God’s Unstoppable Love

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Romans 8:28–29 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Introduction

Over the years, we have seen peoples continual concern about “freedom of choice.”

Society and politics have rendered several instances over the past couple of decades:

Same-sex marriage in 2015

Freedom of Assembly

Protests of the Iraq War in the early 2000s with a large global demonstration in 2003

We continue to see pro-palestinian protests throughout the world palestinian

Technology has even played into this concept, as people have been concerned about freedom of individual choice based on AI algorithms. In other words, AI has the ability to limit what exposure people receive on social media platforms and other web-based tools to make proper decisions.

The concern for “free will” has pushed legislation and even provided influence on decisions to go to war. We desire this thing called freedom, which we believe to include this thing called “freedom of choice.”

How does God look at free will? Do we truly have free will?

Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered Do Human Beings Truly Have a Free Will?

If “free will” means that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then yes, human beings do have a free will. The world’s current sinful state is directly linked to choices made by Adam and Eve. God created mankind in His own image, and that included the ability to choose.

However, free will does not mean that mankind can do anything he pleases. Our choices are limited to what is in keeping with our nature. For example, a man may choose to walk across a bridge or not to walk across it; what he may not choose is to fly over the bridge—his nature prevents him from flying. In a similar way, a man cannot choose to make himself righteous—his (sin) nature prevents him from canceling his guilt (

Let’s look at Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

God gives you a choice between accepting man’s sinful nature or His divine nature. When we delve into Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - we must understand that God’s foreknowledge does not remove our will to serve Him or be saved.

I’ll also say this about free will:

Free will does not allow you to escape your nature

A man is a man and a woman is a woman

2. Free will does not protect you from consequences

b. If you choice to live a life of sin - spiritual death will be your reward unless you repent

Theologians, such as John Calvin, have identified ideas like Election of the saints, which says you don’t have a choice - God knew what you’d do before you did it and you had no choice in the matter. Biblically, this is not supported.

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

God did not force the children of Israel to serve Him. He gave them a choice!

He does not force you to serve Him today, He gives you a choice!

Because we’re Americans - and we love freedom, as we should, we place a great emphasis on God’s foreknowledge and our freedom to choose. The reality is while God foreknew who would come to Him, the predestination is to conform to His image according to Rom 8:29.

You have a choice, but God’s given you a destiny! That destiny is to be like Jesus!

Movement 2: Becoming Like Jesus

The Bible provides a depiction of what God is - that is light.

1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Light in the Greek is φως, which was often thought to come from daylight, a lamp, or lantern. Light, when in the presence of it, can not be escaped.

In other words, when light is emanating - you can see

The problem comes when you either leave the light source or try to cover it up

Matthew 5:15 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

We all can remember the Sunday School Song “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine” and singing “Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine”

Many of us had no clue what we were really saying.

You need to hear this - a bushel is defined as a standard of measurement. It wasn’t just a basket used to snuff out lights - it was a means of measurement.

Man often stifles the love of God from going forward because he wants to keep his light in one specified measurable location. We’re called to be “a city on the hill” or a “light house” - the light should emanate from us and not die when it hits our bushels of what we think God can or can’t do.

We’ve got to understand that God’s love is more than loving the people we want to love. It’s more than tolerating my family. It’s about getting everyone into the light and exposing what’s really there!

John 3:21 “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

In other words, if I’m doing things that Christ asks of me - I have nothing to be ashamed of. If I’m fearful of what people may find out, I try to stay away from the light.

Have you ever been around someone who’s constantly unsettled by your Holy Ghost? It’s often because they don’t want what’s inside being exposed. The light exposes the heart whether we want to admit it or not.

To become like Jesus means more than just coming to church on Sunday, reading our Bible once a week, and saying a prayer before bed - it means we’ve tapped into the source of light and are reflecting His image to the everyone around us.

Christ gives you a choice to be like him or not.

Have you been a reflection of Christ or have you chose to emanate human nature more than Him?

Movement 3: God’s Unstoppable Love

In Romans, Paul was writing to a group that dealt with whichcraft, idolatry, worldliness, and deceitful beliefs that could all easily strip someone of their Holy Ghost. Satan had plenty of methods to choose from if he chose to attack a Roman Christian in that day.

In fact, fear of death was utilized much toward the Roman Christians, as they were often fed to the lions or slaughtered within the Colosseum.

Here is what Ignatius said - a bishop of Antioch:

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs The Third Persecution, under Trajan, A.D. 108

“Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!” And even when he was sentenced to be thrown to the beasts, such as the burning desire that he had to suffer, that he spake, what time he heard the lions roaring, saying: “I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread.”

This man was not fearful of death, but willing to provide his testimony even if it came to the consequence of his fleshly death. However, he knew that life is so much more than bread - it is in having the Word of God. Life is having Jesus and knowing the hope Jesus gives us!

While we have a choice, God does not give evil gifts to his children. If we obey and remain His - He will be sure to take care of you!

This martyr provides a pure example of becoming like Christ. Christ was willing to give his life for the church, as we should also be willing to give our life for the church.

The question today isn’t will you give your life for the church, but will you live your life for the church.

Christ is looking for a church that will simply live for Him. Living for him comes with a cost, but the investment is worth it.

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we understand this, we have nothing to fear. We may be under spiritual persecution or even attack from the enemy, but we know within our heart that God loves us and is with us.

We know that God’s love is unstoppable!

Satan thought he could kill God through killing Jesus - but he couldn’t

Satan thought he could stop Christianity by murdering millions of people - instead, he threw fuel on the fires of revival

Satan thinks he can get you and your family by using his methods to snuff out your Holy Ghost fire:

Complacency - dependence on what God’s already blessed you with or thinking you’re the reason you’ve been blessed in the first place

Comfort - not wanting to move spiritually because you’ve grown accustomed to where you are

Measured Christianity - I’ll be a witness when everyone else is, but don’t ask me to be a witness where it counts!

I can sing about not putting a bushel over my light, but I’m really okay with using it!

Closing

Close: make sure to drive home the opportunity to experience God’s love and reassurance in times of difficulty

If you are in need - God is near and hears your prayers. He speaks in a still small voice even.

Even in your uncertainty - He hears you and is with you

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What are you willing to do differently to grow closer to Him

Psalm 22:25 “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.”

In other words, the Psalmist is saying I’ll do what I promised before those who worship God in truth.

That means I’ll fulfill what I’m about to pray today. Be obedient to this - try God - and see what He does in your life over the up-and-coming weeks.

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Are you willing to be a conduit to God’s unstoppable love? If so, ask God to show you how you can be just that!