Christian Certainty
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Christian Certainty
Christian Certainty
I have to tell you, last week Pastor Paul brought up a point we often do not think about as believers. We have been given dominion, we have been given power under the authority of Jesus Christ, which means that we actually have to hand the power over to the enemy. That kind of hit me sideways. It does not mean that the darts aren't going to fly our way or that we are not going to have some hard times. It got me thinking about Christian Certainties. Meaning how certain are we that God will fulfill His promises. I recall asking Carolyn a few question before I was a believer, when I was seeking; I asked “Why are so many Christians quick to give Satan victories in their lives? Do they believe what they claim to believe? Or are they insecure and uncertain of their beliefs?”
God’s Word and promises are meant to create a new heart and mindset in the believer that brings certainty in Him and dependence on Him. Certain of not just our salvation, but also certain of our daily walk with Him, our steps are guided and made straight by God. We are going to look at some verses out of Romans 8 today. The Apostle Paul asks some specific questions of every believer. If you are a believer this morning, these questions are for you. These questions are meant to provide certainty to the believers heart and mind.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
When we are talking about the promises of God, of what Christ did, of the fact that we are redeemed through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ “What shall we say about such wonderful things?” Hallelujah! Thank you LORD! Thank you Jesus! Do you know, do you realize, wrap your mind around this; God’s plan of salvation for us, for you, for me, reaches from eternity past to eternity future, and He will carry it out perfectly! We cant plan a one hour church service without a hiccup or two (I say this lovingly), Abba Daddy harmonized all things past, present, and future that we will be brought into perfection in His very presence. Our salvation is secure!
So I ask, “If God is for us, who can be against us!” I remember reading this verse, getting all pumped up, and going YEAH! NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST ME! Then the darts started flying! Man alive, when you start running toward Jesus all kinds of things start trying to trip you up and slow you down! If you believe the living Word, then you know that Satan, demons, family, friends, and people we do not even know will come against the believer. And it can hurt, it can be painful. Can I tell you something? There is no person or power that will ultimately prevail or triumph over you or me because GOD IS FOR US! God is the self-existent One and the sovereign Creator and, since He is for believers, no one can oppose believers successfully. The enemy will try to rob you of that understanding and the peace that comes with it in any way possible. I know, I have been in that pit on more than one occasion.
At some point in our walk, we must ask ourselves if our faith is synonomous with fact and truth, if we believe that God’s promises are a certainty, or if we live as if His promises are wishful thinking. Paul poses another question for each of us to consider.
32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Sometimes I think I must be the most selfish of all Christians. God help me with this, God give me that, God do this for me, God do that for me, Oh and God, just one more thing. He did not SPARE His own son for even me! That word, spare, also appears in Genesis 22, two thousand years before Christ, when God directed Abraham to “spare” Issac. God provided a sacrifice, a ram as a substitute. Two thousand years later, God gave Jesus Christ, His own son, as the substitutionary sacrifice for you and me. Since God willingly gave His son, the greatest sacrifice of all, what in the world makes us think that he is not going to give believers all other things leading up to our ultimate sanctification. God will see us through it all.
It is incumbent on us to diligently walk with God, focus on Him, and do His goodwill. I believe Holy Spirit directed me to add this. It must be for someone here or online this morning. The Prophet Ezekiel was addressing Israel about generational curses.
20 The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.
22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
We stand righteous only through Christ. I cant do this for you, you cant do it for me, you cant do it for your children, your children cant do it for you. Nobody can do it for you and you can not do it for anybody else. We are each responsible for our walk with the LORD.
Have you made a mistake? Do your best to fix it. Have you hurt someone? Make amends with that person. I have apologized for things I had no idea I had even done because it is more important to me that others know Christ through me than it is that I be right. Are you struggling with unforgiveness? Forgive as our Father has forgiven you. We are all called to repentance, turning away from what we know is wrong and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD. This brings us to a crucial question that the Apostle Paul asks.
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
In the Greek, the word “accuse” here is enkalesei. It means to “make a formal accusation; to press charges.” Who is the accuser? In both Zechariah and Revelation Satan is referred to as the accuser. Here is the crazy thing, Satan’s accusations against me and others would be valid because of our sinful nature. The things I have done and the things I have said in my life have been horrifying at times. The enemy could go on a litany of charges, and I would not be able to deny them.
That is where the enemy gets a foothold. And then we will continue to replay those things in our heads. We start reliving them in our mind and we become a mess. Before we go on, I just want to, sometimes we need a reminder. This may sting a little, but this is Truth.
Hate, Not of God
Worry, not of God
Anxiety, Not of God
Fear, Not of God
Shame, Not of God
Depression, Not of God
Those are all feelings or emotions many of us experience at times in this fallen state. The enemy and some people will use those moments and feelings as an opportunity to burrow into our minds and to try to take our focus off of Jesus Christ. We will get trapped in our own heads and believe the lies that the enemy tells us, that others tell us, and that we tell ourselves. Regardless of what the enemy tells us, what we tell ourselves, or what this world says, GOD IS FOR US, that is a certainty. We no longer live in the past. Instead, we look forward to our future glory in Christ. Lets look again at Romans 8:33.
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
Those accusations the enemy assaults us with are thrown out of court because it is God who justifies. As soon as your attorney, Jesus Christ, showed up and said “Dad, this one is mine,” you were declared in right standing before God.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
How many of us have faced trouble, calamity, persecution, have gone hungry, been destitute, in danger, or threatened with death? Speaking for myself, it has been Jesus and the fellowship of the Saints that has carried me through such times.These are part of all things that God will use to bring us into the conformity of Jesus Christ. If you are a believer this morning, you will never be separated from the love of Christ. That is a certainty. Perhaps the only certainty we will ever know.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
WE CANNOT LOSE! No matter what happens. Christ loves us and will look after us and take care of us. Christ will meet our material NEEDS, Christ gives us rest, Christ gives us peace, Christ provides an escape from temptation, Christ comforts us through all trials. And one day, Christ will deliver us into His very presence, giving us eternal life.
Now, I do not think these Last two verses need an explanation. For those who are willing, I would ask that you read these with me. That we write them on our hearts.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Alter Call/Worship Team
Maybe you are facing some giants right now, maybe you are beating yourself up, maybe you are in a desperate situation this morning. Maybe your faith is shaken or you feel alone this morning. I would urge you to bring it all to the foot of the cross. The alter is always open, we have amazing brothers and sisters in Christ who want to pray with and for you this morning. Maybe you are here trying to figure out this Jesus thing. If that is the case, let today be the day you say yes. Come talk to me, Pastor Dakota, or Pastor Paul. God is for you this morning, of that I am certain. God Bless.