As we resume these studies in the epistles to the Romans, I am sure that most of you will remember

that at the end of the last session we had arrived at verse 23.

So we resume this evening with a consideration of verses 24 and 25, verses 24 and 25 in the 8th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans.

For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope.

For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait

for it. For the sake of those who are interested in records and statistics and figures, we

are considering the message of this epistle to the Romans tonight for the 178 time. And

here I say we are looking at verses 24 and 25. But obviously those

who know this epistle and who know the method of the apostle will realize very clearly

that there is no hope of understanding the message of these two verses unless we have some idea

as to what the Apostle is doing in this whole section, which leads me to remind you once more

of what exactly he is doing in this eighth chapter. There's only one great message in this chapter, and the

message is assurance or certainty of salvation. His object is to show that the salvation which

these people as Christians were enjoying, the salvation which any Christian enjoys, is something that

is absolutely certain that it's going to be completed.

And he brings forward various arguments in order to prove that and to demonstrate that to

them.

Now those who have been here throughout the years will remember that

I hold the view very strongly that the apostle rarely starts on this great theme at the beginning

of chapter 5. That's where he really begins with this whole question of assurance and

of certainty, where he says, therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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