the shadow of 449 00:26:51,950 --> 00:26:52,770 death. 450 00:26:55,210 --> 00:26:55,950 That's where I get it. 451 00:26:58,470 --> 00:27:01,790 So when Paul says in verse 36, we 452 00:27:01,790 --> 00:27:04,450 are being counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 453 00:27:04,670 --> 00:27:07,030 He does not mean God has lost control 454 00:27:07,030 --> 00:27:09,070 of the world or of his people or 455 00:27:09,070 --> 00:27:12,590 of hijackers or of anything. 456 00:27:17,210 --> 00:27:18,670 And therefore by the way. 457 00:27:19,090 --> 00:27:20,870 No, it's not by the way. 458 00:27:20,970 --> 00:27:22,010 It's right at the essence. 459 00:27:23,510 --> 00:27:30,230 Therefore, radio commentators and TV commentators and Christian 460 00:27:30,230 --> 00:27:33,010 spokesmen need to hear this. 461 00:27:34,270 --> 00:27:38,830 Since he has not lost control of all 462 00:27:38,830 --> 00:27:41,070 things and all persons. 463 00:27:41,790 --> 00:27:45,070 Therefore, it is wrong to say. 464 00:27:45,710 --> 00:27:48,890 He has no holy purposes. 465 00:27:50,470 --> 00:27:53,710 And he has no gracious plans. 466 00:27:54,510 --> 00:27:56,970 And he has no merciful intentions. 467 00:27:57,870 --> 00:28:02,790 And he has no bright designs in this 468 00:28:02,790 --> 00:28:08,970 dark and dreadful and God ordained suffering. 469 00:28:11,580 --> 00:28:12,240 No. 470 00:28:12,820 --> 00:28:16,080 What he does mean is, what Paul is 471 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:17,140 saying is. 472 00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:25,650 That the God whose sovereignty reigns over all 473 00:28:25,650 --> 00:28:28,750 things and all persons and all times and 474 00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:29,770 all places. 475 00:28:30,770 --> 00:28:40,490 Will make death and life and 476 00:28:40,490 --> 00:28:43,790 angels and principalities. 477 00:28:44,370 --> 00:28:48,670 And things present and things to come and 478 00:28:48,670 --> 00:28:52,170 height and depth and powers. 479 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,650 And every other thing in all creation serve 480 00:28:56,650 --> 00:29:05,470 the everlasting joy of those who trust in 481 00:29:05,470 --> 00:29:06,070 Christ. 482 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,130 That's what his sovereignty means. 483 00:29:15,130 --> 00:29:24,290 Everything is designed for the everlasting joy of 484 00:29:24,290 --> 00:29:28,450 broken hearted penitent people. 485 00:29:28,690 --> 00:29:32,150 Who freely receive what he has freely provided 486 00:29:32,150 --> 00:29:33,610 in Jesus. 487 00:29:34,990 --> 00:29:39,150 If he must kill them to do it. 488 00:29:40,170 --> 00:29:41,690 He will kill them. 489 00:29:41,690 --> 00:29:44,990 We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 490 00:29:45,630 --> 00:29:49,930 We are being killed all day long. 491 00:29:50,850 --> 00:29:53,370 Oh may God grant you in the coming 492 00:29:53,370 --> 00:29:54,410 days of trouble. 493 00:29:54,910 --> 00:29:56,190 Sweet sorrow. 494 00:29:57,810 --> 00:29:59,170 And self humbling. 495 00:30:00,230 --> 00:30:01,850 And steady hope. 496 00:30:02,550 --> 00:30:05,070 In your suffering savior. 497 00:30:05,870 --> 00:30:08,090 And your sovereign king. 498 00:30:09,090 --> 00:30:10,670 Jesus Christ. 499 00:30:11,690 --> 00:30:15,270 And cause your minds to be stayed on 500 00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:16,690 Jesus Christ. 501 00:30:17,630 --> 00:30:21,350 And may the peace that passes all understanding 502 00:30:21,350 --> 00:30:25,110 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 503 00:30:27,190 --> 00:30:32,150 Our God is an everlasting rock. 504 00:30:34,130 --> 00:30:35,030 And I beckon you. 505 00:30:35,410 --> 00:30:36,490 I summon you. 506 00:30:36,850 --> 00:30:39,030 I plead with all of you. 507 00:30:39,030 --> 00:30:46,090 Yield to the love, mercy, authority and sovereignty 508 00:30:46,090 --> 00:30:48,150 of Jesus Christ. 509 00:30:51,110 --> 00:30:53,090 And now may the Lord who is able 510 00:30:53,090 --> 00:30:54,330 to keep you from falling. 511 00:30:55,070 --> 00:30:57,150 And present you without blemish. 512 00:30:57,870 --> 00:31:00,710 And with rejoicing before the throne of his 513 00:31:00,710 --> 00:31:01,190 glory. 514 00:31:02,330 --> 00:31:03,890 The all wise God. 515 00:31:04,790 --> 00:31:06,230 Before all time. 516 00:31:06,910 --> 00:31:07,490 Now. 517 00:31:08,090 --> 00:31:09,230 And forever. 518 00:31:10,230 --> 00:31:14,520 Bestow upon you a peace that passes understanding. 519 00:31:15,570 --> 00:31:17,070 And win for himself. 520 00:31:17,710 --> 00:31:18,550 Great honor. 521 00:31:19,090 --> 00:31:19,890 Great majesty. 522 00:31:20,550 --> 00:31:21,590 And great glory. 523 00:31:22,010 --> 00:31:26,550 In the sacrificial service of your sorrowing. 524 00:31:27,090 --> 00:31:28,150 Self humbled. 525 00:31:29,070 --> 00:31:30,430 And steady hope. 526 00:31:30,990 --> 00:31:31,410 Life. 527 00:31:33,010 --> 00:31:34,370 And all the people said. 528 00:31:35,090 --> 00:31:35,630 Amen. 529 00:31:35,970 --> 00:31:36,590 You're dismissed. 530 00:31:36,590 --> 00:31:41,100 Thank you for listening to this message by 531 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:41,900 John Piper. 532 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,420 Pastor for preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in 533 00:31:45,420 --> 00:31:46,600 Minneapolis, Minnesota. 534 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:49,160 Feel free to make copies of this message 535 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:49,960 to give to others. 536 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:52,620 But please do not charge for those copies 537 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:55,280 or alter the content in any way without 538 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:55,740 permission. 539 00:31:56,420 --> 00:31:59,020 We invite you to visit Desiring God online 540 00:31:59,020 --> 00:32:04,000 at www.desiringgod.org. 541 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,740 There you'll find hundreds of sermons, articles, radio 542 00:32:07,740 --> 00:32:09,140 broadcasts and much more. 543 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:11,580 All available to you at no charge. 544 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:14,700 Our online store carries all of Pastor John's 545 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:16,900 books, audio and video resources. 546 00:32:17,420 --> 00:32:18,720 You can also stay up to date on 547 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:20,800 what's new at Desiring God. 548 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:26,040 Again our website is www.desiringgod.org. 549 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:30,860 Or call us toll free at 1-888 550 00:32:30,860 --> 00:32:33,000 -346-4700. 551 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:38,460 Our mailing address is Desiring God, 2601 East 552 00:32:38,460 --> 00:32:44,000 Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406. 553 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,840 Desiring God exists to help you make God 554 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:48,760 your treasure. 555 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:52,540 Because God is most glorified in us when 556 00:32:52,540 --> 00:32:55,160 we are most satisfied in Him.