Certainties of Sovereignty

A. Some Things in the Bible Are Easy to Understand

1. We are all sinners ()

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Locations 159-162). Kindle Edition.

2. God loves sinners and provided for our salvation ()

3. Those who respond to God's love receive eternal life ()

B. Some Things in the Bible Are Difficult to Understand

1. Subjects of sovereignty can be divisive: foreknowledge, election, predestination, adoption

a. These are biblical terms: ; ;

b. Differences between respected Christian leaders have divided friends

2. The Wesley-Whitefield conflict was over subjects of sovereignty

C. The Certainties of Sovereignty Is Our Focus. The first thing we need to know is...

God’s Sovereignty Doesn’t Conflict with the Gospel

The Gospel makes salvation available to all ()

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

a. Note Paul's explanation of the gospel ()

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 163). Kindle Edition.

b. The gospel is the power of God's bringing salvation

2. Salvation is received through believing

a. Peter knew of no other way of salvation ()

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Locations 163-164). Kindle Edition.

Acts 4:12 NKJV

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

b. We are justified by faith alone ()

Romans 5:1 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 164). Kindle Edition.

3. The invitation is unchanging (; ; ) “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

God’s Sovereignty Doesn’t Cancel the Great Commission

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Locations 164-165). Kindle Edition.

1. They were our Lord's last words to His disciples ()

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 165). Kindle Edition.

a. The Great Commission sent early Christians everywhere with the gospel

b. Churches exist today around the world because of the Great Commission

2. In too many churches, the Great Commission is the "great omission"

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Locations 165-169). Kindle Edition.

a. We must get back to carrying the gospel to lost people everywhere

b. Our focus must move from programs to people who need the Lord

3. The promise of Pentecost called worldwide witnessing ()

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

4. God's sovereign plan empowered believers to be mighty missionaries

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 169). Kindle Edition.

God’s Sovereignty Doesn’t Curtail Evangelism

1. God is not willing that any should perish ()

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 169). Kindle Edition.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

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.

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 170). Kindle Edition.

a. Why the long wait for Christ's return?

b. He allows time for more to come to repentance

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Locations 170-173). Kindle Edition.

2. Consider the evangelistic fervor of the early church

a. Three thousand were saved on the day of Pentecost ()

b. Five thousand were saved in the next wave ()

3. Paul shared the gospel everywhere and in all circumstances

a. He ministered publicly and from house to house ()

b. He evangelized night and day with tears ()

Conclusion:

A. God's Sovereignty Doesn't Compromise His Grace

B. Salvation Is Available to All Who Believe ()

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

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.

Roger Campbell. Preach for a Year: 104 Sermon Outlines (Preach for a Year Series): 7 (Kindle Location 173). Kindle Edition.

Salvation is appropriated through our faith. And whosoever will may come.