The Promise of God
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 12 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Application: Humanity is very aware of what it feels like to have a promise broken. We may hear, “I promise I’ll __________________________. Promises are made and the world will say, “ Promises are meant to be broken.” We should be very careful what we promise because a promise is giving someone your Word that you will do what you say. God made us a real promise and today we are going to look at His Promise.
Calvinism
Free-Will or Human Ability
Although human nature was seriously affected by the fall, man has not been left in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe, but He does not interfere with man's freedom. Each sinner possesses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. Man's freedom consists of his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matters; his will is not enslaved to his sinful nature. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God's Spirit and be regenerated or resist God's grace and perish. The lost sinner needs the Spirit's assistance, but he does not have to be regenerated by the Spirit before he can believe, for faith is man's act and precedes the new birth. Faith is the sinner's gift to God; it is man's contribution to salvation.
Total Inability or Total Depravity
Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not - indeed he cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.
Conditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Universal Redemption or General Atonement
Christ's redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone's sins. Christ's redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it.
Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation.
The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted
The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) precedes and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.
The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or
Irresistible Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
Falling from Grace
Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc. All Arminians have not been agreed on this point; some have held that believers are eternally secure in Christ - that once a sinner is regenerated, he can never be lost.
Perseverance of the Saints
All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
difference of doctrinal stances
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
1. The Promise is only for those that Love God.
1. The Promise is only for those that Love God.
Romans
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
“And We know”- absolute security because the Holy Spirit lives within us.. Remember we spoke of that 2 weeks ago...
People refuse what God is telling b/c it is saying “We Can Know”
When we begin to think that man plays the role of salvation, we have to come to the conclusion that man’s role can be reversed… I don’t know everything there is to know about Salvation// Some say man cannot reject a calling from Christ, Some say man can refuse to be saved// There is deep theological issues regarding Salvation that is too deep for me to dive into from the pulpit. However, I know that God cannot fail me. A child of God never has to fear losing his citizenship or the home Jesus is preparing for Him.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
When you are Saved, The Holy Spirit is in you” You love God because God is in you..
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
2. The promise is that All things will work together for the Good.
2. The promise is that All things will work together for the Good.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
He is able to save to the extent we cannot comprehend
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
It is inclusive- Story about a Cruise, chicken fingers, Pizza, Drinks, order to your room, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and more all without price.. Bc you paid it all before you came
In this case, Jesus paid it all,
Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Extent of Security
No matter what our situation, our suffering, our persecution, our sinful failure, our pain, our lack of faith-in those things, as well as in all other things, our heavenly Father will work to produce our ultimate victory and blessing
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
3. There is a Purpose.
3. There is a Purpose.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
4. God’s Promise has a Plan.
4. God’s Promise has a Plan.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God’s plan of salvation cannot be broken. Period.. Good solid Christian people can and will disagree here. In fact, it is a topic that I struggled with for years.
A. God Foreknew the Promise He made to You.
A. God Foreknew the Promise He made to You.
God is in control
Why? He causes all things to work together for good
This in my opinion can get taken out of context regardless of your theological stance bc we attempt to put God in the same context of time we are in and God’s time (past, present, and future ) is out of the realm of God.
Think of a parade from up on a large building and then look at us from ground level
Election based on the foreknowledge of God. There is a difference to cause something to happen and to see it happening. Example is the Eclipse.. We know it is going to happen but the scientist does not cause it to happen
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Who are the Elect? Those that trust Jesus as their Savior.
WE CANNOT BOX THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE FREE WILL OF MAN… ITS A TIME ISSUE
B. God predestined you to be transformed to be like Jesus.
B. God predestined you to be transformed to be like Jesus.
22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
C. God has a calling on your life
C. God has a calling on your life
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
9 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 to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
D. God will justify you or “ Make You Right”
D. God will justify you or “ Make You Right”
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
E. You will be Glorified.
E. You will be Glorified.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
5. His Plan is Perfect
5. His Plan is Perfect
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Rom 8: