Golden Chain of Redemption
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One of the most important aspects of Christianity that we all are called to grow in...
Is the ability to discern - What is RIGHT - from what is ALMOST right.
And of course you can have debates even on what is - ALMOST right..
But - this aspect is no doubt - ALWAYS in play - when it comes to our understanding of Scripture.
After walking through the Golden Chain of Redemption now - I have heard several comments from people in this light....
“This is all starting to click - and it’s starting to make sense with other parts of the Bible”
“I’ve been a believer for 40 years - and I can’t believe I’ve never SEEN these things IN THE TEXT before...but NOW that I SEE it - I SEE it!”
NOW - I’m not naive - I know there are STILL questions out there - whether VOICED or not....
Still doubts out there - whether voiced or not...
And that’s ok.
Convictions of Scripture sometimes takes decades to take root...
Sometimes longer
I’d RATHER the questions and doubts be voiced...but - that’s ok.
TODAY - we’re going to approach our time - in a specific way.
We’re not going to continue on in the text of Romans 8 - - we’re going to LINGER over the Golden Chain a bit longer...
And actually walk through - the OTHER - more prevalent belief that’s out there concerning the Foreknowledge of God - and how that impacts salvation.
SO - let’s go back to the text and start there....
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
As you know - we tackled the first link in the chain this past Sunday...
...having WALKED thru the others… and we came to...
Foreknowledge
And we saw that all throughout the Bible...
the phrase - TO KNOW - when it comes to God kNOWING people - means - a lot of times - to CHOOSE to love in a uniquely intimate way.
2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
And we clearly see - that “KNOWN” here does not mean - knowledge.
WHY? Because God KNOWS - every family.
God has KNOWLEDGE of EVERY family...
But HERE - God says to Israel - You ONLY have i known!!
The NASB translates it this way...
2 “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
- God’s CHOSEN people…
Chosen - when?
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
How does this fit with the character of God?
We’ll walk through that today as we go.
What i’d like to do TODAY is look = at the other side of thought.
To look at this passage with a different lens...
And the lens we’ll use - has been long labeled -
SLIDE:
Arminianism: A theology that promotes human self-governance or human autonomy of will.
And so regarding our passage in Romans 8 (Golden Chain) - Let’s view it in light of this most prevalent belief out there....
SO let’s do that.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
OK - so let’s handle the golden chain like we did the last several weeks - and go backwards with it - but let’s start with the CALL of God.
Here’s the first thought we’ll look at.
SLIDE: The Call of God: Goes Out to All Men
The Call of God
The Call of God
And so if we go to that high level view of the Golden chain...
SLIDE:
All Foreknown are predestined
All predestined are called
All called are justified
All justified are glorified
NOW - again - the prevalent belief out there is -
GOD calls ALL people and some will choose to believe and some won’t.
NOW - when we think about MINISTRY.… and we think about the call we have in our lives - ALL OF US = as believers...
And we read verses like this..
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we read this - and understand - AS believers - we’re called to go out INTO the world and share this message ...
WITH WHO?
With the WORLD!!
AND SO - with this being true… WHAT do we experience?? As to how ministry plays out?
We experience - US telling people about Jesus...
Sharing the gospel with people...
And we experience them - either...
turning it down - choosing to ignore the message
OR
they embrace the message and believe.
AND SO _ in our experience -
WE SHARE
AND people choose to believe or not.
But as we know - based on the Bible - that’s not ALL that’s happening.
And we WANT the Bible - to dictate TO US - what’s happening… NOT the other way around.
SO LET’S WALK THROUGH A SCENARIO...
Let’s put on the screen - the Biblical teaching of redemption / salvation
SLIDE:
Biblical Teaching:
All Foreknown are predestined
All predestined are called
All called are justified
All justified are glorified
NOW - let’s LIVE out the scenario of the prevalent belief of God’s call.
**Let’s pretend that you all came today - and every single one of you is an UNBELIEVER...
The gospel is preached - and God CALLS ALL OF YOU to believe.
NOW - only SOME of you believe.
3 of you choose to believe (if you have the red card - come on up front
OK - you all were called - and these 3 choose to believe.
The rest of you? Not interested.
WHAT did we experience?
We experience these 3 choosing Jesus.
OK- now let’s assume that the rest of life is lived out - and these 3 die and go to heaven - and the rest of you DO NOT.
NOW - let’s apply that situation … to the text of the Bible - (the golden chain of redemption on screen).
According to the Bible (Screen) - is what just played out possible?
Remember - the prevalent belief - is that God CALLS everyone.
Does THAT WORK - with the text...?
What does THIS (screen) say?
All that are called - are - Justified!
In our scenario - ALL were called - but only 3 were justified!
It doesn’t work!
Do you see it? Do you see WHY the scenario is not possible?
OK - moving on...
Back to our text in Romans...
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Foreknew - predestined - called....
OK - The prevalent belief out there is that YES - God PREDETERMINES people - but only because He bases it on His foreknowledge - WHICH THEY SAY - is His foresight.
Meaning - they believe that God PREDESTINES - based on God KNOWING what mankind will choose on his own.
And so - regarding your salvation - God predetermined it - BASED on YOUR decision to choose and believe God.
So let’s talk through that...
The most common belief out there regarding predestination is that either predestination isn’t really A THING...
OR - God predestines people based on THEM choosing God.
SLIDE: The Predestination of God: Based on Man’s Choosing of God
The Predestination of God
The Predestination of God
Ok - so = this belief says - Man can choose God...
This belief - BELIEVES that verses like John 3:16 prove that mankind has the power to choose.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
What we need to know first - is that John 3:16 - does not at all war against the idea of God choosing.
Let me show you....
Whoever has a red card - hold it up.
QUESTION for you 3 - - Did any of you - CHOOSE the red card?
NO - I chose you to give it to - YES?
Ok...now let’s pretend that the red card EQUALS faith in Jesus.
For Mike so loved the world - that He gave His only begotten son - that whosoever has a Red Card, shall not perish but have eternal life.
Now - that would work. And it would work because saying - WHOSOEVER has the red card -
OR - whosoever BELIEVES - that doesn’t say anything at all about HOW YOU GOT THE RED CARD...
It doesn’t say anything at all about HOW YOU CAME TO BELIEVE.
And so - first thing to know is
SLIDE:
John 3:16 doesn’t promote man’s capacity to choose God and discern spiritual things
And it doesn’t NEGATE God’s choosing.
2nd THING - the literal rendering of John 3:16 is actually this...
16 “For God so loved the world in such a way, that he gave his only Son, so that all those believing in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.
This is the actual literal translation...
EVEN SO - The prevalent belief out there is that God CHOOSES US - BECAUSE we chose Him.
MEANING - God - PREDESTINES US - BECAUSE - God KNEW who would believe in Him - - in the future.
That God POSSESSES that knowledge - and therefore His PREDETERMING US…
Is BASED on - His knowledge that we would CHOOSE to believe in Him.
I HOPE you can see the problem with that idea...just at face value...!
Let’s pretend this is true - and play out the scenario...
**All those whom God Foreknew - He predestined...
ALL of those with BLUE Cards… please stand up at your seat.
YOU - represent those whom God predestined!
NOW - according to this belief...
WHY - are these people Holding the BLUE cards and THEREFORE - predestined?
If you SAY - because God CHOSE THEM...
My next question is - WHY did God CHOOSE them?
The answer has to be… BECAUSE they each CHOSE God!
OK, NOW - if you would - blue card people - PLEASE walk up front.
OK - NOW you’re in heaven.
Here’s my question...
WHY are YOU here in heaven - and that person IS NOT?
In this belief system - the answer is - what?
Because YOU - Chose God.
AND THAT person - DID NOT!
So the difference between you being HERE or NOT being here RESTS WHERE?
IN MANKIND.
The DECISIVE reason for someone being in heaven would be found IN THESE PEOPLE!
MY BIBLE - the one I read - won’t let me believe that....why?
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
The prevalent belief is that God chose US because we chose Him.
Reality says - God says = No - I chose you before the foundation of the world… back to Eph
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
And now here’s - my other RESPONSE to those who say - God PREDESTINED US - based on us CHOOSING God.
SLIDE:
If God predestined us because we chose Him in our own power, then why would God need to predestine us? What is He predestining us to?
Point being - If we can choose God in our own power - then I ALSO CAN - based on what I CHOOSE to do - conform myself to the image of Christ!
ALSO - if we can choose God in our OWN power - discerning spiritual things AS An UNBELIEVER - a LOST RBELLIOUS SOUL...
then what is the point of the CALL of God???
Again - let’s look at the Golden Chain of Redemption...
SLIDE:
Foreknown - Predestined - Called - Justified - Glorified
*point to each one - If God’s Foreknowing me is BASED ON ME - DOING THIS (Justified) on my own....
Then God - Predetermining me and CALLING me - do NOTHING!
They have NO purpose.
**Did anyone take a YELLOW card off the table this morning?
NO ONE?
Ok - No one took the yellow card - which represents JUSTIFICATION - you all just proved my point - BECAUSE YOU WEREN’T CHOSEN = you’re not justified. :)
4 people?
OK - You chose to TAKE the yellow card ON YOUR OWN...
Please stand.
You’re holding justification...
You CHOSE THIS - (screen) - on your own.
And BECAUSE you CHOSE this in your own power - GOD NOW - BASED ON THAT choice...
He’s going to PREDETERMINE that you be CALLED unto Salvation - which you just chose WITHOUT Him.
God’s GONNA CALL YOU - even though you chose WITHOUT Him.
OK - you can sit.
Do we see the silliness?
The plan of redemption is - ULTIMATELY based on the WILL of GOD...not man.
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
We close today - with this.
Paul said what in v12?
12 ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Who’s he talking to?
He’s talking to - - Believers. Those who have been - SAVED - Justified!
Now let’s look at the whole...
12 ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do you see BOTH sides of the coin here?
Paul says to those JUSTIFIED - which means those who had been FOREKNOWN (CHOSEN) - Predestined - and CALLED....all by God.
Paul says to THEM - - Work out your own salvation...
FOR - BECAUSE...
It is God who WORKS in you!
The Bible teaches us that YES - GOD is absolutely SOVEREIGN...OVER ALL THINGS!
AND YET - WE - humans - have RESPONSIBILITY - WITHIN God’s sovereignty.
God - in His infinite wisdom has WOVEN man’s responsibility into HIS sovereignty.
And that can be HARD for us to understand!
If God’s IN CONTROL - WORKING IN US - How does OUR OWN WORKING - mesh with that?
And ultimately - I don’t think the Bible speaks to that...!
We know that Paul - (screen) - WORK oh man - for God works IN YOU!
Paul also said this...
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Now - we might think - OK, I’ve figured this out...
Each side of this coin - God Working / and Man working - EACH side is like EQUAL parts!
So God contributes 50% and WE contribute 50%!
My response would be - NO.
Why?
Because - based on THIS LANGUAGE here - in this verse - We can SEE the heirarchy!
Paul says - YES - I WORKED!!
I put in the effort!
I PLANNED how I would approach my days...
I contemplated God’s WORD in my life...
I prioritized the MISSION of Reconciliation OVER my own life...
I took the stones into my body - I felt the pain
I WRESTLED with the FEAR that came from ALL of it!
I DID that!!
But it wasn’t ME - it was - - WHAT? Next word?
The STRENGTH of God?
The EFFORT of God?
NO - the - - GRACE of God that was with me.
What is GRACE?
Grace is - UNDESERVED favor.
SO - what is Paul saying?
Paul’s NOT saying - I worked in my LIFE - I LIFTED THIS END of the TABLE - and God LIFTED the OTHER END of the TABLE!
NO!!
He’s saying - Yes - I worked! But MY WORK - My Picking up the table - was GRACE EMPOWERED!
Meaning - My STRENGTH to even LIFT the table CAME FROM GOD - ENABLING me to LIFT THIS - IN GOD’s STRENGTH!
It’s not a 50/50 endeavor!!
100% of the STRENGTH - comes from GOD’s GRACE!
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
SO YES = WE - work....we put forth effort - but - - DO YOU KNOW where your strength comes from?
Paul did!
And think of this - These truths that we’ve been hearing week after week - in that God is SOVEREIGN over Salvation...
That truth - is a truth that we WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN - had God not told us in His word!
It takes FAITH - to trust and believe.
SUMMARY: The Plan of Redemption: Rooted in the Will of God
The Plan of Redemption
The Plan of Redemption
Our theology can either be - God-Centered or Man-Centered.
ALL glory due God.
May we truly embrace what GRACE really is...
We are saved by grace - through faith.
Amen?
Amen!
Let’s pray
