Eternally Secure
Notes
Transcript
ILLUST: the most secure place, building, etc.
Fort Knox - physical barriers, armed guards, security systems, multiple layers of defense
Why??
The contents are extremely valuable
Blessings of Life in the Spirit (Part 2)
Blessings of Life in the Spirit (Part 2)
READ ROMANS 8: 26-39
The beautiful, awesome, work of the Holy Spirit, in flawless accordance with the Trinity
1) Guidance in Prayer
1) Guidance in Prayer
vv. 26-27
Ever feel like praying, and just not sure what to say?
The Holy Spirit knows - just pray
This “groanings” is NOT speaking in tongues, BTW
One of our weaknesses is not praying as fervently as we should
We do not know HOW - so ask
If I want to do something, I will ask how. Maybe several times…
Think also a moment on Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
FACT - Not everyone got to approach a king’s throne
Only those invited - on the king’s terms (Esther took a huge risk…)
Yahweh, THE King, invites you to come - lay your whole self and your prayers before Him
Let the Spirit guide you
Let the Spirit intercede for you
Praying for June and John and family, not sure what to pray, I had to give it over to the Spirit
God puts it on you to pray for someone, and you don’t know why…give it to the Spirit
You put in the effort, the Spirit will make it make sense…
(another blessing…)
2) Being Part of God’s Plan
2) Being Part of God’s Plan
vv. 28-30
A key part of God’s plan is for all things to come together for the good of those who love Him
He defines GOOD
And this is for those who love Him. So do you?
Is this passage for you? (Yes, for all of us…)
What are you going through, right now?
What is His purpose? (That is the context of this passage)
Not just to save sinners, but to glorify believers!
His plan was to call believers to a life of holiness, set apart
His plan was to declare those who trust in Jesus as “not guilty” (justified)
His plan was to eventually and finally glorify all those who have believed!
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
This is predestination - God determined that those who answer the call (and all are called/drawn, see John 12:32)…
would be conformed to the image of Christ
And yes, God knows all things, he knows who will trust
But that does not mean His will is causative
“What do you mean by that?” Glad you asked…
God determined, beforehand, the destiny of believers - all saints, re-born, being made like Christ, ultimate and complete sanctification
There’s more…
God knows human actions, though He does not force those events
“Foreknew” simply means knowing it beforehand
My take on this…
God foreknew (had the knowledge) those who will be saved, and those true believers are “predestined” to be confirmed to His image (beg. of ch. 8., justified, sanct., glorified…)
ALL of this WILL happen to and for believers!
Yes, God knows who will be saved, and all who are saved will experience this complete sanctification and glorification.
The ONLY thing that can stop that?
YOU - Every person
You decide to trust Jesus, or don’t
The awesome truth, then, for believers?
(the KEY blessing here…)
3) Conquerors with Christ
3) Conquerors with Christ
vv. 31-39
Our culture, HATES Jesus - He said they would
REM
As believers…Our culture should not define us
Our culture looks to smear us, to degrade us, to condemn us, as measured against its standards - not realizing their own dangerous situation of being separated from God
TRINITY here
H.S. intercedes in prayer
Here, Jesus is the one Who defends us to the Father
Rhetorical question - Who will separate us?
Tribulation, distress, persecution? - NO
Famine, nakedness (implying poverty)? - NO
Danger, sword? - NOPE
V. 36 - This is nothing new for followers of God, Psalm 44:22
But for Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
As Paul quotes from Psalm 44, and look at verse 26 of that psalm
Rise up, be our help,
And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.
The psalmist asks for, begs for, the LORD’s help
YAHWEH did just that
Sent Jesus to help us
Who sent the holy Spirit to help us
WE CONQUER - WE EMERGE VICTORIOUS - Overwhelmingly
No one, and nothing - this side of glory, can separate us from God’s love
Look at that list! (READ)
Nor any created thing - THAT’S EVERYTHING and EVERYONE except GOD!
Because of our Savior
Gospel of John - Jesus provides comfort…He wants us to understand
“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
The Spirit of Christ = Holy Spirit
Rom 8: 9-10 touched on this - “Christ in you” there refers to the Spirit
So, leaning on Jesus, through John and Paul
Christ is in the Father, The believer is in Christ, and Christ/Spirit is in the believer
ILLUST: Containers inside each other
Spirit in you
You in Christ
Christ in the Father
TELL ME - What can separate you?
The contents are extremely, eternally valuable!
Verse 35 - yes, life here is hard, challenging, unfair, hurtful, brutal at times
Life in Christ conquers all that!
Verse 38 - even the most supernatural, superhuman beings, cannot drive a wedge between you and God
So why let the trials of the world do that?
God’s plan - you, secure in Him, forever
And… He’d like to show off His craftsmanship
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
There may be some growth along the way, which can be painful
…every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
Can you see God at work in all circumstances in life?
Because He is
He is at work, always, in and through all those who love Him!
The hard times
They drive the believer TOWARD God, not away from Him
(Conversation with a friend…God has his attention, at a crossroads of turning TO God or AWAY from Him)
I’m not sure how to pray, so…..letting the HS help
What is YOUR response to the difficulties here?
Running TO Him? Or running FROM Him?
Jesus begs for you to find trust, security, assurance in your life in Christ!
There is nowhere more secure
(READ vv 37-38 again to close)
The enemy will try to separate us from the love of God - unsuccessfully
God will never allow that - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!
Paul is convinced, just as you can be!
