Blessed Assurances of the Believer (Pt.2)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Just like in any construction projects, there will be setbacks from time to time. As God is building us to the kind of spiritual children that individually we ought to be, we will have setbacks too. There are some as a result of our own mistakes, resulting from lapses in judgements and there are also setback that comes with our identity with Christ. We are to anticipate them, review
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Paul reveals his perspective on suffering:
Romans 8:1
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
What suffering did Paul have in mind?
Let’s look at an inventory of his sufferings.
Pauls inventory of sufferings because of his faith:
Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
1. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes - a total of 195 lashes.
Jesus was scourge by the Romans soldiers, Paul by the Jews.
states that a criminal should not receive more than forty lashes. In order to avoid possibly accidentally breaking this command, the Jews would only give a criminal 39 lashes.
“He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.
There is no reason to believe that the Romans would follow a Jewish tradition.
2. Three times I was beaten with rods.
c There is no reason to believe that the Romans would follow a Jewish tradition.
3. Once I was stoned.
4. Three times I was shipwrecked.
5. A night and a day I have spent in the deep.
6. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.
7. I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
8. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
As an encouragement in light of what comes with our faith we are to focus on THE GLORY THAT IS TO BE REVEALED to us in the end.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Here’s what I think:
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Personally, even the idea that we will finally be unclothed with our current bodies and being clothe with a new body or just being out of the reach of the Devil and the ultimate is to be God in eternity. Do you ever muse on God’s promises or are you just bug down with what’s in front of you. Take heart, we live on the promises and assurances that we have in Christ
First Three Assurances
First Three Assurances
Assurance 1: God works all things out for those who love Him (v. 28).
Assurance 1: God works all things out for those who love Him (v. 28).
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Assurance 2: God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer (v. 29).
Assurance 2: God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer (v. 29).
Assurance 2: God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer (v. 29).
Assurance 2: God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer (v. 29).
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
1. Salvation is offered to everyone -
2. God is not wishing for any to perish -
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3. The doctrine of predestination is a doctrine of assurance for His children wanting the believers to take heart for He has assured their salvation. Don’t you think as a Christian fighting with sin would want to hear this, that despite of our shortcomings and failures our salvation is intact. As children of God we are to build on those assurances.
3.
Assurance 3: God has set the glorification of the believer—once for all (v. 30).
Assurance 3: God has set the glorification of the believer—once for all (v. 30).
Assurance 3: God has set the glorification of the believer—once for all (v. 30).
Assurance 3: God has set the glorification of the believer—once for all (v. 30).
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
foreknew - referring to God’s omniscience
predestined - referring to God’s guarantee because He loves His children
called - God’s purpose for us and it is our choice to answer.
justified - promise of God made available through Christ requiring that we believe.
glorified - which we also talk about when discussing Paul’s attitude regarding suffering.
NOW WE CONTINUE THE OTHER THREE ASSURANCES of DELIVERANCE.
NOW WE CONTINUE THE OTHER THREE ASSURANCES of DELIVERANCE.
Assurance 4: God has acted for the believer, not against him. (vv.31-33)
Assurance 4: God has acted for the believer, not against him. (vv.31-33)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
A. He is our Savior
A. He is our Savior
God did not have to act for man. He could have orchestrated salvation as the product of individual works, who could have made it hard for man.
God can and has act for the believer, what did He do? He sent His only Son to die as payment for our since. We anticipate obedience from Jesus because He is one with the father.
Even yet give us what we deserve, death! But because God loves us unconditionally He acted for man - He delivered us (those who choose to believe) all which required Him not spare His own Son.
God’s act of saving us is God’s demonstration that HE is for us.
God being on our side is an assurance for deliverance.
We sinned but God sent His Son to endure the punishment for our sins.
B. He is our Provider
B. He is our Provider
His work did not end at the cross.
If the devil knows how to give good gifts - this is an act of the devil, then how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
God acts for the believer by providing not just salvation but daily provision - material and spiritual.
If God has gone to the extreme by sending His only Son to be punishment for the sin He did not commit and by doing it paying for the penalty, how then will He not continue to provide for our needs during our lifetime here on Earth.
1. He continues to provide spiritual provision by the fruit of the Spirit
1. He continues to provide spiritual provision by the fruit of the Spirit
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Example: Gal. 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal
2. He provides Salvation - eternal provision is deliverance from the struggles and suffering in our current life here on Earth.
2. He provides Salvation - eternal provision is deliverance from the struggles and suffering in our current life here on Earth.
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
3. He provides Material provisions - the necessities of life
3. He provides Material provisions - the necessities of life
Eph 2:7
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matt. 2:25
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
God is our provider and yet He knows when and what to provide based on need and reason.
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Our eternal provision is deliverance from the struggling and suffering of this sinful world. It is the gift of eternal life, of living gloriously conformed to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
The eternal provision is deliverance from the struggling and suffering of this sinful world. It is the gift of eternal life, of living gloriously conformed to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ (see note, pt.2— for just what this means).
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 167). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
God continues to provide through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
If God even love as while we were sinners
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans
c. God is our justifier.
c. God is our justifier.
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
It is God who is the judge and justifies.
If God is the one who justifies us then who will lay a charge to God’s children? v.33
It is God; only God can charge us with sin and shame. But note: if we have truly trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, if we are one of God’s elect, He does not charge us with sin. He justifies us. He forgives our sin and counts us righteous in Christ Jesus.
Who will lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God; only God can charge us with sin and shame. But note: if we have truly trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, if we are one of God’s elect, He does not charge us with sin. He justifies us. He forgives our sin and counts us righteous in Christ Jesus.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 167). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
He justifies us based on the perfect work of Christ and our faith in Him.
For one to benefit from Christ perfect work one has to have perfect faith, by that we me on the spot, on target faith and that is FAITH IN JESUS.
Assurance 5: Christ does not condemn the believer. (v.34)
Assurance 5: Christ does not condemn the believer. (v.34)
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Notice the question in v.34 - Who is the one who condemns?
Answer: Only Christ!
Four main points in this verse:
a. He died for us. - the very one who does the condemning is the very one who died for our sins. The work on the cross was to free us from the bondage of sin and from its penalty and condemnation. Look at the act the condemned us vs. the act the freed us. Out of DISOBEDIENCE we inherited sin and its penalty which is death. But through one man’s OBEDIENCE it made it possible for man
b. He defeated death for us by rising from the grave. - Christ resurrection demonstrates of His power to conquer death, He is was the perfect sacrifice and that He is able to give us new life. All we have to do is BELIEVE which is also an act of OBEDIENCE. Anyone who does not believe is condemned or stays condemned.
c. He is the right-hand man of God.
c. He is the right-hand man of God. - This position is a place of exaltation. He is our exalted Lord. He occupies a place that only He can occupy. We may not seat where he seats but over all where He is the Bible say we will also be with Him. In v.30 Paul said He also will glorify us.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
d. He intercedes for us - in v.27 Paul said he does this when sometime we don’t know how to express our sorrow and concern. He intercedes for us as a MEDIATOR and ADVOCATE. He helps us cope from our day to day struggle by doing. It is very assuring that Christ has covered all basis. His advocacy creates a guaranteed open line of communication between man and a Holy and perfect God.
Assurance 6: Christ protects the believer from the severest circumstances. (vv. 35-37)
Assurance 6: Christ protects the believer from the severest circumstances. (vv. 35-37)
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
No amount of severe situation will be able to stop God from His LOVE-HOLD to His children.
This is quite a very important assurance knowing that we are being put to death all day long. We are compared to a sheep lining up to be slaughtered. This means guaranteed persecution but at the same guaranteed LOVE and CONCERN for God’s children so that we have no reason to give up.
It is comforting to know that He made it possible for us to stay within HIS LOVE.
Imagine this: THE GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS IS THE GOD WHO PROTECTS.
Assurance 7: Christ protects the believer from the most extreme experiences and forces. (v.38-39)
Assurance 7: Christ protects the believer from the most extreme experiences and forces. (v.38-39)
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:38-39
With circumstances - you are up against what you are in.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 162). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
a. He died for us
b. He arose for us
c. He was exalted for us
d. He intercedes for us
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 162). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
With experience you are up against how you process what you have inside your mind and heart. It challenges what you believe.
Take note of the external circumstance that can come in extreme forms that a believer can be in that will make its way into the mind and heart:
Tribulation: to undergo struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, or affliction.
⇒ Tribulation: to undergo struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, or affliction.
Distress: to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
⇒ Distress: to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
Persecution: to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked, or injured.
⇒ Persecution: to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked, or injured.
a. He died for us
Famine: to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food.
⇒ Famine: to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food.
Nakedness: to be stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away.
⇒ Nakedness: to be stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away.
Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body, mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones.
⇒ Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body, mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones.
Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom.
⇒ Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (pp. 170–171). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
Trials can create within us some feeling of doubt, hopelessness and or despair causing us to give up.
b. He arose for us
c. He was exalted for us
d. He intercedes for us
Giving up is a lack of trust, it’s listening to the enemy instead of the advocate who is working hard to intercede for you.
God has made available to us the same power that raise Jesus from the dead. Imagine the the kind of power need to conquer death! We need to use it and spend it.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 162). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
An example of extreme experience is depression or despair leading you to sinful thoughts like suicide.
Sometimes the most dangerous sword you face is not the one your enemy hold but the one you take from the enemy and aim it at yourself.
Anytime and every time we sin is not only an act of DISOBEDIENCE but also a lack of trust and an act of giving up. When we are tempted God has given us all the reason to conquer it.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
There are no new forms of temptation that you have not seen or heard. We go through the same temptation. By this Paul is saying that we are familiar thus we have a gooding batting average against it.
We can handle ALL temptations not because we are good and capable on our own strength because Christ is there next to us helping us by providing a way out.
But despite God’s promises if we still fail then it is on us. It is not only a act of disobedience but also an act of unbelief. Let us not deceive ourself.
When you believe you act it our, you follow through.
This assurance describes how faithful and committed God is towards living a a holy life.
This is an assurance of God’s undying love for us that He has provided us everything to protect us from day to day sin and its consequences.
In every extreme experience God matches it with His extreme love. Remember He went through extreme suffering to demonstrate that He love us.
If God conquered death then we should be living victoriously.
Listen to this extreme ASSURANCE necessary during extreme experience:
c
There is no circumstance, no situation, no event that can cause Christ to turn away from us. No matter how terrible or severe the situation, it cannot separate the true believer from the love of Christ. Christ loves the believer regardless of the circumstance, and He longs to be reconciled to the believer.
⇒ Tribulation: to undergo struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, or affliction.
⇒ Distress: to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
⇒ Persecution: to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked, or injured.
v
⇒ Famine: to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food.
Scripture declares loudly and clearly that God loves His children. There is absolutely nothing—no matter how dark and depressing, no matter how severe—that can make the believer think that God does not love him or her. The circumstances that you can be in is not evidence that God does not love you or has given up on you. God loves us no matter what the circumstances may be.
⇒ Nakedness: to be stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away.
⇒ Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body, mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones.
As believers we must always remember: the Bible declares that we are going to suffer while we are in this world. In fact, the world is going to count them as sheep for the slaughter, rejecting and persecuting them ().
⇒ Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom.
This world is not Christian friendly. The world is going to persecute believers as long as believers continue to live for Christ. Their lives of godliness convict the world, and the world rejects godliness.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(See note, Persecution— for why believers are persecuted.)
Just be aware as believers you will be hard pressed on every side:
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 171). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (pp. 170–171). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
IF you OBEY Christ, the world will persecute you.
IF you as a believer say yes to Satan’s temptation you also suffer the consequences.
If faith has its privileges, disobedience also has its consequences.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
There were times that Paul walk the walk of Jesus:
Jesus was tempted and yet did not sin.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Heb
There were time that Paul was in such despair that giving was in his mind but chose to trust in God.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
Listen to what he said three chapters later:
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ delivers the believer from the most extreme experiences and forces (vv. 38–39).
There is nothing in the universe that can separate the believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The believer can be fully persuaded of this glorious fact. Just consider the experiences and forces mentioned by Scripture:
Not death: confronting death and leaving this world cannot separate us from Christ and His love ().
There is nothing in the universe that can separate the believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The believer can be fully persuaded of this glorious fact. Just consider the experiences and forces mentioned by Scripture:
⇒ Not death: confronting death and leaving this world cannot separate us from Christ and His love ().
Not life: no trial or pleasure or comfort of life, not any person nor anything in this life can separate us from Christ and His love.
⇒ Not life: no trial or pleasure or comfort of life, not any person nor anything in this life can separate us from Christ and His love.
Not angels, principalities, or powers: no heavenly or spiritual creature, no being from any other dimension can separate us from Christ and His love.
⇒ Not angels, principalities, or powers: no heavenly or spiritual creature, no being from any other dimension can separate us from Christ and His love.
Not anything present or anything to come: neither present events, beings or things, nor future events, beings, or things—absolutely nothing in existence or anything in future existence—can cut us off from Christ and His love.
⇒ Not anything present or anything to come: neither present events, beings or things, nor future events, beings, or things—absolutely nothing in existence or anything in future existence—can cut us off from Christ and His love.
Not height or depth: nothing from outer space or from the depths of the earth can separate us from Christ and His love.
⇒ Not height or depth: nothing from outer space or from the depths of the earth can separate us from Christ and His love.
NOT EVEN OUR SIN CAN STOP GOD FROM LOVING US: See how much God loves us....
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
3 The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
With this we can conclude that in as much as God want’s everyone to say yes to Him there will be more who take the wide road to destruction but for those who will take that road, God’s love will be with them until they make their first step to eternal damnation.
Challenge
Challenge
If we have been given so much assurances that God loves us no matter what, then we should not give regardless of any and all circumstance .
If we have been given so much assurances that God loves us no matter what, then we should not give regardless of any and all circumstance .
If we have been given so much assurances that God loves us no matter what, then we should not give regardless of any and all circumstance .
From all these assurance we can learn how much God loves us. All the more we need to love Him back by obeying Him. Don’t take Him and His love for granted, this response is from the flesh. But instead be assured that while you’re waiting for that divine appointment with Him that you will make the most of obeying, serving promoting and glorifying because that’s what His children does. Remember you are no longer your own.
We have enough assurances given to us that we have no other response but to glorify Him in all circumstances.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Cor
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
3 The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.