Sacraments as Signs [2026.02.15 Sabbath School in WCF 27.1 — Hopewell 101]

Sacraments are signs and seals unto faith—without which faith, the sacrament does you no ultimate good.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Is Predestination Fair? [Family Worship lesson in Romans 9:14–18]

Is it unrighteous of God to make the difference between the saved and the unsaved? Romans 9:14–18 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is merciful of God to save from among sinners who all deserve to be hardened. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 9:14–18

Read Romans 9:14–18

Questions from the Scripture text: With what question does Romans 9:14 begin? What have some apparently said/asked? How does the apostle answer? To whom has God spoken (Romans 9:15)? What does He say that He will have? Upon whom? What else does He say that He will have? Upon whom? Of what two types people is the difference not produced (Romans 9:16)? Who produces it? What does He show? What speaks to whom in Romans 9:17? What does God say that He has done? In order to show what? And so that what else will happen, where? Upon whom does He have mercy? Whom does He harden?

Is it unrighteous of God to make the difference between the saved and the unsaved? Romans 9:14–18 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that it is merciful of God to save from among sinners who all deserve to be hardened. 

The opposite of unrighteousness. Notice how the apostle deals with the question (Romans 9:14) of whether there is unrighteousness with God. He does not reason about whether he thinks God is righteous. That would be to make ourselves the judges of God. Anyone who thinks or speaks this way shows themselves to be impious and arrogant and self-condemned. Instead, the apostle takes God at His own Word. What does God say about God? God says that He is merciful and compassionate (Romans 9:15)! 

This is what makes the difference between the elect and the reprobate: the mercy of God. If there had been any injustice, it would have been on account of not destroying the elect in their sin. But, the apostle has already told us the way by which the Lord could show mercy and be just at the same time (cf. Romans 3:24–26).

God makes a merciful difference. So, Romans 9:16 goes on to restate the point that neither Rebecca and Isaac’s will, nor Jacob and Esau’s running, was what made the difference. What made the difference? God Himself did! When Romans 9:11 said this, it referred to Him as “Him who calls.” Now, Romans 9:16 refers to the difference-making God as “God Who shows mercy.” 

He is a just God, but apart from mercy, that justice would give to all men equally. Apart from mercy, God’s justice would rightly give all men wrath, would give all men Hell. It is His mercy that has intervened.

God rightly does harden. Though the great difference-maker is mercy and compassion, it is not wrong for God to show His power and declare His Name by the judgment of His enemies. This He declared to Pharaoh, which He put in writing for our sakes (Romans 9:17). Pharaoh is a sinner, and it is absolutely right for God to be glorified upon him. 

The will of God is exercised in both cases in Romans 9:18: both in the showing of mercy and the hardening. But notice that the latter is “hardening.” God does not make them wicked. Rather, He hardens them in wickedness. They are already wicked. God justly hardened, solidified, Pharaoh in being what he already was.

Is there unrighteousness with God? No! NO! NO!! There is mercy with God! Mercy to sinners! Mercy to sinners that He would have been right to harden in their sin. Mercy unto whomever He wills. Free mercy, motivated by His mere good pleasure. Each of us ought to know, before God, that He would have been right to harden me, but instead He has shown me mercy, simply because He wanted to!

What do you deserve? What is the only way that this wouldn’t happen? What does God show, when He makes the difference between the unsaved and the saved?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank you for making the difference for us. Truly, You are just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. Grant unto us to be Yours in Him, and conformed to Him, by Your Spirit. We confess that we deserve to be hardened, but we bless Your Name for Your free mercy toward us in Jesus Christ, through Whom we pray, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP130 “Lord, From the Depths to You I Cried” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”

What Determines Who Believes? [Family Worship lesson in Romans 9:10–13]

What determines who gets saved? Romans 9:10–13 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s loving choice is what determines who gets saved. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.20 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 9:10–13

Read Romans 9:10–13

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Romans 9:10 convey the idea that this is a new part of the reasoning? Who conceived? By how many fathers? Whose father? What hadn’t happened to the children (Romans 9:11)? What hadn’t they done? What was the cause, then—that what should stand? According to what had God purposed? What does not bring about that purpose? What does bring about that purpose? What promise was made to whom (Romans 9:12)? What does Malachi record about that promise (Romans 9:13)?

What determines who gets saved? Romans 9:10–13 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s loving choice is what determines who gets saved. 

Who doesn’t determine who will believe in Christ. In Romans 9:6-9, the Spirit taught us that there is a distinction between the visible church and the invisible church, between those who are children of the flesh and those who are children of God. The invisible church, the children of God, are those who have their adoption through faith in the promised Seed, Jesus Christ.

But that prompts another question: how is it that some who are in the church come to believe in Jesus Christ, when there are many in the church who never believe? 

Romans 9:10 quickly dismisses the idea that the difference is determined by the parents. Esau and Jacob not only had the same father, but the same mother, coming into the world in the same season of their lives. 

And Romans 9:11 quickly dismisses the idea that the difference is determined by the children. The children weren’t even born yet. They had done nothing, either one way or the other, to distinguish one from the other.

Who does determine who will believe in Christ. So, if it wasn’t due to the parents, or due to the children, then who? “that the purpose of God according to election might stand.” Election is first: God setting His love upon some. Then came a purpose according to that election: to bring a Redeemer into the world, the Seed that was promised to Abraham and came through Isaac, and to bring the elect to faith in that Redeemer. 

Whenever someone comes to faith, it is because this purpose of God must stand. Notice that this purpose is according to election, not reprobation. Those who are reprobate bring wrath upon themselves, but God drives history not with an eye to His wrath but with an eye to redeeming those whom He loved from all eternity.

How the purpose is made to stand. So, how is this purpose brought about? It is not by works. By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (cf. Romans 3:20). Rather, God calls to faith (Romans 9:11) by the preaching of the promise, and He gives faith to those whom He calls, so that they believe Him (cf. Romans 10:14–16). 

In Malachi, God addressed wicked Jacob with a Word that would bring salvation, because of His love for him whom He would bring to faith—even though Esau/Edom had been justly hated (Romans 9:13, cf. Malachi 1:2–3), and the faith-giving promise of redemption was not preached there (cf. Romans 9:4). The Old Testament closed with a word of hope offered to a sinful people because God Himself would come in a day of salvation in which He turns hearts by the calling of His Word (cf. Malachi 4:5–6).

What opportunity do you have when you hear preaching? How is this reflected in the frequency and attentiveness with which you hear preaching? Who can make that opportunity effectual to you? How do your prayers reflect this desire?

Sample prayer:  Our gracious God and heavenly Father, we thank You that You give faith, by Your call, according to Your love. Grant unto us that faith by Your Spirit, we ask, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH426 “How Vast the Benefits Divine”

The Unfailing Word to Covenant Children [Family Worship lesson in Romans 9:6–9]

Why do some covenant children perish in their sins? Romans 9:6–9 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant children perish through parents who don’t believe the promises and children who fail to believe in the promised One. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 9:6–9

Read Romans 9:6–9

Questions from the Scripture text: What might some say, if there are Israelites who do not end up saved (Romans 9:6a)? How does the apostle summarize the case for why this isn’t true (verse 6b)? What does not define a child of Abraham (Romans 9:7a, cf. Romans 4:11–12, John 8:39)? From what Scripture does the apostle prove this (Romans 9:7b, cf. Genesis 21:12)? Who are not the children of God (Romans 9:8a)? Who are the seed/offspring of God (verse 8b)? What child was promised to Abraham (Romans 9:9, cf. Genesis 18:10–14)? What child had not come by promise? Of what was this a parable?

Why do some covenant children perish in their sins? Romans 9:6–9 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant children perish through parents who don’t believe the promises and children who fail to believe in the promised One.  

Has the Word of God failed? One of the most sensitive and difficult spiritual issues for believers is that covenant children sometimes perish. How can this be, when we have called them “saint,” and they have enjoyed the privileges and benefits of being members of the visible church? This was precisely the case with the Jews, as the apostle has made clear by his description of them in Romans 9:4. So, how could it be that so many Jews were rejecting Christ? Did the Word of God about them as a visible church fail? Or did the Word of God that was preached to them fail?

We distinguish. It is odd to the author that many will come to Romans 9–11 and insist that “Israel” must refer to the same group of people when used multiple times in nearby context to one another. “Israel” quite obviously refers to two different groups just a couple words apart in Romans 9:6! They are not all elect/saved Israel who are of covenantal/ethnic Israel. Romans 9:4 had referred to Israel as a covenant people, as a visible church. Romans 9:5 had referred to Israel as an ethnic people, related in their flesh. Now Romans 9:6 explains that being a member of Israel in the Romans 9:4/Romans 9:5 way did not ultimately make someone elect or guarantee that they would be saved. 

Parents and children who fail. The apostle’s selections of Scripture in Romans 9:7 (cf. Genesis 21:12) and Romans 9:9 (cf. Genesis 18:10, Genesis 18:14) are very impressive. In the former one, the Lord was promising the one through whom the Christ would come, and Sarah was disbelieving. In the latter quote, it is Sarah who is defending the integrity of the covenant line through whom Christ would come, and Abraham has to be rebuked/instructed by God to heed her good counsel. In both places, there is a parent who has the promises of Christ for us and for our children, but who is failing to make proper application of it. This is what fails when covenant children perish, as so many Jews were doing in Paul’s day: not the promise, but our believing and responding to the promise.

The God Who remains true. Despite Abraham’s weakness and Sarah’s weakness, God’s promise remained true. He brought them to repentance. He brought their sons to faith—not just Isaac but also Ishmael. When we are failing as parents (as we often/constantly do), our cry to God must be that He would give us repentance and faithfulness, and that He Who is perfectly faithful would yet bring our children to faith. Isaac was not saved by being the one through whom the Seed (and seed) were called. He was saved by believing in the Seed that would come through him. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael were all saved only by believing in the promised one. For children of the flesh (Romans 9:8a) to become children of God (verse 8c) by being children of the promise (verse 8b), they must believe in the promised one.

So covenant parents must not do as so many Jews did (assume that they were being saved by being Jews and being presumptuous about themselves and their children). Believing the promises doesn’t mean presumptuously ignoring the means appointed by the faithful Word, but rather diligently using them. Believing the promises doesn’t mean neglecting to call covenant children to believe in the promised One, but constantly employing the Word of promise to plead with them to believe in Him. Never has the Word been thus employed and failed. 

When we find ourselves failing, we must turn to Him Whose Word does not fail, asking Him to grant repentance to us, and faith to our children—that the God Who overcame Abraham’s and Sarah’s failings would overcome ours as well. Dear covenant child, who might be reading this devotional, or hearing it taught to you by your own Christian parent. God has made promises concerning you that you are identified with in “the adoption,” see in “the glory,” have signified to you in “the covenants,” have taught you in “the law,” lay claim to in “the worship of God,” and hear promised to you in “the promises” (Romans 9:4). Believe in the promised One! Believe in Jesus Christ! Don’t presume upon yourself or your status. Children of the flesh are not saved by being children of the flesh, or by their covenant status, but only by believing in Jesus Christ.

What is your hope for yourself? What things has God given you, in His church, to encourage you in that hope? What is your hope for your children? What things has God given you, in His church, to encourage you in that hope? Why must you not hope merely in their being from your flesh or in their being part of His church?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for Your many good and precious promises about the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for announcing Him to us, and showing Him to us, in so many ways as members of Your church. And thank You for giving us promises, also, concerning our children. Grant that by Your Spirit, we would be faithful to urge them to hope in Christ as He is offered to them in the gospel. And grant that by Your Spirit, they would do so, we ask in Christ’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP126 “What Blessedness” or TPH405 “I Love They Kingdom, Lord” 

Grieving Over Perishing Souls [Family Worship lesson in Romans 9:1–5]

If the love of God is irreversible, then what about Israel? Romans 9:1–5 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Israel are the people from whom Christ came, and therefore for whom we should agonize over each one of them that does not have Him. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 9:1–5

Read Romans 9:1–5

Questions from the Scripture text: What four ways does Romans 9:1 affirm what Paul is saying (verse 1)? What level of grief was so hard to believe (Romans 9:2-3a)? For what could he wish to be accursed from Christ? Which brethren? What are they called (Romans 9:4)? What six great things pertained to them? Who was from them (Romans 9:5)? And Who else came from them, according to the flesh? Over whom is Christ? Who does this make Him?

If the love of God is irreversible, then what about Israel? Romans 9:1–5 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Israel are the people from whom Christ came, and therefore for whom we should agonize over each one of them that does not have Him.

An amazing work of grace. Romans 9:1 is unusual. By four types of vow or oath statements, the apostle verifies what he is saying. This is not because his yes and no are sometimes no and yes, but simply because of how wonderful is the work of grace that God has done in his heart to give him such love for the Jews. Becoming forgiving like this is a great work of great grace. Each of us should look to God to do it in our hearts, and conform us to Christ (cf. Luke 23:34), as He has done for Stephen (cf. Acts 7:60), Paul, and other believers for two millennia.

An agonizing grief. If Romans 9:2 is what it looks like when grace has laid hold of our hearts, then many of us should be crying out for more grace. The apostle by whom the Spirit commands us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (cf. Philippians 4:4) continually grieves with great sorrow for the lost. The greatest joy and the greatest sorrow ought to dwell together continually in our hearts.

An astonishing generosity. The apostle has just finished describing how salvation is determined in eternity and invincibly carried out in time (cf. Romans 8:27–39). But now he declares his hypothetical (“I could wish,” Romans 9:3) desire to give up his own salvation (“accursed for Christ”) for his relatives according to the flesh. This is, of course, something that is impossible for us to do. But it is also exactly what Christ has done for us. He was cursed for us (cf. Galatians 3:13)!

This self-sacrificial love puts to shame our prayerlessness for the lost. Christ was accursed for us, the apostle was willing to be accursed for others’ salvation, but we find ourselves too unwilling even to be inconvenienced to pray for it. Or to be thought fanatical or impolite to speak for it.

Two categories of those whom we should especially love this way. Paul describes the Jews two ways. First, they are his relatives according to the flesh. We have a special obligation to those to whom God’s providence connects us.

Second, the Jews are Israelites (Romans 9:4). And this he means primarily covenantally. “To whom pertain the adoption” (cf. Exodus 4:22–23; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:9). “The glory” (cf. Exodus 24:9–11, Exodus 24:16–18). “The covenants.” Notice the plural here; this is not only the Sinaitic covenant, but a recognition of the progression from Genesis 3 through Genesis 9, Genesis 12, Sinai, 2 Samuel 7, even unto Christ. God’s law, worship, and promises (Romans 9:4b) at Sinai all looked forward to Christ covenantally.

The Jews are also ethnically precious because of the eminent saints at the root of their tree (“the fathers,” Romans 9:5) and the infinitely glorious Branch Who grew from the stump of their tree (“from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came.”) We ought to love Abraham as a father in the faith (cf. Romans 4:11–12, Romans 4:16), and his descendants for his sake (this works for Jews and Arabs alike!). But how much more ought we to love the earthly family of those from whom the Ever-Blessed God was born according to the flesh (cf. Romans 1:3–4; Romans 1:25b)! Indeed, though some point out that it is possible to translate the end of Romans 9:5 differently, it is impossible to do so honestly, as it follows hard upon the heels of Romans 8:35–39.

We should care for the salvation of all who are perishing. But the Lord has placed upon us a special obligation to grieve over the perishing of our near relatives and of the Jews.

For whom, among your relatives, should you be looking for more grace in the heart to grieve over them continually? If you had this grace, for whom else would you especially grieving (both covenantally and ethnically)?

Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your great mercy toward us. In that mercy, make us merciful to those who are perishing. Break our hearts for their salvation—especially for our family according to the flesh and for Christ’s family according to the flesh, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP126 “What Blessedness” or TPH405 “I Love They Kingdom, Lord”

The Divine Love of Christ [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:35–39]

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35–39 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, because Christ is God, and all things are for His sake. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 8:35–39

Read Romans 8:35–39

Questions from the Scripture text: What new question does Romans 8:35a ask (that Romans 8:36-39 proceed to answer)? What seven more things does Romans 8:35b ask about? Upon which of these does Romans 8:36 focus? What does Psalm 44 teach believers to expect in this life? For Whose sake? In light of what things from Romans 8:35 (and Romans 7:15–24, and Romans 8:17–25) does Romans 8:37 make its declaration? What is love making us to be in all these things? What nine great realities do Romans 8:38-39 name? To what category do they belong (Romans 8:39)? From what can’t things from this category separate us? Whose love? In Whom is this love? What is His title? What is His Name? What is His relation to us?

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35–39 looks forward to the public reading of Scripture in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, because Christ is God, and all things are for His sake. 

The love of Christ is the love of God. Romans 8:34 had focused upon the powerful case that Jesus makes for us (His death! His resurrection!) and the powerful position from which Jesus intercedes for us (the right hand of God!). Now, Romans 8:35 continues with the powerful motive from which Jesus intercedes for us: His love. 

Jesus is God. Romans 8:39c says more than that God’s love for us is through Christ. It says that Jesus Himself is the Lord God, and He loves us not only with human love in accord with His human nature, but with divine love in accord with His divine nature. “The love of Christ” (Romans 8:35) is “the love of God” (Romans 8:39c), which is in Him. It is essential to His being. It is not merely a part of Him (there are no “parts” of God).

Since Christ is God, everything is for His sake. Created things (Romans 8:39b) are for the sake of the Creator (cf. Romans 11:36). If the reason for everything is that the Son of God would be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29), then whatever happens in this groaning creation (Romans 8:22) is participating in bringing for that hope in which it was subjected (Romans 8:20). The hope in which we were saved (Romans 8:24). The hope for which the Spirit prays (Romans 8:26), and according to which God works (Romans 8:27).

So, in every circumstance, we have something to say to “these things.” None of “these things” can stop God from being God, or can be for anything other than His sake. “These things” includes trouble, distress, famine, nakedness, and danger (Romans 8:35). 

But what about persecution and the sword? Just as we were thinking last week, from Genesis 50:20, even the actions of the wicked are “for us.” And now the apostle quotes Psalm 44:22 to remind us that this is because we are “for the Lord”: “for Your sake.” If I live, it is for the Lord’s sake. If I die, it is for the Lord’s sake. There is great power in living for Christ, because it is then that dying is gain (cf. Philippians 1:21). This verse reminds us that it is also gain for Christ—not only for our good but for His glory.

Since we are Christ’s, we super-conquer in everything. Christ’s love, which has been determined to see us glorified since before the world began, is behind everything that happens. The believer cannot be ultimately defeated by his circumstances, because they are being employed in sanctifying love. And what great love that is! The second half of Romans 8:37 uses a participle to describe Christ as “the One having loved us.” It takes into its scope the foreknowing love from before the world began (Romans 8:29a), the sacrificial love unto death of the cross (Romans 8:34b), and the perpetual love of His intercession (end of verse 34).  

We must be careful here. We cannot employ the wicked logic that has already been condemned in Romans 3:8 and Romans 6:1. Sinning is not a victory; part of the super-conquering here is conquering against sin. Indeed, many of the “these things” in this passage are chastenings by which the Lord helps us turn ever-more against our sin rather than for it (cf. Hebrews 12:1–15). 

Never may we heal ourselves lightly, when defeated by sin, saying, “that’s ok: I’m super-conquering it.” No, we must HATE it. Let the sinning believer feel the pain, see the damage, and be helped along in his sanctification. And thus let him feel the defeat from himself and yet the super-conquering from his Lord—driving him all the more to live by the Spirit Who conquers, rather than by the flesh that is conquered. Whenever a believer sins, let him see again the great hatefulness of his sin and hate it more. And let him see again the great worthiness of his Redeemer and love Him more.

And so the truth about the “these things” of Romans 8:31 and the “all these things” of Romans 8:37 stands. However we may be conquered—even if we be killed by a being of great authority (principality) and ability (power), we super-conquer whoever and whatever did that. A love that had no beginning can have no end. And this almighty love will achieve its goal for us and in us: glorification. To be conformed to the image of the Son. All things serve the purpose of Christ’s divine love for us, and that purpose is to glorify us sinless and resurrected with Himself.

How does Christ’s two natures inform how you see His love? For Whose (and whose!) sake are all things happening? What is the most difficult thing in your life to believe that about right now? How will you bring the truth of this text to bear upon how you think about that thing? When did Christ’s divine love for you begin? When will it end? What things will serve its purposes? What is that purpose?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us so much that You have purposed all things to glorify You by doing us good. Grant that we, too, would love You by pursuing Your glory in all things—especially since that means putting off the things that hinder and the sin that remains. Remove all fear and defeat from us by the certainty that Your love is determined to make us super-conquer in all things. For, we ask it in Your glorious Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH515 “More Than Conquerors”

What to Say in Our Suffering [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:31–34]

What should a Christian say about his life? Romans 8:31–34 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a Christian is someone who should say that everything in time and space is coalescing for his good. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 8:31–34

Read Romans 8:31–34

Questions from the Scripture text: With what question does Romans 8:31 begin this series of questions? What do believers know about God’s relation to them? What rhetorical question expects what answer in verse 31? What (Whom!) hasn’t God spared (Romans 8:32)? What has God done with His Son? What else will He give? In what way? What question does Romans 8:33 ask? About Whom, specifically, is it asking this; and, what is He doing rather than bringing charges? What question does Romans 8:34 ask? About Whom specifically is it asking this? What two things has He already done? Where is He now? What is He doing there? For whom?

What should a Christian say about his life? Romans 8:31–34 looks forward to the public reading of Scripture in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a Christian is someone who should say that everything in time and space is coalescing for his good. 

Nothing is against us, Romans 8:31. This isn’t just that nothing can succeed against us. It is that nothing is fundamentally against us. Even people who intend to be against us cannot help but fulfill whatever God intends for us. God is for us, and He works all things according to the counsel of His own will (cf. Ephesians 1:11). Even if someone close to us betrayed us and intended evil against us, God was intending it for good. THAT’s what “we shall say to these things”!

All things are ours, Romans 8:32. All things must be ours by comparison of love. God already gave that which is infinitely more than everything else together: His Son! OF COURSE the love that gave us Jesus is giving us all other things! All things must be ours by obligation of justice. God has given us His Son, and in His Son, His righteousness. OF COURSE the justice that is satisfied with us in Jesus will demand that He and we would be rewarded with all things! 

God is our Justifier, Romans 8:33. Romans 8:31 already said that “God is for us,” summarizing what God has been doing throughout the entire history of the creation (cf. Romans 8:15-25). Now Romans 8:33 says that God is for us in another way: He is our advocate. In God’s court, there is no other judge. God is Judge. And God is Prosecutor. He lays the charges. But He is also the expert Witness Who has examined all of the evidence, then takes His seat as Judge and declares, “righteous!” There will be no charges against those whom God has justified.

Christ is our Intercessor, Romans 8:34. He is our defense Attorney. And He doesn’t just make a case on our behalf. He offers Himself as the case on our behalf. He has died, taking our guilt in full seriousness and satisfying the punishment accordingly. He has risen again, demonstrating that the payment has been received. And now, He has approached the bench—ascending to the right hand of God, where He presents Himself as our case, interceding for us.

These are the things that we say to our current life in this groaning creation: nothing is against us, all things are ours, God is our Justifier, and Christ is our Intercessor. What a joyous life ours will be, if we learn to speak according to the reality of what God is doing in history, and what relationship God has given us to Himself.

Who is for you? What things does this mean are for you? On the last day, who will be laying charges against the wicked? What will He be doing for those who believe in Christ? What will Christ be doing? For His own?

Sample prayer:  Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, our Lord Jesus, so that we may know that Your love and Your justice both demand that every possible good be done unto us. Help us believe this by Your Spirit, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH457 “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”

All Things Working for Glory [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:28–30]

What does God know about the mind with which the Spirit intercedes for the saints? Romans 8:28–30 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God’s plan to glorify them in and with His Son. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 8:28–30

Read Romans 8:28–30

Questions from the Scripture text: Which things do we know work together for good (Romans 8:28)? To whom do they work together for good? What did God also do to those whom He foreknew (Romans 8:29a)? To what did He predestine them (verse 29b)? For what reason (verse 29c)? What did He do for those whom He predestined (Romans 8:30a)? What did He do for those whom He called (verse 30b)? What did He do for those whom He justified (verse 30c)?

What does God know about the mind with which the Spirit intercedes for the saints? Romans 8:28–30 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God’s plan to glorify them in and with His Son. 

We know, Romans 8:28. All things working together for good isn’t even the main idea of verse 28. The main idea is that we know. How do we know? We know that the Spirit helps us to pray for it (Romans 8:26a), because He Himself prays for it (verse 26b), because He Himself has purposed it (Romans 8:27). What evidence is there that He purposed it? Because He called us according to that purpose (Romans 8:28c). 

That’s the only way that sinners such as we are could ever come to love Him (Romans 8:28b). Here the love of God summarizes the keeping of the whole law (cf. Matthew 22:37–40). The one who was a slave under sin is now a lover of God? How did THAT happen?! God purposed it. God called him. God turned him into a lover of God.

God foreknew, Romans 8:29a. Why would God do this for someone who was going to be such a sinner? God did foreknow that we would be sinners. But that’s not the foreknowing that this verse is talking about. Some have thought that it’s talking about God foreknowing that we would choose Him, but that’s a rubbish idea. Apart from converting grace there would only be sin. But this is not foreknowing about a person; this is foreknowing the person himself. Predestination unto glory is the consequence of God determining to have an eternal relationship with a person. 

God knows, Romans 8:29-30. What is the mind of the Spirit as He prays for us in Romans 8:27? It is the mind that belongs to God from all eternity. The mind that treasures the glory of the Son. The mind that predestined those whom God foreknow to be conformed to that glory (Romans 8:29b). The mind that has shaped the history of every foreknown saint from predestination, through calling, to justification (Romans 8:30). And this glorification, that was determined from all eternity, is so sure to come (and to last into all eternity) that the apostle puts it in the past tense. For, it was determined in the knowledge of God—determined in that knowledge which is not a reactive knowledge, but the knowledge that has decreed whatsoever comes to pass (cf. Ephesians 1:11). 

The saint can know that all things are working together for his good, because the way that he came to be a lover of God is because God has determined to work all things together for that saint’s glory with Jesus Christ.

What’s the only way a sinner like you can become a lover of God? When would that have been determined? What had God unstoppably planned to do to such as love God? Why did He predestine them to that?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us and planning a relationship with us from all eternity. Grant unto us to know the fellowship of Your Spirit, Who works in us and prays for us, that we may be sure that all things are working together for our good—working together to conform us to Christ, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH469 “Who Are These Like Stars Appearing”

The Spirit's Ministry in Prayer [Family Worship lesson in Romans 8:26–27]

How does the Spirit help, when our perseverance is weak? Romans 8:26–27 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit of God, Who has the mind of God, teaches us to pray for glory with certainty, even as He perfectly prays the same. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.11.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 8:26–27

Read Romans 8:26–27

Questions from the Scripture text: Who helps us (Romans 8:26)? Because of what reality about us? In what lack of knowledge are we particularly weak? Who prays for us? What sorts of prayers? How does Romans 8:27 describe God? What does it say that He knows? For whom, particularly, does the Spirit make intercession? According to what?

How does the Spirit help, when our perseverance is weak? Romans 8:26–27 looks forward to the public reading of Scripture in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Spirit of God, Who has the mind of God, teaches us to pray for glory with certainty, even as He perfectly prays the same. 

The help of the Spirit. We ought to be “eager” and “persevering” (Romans 8:25) in our hoping, and therefore our praying. But we are not what we ought to be. We do not strain as we ought to for that glory for which we were saved, and to which we are certain to attain. So the Spirit helps us in our infirmities. We don’t know how to pray for what we ought. So the Spirit helps us to pray. He helps us be eternally minded, heavenly minded, even as we pray for things in our time and place. If we did not have the Spirit to help us in prayer, we could only pray from our flesh. But we do have His help, praise God!

The intercession of the Spirit. In Romans 8:23 we heard that “we ourselves groan.” Now in Romans 8:26 we read that “the Spirit Himself makes intercession.” That is to say: not only is He responsible for whatever good and true praying comes out of us, but He also prays in our behalf. God prays for us! Christ prays for us as our Mediator (cf. Romans 8:34). And God the Spirit prays for us according to His own divine will. So, we have both our own praying that He conforms to God’s will, and His praying that is itself an expression of God’s will.

The groaning of the Spirit. What does the Spirit pray for us? That all of God’s will would ultimately be accomplished. That for which the creation groans (cf. Romans 8:22), and that for which we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan (cf. Romans 8:23), would be fulfilled. The hope in which God subjected the creation (cf. Romans 8:20), the hope in which God saved us (cf. Romans 8:24), is the hope for which God the Spirit prays for us. God the Spirit groans for us not in human words but with the very desire and intention of God Himself! So, as God searches our Spirit-prompted hearts, He observes the mind of His own Spirit and approves it.

From where does any good praying that you do come? Who else is praying for you? What for?

Sample prayer:  Father, thank You for giving us Your Spirit to help us pray according to Your own priorities. Grant that by His help, we would pray more and more like Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” or TPH469 “Who Are These Like Stars Appearing” 

Baptized into Christ! [2024.11.17 Evening Sermon in Romans 6:1–11]

By His Spirit, Christ has baptized believers into Himself, so that they are dead to sin and death but alive unto God.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Believers' Good Thoughts, Words, or Deeds Are Not from Themselves [Family Worship lesson in Romans 3:9–18]

What should the believer be willing to admit about himself, apart from Christ? Romans 3:9–18 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that even those who do not make the errors represented in vv5–8 are, in themselves, so pervasively sinful that there can be no remedy for their sin in anything they think, say, or do.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 3:9–18

Read Romans 3:9–18

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Romans 3:9 ask about those with right doctrine, by comparison to the self-righteous and antinomians whom Romans 3:5-8 have been referencing? What is the answer? Why? Where else has this been seen (Romans 3:10)? How many righteous are there (cf. Psalm 14:1)? How many are there who understand (Romans 3:11, cf. Psalm 14:2)? Who seek God? How many have done what two things in Romans 3:12 (cf. Psalm 14:3)? How many have done what third thing? What three parts of them offer no remedy (Romans 3:13 (cf. Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3)? What else can’t help; with what is it full (Romans 3:14, cf. Psalm 10:7)? What can’t make up for this (Romans 3:15, cf. Isaiah 59:7)? Where do they end up when they try (Romans 3:16)? What can’t they know/find (Romans 3:17, cf. Isaiah 59:8)? What can’t/won’t they even see (Romans 3:18, cf. Psalm 36:1)? 

What should the believer be willing to admit about himself, apart from Christ? Romans 3:9–18 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that all men are so pervasively sinful that there can be no remedy for their sin in anything they think, say, or do.  

There are “Christian” radio stations that like to bill their music as “positive and encouraging,” and certainly a Jew who didn’t pay close enough attention might have thought that the Psalter was that way toward him. But the one who “teaches himself” (cf. Romans 2:21) from the Scripture ought not indulge in such delusions. 

Coming out of Romans 3:5-8, our remaining fleshliness might tempt us to think that we are better than those who argue against the fairness of God to judge unbelievers in the church, or those who argue that the gospel of grace is a good excuse to sin. But the idea of our superiority would also be a delusion. The apostle stops us in our tracks with one question and answer: “Are we better than they? Not at all!” (Romans 3:9). Instead, he quotes extensively from at least six of God’s songs to remind us that what comes from us is all wicked and unprofitable; the good that can remedy our sin can come only from Christ, not from ourselves.

Better theology or intentions cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:11-12. Quoting from the opening section of Psalm 14, the apostle reminds us that if there is any good/better theology in us, it certainly wasn’t from us that it came. We are wicked in Adam (Romans 3:10b, cf. Romans 5:12–21), and this affects both our understanding (Romans 3:11a) and our intentions (Romans 3:12b). From/in ourselves, we can’t even rightly say that we “mean well”!

In fact, we are so opposite our original/holy nature (Romans 3:12a) that all the benefit that we could all produce, taken together, adds up to zero (verse 12b)! This is because there isn’t a single one of us that has a single thought, intention, or deed on the “good” side of the ledger (verse 12c). If our hope was to get our doctrine good enough, or our resolve sincere enough, that we could make a beginning of remedying our sin and guilt, then we have no hope at all.

Better speech or worship cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:13-14. Now, the apostle quotes from Psalm 5, 140, and 10. If we thought that perhaps there was some form of good speech—prayers, apologies, worship, etc.—that could remedy our sin, we would be greatly mistaken. Life cannot come from us; opening our throat is opening a place of death (Romans 3:13a). The best words that can be on our tongue simply expose how opposite our nature they actually are (verse 13b). That which comes from our lips is so far from being able to heal that it only causes further harm and death (verse 13c). Our mouths produce not blessing but cursing, not health but bitterness (Romans 3:14).

So, just as there was no remedy for our sin in our thoughts or wills, there certainly is not any remedy from our speech. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (cf. Matthew 12:34), which in light of Romans 3:10-12 is why the tongue is untamable and full of deadly poison (cf. James 3:8). Any attempt to bless God with the tongue is belied by our use of it at other times (cf. James 3:9–12). No, if any genuinely good speech comes out of us, it will not come from us in order to remedy our sin. Rather, the Lord must remedy our sin if any true good will ever be spoken by us.

Better deeds cannot remedy our sin, Romans 3:15-18. If we are not able to muster proper thoughts or words, what about deeds? Surely there must be some penance, some restitution, some atoning service we can perform? Now, the apostle shifts to applying Isaiah 59:7–8.

Alas, our feet are no better off than the rest of us; they are “swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:15). Our “ways” (Romans 3:16-17) are no better than our words. Why? Because it is not the reverential fear of God that drives our actions (Romans 3:18). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23), but there are none who fear God (cf. Psalm 36:1).

By the time we finish Romans 3:18, we may have forgotten where we began in Romans 3:9. Are “we” any better than they? The apostle, and those who are with him in avoiding the errors of others, are in the same position with respect to atonement and righteousness. If by God’s grace, we are with the apostle, it is still true of us: nothing we think, nothing we say, and nothing we do can remedy our sin or be our righteousness. We need a remedy and atonement that comes from outside us. And that is exactly what the apostle is proclaiming in the gospel: the righteousness of God that is for us by faith from start to finish!

Whom are you tempted to consider yourself better than? When you have a sense of your sin, what does your flesh tempt you to think that you can do to fix it, or make it up to God? From where, then, can there be any forgiveness for you? From where can there be help for you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for Your marvelous patience with such sinners as we are. Forgive us for the folly of thinking that we are deserving of such patience or have some good in us by which we can remedy our own condition. Grant that Your Spirit would bless Your Word to us, so that we would see and accept the totality of our depravity. And grant that Your Spirit would bless Your Word to us, so that we would see Your righteousness for us in Yourself, in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, forgive us and help us, for we ask it in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”