Sermons and Outlines

Rom. 8:28 THE CHEMISTRY OF THE CROSS

Intro: Ill. A trip to the drug store to get a prescription filled. The druggist will take

several bottles off the shelf, mix them together and make a medicine. Some of the

chemicals he uses may be dangerous and even fatal, but when they are mixed

together in the proper amounts, they can heal your body. Have you ever

considered that this is how God works also? He takes all our problems, and our

situations, which look so terrible, and He mixes them all together in the crucible of

His love and produces something that is very wonderful - medicine for the soul.

In this great verse, Paul reminds the Roman Christians about the Chemistry

of the Cross. This process allows God to take all the circumstances of life, both

good and bad, both sweet and bitter, and blend them together into something

wonderful. He can take all of life and turn it into a situation that works for our

good and for His glory.

Allow me to share some of the blessings contained in this little verse as we

look together at, “The Chemistry Of The Cross.” As we do, be assured that God

can take your life, with all of its ups and downs, blend it with His grace, add a

heaping portion of His love and transform it into a thing of great beauty and

blessing.

I. THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S PROMISE

A. Ill. “We know” - All things will work for good, no questions, no

qualifications.

B. This is an ironclad promise from Almighty God Himself - Rom. 4:21. (Ill.

His reputation rides on His Word!) (Ill. Al things will work for Good!)

C. Ill. F.B. Meyer, “If any promise of God should fail, the heavens would cloth

themselves in sackcloth; the sun, the moon and the stars would reel from

their courses; the universe would rock, and a hollow wind would moan

through a ruined creation the awful fact that God can lie.” Ill. But never

fear! Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2.

II. THE COMPLETENESS OF GOD’S PROMISE

A. Ill. Not “most”, not “some”, but “ALL” Webster - 1.) The whole of, the

greatest possible; 2.) Every member or individual part of; 3.) The whole

number or sum of; 4.) Every; 5:0 Any whatever.

B. In fact, every thing in the life of the child of God is working for your good!

Even the things you don’t understand, or even like!

C. Notice some areas where God is working out our good and His glory.

1. Sweet Things Work For Our Good - It is easy to see how the sweet

things in life work for us. (Ill. Home, family, health, wealth, salvation,

etc.) These things are the stuff of life that make it good and make us feel

good about things. In fact, these blessings from the Lord ought to cause

us to want to be better Christians, Rom. 2:4. (Ill. We ought to thank and

praise Him for His blessings - 1 Thes. 5:18; Heb. 13:15.)

2. Sorrowful Things Work For Our Good - (Ill. A Russian invasion and

many carried off to slavery in Siberia. Would it be good? (Ill. There are

several examples in the Word of God where extremely sorrowful things

happened to people and it all worked for their good in the end. Judah -

Jer. 24:5; David - Psa. 119:71; Joseph - Gen. 50:20; Manasseh - 2 Chron.

33:11-12) Often the sickbed, the valley of suffering, or the time of

sorrow can out teach the sermon! When God allows a time of sorrow,

suffering or pain in our lives, it is always for our good and for His glory.

(Ill. He never said we had to like it, but we should strive to be thankful!)

Remember, it is the eye that is washed with tears that sees the best!

3. Satanic Things Work For Our Good - (Ill. Paul - 2 Cor. 12:7-10, Ill

Paul endured Satanic attack and affliction. But, God gave it to Him!) Ill.

God can even use the devil to work out good things in our lives. (Ill. Old

widow, no groceries and cruel landlord.) Even Satanic attack is used by

the Lord to grow us up in his image.

4. Sinful Things Work For Our Good - Ill. Christians ought not sin!

When we do, we will suffer, but God can take the suffering brought about

deliberate sin and use it for our good - Ill. Simon Peter - Luke 22:31-34.

D. God uses all the circumstances of life for our good. May not see the good

right now, but we can still take comfort and rejoice in the completeness of

God’s promise.

III. THE CAUSE OF HIS PROMISE

A. The cause is the awesome power of God. He is all-powerful, all-knowing

and He is able to take control of every situation in life.

B. It’s easy to forget that God is in control - Matt. 28:18; Eph. 3:20; Luke 1:38;

Job 42:2. When we get our eyes off Him and on our circumstance, we are in

for a fall - Ill. Peter - Matt. 14:28-31. (Ill. Martin Luther and deep

depressions.)

C. When life closes in, remember this: If you belong to Jesus, God is behind

every circumstance you face. (Ill. Job 1 & 2).

IV. THE CONDITION OF HIS PROMISE

A. This promise is not for everyone. Only to those who love God.

B. If all things work together for good to the lover of God, the opposite must be

true for those who do not love him! (Ill. Preaching - Blesses the obedient,

and bruises the disobedient.)(Ill. If you went to a physician whom you didn't trust,

you wouldn't follow his prescription and treatment and as a result, you wouldn't

experience the blessing of healing. If you do not love God, and trust His widom,

you will rebel against Him and refuse to submit to Hill for your life.)

C. How can I tell if I really love God?

1. Are you saved? You can’t love Him until you know Him - 1 John 4:19.

2. Are you obedient? John 14:15; John 14:21.

(Ill. You have no right to claim Rom. 8:28 unless you qualify as one who

loves Him!)

D. Ill. Jesus can be either good or bad. He is the door - John 10:9. To the

saved, He is the door into the glories of Heaven and eternal life, but to the

lost, He is the door into damnation and eternal separation in Hell. You see,

it is vitally important for you to “love God”, so this great promise can be

yours now and forever.

V. THE CONSEQUENCES OF GOD’S PROMISE

A. Ill. This is not a verse designed for your happiness! It is not to be taken

lightly. Ill. The verses that immediately follow it - 29-30.

B. God’s purpose in turning everything to good is not to bless you, make you

happy, or make you wealthy. God is doing all that He does to make you

more like Jesus! God didn’t finish with you at salvation. He will continue

to shape you until you reflect His image perfectly.

C. The whole purpose of Romans 8:28 is to teach us that God has an eternal

plan and that nothing will ever be able to change that plan! God is busy

reproducing Himself in each of us.

Conc: Ill. God always saves the best for last - Ill. John 2 - Jesus in Cana. The truth

of this great promise is this: One day when all our plans, hopes and dreams are

gone, we will be like Him! Ill. Imagine God to be like a great diamond cutter.

One day, as a result of everything you have endured and enjoyed in this life, He

will have chipped and chiseled you into His own image. That, and that alone,

makes every situation of life worthwhile. Ill. As God works out His chemistry in

our lives, we can be assured that we will be the ones who will ultimately benefit.

Bring all of you circumstances before him this morning and trust His wisdom in

your life.

Pastor