Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion

But God

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2018-03-28

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver explores the phrase 'But God' in Scripture, focusing on Romans 5:8 as the ultimate example of divine intervention. He explains that God's love for sinners is rooted in His eternal, sovereign choice in Christ before the foundation of the world. Humanity is spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, and under wrath, but God intervened by sending Christ to die for His enemies. The sermon contrasts Adam's federal headship bringing sin and death with Christ's headship bringing righteousness and life, emphasizing that salvation is entirely by grace through divine intervention.

[John Weaver] The title of the message today is Simply, But God. Notice Romans 5 and verse 8. She's putting new batteries in it. Well, it won't do any good. Romans 5, verse 8. The Bible says, but God committeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Note if you would please the first two words, but God. Everyone, at least 99% of all Christians, can either quote in full or at least finish the truth of 1 John 4, verse 19 when that verse is begun. And it simply goes like this. We love Him, help me out, because why? He first loved us. Very obviously. The truth of the matter is most of us have really very rarely ever considered the truth of that verse. We love Him because He first loved us. The fact is that our sovereign God had to love us first because He is the eternal God. Moreover, Had He not first loved us, we certainly would never ever have loved Him. That is for sure. In fact, our Lord said something very similar in John 15 and verse 16.

[John Weaver] He said, you have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you. Now, you can reply and say, well, I did choose Jesus Christ. Yes. But the only reason you chose Him is because He first chose you. So had He not first loved you, you would have never loved Him. Had He not first chosen you, you certainly would never have chosen Him.

[John Weaver] Now, when you stop and think about God loving us, you cannot just think about His love for us in time. Because the Bible teaches us in Jeremiah 31, verse 3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with the loving kindness have I drawn thee." Now notice what he said, I've loved thee with an everlasting love. It had no beginning. It had no ending. I've loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with the loving kindness have I drawn thee. So note if you would please, God sovereignly loved us in eternity past, and therefore he drew us to himself in time and in history. You're going to ask, how in the world could God love me in eternity past when I had no existence?

[John Weaver] When I had no being? And the truth of the matter is, He loved us in our federal head and representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us that He chose us in Christ. He gave us grace in Christ. He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began. So if you would hold Romans 5 and turn first of all in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, and look if you would please at verses 4 through 6. Ephesians chapter 1, and then we're going to go to 2 Timothy. But notice Ephesians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 4, the Bible says, According as he that is God the Father hath chosen us in Him, that is in Jesus Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us of the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, when He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.

[John Weaver] Now notice if you would in verse 4. According as He hath chosen us in Him. When did He choose us? Before the foundation of the world. Before the world ever began. Then if you would turn right over to 2 Timothy and look if you would please in chapter 1 and begin reading there with verse 8. 2 Timothy chapter 1 and notice if you would please verse 8. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God." Now notice, if you would, what God has done. He says, this is according to the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Now let me pause right there just momentarily. Note if you would, He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.

[John Weaver] He not only chose us, He not only loved us, He gave us grace in Christ before the world began. Now watch verse 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who have abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the Gospel. So God has loved us, chose us, and gave us grace in Christ before the foundation of the world. And then according to verse 10, He now calls us to Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ who brought both life and immortality to life through the Gospel.

[John Weaver] Now, there are many astounding facts in the Bible concerning the love of God. However, I want to call your attention today to one of those that I think is the most astounding, or at least one of the most astounding. And it is in Romans five and verse eight, when the Bible says, but God committed this love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to point something out, I'm going to show you in the scripture, and I want you to think about this, then we're going to come back and look at the context. Anytime you see the little phrase, but God, it usually speaks of divine intervention. God has done something miraculous, marvelous. He has intervened in the affairs of men. So, whole Romans chapter 5, and for right now, go back in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 50, and look if you would please at verse 20. Genesis 50 and verse 20. Just to show you the but God, how God intervenes. Notice if you would, Genesis 50 and verse 20.

[John Weaver] Joseph is talking to his brothers, You remember the brothers sold him into captivity. He says in verse 20, but as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive. So the brothers then tried to shanghai Joseph and were evilly entreating him, but God meant it for good. You don't have to turn there, but in Acts 7 and verse 9, the Scripture says this, And the patriarchs moved in envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him. There's that divine intervention. If you would turn to Psalm 68. Psalm 68. And notice if you would please verse 21. Psalm 68. and verse 21. Here's another, but God. Psalm 68, verse 21.

[John Weaver] But God shall wound the head of His enemies, and the hairy scalp of such and one is goeth on still in his trespasses. In other words, men may think that they're going to escape the righteous judgment and vengeance of God. They may think because God has not smitten them instantly that they've gotten away with everything, God shall wound their head, and the hairy scalp of such a one is gone on into its trespasses." Then, if you would turn to Acts chapter 13, everyone will understand this one. Here's divine intervention. Acts chapter 13.

[John Weaver] And of course, you know how the Jews hated the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course, they sought to put him to death, and did indeed have him crucified. So in Acts chapter 13, beginning with verse 26, we read this. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. And they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath day, They have fulfilled them in condemning him, that is, in condemning Christ. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written to him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead."

[John Weaver] So whenever you see the phrase, but God, You must call into mind divine intervention. I'm going to tell you that it would be encouraging to you and probably beneficial if you would get home and get a concordance or get on your Bible program on the internet and just look up the phrase, but God, and how often it occurs in the Bible. How often God intervenes in time, in history, in the lives of His people. You remember the deist and deism teaches that God kind of wound this world up like a clock and He just sits back and He lets it run down and He doesn't intervene. Well, that's certainly not true because all through the Bible, God intervenes.

[John Weaver] In fact, it was the Apostle Paul who wrote of Epaphroditus in the book of Philippians chapter 2 and verse 27. Epaphroditus was sick. And Paul said this, for indeed he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. The paphroditist helped the apostle Paul. He said he was sick, nigh unto death, but God. And certainly, God does indeed intervene. And I think one of the most wonderful interventions that we have in the Bible is the one that we find in Romans 5 and verse 8. But God committed his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[John Weaver] Now, before I get to looking at verse 8, I want you to look at verses 6 and 7. Romans 5, verse 6. For when we were yet without strength, In due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet for adventure for a good man, some would even dare to die. Now when you look at verse 6, when he says, but when we were yet without strength, that phrase indicates that we were impotent, we were powerless, we were helpless, We were hopeless.

[John Weaver] We were unable to help ourselves in any shape, form, or fashion. We were totally, completely impotent. Note, if you would, he says, for when we were yet without sinners, or for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. The ungodly is the word ascebes, which literally means the ungodly, those who are destitute of reverential fear toward God, Those who are impious and those who actually condemn God. So when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. So in verse six, we're called the ungodly. And we're also told we were without strength. In verse eight, he says that we were sinners, but look at verse seven.

[John Weaver] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Now, you have to understand that verse 7 is designed to illustrate the great love that God has for his people in contrasting the love that man has and the love that God has. For instance, he says in verse 7, for scarcely for a righteous man will one die. In other words, most people are not going to be willing to die for someone whom they know that is right with God, that lives holy, and lives godly. And then he says this, yet for a good man, some would even dare to die. Now, when you understand the phrase good man, I know the Bible says there's none good, no, not one.

[John Weaver] But morally speaking, humanly speaking, there are good men in the sense that they're helpful, they're kind, they're beneficent, they do whatever they can. To describe such in one, we would say he's an individual that would give us a shirt off his back. And the highest form of love, humanly speaking, Is it some would even dare to die for their friend or for a good man? In fact, the scripture says, in John 15, greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And there are numerous examples, not only in the Bible, but in history as well, of individuals who've laid down their lives for their friends.

[John Weaver] I just read recently of an armed robbery that was taking place. one of the robbers was about to shoot a woman and her son jumped in the path of the bullet and he died rather than his mother so he actually gave his life for his mother so I'm just simply saying that is what the Bible is saying there are some that would even dare to die for what they consider a good man but here's the contrast now watch this Verse 7, for scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet for a good man some would even dare to die. But God, see the contrast? But God commended His love toward us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for His bitter foes. God gave His only begotten Son for His worst enemies. We were neither good nor holy, nor righteous. We were sinners. Now the Bible says in verse 8, but God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners.

[John Weaver] Hermatolos is the Greek word. It literally means a sinner. Someone who is sinful. Someone who is devoted to sin. Someone who is pre-eminently sinful. Now here's the problem. We are not only by nature devoted to sin and preeminently sinful, we are the servants and the slaves of sin. If you would look in Romans 6 and verse 17, he says it like this, but God be thanked that you were, that's past tense, but God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. The word servants is the Greek word doulos, which literally means a slave. But God be thanked, you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. So God is saying that sin was our master, and we rendered to sin a very practical and submissive obedience. When sin commanded us to jump, We would say, how high? When sin told us to do something, that is exactly what we did.

[John Weaver] We were sinners, preeminently sinners, in bondage to sin. So the question has to be asked, how did we get in such a state? And the answer is, we were born into sin by virtue of our position In Adam, who is our federal head and representative, look in verse 12, Romans 5 verse 12, wherefore as by one man, that's Adam, wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, death came as a consequence because of Adam's sin, Wherefore, it is by one man's sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men."

[John Weaver] Now watch this,"...for that all have sinned." And it's not that all are sinning. Yes, we are sinning. But that all have sinned, past tense. It's an aorist tense, which means it has happened once and for all. Well, when did all men sin once and for all? And the answer is, We sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So Adam then was our federal head and federal representative.

[John Weaver] What he did, we did. What he sinned, we sinned. What he fell, we fell.

[John Weaver] Now, actually, original sin is very easy to prove. Some of the philosophers come up with what they call tabula ra, which means that every man comes into this world with a clean slate. We just learn sin from others. No. You never have to teach a baby how to sin. The Bible said they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. And you know the baby cries and pretends like something is wrong when nothing is wrong.

[John Weaver] and you pick him up and good gracious alive, he stops crying. So no, there is original sin. People say, well, I don't believe in original sin. Well, I can prove original sin. How? Hang on. Just wait a little while. You're going to die. Because death is the consequence of sin. And obviously, all die, therefore all are sinners and all have sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So in that sense, the word original depravity is easily understood, because all we have to do is observe the graveyards and observe the fact that everybody dies. Now, we're all going to die, even though we have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam was unique in one sense of the word, and that he was placed in a perfect environment. There was no sin around him. And he was created with original righteousness and holiness and knowledge, and yet he sinned. So not many of us sin exactly the way he sinned, but look if you would please in verse 14. Romans 5 and verse 14.

[John Weaver] The Bible says this. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Now, we are sinners, and our sin may not be exactly the way Adam's was, but still the wages of sin happens to be death. And every sinner is ultimately going to die.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the interesting thing. The Bible says in verse 14, nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. That's an interesting phrase. The Bible is telling us that Adam was a figure or a type of Jesus Christ who was to come. So now you have to ask yourself this question. How in the world could Adam be a type of Jesus Christ? Adam sinned. Adam failed. Adam plunged his posterity into depravity and death. Jesus Christ was victorious. Jesus Christ brought forth life and immortality to life through the Gospel. So how then can Adam be a figure or a type of Christ?

[John Weaver] Well, the answer is given to us actually in 1 Corinthians 15. If you would turn there and look if you would beginning there with verse 45. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and notice if you would please verse 45. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 45. And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul. Now notice this phrase, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man, the first Adam, is the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven, that is Jesus Christ. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. And as the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I want to call your attention to the fact that the Bible calls Adam the first man. It refers to Jesus Christ as the last Adam.

[John Weaver] It also calls Adam the first man in verse 47, and it calls Jesus Christ the second man in verse 47. Well, here's a good question. How can Jesus Christ be called the second man? Since Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God, and he created Adam, he was in existence well before Adam was ever made, how could he be called the second man? And why is he called the last Adam? Well, here's the answer. He's called the second man because he is the second man in time, chronologically speaking, to sustain a federal relationship and representation of a people. Adam was a federal head and representative of all of those who were in him. Jesus Christ is the federal head and the representative of all those that are in him. Now listen carefully. Adam is called the first Adam. Jesus Christ is called the last Adam. And the reason he's called the last Adam is this. There's never ever going to be anyone else that will sustain such a relationship as Jesus Christ sustains as the federal head and representative of the people.

[John Weaver] Let me spell it out for you. Here's what Scripture's saying. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, you're not going to be saved. because he is the last Adam. No one else will ever be where he is. So Adam was the figure of him who was to come, only in the sense that he was the federal head and the representative of a people.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just point this out. You see, I've had people say, well, I don't like it. being in Adam, because when he sinned, I sinned. When he fell, I fell. I'd like to have my own shot at it. Well, let me tell you something. If you were alive when Adam was alive, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. And if you do not like the fact that Adam was your federal head and representative, You would also not like the fact that Jesus Christ is your federal head and representative, because what he did, we did.

[John Weaver] When he died, we died. When he was buried, we were buried. When he rose from the dead, we rose from the dead. When he ascended into heaven, we ascended into heaven. When he sat down at the right hand of God, we sat down at the right hand of God with him. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Ephesians 2 and verse 6. In fact, just hold that passage. We're going to come back there just momentarily. Look in Ephesians 2, if you would please. And verse 6. In fact, we can read verse 5. The Bible says, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

[John Weaver] By grace are you saved. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places. in Christ Jesus. So, everything that Christ did, we did.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Turn over just a few pages. Colossians chapter 3, and look at verses 1-3. Colossians 3, verses 1-3. Look what the Scripture says. If you then be risen with Christ, or literally since you be risen with Christ. I don't have my Greek text, but is that A with the indicative? Gary? If it's A with the indicative, it's always since. If you then be risen with Christ, or since you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. But note, if you then be risen with Christ, or since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above. Now, I want you to turn back to Romans chapter 5. If you'll look in Romans chapter 5, let me explain what is happening in this passage. In this passage, there is a strong contrast between what Adam did and what Jesus Christ did.

[John Weaver] Now there are similarities. But the contrast is what is being emphasized. It is true that he was a type or a figure of Christ. So I want you to look in Romans 5 and verse 17. So you can compare Adam's fall, Adam's sin, and the victory of Jesus Christ. He said in verse 17, for if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ. So when Adam sinned, death entered and death reigned. When Jesus Christ was victorious, righteousness entered in and life reigned. Watch verse 18. Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation. That was Adam. Even so, by the righteousness of one, that's Jesus Christ, the free gift came upon all men under justification of life. Now watch verse 19. For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. So by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous." So you can see there how the position of Adam and the position of Jesus Christ happens to be contrasted.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back in Romans 5 and verse 8. So, here's the point of Romans 5 and verse 8. The impact of Romans 5 and verse 8 can only be understood in light of the fact that God commended His love toward us and that while we were yet sinners. That is, we were God-haters, we were rebels. It was while we were in this state, we were hanging from Adam's girdle. In fact, it was Martin Luther, the reformer, who said there are only two men in the world, Adam and Christ, and everyone hangs from their girdle. So you're either in Adam and lost, or you're in Christ and saved. So the truth of the matter is, it's while we were in Adam that God manifested His love toward us. We were not lovely. We were not righteous. We were not holy. We were not obedient. We were lost. We were depraved. We were sinful. We were God-haters. We were rebellious.

[John Weaver] So it goes like this. But God committed this love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Can you imagine sending your only son to die for the man who hates you and tries to kill you and steal from you and deny you Well, I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 2 because the Apostle Paul actually develops Romans 5 verse 8 in Ephesians chapter 2. I want to take the time to read the first 10 verses. We're not going to go over all of those, but certainly I'm going to deal with the first four or five. Notice Ephesians chapter 2 beginning there with verse 1.

[John Weaver] And you had the quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

[John Weaver] For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk therein. Now I want to call your attention to the fact in verse one. He says, and you have the quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sins.

[John Weaver] Now, there could not be any more explicit proof of depravity than this, and no stronger language could be used. The Bible tells us that man by nature is dead in trespasses and in sins. We were dead to a relationship to God. We were dead to his righteousness. We were dead to his holiness. It was the Puritan John Trapp who said this. Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.

[John Weaver] Stop and think about that. Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn Holy Ephesians, but turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2. You're going to see essentially the same thing as verse 1 of Ephesians 2, when he says, you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Now, in Colossians 2 and verse 13, he says it like this. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, had the quickened together with him, having forgiven you all your trespasses. So the Scripture then tells us that we were dead to life. We were dead in our souls. We were dead toward God. Our entire existence was wrapped up in disobedience and rebellion to God. We lived only for our flesh, our desires, and our feelings.

[John Weaver] So let me ask you this question. What does it mean to be dead in trespasses and sins? Well, if you look at verses 2 and 3, Paul explains it. He says, when in time past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among them also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

[John Weaver] Now, when I quoted John Trapp earlier, when he said that natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers in and of themselves, you have to understand that in some prisons, there is indeed a death row. And those men who were on death row are awaiting their execution. It is supposed to be a certain date, a certain date set. In fact, many of the other prisoners referred to those men on death row as dead men walking, because it's just only a matter of time before they're executed. May I point out the fact this is exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 2, verses 2 and 3. All of us, by nature, are just dead men walking. And unless God sovereignly, miraculously, and marvelously intervenes, our execution is certain and sure. It's a subtle fact. We are nothing more than dead men walking. Now here's the thing. Paul says, even as Christians, we had, like others, our time in the flesh and in the world. That's why Paul said in the latter part of verse 3, and we're by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

[John Weaver] So let me ask you this. What is life without God? Stop and think about your life before you were converted. Paul pretty well sums up what our life was like in verses 2 and 3. He says, where in time past you walked according to the course of this world. In other words, you wanted to keep up with the Joneses. You wanted all the manners and the habits of this world. You wanted all the desires of this world. You wanted the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. You wanted everything that everybody else wanted and you lived the way they lived. And he goes further. Where in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

[John Weaver] Undoubtedly, this refers then to Satan. But how does that relate to the world? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 1 John 2. You know this passage. But look in 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 15. Walking according to the course of this world. 1 John 2, verse 15, look what he says. Now watch carefully. Love not the world.

[John Weaver] Now he's not talking about creation. He's talking about the world system. He's talking about the world that is in opposition to God. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Here's why. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world pass away and the lust thereof But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. So walking according to the course of this world literally means that we walked in the lust of our flesh and the lust of our eyes and the pride of our life, totally ignoring God, because these things are not of God. They cannot be of God. And then he said, in Ephesians 2, in light of this, walking the world according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

[John Weaver] Well, undoubtedly he's referring here to Satan, because he is saying that they are now under the leadership of the Prince of the Power of the Air. And just like air permeates everything, so in their world Satan permeated everything. You know, I tell people this. Most of the time when we think of Satan, When we think of that which is evil, we think of a drunk lying in the gutter, wallowing in his own vomit and filth.

[John Weaver] That's, no, no, that's the flesh. Think about a prostitute with all kinds of diseases. That's the flesh. Satan is far more refined. He wants worship. He wants people to Bow down to Him. Wow. And when you stop and think, all of this comes to pass. Watch carefully. He says, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

[John Weaver] Now, it is true that a drunk is disobedient. It is true that a prostitute is disobedient. But it's equally true that a Pharisee is disobedient. that a hypocrite is disobedient, that a self-righteous individual is disobedient. In other words, the evidence that someone is living according to this world and walking according to the prince of the power of the air is the fact that he's walking in disobedience. That demonstrates he's under the control of the world and the prince of the power of the air.

[John Weaver] It was John Trapp who said it like this, listen carefully, as a smith worketh in his forge, and a craftsman in his shop. A natural man, as he is the heir of original and the father of actual sin, so his soul and all his powers thereof are but Satan's shop of sins. His body and all the parts thereof, tools of sin, his life and all his actions are both soul and body, a trade of sin by the same reason. Wow. All he's saying is everything that a man does when he's unsaved is nothing but sin.

[John Weaver] In fact, when he calls us in verse 2, children of disobedience, that is the Hebrew idiom which literally means that we were addicted to disobedience. It means that we were obstinate sinners that we were headstrong, recalcitrant, rebellious, and determined to persevere in our sins and our disobedience. Let me give you an illustration. Some of you may have seen it. I turned from it as quickly as I saw it, but I did see it.

[John Weaver] There was a protest somewhere recently in all kinds of signs, and one man was so absolutely stupid and so absolutely wicked, he had a sign that said this, when Jesus returns, kill him again. I thought, you dummy. You don't understand. Because 2 Thessalonians tells us When he comes back, he's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] There will be no killing him the second time, I can assure you. But that shows you how people are so addicted to rebellion and disobedience and sin, they cannot even think straight. Well, in verse 3, Paul acknowledges that each of us, at one time, were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. That is, we lived in the same condition. We all had our conversation, our conduct in times past, and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Oftentimes I see people doing things or saying things, and I'll look to Alice and I'll say, I could never do that. And she looks at me and said, well, you used to. I said, well, I don't remember it. Well, if God has forgiven me and forgotten it, so should I.

[John Weaver] But I mean, we all had our sins. We all had our lusts. We all had our pride. We all had our arrogance. And that's what he's saying. We were children of wrath, even as others. But something happened. I remember when I was a boy, and I can take you today to the exact same spot in the road, I know exactly where it was, to show you how wicked man is by nature.

[John Weaver] I was riding a motorcycle. I was probably 15 or 16. And in this one certain spot in the road, the thought just entered my mind Out of nowhere! If you died today, where would you spend eternity?

[John Weaver] Now, I was raised in church, but no one ever witnessed to me, and I don't ever really remember hearing the gospel in church. It may have been preached, I just didn't hear it, but I don't think it was even really preached. But that question hit my mind, if you died right now, where would you spend eternity? You know, the answer that I gave, I remember giving the answer in my mind. The answer I gave was this.

[John Weaver] Well, I'll make it in heaven somehow. I've made it all my life and every other areas. You don't have blasphemy. Because I was thinking somehow God's going to make an exception of me. You know, that's blasphemy. So, I can remember those things. My question is, what happened? What changed us? What changed our status in our relationship? Well, let's go back to Ephesians 2 and let's watch this. Watch carefully.

[John Weaver] Verse 1, And you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, when in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation, our conduct, in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

[John Weaver] By grace are you saved." In other words, it was a divine intervention. Had God not intervened, we would have continued in verses 2 and 3. We would have continued walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, being a child of disobedience, living for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life. So when you look at Romans 5 and verse 8, but God committed His love toward us and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[John Weaver] Ephesians 2 enlarges and expounds and explains. Now let me show you something. The Apostle Paul could never get over the bug God. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1, verses 12 and 13, look what he says. Colossians 1, verse 12. Although but God is not used here, it is still the same exact thought. Verse 12, giving thanks unto the Father who have made us meet or suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who have delivered us from the power of darkness and have translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, and whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Note what he says, giving thanks unto the father who has made us suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in life. So here's my questions. What made the difference in your life?

[John Weaver] What brought you to your senses and what brought you to your knees? Who opened your eyes? Why are you different now than you were back then? Why are you now sorrowful and ashamed of your sins and your rebellion? Who made you to differ? If you'll go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4, you'll find that same question asked by the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 7. Note what he says. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 7. For who make it thee to differ from another?

[John Weaver] And what is thou that thou didst not receive? Thou thou didst receive it. What is thou glories if thou hadst not received it? Who made you to differ? Each of us would have continued in the course of this world under the power of the prince of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. We would be fulfilling the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life except for divine intervention.

[John Weaver] But God, but God intervened. But God gave his only begotten son. But God gave us repentance and faith. But God brought us into Himself. But God enables us to persevere in repentance and faith. But God divinely intervened, not only in time and history in sending His only begotten Son, He divinely intervened in our lives.

[John Weaver] Now I've got just one application. The first one is this. We should obey Colossians 1 and verse 12. What did he say giving thanks unto the Father? When you stop and think of what the Father has done, how He loved us in eternity past before we ever had any being, how He chose us in Jesus Christ, how He gave us grace in Jesus Christ, and He loved us when we were God-haters, idolaters, and rebellious. He knew every sin that you and I would ever commit. He knew every lust Every act of pride, every act of rebellion. He knew how desperately wicked we were.

[John Weaver] And yet, he set his love upon us regardless. And divinely intervened in our lives. We need to learn to confess with the Apostle Paul. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 10. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. If it was not for the grace of God, we would be just as lost, just as ungodly, just as undone as everyone else. But God intervened and brought us to himself. We should constantly praising and thanking for his great love.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for the but gods in the Bible. We thank you for divine intervention. We thank you for sending your son in time and history. We thank you for granting us repentance and faith and calling us into yourself. We thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you've done. And I pray, Father, that you would help us to praise Thee, to acknowledge Your goodness and Your kindness and Your grace. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose name we pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] ♪

But God

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	sxLjvK2E5Cg
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-03-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 12
Source Timed Segments	67

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Significance of 'But God'

Weaver introduces the phrase 'But God' from Romans 5:8, highlighting that God's love precedes and enables our love for Him, as seen in 1 John 4:19 and John 15:16.

The title of the message today is simply, "But God." Notice Romans 5 and verse 8. She's putting new batteries in it. Well, it won't do any good. Romans 5, verse 8. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Note if you would please the first two words, "but God." Everyone, at least 99% of all Christians, can either quote in full or at least finish the truth of 1 John 4, verse 19 when that verse is begun. And it simply goes like this. "We love Him," help me out, because why? "He first loved us." Very obviously. The truth of the matter is most of us have really very rarely ever considered the truth of that verse. We love Him because He first loved us. The fact is that our sovereign God had to love us first because He is the eternal God. Moreover, had He not first loved us, we certainly would never ever have loved Him. That is for sure. In fact, our Lord said something very similar in John 15 and verse 16.

He said, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you." Now, you can reply and say, "Well, I did choose Jesus Christ." Yes. But the only reason you chose Him is because He first chose you. So had He not first loved you, you would have never loved Him. Had He not first chosen you, you certainly would never have chosen Him.

God's Eternal Love in Christ

God loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and chose us, gave us grace, and loved us in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:8-10).

Now, when you stop and think about God loving us, you cannot just think about His love for us in time. Because the Bible teaches us in Jeremiah 31, verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with the loving kindness have I drawn thee."

Now notice what he said,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I've loved thee with an everlasting love."

It had no beginning. It had no ending.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I've loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with the loving kindness have I drawn thee."

So note if you would please, God sovereignly loved us in eternity past, and therefore he drew us to himself in time and in history. You're going to ask, "How in the world could God love me in eternity past when I had no existence?"

When I had no being? And the truth of the matter is, He loved us in our federal head and representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us that He chose us in Christ. He gave us grace in Christ. He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began. So if you would hold Romans 5 and turn first of all in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, and look if you would please at verses 4 through 6. Ephesians chapter 1, and then we're going to go to 2 Timothy. But notice Ephesians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 4, the Bible says, "According as he that is God the Father hath chosen us in Him, that is in Jesus Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us of the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, when He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."

Now notice if you would in verse 4.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:4-6

"According as He hath chosen us in Him."

When did He choose us? Before the foundation of the world. Before the world ever began. Then if you would turn right over to 2 Timothy and look if you would please in chapter 1 and begin reading there with verse 8. 2 Timothy chapter 1 and notice if you would please verse 8. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God." Now notice, if you would, what God has done. He says, "this is according to the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Now let me pause right there just momentarily. Note if you would, He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.

He not only chose us, He not only loved us, He gave us grace in Christ before the world began. Now watch verse 10. "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who have abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the Gospel." So God has loved us, chose us, and gave us grace in Christ before the foundation of the world. And then according to verse 10, He now calls us to Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ who brought both life and immortality to life through the Gospel.

Now, there are many astounding facts in the Bible concerning the love of God. However, I want to call your attention today to one of those that I think is the most astounding, or at least one of the most astounding. And it is in Romans five and verse eight, when the Bible says, "but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Divine Intervention in Scripture

The phrase 'But God' consistently marks divine intervention, as seen in Joseph's story (Genesis 50:20), God's judgment (Psalm 68:21), Christ's resurrection (Acts 13:26-30), and Epaphroditus's healing (Philippians 2:27).

Now, I want to point something out, I'm going to show you in the scripture, and I want you to think about this, then we're going to come back and look at the context. Anytime you see the little phrase, "but God," it usually speaks of divine intervention. God has done something miraculous, marvelous. He has intervened in the affairs of men. So, hold Romans chapter 5, and for right now, go back in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 50, and look if you would please at verse 20. Genesis 50 and verse 20. Just to show you the "but God," how God intervenes. Notice if you would, Genesis 50 and verse 20.

Joseph is talking to his brothers. You remember the brothers sold him into captivity. He says in verse 20, "but as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive." So the brothers then tried to shanghai Joseph and were evilly entreating him, but God meant it for good. You don't have to turn there, but in Acts 7 and verse 9, the Scripture says this, "And the patriarchs moved in envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him." There's that divine intervention. If you would turn to Psalm 68. Psalm 68. And notice if you would please verse 21. Psalm 68, and verse 21. Here's another, "but God." Psalm 68, verse 21.

"But God shall wound the head of His enemies, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses." In other words, men may think that they're going to escape the righteous judgment and vengeance of God. They may think because God has not smitten them instantly that they've gotten away with everything, "God shall wound their head, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses." Then, if you would turn to Acts chapter 13, everyone will understand this one. Here's divine intervention. Acts chapter 13. And of course, you know how the Jews hated the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course, they sought to put him to death, and did indeed have him crucified. So in Acts chapter 13, beginning with verse 26, we read this.

Scripture Reading — Acts 13:26-30

"Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. And they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him, that is, in condemning Christ. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written to him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead."

So whenever you see the phrase, "but God," you must call into mind divine intervention. I'm going to tell you that it would be encouraging to you and probably beneficial if you would get home and get a concordance or get on your Bible program on the internet and just look up the phrase, "but God," and how often it occurs in the Bible. How often God intervenes in time, in history, in the lives of His people. You remember the deist and deism teaches that God kind of wound this world up like a clock and He just sits back and He lets it run down and He doesn't intervene. Well, that's certainly not true because all through the Bible, God intervenes. In fact, it was the Apostle Paul who wrote of Epaphroditus in the book of Philippians chapter 2 and verse 27. Epaphroditus was sick. And Paul said this, "for indeed he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:27

" Epaphroditus helped the apostle Paul. He said he was sick, nigh unto death, but God. And certainly, God does indeed intervene. And I think one of the most wonderful interventions that we have in the Bible is the one that we find in Romans 5 and verse 8. "

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Human Helplessness and Sinfulness

Romans 5:6-7 describes humanity as without strength, ungodly, and sinners. Human love is limited, but God's love is demonstrated in Christ dying for His enemies.

Now, before I get to looking at verse 8, I want you to look at verses 6 and 7. Romans 5, verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good man, some would even dare to die."

Now when you look at verse 6, when he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"but when we were yet without strength,"

that phrase indicates that we were impotent, we were powerless, we were helpless, we were hopeless. We were unable to help ourselves in any shape, form, or fashion. We were totally, completely impotent. Note, if you would, he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly."

The ungodly is the word asebes, which literally means the ungodly, those who are destitute of reverential fear toward God, those who are impious and those who actually condemn God. So when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. So in verse six, we're called the ungodly. And we're also told we were without strength. In verse eight, he says that we were sinners, but look at verse seven.

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Now, you have to understand that verse 7 is designed to illustrate the great love that God has for his people in contrasting the love that man has and the love that God has. For instance, he says in verse 7, "for scarcely for a righteous man will one die." In other words, most people are not going to be willing to die for someone whom they know that is right with God, that lives holy, and lives godly. And then he says this, "yet for a good man, some would even dare to die." Now, when you understand the phrase "good man," I know the Bible says there's none good, no, not one. But morally speaking, humanly speaking, there are good men in the sense that they're helpful, they're kind, they're beneficent, they do whatever they can. To describe such a one, we would say he's an individual that would give us the shirt off his back. And the highest form of love, humanly speaking, is that some would even dare to die for their friend or for a good man. In fact, the scripture says, in John 15, "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And there are numerous examples, not only in the Bible, but in history as well, of individuals who've laid down their lives for their friends.

I just read recently of an armed robbery that was taking place. One of the robbers was about to shoot a woman and her son jumped in the path of the bullet and he died rather than his mother. So he actually gave his life for his mother. So I'm just simply saying that is what the Bible is saying. There are some that would even dare to die for what they consider a good man. But here's the contrast. Now watch this. Verse 7, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet for a good man some would even dare to die. But God," see the contrast? "But God commendeth His love toward us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for His bitter foes." God gave His only begotten Son for His worst enemies. We were neither good nor holy, nor righteous. We were sinners. Now the Bible says in verse 8, "but God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners."

The Nature of Sin and Federal Headship in Adam

We are sinners by nature, slaves to sin (Romans 6:17), and fell in Adam, our federal head (Romans 5:12). Original sin is proven by universal death.

Hermatolos is the Greek word. It literally means a sinner. Someone who is sinful. Someone who is devoted to sin. Someone who is pre-eminently sinful. Now here's the problem. We are not only by nature devoted to sin and preeminently sinful, we are the servants and the slaves of sin. If you would look in Romans 6 and verse 17, he says it like this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"but God be thanked that you were,"

that's past tense,

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"but God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

The word servants is the Greek word doulos, which literally means a slave.

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"But God be thanked, you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

So God is saying that sin was our master, and we rendered to sin a very practical and submissive obedience. When sin commanded us to jump, we would say, "how high?" When sin told us to do something, that is exactly what we did.

We were sinners, preeminently sinners, in bondage to sin. So the question has to be asked, how did we get in such a state? And the answer is, we were born into sin by virtue of our position in Adam, who is our federal head and representative. Look in verse 12, Romans 5 verse 12, "wherefore as by one man," that's Adam, "wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin," death came as a consequence because of Adam's sin, "wherefore, it is by one man's sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men."

Now watch this, "...for that all have sinned." And it's not that all are sinning. Yes, we are sinning. But that all have sinned, past tense. It's an aorist tense, which means it has happened once and for all. Well, when did all men sin once and for all? And the answer is, we sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So Adam then was our federal head and federal representative.

What he did, we did. What he sinned, we sinned. What he fell, we fell. Now, actually, original sin is very easy to prove. Some of the philosophers come up with what they call tabula rasa, which means that every man comes into this world with a clean slate. We just learn sin from others. No. You never have to teach a baby how to sin. The Bible said they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. And you know the baby cries and pretends like something is wrong when nothing is wrong.

And you pick him up and good gracious alive, he stops crying. So no, there is original sin. People say, "well, I don't believe in original sin." Well, I can prove original sin. How? Hang on. Just wait a little while. You're going to die. Because death is the consequence of sin. And obviously, all die, therefore all are sinners and all have sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So in that sense, the word original depravity is easily understood, because all we have to do is observe the graveyards and observe the fact that everybody dies. Now, we're all going to die, even though we have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam was unique in one sense of the word, and that he was placed in a perfect environment. There was no sin around him. And he was created with original righteousness and holiness and knowledge, and yet he sinned. So not many of us sin exactly the way he sinned, but look if you would please in verse 14. Romans 5 and verse 14.

The Bible says this. "Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Now, we are sinners, and our sin may not be exactly the way Adam's was, but still the wages of sin happens to be death. And every sinner is ultimately going to die.

Adam as a Type of Christ

Adam is a figure of Christ (Romans 5:14) only in his role as federal head. Christ is the last Adam and second man (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), representing all who are in Him.

Now, here's the interesting thing. The Bible says in verse 14, "nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." That's an interesting phrase. The Bible is telling us that Adam was a figure or a type of Jesus Christ who was to come. So now you have to ask yourself this question. How in the world could Adam be a type of Jesus Christ? Adam sinned. Adam failed. Adam plunged his posterity into depravity and death. Jesus Christ was victorious. Jesus Christ brought forth life and immortality to life through the Gospel. So how then can Adam be a figure or a type of Christ?

Well, the answer is given to us actually in 1 Corinthians 15. If you would turn there and look if you would beginning there with verse 45. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and notice if you would please verse 45. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 45.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul."

Now notice this phrase,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man, the first Adam, is the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven,"

that is Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. And as the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."

Now I want to call your attention to the fact that the Bible calls Adam the first man. It refers to Jesus Christ as the last Adam.

It also calls Adam the first man in verse 47, and it calls Jesus Christ the second man in verse 47. Well, here's a good question. How can Jesus Christ be called the second man? Since Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God, and he created Adam, he was in existence well before Adam was ever made, how could he be called the second man? And why is he called the last Adam? Well, here's the answer. He's called the second man because he is the second man in time, chronologically speaking, to sustain a federal relationship and representation of a people. Adam was a federal head and representative of all of those who were in him. Jesus Christ is the federal head and the representative of all those that are in him. Now listen carefully. Adam is called the first Adam. Jesus Christ is called the last Adam. And the reason he's called the last Adam is this. There's never ever going to be anyone else that will sustain such a relationship as Jesus Christ sustains as the federal head and representative of the people.

Let me spell it out for you. Here's what Scripture's saying. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, you're not going to be saved. Because he is the last Adam. No one else will ever be where he is. So Adam was the figure of him who was to come, only in the sense that he was the federal head and the representative of a people.

Now, let me just point this out. You see, I've had people say, "well, I don't like it, being in Adam, because when he sinned, I sinned. When he fell, I fell. I'd like to have my own shot at it." Well, let me tell you something. If you were alive when Adam was alive, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. And if you do not like the fact that Adam was your federal head and representative, you would also not like the fact that Jesus Christ is your federal head and representative, because what he did, we did.

Contrast Between Adam and Christ

Romans 5:17-19 contrasts Adam's offense bringing condemnation and death with Christ's obedience bringing justification and life. Believers are united with Christ in His death, resurrection, and exaltation (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 3:1-3).

When he died, we died. When he was buried, we were buried. When he rose from the dead, we rose from the dead. When he ascended into heaven, we ascended into heaven. When he sat down at the right hand of God, we sat down at the right hand of God with him. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Ephesians 2 and verse 6. In fact, just hold that passage. We're going to come back there just momentarily. Look in Ephesians 2, if you would please. And verse 6. In fact, we can read verse 5. The Bible says, "even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ."

"By grace are you saved. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So, everything that Christ did, we did. Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Turn over just a few pages. Colossians chapter 3, and look at verses 1-3. Colossians 3, verses 1-3. Look what the Scripture says.

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"If you then be risen with Christ,"

or literally

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you be risen with Christ."

I don't have my Greek text, but is that A with the indicative? Gary? If it's A with the indicative, it's always "since."

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"If you then be risen with Christ,"

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

But note,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"if you then be risen with Christ,"

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above."

Now, I want you to turn back to Romans chapter 5. If you'll look in Romans chapter 5, let me explain what is happening in this passage. In this passage, there is a strong contrast between what Adam did and what Jesus Christ did.

Now there are similarities. But the contrast is what is being emphasized. It is true that he was a type or a figure of Christ. So I want you to look in Romans 5 and verse 17. So you can compare Adam's fall, Adam's sin, and the victory of Jesus Christ. He said in verse 17,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"for if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ."

So when Adam sinned, death entered and death reigned. When Jesus Christ was victorious, righteousness entered in and life reigned. Watch verse 18.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation."

That was Adam.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"Even so, by the righteousness of one,"

that's Jesus Christ,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"the free gift came upon all men under justification of life."

Now watch verse 19.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. So by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous."

So you can see there how the position of Adam and the position of Jesus Christ happens to be contrasted.

Now, I want you to look back in Romans 5 and verse 8. So, here's the point of Romans 5 and verse 8. The impact of Romans 5 and verse 8 can only be understood in light of the fact that God commended His love toward us and that while we were yet sinners. That is, we were God-haters, we were rebels. It was while we were in this state, we were hanging from Adam's girdle. In fact, it was Martin Luther, the reformer, who said there are only two men in the world, Adam and Christ, and everyone hangs from their girdle. So you're either in Adam and lost, or you're in Christ and saved. So the truth of the matter is, it's while we were in Adam that God manifested His love toward us. We were not lovely. We were not righteous. We were not holy. We were not obedient. We were lost. We were depraved. We were sinful. We were God-haters. We were rebellious.

Ephesians 2: The 'But God' of Salvation

Ephesians 2:1-10 expands Romans 5:8, describing our deadness in sin, worldly walk, and satanic influence, followed by God's merciful intervention to quicken us with Christ by grace.

So it goes like this. "But God commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Can you imagine sending your only son to die for the man who hates you and tries to kill you and steal from you and deny you? Well, I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 2 because the Apostle Paul actually develops Romans 5 verse 8 in Ephesians chapter 2. I want to take the time to read the first 10 verses. We're not going to go over all of those, but certainly I'm going to deal with the first four or five. Notice Ephesians chapter 2 beginning there with verse 1.

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

"For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk therein." Now I want to call your attention to the fact in verse one. He says, "and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sins." Now, there could not be any more explicit proof of depravity than this, and no stronger language could be used. The Bible tells us that man by nature is dead in trespasses and in sins. We were dead to a relationship to God. We were dead to his righteousness. We were dead to his holiness. It was the Puritan John Trapp who said this. "Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves."

Stop and think about that. Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves. Now, I want you to turn, hold Ephesians, but turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2. You're going to see essentially the same thing as verse 1 of Ephesians 2, when he says, "you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." Now, in Colossians 2 and verse 13, he says it like this. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all your trespasses." So the Scripture then tells us that we were dead to life. We were dead in our souls. We were dead toward God. Our entire existence was wrapped up in disobedience and rebellion to God. We lived only for our flesh, our desires, and our feelings.

So let me ask you this question. What does it mean to be dead in trespasses and sins? Well, if you look at verses 2 and 3, Paul explains it. He says, "wherein in time past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among them also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

Now, when I quoted John Trapp earlier, when he said that natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers in and of themselves, you have to understand that in some prisons, there is indeed a death row. And those men who were on death row are awaiting their execution. It is supposed to be a certain date, a certain date set. In fact, many of the other prisoners referred to those men on death row as dead men walking, because it's just only a matter of time before they're executed. May I point out the fact this is exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 2, verses 2 and 3. All of us, by nature, are just dead men walking. And unless God sovereignly, miraculously, and marvelously intervenes, our execution is certain and sure. It's a subtle fact. We are nothing more than dead men walking. Now here's the thing. Paul says, even as Christians, we had, like others, our time in the flesh and in the world. That's why Paul said in the latter part of verse 3, "and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

So let me ask you this. What is life without God? Stop and think about your life before you were converted. Paul pretty well sums up what our life was like in verses 2 and 3. He says, "wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world." In other words, you wanted to keep up with the Joneses. You wanted all the manners and the habits of this world. You wanted all the desires of this world. You wanted the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. You wanted everything that everybody else wanted and you lived the way they lived. And he goes further. "Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil

Walking according to the world (1 John 2:15-17) and under Satan's influence manifests as disobedience. All unsaved actions are sin, and we were children of wrath by nature.

Undoubtedly, this refers then to Satan. But how does that relate to the world? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 1 John 2. You know this passage. But look in 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 15. Walking according to the course of this world. 1 John 2, verse 15, look what he says. Now watch carefully. "Love not the world."

Now he's not talking about creation. He's talking about the world system. He's talking about the world that is in opposition to God. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Here's why. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world pass away and the lust thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." So walking according to the course of this world literally means that we walked in the lust of our flesh and the lust of our eyes and the pride of our life, totally ignoring God, because these things are not of God. They cannot be of God. And then he said, in Ephesians 2, in light of this, walking the world according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Well, undoubtedly he's referring here to Satan, because he is saying that they are now under the leadership of the Prince of the Power of the Air. And just like air permeates everything, so in their world Satan permeated everything. You know, I tell people this. Most of the time when we think of Satan, when we think of that which is evil, we think of a drunk lying in the gutter, wallowing in his own vomit and filth. That's, no, no, that's the flesh. Think about a prostitute with all kinds of diseases. That's the flesh. Satan is far more refined. He wants worship. He wants people to bow down to Him. Wow. And when you stop and think, all of this comes to pass. Watch carefully. He says, "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."

Now, it is true that a drunk is disobedient. It is true that a prostitute is disobedient. But it's equally true that a Pharisee is disobedient. That a hypocrite is disobedient, that a self-righteous individual is disobedient. In other words, the evidence that someone is living according to this world and walking according to the prince of the power of the air is the fact that he's walking in disobedience. That demonstrates he's under the control of the world and the prince of the power of the air. It was John Trapp who said it like this, listen carefully, "as a smith worketh in his forge, and a craftsman in his shop. A natural man, as he is the heir of original and the father of actual sin, so his soul and all his powers thereof are but Satan's shop of sins. His body and all the parts thereof, tools of sin, his life and all his actions are both soul and body, a trade of sin by the same reason." Wow. All he's saying is everything that a man does when he's unsaved is nothing but sin.

In fact, when he calls us in verse 2, "children of disobedience," that is the Hebrew idiom which literally means that we were addicted to disobedience. It means that we were obstinate sinners that we were headstrong, recalcitrant, rebellious, and determined to persevere in our sins and our disobedience. Let me give you an illustration. Some of you may have seen it. I turned from it as quickly as I saw it, but I did see it.

There was a protest somewhere recently in all kinds of signs, and one man was so absolutely stupid and so absolutely wicked, he had a sign that said this, "when Jesus returns, kill him again." I thought, you dummy. You don't understand. Because 2 Thessalonians tells us when he comes back, he's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be no killing him the second time, I can assure you. But that shows you how people are so addicted to rebellion and disobedience and sin, they cannot even think straight. Well, in verse 3, Paul acknowledges that each of us, at one time, were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. That is, we lived in the same condition. We all had our conversation, our conduct in times past, and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Oftentimes I see people doing things or saying things, and I'll look to Alice and I'll say, "I could never do that." And she looks at me and said, "well, you used to." I said, "well, I don't remember it." Well, if God has forgiven me and forgotten it, so should I.

But I mean, we all had our sins. We all had our lusts. We all had our pride. We all had our arrogance. And that's what he's saying. We were children of wrath, even as others. But something happened. I remember when I was a boy, and I can take you today to the exact same spot in the road, I know exactly where it was, to show you how wicked man is by nature.

Personal Testimony and Application

Weaver shares his own conviction of sin and emphasizes that only divine intervention explains our salvation. We should give thanks to the Father (Colossians 1:12) and acknowledge that by grace we are what we are (1 Corinthians 15:10).

I was riding a motorcycle. I was probably 15 or 16. And in this one certain spot in the road, the thought just entered my mind out of nowhere! "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?"

Now, I was raised in church, but no one ever witnessed to me, and I don't ever really remember hearing the gospel in church. It may have been preached, I just didn't hear it, but I don't think it was even really preached. But that question hit my mind, "if you died right now, where would you spend eternity?" You know, the answer that I gave, I remember giving the answer in my mind. The answer I gave was this. "Well, I'll make it in heaven somehow. I've made it all my life in every other area." You don't have blasphemy. Because I was thinking somehow God's going to make an exception of me. You know, that's blasphemy. So, I can remember those things. My question is, what happened? What changed us? What changed our status in our relationship? Well, let's go back to Ephesians 2 and let's watch this. Watch carefully.

Verse 1, "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation, our conduct, in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." "By grace are you saved." In other words, it was a divine intervention. Had God not intervened, we would have continued in verses 2 and 3. We would have continued walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, being a child of disobedience, living for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life. So when you look at Romans 5 and verse 8, "but God commendeth His love toward us and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Ephesians 2 enlarges and expounds and explains. Now let me show you something. The Apostle Paul could never get over the "but God." If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1, verses 12 and 13, look what he says. Colossians 1, verse 12. Although "but God" is not used here, it is still the same exact thought. Verse 12, "giving thanks unto the Father who have made us meet or suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who have delivered us from the power of darkness and have translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Note what he says, "giving thanks unto the father who has made us suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." So here's my questions. What made the difference in your life?

What brought you to your senses and what brought you to your knees? Who opened your eyes? Why are you different now than you were back then? Why are you now sorrowful and ashamed of your sins and your rebellion? Who made you to differ? If you'll go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4, you'll find that same question asked by the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 7. Note what he says. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 7. "For who maketh thee to differ from another?"

"And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Who made you to differ? Each of us would have continued in the course of this world under the power of the prince of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. We would be fulfilling the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life except for divine intervention.

But God, but God intervened. But God gave his only begotten son. But God gave us repentance and faith. But God brought us into Himself. But God enables us to persevere in repentance and faith. But God divinely intervened, not only in time and history in sending His only begotten Son, He divinely intervened in our lives.

Now I've got just one application. The first one is this. We should obey Colossians 1 and verse 12. What did he say? "Giving thanks unto the Father." When you stop and think of what the Father has done, how He loved us in eternity past before we ever had any being, how He chose us in Jesus Christ, how He gave us grace in Jesus Christ, and He loved us when we were God-haters, idolaters, and rebellious. He knew every sin that you and I would ever commit. He knew every lust. Every act of pride, every act of rebellion. He knew how desperately wicked we were.

And yet, he set his love upon us regardless. And divinely intervened in our lives. We need to learn to confess with the Apostle Paul. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 10. "But by the grace of God, I am what I am." If it was not for the grace of God, we would be just as lost, just as ungodly, just as undone as everyone else. But God intervened and brought us to himself. We should constantly be praising and thanking for his great love.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for the "but Gods" in the Bible. We thank you for divine intervention. We thank you for sending your son in time and history. We thank you for granting us repentance and faith and calling us into yourself. We thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you've done. And I pray, Father, that you would help us to praise Thee, to acknowledge Your goodness and Your kindness and Your grace. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose name we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Divine Intervention

Summary: The phrase 'But God' signals God's sovereign, miraculous intervention in human affairs, especially in salvation.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Anytime you see the little phrase, "but God," it usually speaks of divine intervention.' He cites Genesis 50:20, Acts 13:30, and Philippians 2:27.

God's Eternal, Sovereign Love

Summary: God's love for His people is everlasting, rooted in His choice and grace given in Christ before creation.

Evidence: Weaver references Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 1:4-6, and 2 Timothy 1:9, stating, 'He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began.'

Human Depravity and Helplessness

Summary: Humanity is spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, and unable to save itself, being by nature children of wrath.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 5:6 ('without strength') and Ephesians 2:1-3 ('dead in trespasses and sins'), calling natural men 'living carcasses, walking sepulchers.'

Federal Headship: Adam and Christ

Summary: Adam's sin brought condemnation and death to all in him; Christ's obedience brings justification and life to all in Him.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts Romans 5:12-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, stating, 'What he did, we did. What he sinned, we sinned.'

Salvation by Grace Alone

Summary: Salvation is entirely God's work, not based on human merit, as seen in Ephesians 2:4-9 and Colossians 1:12-13.

Evidence: Weaver emphasizes, 'By grace are you saved... it is the gift of God, not of works,' and asks, 'Who made you to differ?'

The Greatness of God's Love for Sinners

Summary: God's love is supremely demonstrated in Christ dying for His enemies while they were still sinners, rebels, and God-haters.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Romans 5:8, contrasting human love (dying for a good man) with God's love for sinners, and says, 'Can you imagine sending your only son to die for the man who hates you?'

Key Arguments

God's love precedes and causes our love

Summary: We love God only because He first loved us; our choice of Christ is a result of His prior choice.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 John 4:19 and John 15:16, saying, 'Had He not first loved you, you would have never loved Him.'

God's love is eternal and covenantal in Christ

Summary: God loved, chose, and gave grace to His people in Christ before the world began, based on His sovereign will.

Evidence: Weaver references Ephesians 1:4-6 and 2 Timothy 1:9, stating, 'He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.'

Humanity is spiritually dead and enslaved to sin

Summary: All people are by nature dead in sins, walking according to the world and Satan, and are children of wrath.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Ephesians 2:1-3, saying, 'Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.'

Adam's sin is imputed to all humanity

Summary: All sinned in Adam as their federal head, resulting in universal death and condemnation.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 5:12, 'We sinned in Adam. We fell in him.'

Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers

Summary: Just as Adam's disobedience made many sinners, Christ's obedience makes many righteous; believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 5:17-19 and Colossians 3:1-3, 'When he died, we died... when he rose, we rose.'

Salvation is entirely by God's grace and intervention

Summary: The 'But God' in Ephesians 2:4 marks the divine intervention that quickens dead sinners, not by works but by grace.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Had God not intervened, we would have continued... But God, who is rich in mercy... hath quickened us.'

The appropriate response is thanksgiving and humility

Summary: Believers should constantly thank God for His sovereign love and acknowledge that they are what they are by grace.

Evidence: Weaver cites Colossians 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:10, 'But by the grace of God, I am what I am.'

Scripture References

Romans 5:8

Context: The central text: 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

1 John 4:19

Context: We love Him because He first loved us, illustrating that God's love precedes ours.

John 15:16

Context: Jesus says, 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' showing divine initiative in salvation.

Jeremiah 31:3

Context: God's everlasting love and lovingkindness drawing His people.

Ephesians 1:4-6

Context: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinating us to adoption.

2 Timothy 1:8-10

Context: God saved us and gave us grace in Christ before the world began, now manifest through the gospel.

Genesis 50:20

Context: Joseph's brothers meant evil, but God meant it for good, an example of divine intervention.

Acts 7:9

Context: The patriarchs sold Joseph, but God was with him, another 'but God' intervention.

Psalm 68:21

Context: God shall wound the head of His enemies, a 'but God' of judgment.

Acts 13:26-30

Context: Though men killed Jesus, 'But God raised him from the dead,' a divine intervention.

Philippians 2:27

Context: Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death, 'but God had mercy on him,' an intervention.

Romans 5:6-7

Context: When we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly; scarcely for a righteous man will one die.

John 15:13

Context: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 6:17

Context: You were the servants (slaves) of sin, but obeyed from the heart the doctrine delivered.

Romans 5:12

Context: By one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.

Romans 5:14

Context: Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those not sinning like Adam, who is a figure of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Context: The first Adam was a living soul; the last Adam a quickening spirit. As we bore the earthy, we shall bear the heavenly.

Ephesians 2:5-6

Context: Even when dead in sins, God quickened us together with Christ and raised us up together.

Colossians 3:1-3

Context: Since you are risen with Christ, seek things above; your life is hid with Christ in God.

Romans 5:17-19

Context: By one man's offense death reigned; by one, Jesus Christ, righteousness and life reign. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners; by one's obedience many made righteous.

Historical References

Martin Luther

Context: Weaver quotes Luther: 'There are only two men in the world, Adam and Christ, and everyone hangs from their girdle.'

John Trapp (Puritan)

Context: Weaver quotes Trapp: 'Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.'

John Trapp (Puritan)

Context: Weaver quotes Trapp describing the natural man's soul and body as 'Satan's shop of sins.'

Important Quotes

But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Significance: The central verse of the sermon, highlighting God's love for sinners.

Anytime you see the little phrase, 'but God,' it usually speaks of divine intervention.

Significance: Weaver's key interpretive principle for the sermon.

He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began.

Significance: Summarizes the doctrine of eternal, sovereign love.

Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.

Significance: A vivid Puritan description of spiritual deadness.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

Significance: The 'But God' of salvation from Ephesians 2.

But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

Significance: Paul's confession of total dependence on grace, applied to believers.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding God's eternal love in Christ before creation change your view of salvation?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that God loved, chose, and gave grace in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:9).

In what ways have you experienced 'But God' moments of divine intervention in your life?

Context: Weaver illustrates divine intervention with biblical examples and personal testimony.

Why is it important to recognize that we were 'without strength' and 'ungodly' when Christ died for us?

Context: Weaver explains Romans 5:6-8, contrasting human helplessness with God's love.

How does the concept of federal headship in Adam and Christ affect your understanding of original sin and salvation?

Context: Weaver teaches that all sinned in Adam and all believers are righteous in Christ (Romans 5:12-19).

What does it mean to be 'dead in trespasses and sins' according to Ephesians 2:1-3, and how does that shape your view of human nature?

Context: Weaver describes the natural man as a 'living carcass' under the world, flesh, and devil.

How should the truth that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, not of works, affect our daily gratitude and humility?

Context: Weaver concludes with the application to give thanks and confess 'by the grace of God I am what I am.'

Applications

Give Thanks for God's Sovereign Love

Summary: Believers should constantly thank the Father for His eternal love, choice, and grace given in Christ before the world began.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We should obey Colossians 1 and verse 12... Giving thanks unto the Father... We should constantly be praising and thanking for his great love.'

Acknowledge Total Dependence on Grace

Summary: Recognize that any difference between believers and the world is due solely to God's intervening grace, not personal merit.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Who made you to differ?' and quotes 1 Corinthians 15:10, 'But by the grace of God, I am what I am.'

Rest in the Finished Work of Christ

Summary: Because believers are united with Christ in His death, resurrection, and exaltation, they can set their affections on things above.

Evidence: Weaver explains Colossians 3:1-3, 'Since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:50:42Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:28:23Z

Clean Transcript

But God

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

The title of the message today is simply, "But God." Notice Romans 5 and verse 8. She's putting new batteries in it. Well, it won't do any good. Romans 5, verse 8. The Bible says, "But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Note if you would please the first two words, "but God." Everyone, at least 99% of all Christians, can either quote in full or at least finish the truth of 1 John 4, verse 19 when that verse is begun. And it simply goes like this. "We love Him," help me out, because why? "He first loved us." Very obviously. The truth of the matter is most of us have really very rarely ever considered the truth of that verse. We love Him because He first loved us. The fact is that our sovereign God had to love us first because He is the eternal God. Moreover, had He not first loved us, we certainly would never ever have loved Him. That is for sure. In fact, our Lord said something very similar in John 15 and verse 16.
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He said, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you." Now, you can reply and say, "Well, I did choose Jesus Christ." Yes. But the only reason you chose Him is because He first chose you. So had He not first loved you, you would have never loved Him. Had He not first chosen you, you certainly would never have chosen Him.
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Now, when you stop and think about God loving us, you cannot just think about His love for us in time. Because the Bible teaches us in Jeremiah 31, verse 3, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with the loving kindness have I drawn thee." Now notice what he said, "I've loved thee with an everlasting love." It had no beginning. It had no ending. "I've loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with the loving kindness have I drawn thee." So note if you would please, God sovereignly loved us in eternity past, and therefore he drew us to himself in time and in history. You're going to ask, "How in the world could God love me in eternity past when I had no existence?"
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When I had no being? And the truth of the matter is, He loved us in our federal head and representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us that He chose us in Christ. He gave us grace in Christ. He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began. So if you would hold Romans 5 and turn first of all in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, and look if you would please at verses 4 through 6. Ephesians chapter 1, and then we're going to go to 2 Timothy. But notice Ephesians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 4, the Bible says, "According as he that is God the Father hath chosen us in Him, that is in Jesus Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us of the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, when He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
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Now notice if you would in verse 4. "According as He hath chosen us in Him." When did He choose us? Before the foundation of the world. Before the world ever began. Then if you would turn right over to 2 Timothy and look if you would please in chapter 1 and begin reading there with verse 8. 2 Timothy chapter 1 and notice if you would please verse 8. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God." Now notice, if you would, what God has done. He says, "this is according to the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Now let me pause right there just momentarily. Note if you would, He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.
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He not only chose us, He not only loved us, He gave us grace in Christ before the world began. Now watch verse 10. "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who have abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the Gospel." So God has loved us, chose us, and gave us grace in Christ before the foundation of the world. And then according to verse 10, He now calls us to Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ who brought both life and immortality to life through the Gospel.
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Now, there are many astounding facts in the Bible concerning the love of God. However, I want to call your attention today to one of those that I think is the most astounding, or at least one of the most astounding. And it is in Romans five and verse eight, when the Bible says, "but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
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Now, I want to point something out, I'm going to show you in the scripture, and I want you to think about this, then we're going to come back and look at the context. Anytime you see the little phrase, "but God," it usually speaks of divine intervention. God has done something miraculous, marvelous. He has intervened in the affairs of men. So, hold Romans chapter 5, and for right now, go back in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 50, and look if you would please at verse 20. Genesis 50 and verse 20. Just to show you the "but God," how God intervenes. Notice if you would, Genesis 50 and verse 20.
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Joseph is talking to his brothers. You remember the brothers sold him into captivity. He says in verse 20, "but as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive." So the brothers then tried to shanghai Joseph and were evilly entreating him, but God meant it for good. You don't have to turn there, but in Acts 7 and verse 9, the Scripture says this, "And the patriarchs moved in envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him." There's that divine intervention. If you would turn to Psalm 68. Psalm 68. And notice if you would please verse 21. Psalm 68, and verse 21. Here's another, "but God." Psalm 68, verse 21.
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"But God shall wound the head of His enemies, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses." In other words, men may think that they're going to escape the righteous judgment and vengeance of God. They may think because God has not smitten them instantly that they've gotten away with everything, "God shall wound their head, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses." Then, if you would turn to Acts chapter 13, everyone will understand this one. Here's divine intervention. Acts chapter 13.
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And of course, you know how the Jews hated the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course, they sought to put him to death, and did indeed have him crucified. So in Acts chapter 13, beginning with verse 26, we read this. "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. And they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him, that is, in condemning Christ. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written to him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead."
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So whenever you see the phrase, "but God," you must call into mind divine intervention. I'm going to tell you that it would be encouraging to you and probably beneficial if you would get home and get a concordance or get on your Bible program on the internet and just look up the phrase, "but God," and how often it occurs in the Bible. How often God intervenes in time, in history, in the lives of His people. You remember the deist and deism teaches that God kind of wound this world up like a clock and He just sits back and He lets it run down and He doesn't intervene. Well, that's certainly not true because all through the Bible, God intervenes.
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In fact, it was the Apostle Paul who wrote of Epaphroditus in the book of Philippians chapter 2 and verse 27. Epaphroditus was sick. And Paul said this, "for indeed he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." Epaphroditus helped the apostle Paul. He said he was sick, nigh unto death, but God. And certainly, God does indeed intervene. And I think one of the most wonderful interventions that we have in the Bible is the one that we find in Romans 5 and verse 8. "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
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Now, before I get to looking at verse 8, I want you to look at verses 6 and 7. Romans 5, verse 6. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good man, some would even dare to die." Now when you look at verse 6, when he says, "but when we were yet without strength," that phrase indicates that we were impotent, we were powerless, we were helpless, we were hopeless.
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We were unable to help ourselves in any shape, form, or fashion. We were totally, completely impotent. Note, if you would, he says, "for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly." The ungodly is the word asebes, which literally means the ungodly, those who are destitute of reverential fear toward God, those who are impious and those who actually condemn God. So when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. So in verse six, we're called the ungodly. And we're also told we were without strength. In verse eight, he says that we were sinners, but look at verse seven.
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"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Now, you have to understand that verse 7 is designed to illustrate the great love that God has for his people in contrasting the love that man has and the love that God has. For instance, he says in verse 7, "for scarcely for a righteous man will one die." In other words, most people are not going to be willing to die for someone whom they know that is right with God, that lives holy, and lives godly. And then he says this, "yet for a good man, some would even dare to die." Now, when you understand the phrase "good man," I know the Bible says there's none good, no, not one.
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But morally speaking, humanly speaking, there are good men in the sense that they're helpful, they're kind, they're beneficent, they do whatever they can. To describe such a one, we would say he's an individual that would give us the shirt off his back. And the highest form of love, humanly speaking, is that some would even dare to die for their friend or for a good man. In fact, the scripture says, in John 15, "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And there are numerous examples, not only in the Bible, but in history as well, of individuals who've laid down their lives for their friends.
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I just read recently of an armed robbery that was taking place. One of the robbers was about to shoot a woman and her son jumped in the path of the bullet and he died rather than his mother. So he actually gave his life for his mother. So I'm just simply saying that is what the Bible is saying. There are some that would even dare to die for what they consider a good man. But here's the contrast. Now watch this. Verse 7, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet for a good man some would even dare to die. But God," see the contrast? "But God commendeth His love toward us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for His bitter foes." God gave His only begotten Son for His worst enemies. We were neither good nor holy, nor righteous. We were sinners. Now the Bible says in verse 8, "but God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners."
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Hermatolos is the Greek word. It literally means a sinner. Someone who is sinful. Someone who is devoted to sin. Someone who is pre-eminently sinful. Now here's the problem. We are not only by nature devoted to sin and preeminently sinful, we are the servants and the slaves of sin. If you would look in Romans 6 and verse 17, he says it like this, "but God be thanked that you were," that's past tense, "but God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." The word servants is the Greek word doulos, which literally means a slave. "But God be thanked, you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." So God is saying that sin was our master, and we rendered to sin a very practical and submissive obedience. When sin commanded us to jump, we would say, "how high?" When sin told us to do something, that is exactly what we did.
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We were sinners, preeminently sinners, in bondage to sin. So the question has to be asked, how did we get in such a state? And the answer is, we were born into sin by virtue of our position in Adam, who is our federal head and representative. Look in verse 12, Romans 5 verse 12, "wherefore as by one man," that's Adam, "wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin," death came as a consequence because of Adam's sin, "wherefore, it is by one man's sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men."
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Now watch this, "...for that all have sinned." And it's not that all are sinning. Yes, we are sinning. But that all have sinned, past tense. It's an aorist tense, which means it has happened once and for all. Well, when did all men sin once and for all? And the answer is, we sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So Adam then was our federal head and federal representative.
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What he did, we did. What he sinned, we sinned. What he fell, we fell.
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Now, actually, original sin is very easy to prove. Some of the philosophers come up with what they call tabula rasa, which means that every man comes into this world with a clean slate. We just learn sin from others. No. You never have to teach a baby how to sin. The Bible said they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. And you know the baby cries and pretends like something is wrong when nothing is wrong.
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And you pick him up and good gracious alive, he stops crying. So no, there is original sin. People say, "well, I don't believe in original sin." Well, I can prove original sin. How? Hang on. Just wait a little while. You're going to die. Because death is the consequence of sin. And obviously, all die, therefore all are sinners and all have sinned in Adam. We fell in him. So in that sense, the word original depravity is easily understood, because all we have to do is observe the graveyards and observe the fact that everybody dies. Now, we're all going to die, even though we have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam was unique in one sense of the word, and that he was placed in a perfect environment. There was no sin around him. And he was created with original righteousness and holiness and knowledge, and yet he sinned. So not many of us sin exactly the way he sinned, but look if you would please in verse 14. Romans 5 and verse 14.
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The Bible says this. "Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Now, we are sinners, and our sin may not be exactly the way Adam's was, but still the wages of sin happens to be death. And every sinner is ultimately going to die.
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Now, here's the interesting thing. The Bible says in verse 14, "nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." That's an interesting phrase. The Bible is telling us that Adam was a figure or a type of Jesus Christ who was to come. So now you have to ask yourself this question. How in the world could Adam be a type of Jesus Christ? Adam sinned. Adam failed. Adam plunged his posterity into depravity and death. Jesus Christ was victorious. Jesus Christ brought forth life and immortality to life through the Gospel. So how then can Adam be a figure or a type of Christ?
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Well, the answer is given to us actually in 1 Corinthians 15. If you would turn there and look if you would beginning there with verse 45. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and notice if you would please verse 45. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 45. "And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul." Now notice this phrase, "the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man, the first Adam, is the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven," that is Jesus Christ. "As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. And as the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." Now I want to call your attention to the fact that the Bible calls Adam the first man. It refers to Jesus Christ as the last Adam.
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It also calls Adam the first man in verse 47, and it calls Jesus Christ the second man in verse 47. Well, here's a good question. How can Jesus Christ be called the second man? Since Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God, and he created Adam, he was in existence well before Adam was ever made, how could he be called the second man? And why is he called the last Adam? Well, here's the answer. He's called the second man because he is the second man in time, chronologically speaking, to sustain a federal relationship and representation of a people. Adam was a federal head and representative of all of those who were in him. Jesus Christ is the federal head and the representative of all those that are in him. Now listen carefully. Adam is called the first Adam. Jesus Christ is called the last Adam. And the reason he's called the last Adam is this. There's never ever going to be anyone else that will sustain such a relationship as Jesus Christ sustains as the federal head and representative of the people.
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Let me spell it out for you. Here's what Scripture's saying. If you're not saved by Jesus Christ, you're not going to be saved. Because he is the last Adam. No one else will ever be where he is. So Adam was the figure of him who was to come, only in the sense that he was the federal head and the representative of a people.
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Now, let me just point this out. You see, I've had people say, "well, I don't like it, being in Adam, because when he sinned, I sinned. When he fell, I fell. I'd like to have my own shot at it." Well, let me tell you something. If you were alive when Adam was alive, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. And if you do not like the fact that Adam was your federal head and representative, you would also not like the fact that Jesus Christ is your federal head and representative, because what he did, we did.
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When he died, we died. When he was buried, we were buried. When he rose from the dead, we rose from the dead. When he ascended into heaven, we ascended into heaven. When he sat down at the right hand of God, we sat down at the right hand of God with him. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Ephesians 2 and verse 6. In fact, just hold that passage. We're going to come back there just momentarily. Look in Ephesians 2, if you would please. And verse 6. In fact, we can read verse 5. The Bible says, "even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ."
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"By grace are you saved. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So, everything that Christ did, we did.
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Now, look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Turn over just a few pages. Colossians chapter 3, and look at verses 1-3. Colossians 3, verses 1-3. Look what the Scripture says. "If you then be risen with Christ," or literally "since you be risen with Christ." I don't have my Greek text, but is that A with the indicative? Gary? If it's A with the indicative, it's always "since." "If you then be risen with Christ," or "since you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." But note, "if you then be risen with Christ," or "since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above." Now, I want you to turn back to Romans chapter 5. If you'll look in Romans chapter 5, let me explain what is happening in this passage. In this passage, there is a strong contrast between what Adam did and what Jesus Christ did.
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Now there are similarities. But the contrast is what is being emphasized. It is true that he was a type or a figure of Christ. So I want you to look in Romans 5 and verse 17. So you can compare Adam's fall, Adam's sin, and the victory of Jesus Christ. He said in verse 17, "for if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ." So when Adam sinned, death entered and death reigned. When Jesus Christ was victorious, righteousness entered in and life reigned. Watch verse 18. "Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation." That was Adam. "Even so, by the righteousness of one," that's Jesus Christ, "the free gift came upon all men under justification of life." Now watch verse 19. "For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. So by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous." So you can see there how the position of Adam and the position of Jesus Christ happens to be contrasted.
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Now, I want you to look back in Romans 5 and verse 8. So, here's the point of Romans 5 and verse 8. The impact of Romans 5 and verse 8 can only be understood in light of the fact that God commended His love toward us and that while we were yet sinners. That is, we were God-haters, we were rebels. It was while we were in this state, we were hanging from Adam's girdle. In fact, it was Martin Luther, the reformer, who said there are only two men in the world, Adam and Christ, and everyone hangs from their girdle. So you're either in Adam and lost, or you're in Christ and saved. So the truth of the matter is, it's while we were in Adam that God manifested His love toward us. We were not lovely. We were not righteous. We were not holy. We were not obedient. We were lost. We were depraved. We were sinful. We were God-haters. We were rebellious.
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So it goes like this. "But God commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Can you imagine sending your only son to die for the man who hates you and tries to kill you and steal from you and deny you? Well, I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 2 because the Apostle Paul actually develops Romans 5 verse 8 in Ephesians chapter 2. I want to take the time to read the first 10 verses. We're not going to go over all of those, but certainly I'm going to deal with the first four or five. Notice Ephesians chapter 2 beginning there with verse 1.
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"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
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"For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk therein." Now I want to call your attention to the fact in verse one. He says, "and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and in sins."
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Now, there could not be any more explicit proof of depravity than this, and no stronger language could be used. The Bible tells us that man by nature is dead in trespasses and in sins. We were dead to a relationship to God. We were dead to his righteousness. We were dead to his holiness. It was the Puritan John Trapp who said this. "Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves."
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Stop and think about that. Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.
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Now, I want you to turn, hold Ephesians, but turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2. You're going to see essentially the same thing as verse 1 of Ephesians 2, when he says, "you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." Now, in Colossians 2 and verse 13, he says it like this. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all your trespasses." So the Scripture then tells us that we were dead to life. We were dead in our souls. We were dead toward God. Our entire existence was wrapped up in disobedience and rebellion to God. We lived only for our flesh, our desires, and our feelings.
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So let me ask you this question. What does it mean to be dead in trespasses and sins? Well, if you look at verses 2 and 3, Paul explains it. He says, "wherein in time past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among them also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
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Now, when I quoted John Trapp earlier, when he said that natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers in and of themselves, you have to understand that in some prisons, there is indeed a death row. And those men who were on death row are awaiting their execution. It is supposed to be a certain date, a certain date set. In fact, many of the other prisoners referred to those men on death row as dead men walking, because it's just only a matter of time before they're executed. May I point out the fact this is exactly what the Apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 2, verses 2 and 3. All of us, by nature, are just dead men walking. And unless God sovereignly, miraculously, and marvelously intervenes, our execution is certain and sure. It's a subtle fact. We are nothing more than dead men walking. Now here's the thing. Paul says, even as Christians, we had, like others, our time in the flesh and in the world. That's why Paul said in the latter part of verse 3, "and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
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So let me ask you this. What is life without God? Stop and think about your life before you were converted. Paul pretty well sums up what our life was like in verses 2 and 3. He says, "wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world." In other words, you wanted to keep up with the Joneses. You wanted all the manners and the habits of this world. You wanted all the desires of this world. You wanted the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. You wanted everything that everybody else wanted and you lived the way they lived. And he goes further. "Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."
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Undoubtedly, this refers then to Satan. But how does that relate to the world? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first of all, to 1 John 2. You know this passage. But look in 1 John 2, beginning there with verse 15. Walking according to the course of this world. 1 John 2, verse 15, look what he says. Now watch carefully. "Love not the world."
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Now he's not talking about creation. He's talking about the world system. He's talking about the world that is in opposition to God. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Here's why. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world pass away and the lust thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." So walking according to the course of this world literally means that we walked in the lust of our flesh and the lust of our eyes and the pride of our life, totally ignoring God, because these things are not of God. They cannot be of God. And then he said, in Ephesians 2, in light of this, walking the world according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
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Well, undoubtedly he's referring here to Satan, because he is saying that they are now under the leadership of the Prince of the Power of the Air. And just like air permeates everything, so in their world Satan permeated everything. You know, I tell people this. Most of the time when we think of Satan, when we think of that which is evil, we think of a drunk lying in the gutter, wallowing in his own vomit and filth.
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That's, no, no, that's the flesh. Think about a prostitute with all kinds of diseases. That's the flesh. Satan is far more refined. He wants worship. He wants people to bow down to Him. Wow. And when you stop and think, all of this comes to pass. Watch carefully. He says, "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."
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Now, it is true that a drunk is disobedient. It is true that a prostitute is disobedient. But it's equally true that a Pharisee is disobedient. That a hypocrite is disobedient, that a self-righteous individual is disobedient. In other words, the evidence that someone is living according to this world and walking according to the prince of the power of the air is the fact that he's walking in disobedience. That demonstrates he's under the control of the world and the prince of the power of the air.
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It was John Trapp who said it like this, listen carefully, "as a smith worketh in his forge, and a craftsman in his shop. A natural man, as he is the heir of original and the father of actual sin, so his soul and all his powers thereof are but Satan's shop of sins. His body and all the parts thereof, tools of sin, his life and all his actions are both soul and body, a trade of sin by the same reason." Wow. All he's saying is everything that a man does when he's unsaved is nothing but sin.
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In fact, when he calls us in verse 2, "children of disobedience," that is the Hebrew idiom which literally means that we were addicted to disobedience. It means that we were obstinate sinners that we were headstrong, recalcitrant, rebellious, and determined to persevere in our sins and our disobedience. Let me give you an illustration. Some of you may have seen it. I turned from it as quickly as I saw it, but I did see it.
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There was a protest somewhere recently in all kinds of signs, and one man was so absolutely stupid and so absolutely wicked, he had a sign that said this, "when Jesus returns, kill him again." I thought, you dummy. You don't understand. Because 2 Thessalonians tells us when he comes back, he's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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There will be no killing him the second time, I can assure you. But that shows you how people are so addicted to rebellion and disobedience and sin, they cannot even think straight. Well, in verse 3, Paul acknowledges that each of us, at one time, were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. That is, we lived in the same condition. We all had our conversation, our conduct in times past, and the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Oftentimes I see people doing things or saying things, and I'll look to Alice and I'll say, "I could never do that." And she looks at me and said, "well, you used to." I said, "well, I don't remember it." Well, if God has forgiven me and forgotten it, so should I.
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But I mean, we all had our sins. We all had our lusts. We all had our pride. We all had our arrogance. And that's what he's saying. We were children of wrath, even as others. But something happened. I remember when I was a boy, and I can take you today to the exact same spot in the road, I know exactly where it was, to show you how wicked man is by nature.
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I was riding a motorcycle. I was probably 15 or 16. And in this one certain spot in the road, the thought just entered my mind out of nowhere! "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?"
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Now, I was raised in church, but no one ever witnessed to me, and I don't ever really remember hearing the gospel in church. It may have been preached, I just didn't hear it, but I don't think it was even really preached. But that question hit my mind, "if you died right now, where would you spend eternity?" You know, the answer that I gave, I remember giving the answer in my mind. The answer I gave was this.
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"Well, I'll make it in heaven somehow. I've made it all my life in every other area." You don't have blasphemy. Because I was thinking somehow God's going to make an exception of me. You know, that's blasphemy. So, I can remember those things. My question is, what happened? What changed us? What changed our status in our relationship? Well, let's go back to Ephesians 2 and let's watch this. Watch carefully.
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Verse 1, "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation, our conduct, in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ."
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"By grace are you saved." In other words, it was a divine intervention. Had God not intervened, we would have continued in verses 2 and 3. We would have continued walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, being a child of disobedience, living for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life. So when you look at Romans 5 and verse 8, "but God commendeth His love toward us and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
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Ephesians 2 enlarges and expounds and explains. Now let me show you something. The Apostle Paul could never get over the "but God." If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1, verses 12 and 13, look what he says. Colossians 1, verse 12. Although "but God" is not used here, it is still the same exact thought. Verse 12, "giving thanks unto the Father who have made us meet or suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who have delivered us from the power of darkness and have translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Note what he says, "giving thanks unto the father who has made us suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." So here's my questions. What made the difference in your life?
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What brought you to your senses and what brought you to your knees? Who opened your eyes? Why are you different now than you were back then? Why are you now sorrowful and ashamed of your sins and your rebellion? Who made you to differ? If you'll go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4, you'll find that same question asked by the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 7. Note what he says. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 7. "For who maketh thee to differ from another?"
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"And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Who made you to differ? Each of us would have continued in the course of this world under the power of the prince of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. We would be fulfilling the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life except for divine intervention.
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But God, but God intervened. But God gave his only begotten son. But God gave us repentance and faith. But God brought us into Himself. But God enables us to persevere in repentance and faith. But God divinely intervened, not only in time and history in sending His only begotten Son, He divinely intervened in our lives.
#63 | 54:13 to 54:54 | cleaned
Now I've got just one application. The first one is this. We should obey Colossians 1 and verse 12. What did he say? "Giving thanks unto the Father." When you stop and think of what the Father has done, how He loved us in eternity past before we ever had any being, how He chose us in Jesus Christ, how He gave us grace in Jesus Christ, and He loved us when we were God-haters, idolaters, and rebellious. He knew every sin that you and I would ever commit. He knew every lust. Every act of pride, every act of rebellion. He knew how desperately wicked we were.
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And yet, he set his love upon us regardless. And divinely intervened in our lives. We need to learn to confess with the Apostle Paul. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 10. "But by the grace of God, I am what I am." If it was not for the grace of God, we would be just as lost, just as ungodly, just as undone as everyone else. But God intervened and brought us to himself. We should constantly be praising and thanking for his great love.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for the "but Gods" in the Bible. We thank you for divine intervention. We thank you for sending your son in time and history. We thank you for granting us repentance and faith and calling us into yourself. We thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you've done. And I pray, Father, that you would help us to praise Thee, to acknowledge Your goodness and Your kindness and Your grace. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose name we pray. Amen.
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♪
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:50:42Z

But God

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver explores the phrase 'But God' in Scripture, focusing on Romans 5:8 as the ultimate example of divine intervention. He explains that God's love for sinners is rooted in His eternal, sovereign choice in Christ before the foundation of the world. Humanity is spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, and under wrath, but God intervened by sending Christ to die for His enemies. The sermon contrasts Adam's federal headship bringing sin and death with Christ's headship bringing righteousness and life, emphasizing that salvation is entirely by grace through divine intervention.

Introduction: The Significance of 'But God'

Weaver introduces the phrase 'But God' from Romans 5:8, highlighting that God's love precedes and enables our love for Him, as seen in 1 John 4:19 and John 15:16.

The title of the message today is simply, "But God." Notice Romans 5 and verse 8. She's putting new batteries in it. Well, it won't do any good. Romans 5, verse 8. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

God's Eternal Love in Christ

God loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and chose us, gave us grace, and loved us in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:8-10).

Now, when you stop and think about God loving us, you cannot just think about His love for us in time. Because the Bible teaches us in Jeremiah 31, verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with the loving kindness have I drawn thee."

Now notice what he said,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I've loved thee with an everlasting love."

It had no beginning. It had no ending.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I've loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with the loving kindness have I drawn thee."

Now notice if you would in verse 4.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:4-6

"According as He hath chosen us in Him."

Divine Intervention in Scripture

Scripture Reading — Acts 13:26-30

"Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. And they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him, that is, in condemning Christ. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written to him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead."

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:27

" Epaphroditus helped the apostle Paul. He said he was sick, nigh unto death, but God. And certainly, God does indeed intervene. And I think one of the most wonderful interventions that we have in the Bible is the one that we find in Romans 5 and verse 8. "

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Human Helplessness and Sinfulness

Romans 5:6-7 describes humanity as without strength, ungodly, and sinners. Human love is limited, but God's love is demonstrated in Christ dying for His enemies.

Now, before I get to looking at verse 8, I want you to look at verses 6 and 7. Romans 5, verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good man, some would even dare to die."

Now when you look at verse 6, when he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"but when we were yet without strength,"

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-7

"for when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly."

The Nature of Sin and Federal Headship in Adam

We are sinners by nature, slaves to sin (Romans 6:17), and fell in Adam, our federal head (Romans 5:12). Original sin is proven by universal death.

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"but God be thanked that you were,"

that's past tense,

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"but God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

The word servants is the Greek word doulos, which literally means a slave.

Scripture Reading — Romans 6:17

"But God be thanked, you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

Adam as a Type of Christ

Adam is a figure of Christ (Romans 5:14) only in his role as federal head. Christ is the last Adam and second man (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), representing all who are in Him.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul."

Now notice this phrase,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man, the first Adam, is the earth earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven,"

that is Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

"As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. And as the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."

Now I want to call your attention to the fact that the Bible calls Adam the first man. It refers to Jesus Christ as the last Adam.

Contrast Between Adam and Christ

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"If you then be risen with Christ,"

or literally

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you be risen with Christ."

I don't have my Greek text, but is that A with the indicative? Gary? If it's A with the indicative, it's always "since."

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"If you then be risen with Christ,"

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

But note,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"if you then be risen with Christ,"

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:1-3

"since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above."

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"for if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ."

So when Adam sinned, death entered and death reigned. When Jesus Christ was victorious, righteousness entered in and life reigned. Watch verse 18.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation."

That was Adam.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"Even so, by the righteousness of one,"

that's Jesus Christ,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"the free gift came upon all men under justification of life."

Now watch verse 19.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:17-19

"For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. So by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous."

So you can see there how the position of Adam and the position of Jesus Christ happens to be contrasted.

Ephesians 2: The 'But God' of Salvation

Ephesians 2:1-10 expands Romans 5:8, describing our deadness in sin, worldly walk, and satanic influence, followed by God's merciful intervention to quicken us with Christ by grace.

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil

Walking according to the world (1 John 2:15-17) and under Satan's influence manifests as disobedience. All unsaved actions are sin, and we were children of wrath by nature.

Personal Testimony and Application

I was riding a motorcycle. I was probably 15 or 16. And in this one certain spot in the road, the thought just entered my mind out of nowhere! "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?"

But God

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	sxLjvK2E5Cg
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-03-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 12
Source Timed Segments	67

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Significance of 'But God': Weaver introduces the phrase 'But God' from Romans 5:8, highlighting that God's love precedes and enables our love for Him, as seen in 1 John 4:19 and John 15:16.
God's Eternal Love in Christ: God loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and chose us, gave us grace, and loved us in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:8-10).
Divine Intervention in Scripture: The phrase 'But God' consistently marks divine intervention, as seen in Joseph's story (Genesis 50:20), God's judgment (Psalm 68:21), Christ's resurrection (Acts 13:26-30), and Epaphroditus's healing (Philippians 2:27).
Human Helplessness and Sinfulness: Romans 5:6-7 describes humanity as without strength, ungodly, and sinners. Human love is limited, but God's love is demonstrated in Christ dying for His enemies.
The Nature of Sin and Federal Headship in Adam: We are sinners by nature, slaves to sin (Romans 6:17), and fell in Adam, our federal head (Romans 5:12). Original sin is proven by universal death.
Adam as a Type of Christ: Adam is a figure of Christ (Romans 5:14) only in his role as federal head. Christ is the last Adam and second man (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), representing all who are in Him.
Contrast Between Adam and Christ: Romans 5:17-19 contrasts Adam's offense bringing condemnation and death with Christ's obedience bringing justification and life. Believers are united with Christ in His death, resurrection, and exaltation (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 3:1-3).
Ephesians 2: The 'But God' of Salvation: Ephesians 2:1-10 expands Romans 5:8, describing our deadness in sin, worldly walk, and satanic influence, followed by God's merciful intervention to quicken us with Christ by grace.
The World, the Flesh, and the Devil: Walking according to the world (1 John 2:15-17) and under Satan's influence manifests as disobedience. All unsaved actions are sin, and we were children of wrath by nature.
Personal Testimony and Application: Weaver shares his own conviction of sin and emphasizes that only divine intervention explains our salvation. We should give thanks to the Father (Colossians 1:12) and acknowledge that by grace we are what we are (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God's love precedes and causes our love

We love God only because He first loved us; our choice of Christ is a result of His prior choice.

Weaver cites 1 John 4:19 and John 15:16, saying, 'Had He not first loved you, you would have never loved Him.'

God's love is eternal and covenantal in Christ

God loved, chose, and gave grace to His people in Christ before the world began, based on His sovereign will.

Weaver references Ephesians 1:4-6 and 2 Timothy 1:9, stating, 'He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the world began.'

Humanity is spiritually dead and enslaved to sin

All people are by nature dead in sins, walking according to the world and Satan, and are children of wrath.

Weaver expounds Ephesians 2:1-3, saying, 'Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.'

Adam's sin is imputed to all humanity

All sinned in Adam as their federal head, resulting in universal death and condemnation.

Weaver explains Romans 5:12, 'We sinned in Adam. We fell in him.'

Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers

Just as Adam's disobedience made many sinners, Christ's obedience makes many righteous; believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Weaver cites Romans 5:17-19 and Colossians 3:1-3, 'When he died, we died... when he rose, we rose.'

Salvation is entirely by God's grace and intervention

The 'But God' in Ephesians 2:4 marks the divine intervention that quickens dead sinners, not by works but by grace.

Weaver says, 'Had God not intervened, we would have continued... But God, who is rich in mercy... hath quickened us.'

The appropriate response is thanksgiving and humility

Believers should constantly thank God for His sovereign love and acknowledge that they are what they are by grace.

Weaver cites Colossians 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:10, 'But by the grace of God, I am what I am.'

Scripture References

Romans 5:8: The central text: 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'
1 John 4:19: We love Him because He first loved us, illustrating that God's love precedes ours.
John 15:16: Jesus says, 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' showing divine initiative in salvation.
Jeremiah 31:3: God's everlasting love and lovingkindness drawing His people.
Ephesians 1:4-6: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinating us to adoption.
2 Timothy 1:8-10: God saved us and gave us grace in Christ before the world began, now manifest through the gospel.
Genesis 50:20: Joseph's brothers meant evil, but God meant it for good, an example of divine intervention.
Acts 7:9: The patriarchs sold Joseph, but God was with him, another 'but God' intervention.
Psalm 68:21: God shall wound the head of His enemies, a 'but God' of judgment.
Acts 13:26-30: Though men killed Jesus, 'But God raised him from the dead,' a divine intervention.
Philippians 2:27: Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death, 'but God had mercy on him,' an intervention.
Romans 5:6-7: When we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly; scarcely for a righteous man will one die.
John 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 6:17: You were the servants (slaves) of sin, but obeyed from the heart the doctrine delivered.
Romans 5:12: By one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.
Romans 5:14: Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those not sinning like Adam, who is a figure of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49: The first Adam was a living soul; the last Adam a quickening spirit. As we bore the earthy, we shall bear the heavenly.
Ephesians 2:5-6: Even when dead in sins, God quickened us together with Christ and raised us up together.
Colossians 3:1-3: Since you are risen with Christ, seek things above; your life is hid with Christ in God.
Romans 5:17-19: By one man's offense death reigned; by one, Jesus Christ, righteousness and life reign. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners; by one's obedience many made righteous.

Historical References

Martin Luther: Weaver quotes Luther: 'There are only two men in the world, Adam and Christ, and everyone hangs from their girdle.'
John Trapp (Puritan): Weaver quotes Trapp: 'Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.'
John Trapp (Puritan): Weaver quotes Trapp describing the natural man's soul and body as 'Satan's shop of sins.'

Important Quotes

But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The central verse of the sermon, highlighting God's love for sinners.

Anytime you see the little phrase, 'but God,' it usually speaks of divine intervention.

Weaver's key interpretive principle for the sermon.

He loved us in Christ all before the world ever began.

Summarizes the doctrine of eternal, sovereign love.

Natural men are living carcasses, walking sepulchers of themselves.

A vivid Puritan description of spiritual deadness.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

The 'But God' of salvation from Ephesians 2.

But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

Paul's confession of total dependence on grace, applied to believers.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding God's eternal love in Christ before creation change your view of salvation?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that God loved, chose, and gave grace in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:9).

[Question]

In what ways have you experienced 'But God' moments of divine intervention in your life?

[Context]

Weaver illustrates divine intervention with biblical examples and personal testimony.

[Question]

Why is it important to recognize that we were 'without strength' and 'ungodly' when Christ died for us?

[Context]

Weaver explains Romans 5:6-8, contrasting human helplessness with God's love.

[Question]

How does the concept of federal headship in Adam and Christ affect your understanding of original sin and salvation?

[Context]

Weaver teaches that all sinned in Adam and all believers are righteous in Christ (Romans 5:12-19).

[Question]

What does it mean to be 'dead in trespasses and sins' according to Ephesians 2:1-3, and how does that shape your view of human nature?

[Context]

Weaver describes the natural man as a 'living carcass' under the world, flesh, and devil.

[Question]

How should the truth that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, not of works, affect our daily gratitude and humility?

[Context]

Weaver concludes with the application to give thanks and confess 'by the grace of God I am what I am.'

Applications

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