Intro: How Do We Determine the Authenticity of an Item
If we could sum up the authenticity or genuineness of a person or thing, I believe we could do so in one word: CONSISTENT.
A synonym that is a little archaic but paints a better picture is steadfast.
This morning Paul is going to lure us into a trap of confidence. We are going to look at an inverted conditional sentence in which the outcome is presented before the condition is met!
God has a metanarrative for all believers (v. 21-22)
A believers past
Aliens and Enemies
In thought and action
A believers present
reconciled by the death of Christ
A believers present-future
Holy - Lev. 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8; 1 Peter 1:16
Unblameable - To be without defect
Unreproveable - To not be able to be accused
Believers must place their hope in the sufficiency of the Gospel (vs. 23)
Paul’s placement of the condition is meant to draw our attention to the contingency of God’s blessings.
In other words, profession does not equal possession.
