The Blessed Assurance of the Believer
Romans 8:28-29. Lesson 13-a…
God Assures Deliverance (Freedom) from Struggling and Suffering.
God Assures Deliverance (Freedom) from Struggling and Suffering.
The glorious message of Romans is that God assures deliverance (freedom) from struggling and suffering—through Christ...
This is the whole point of all that has been written thus far in Romans...
Man desperately struggles against the pressures and forces both within himself and alien to himself… Alien means, unfamiliar, unknown, strange, foreign…
He struggles against the weight and discouragement of trials; against the pollution and corruption of life; against the relentless accusations and bombardments of his own conscience; against the pain and decay of his body; against the striking fear and hopelessness of an eternal judgment hereafter.
He struggles against the unknown and against pain, hurt, sorrow, loneliness, alienation, aging, death, and hell… And somehow, through his suffering and struggle throughout life, he feels that his suffering and struggling are due to a wrong relationship with God…and more times than not, when we do suffer, it is a direct result of our not living in a right relationship with God…
Therefore, man views his many problems as really being one supreme problem: How to get right with God…
If he can establish the right relationship with God, he feels sure God will help him through his trials and take care of his future hereafter…
This is the very message of Romans… Man needs to get right with God, because, without God, he is under the condemnation and wrath of God..
Man needs a right relationship with God; he needs to be justified, that is, declared righteous by God (Romans 3:21-5:21)…
Man needs to be freed from the struggle of sin, because sin corrupts and leads to death (Romans 6:1-23)…
Man needs to be freed from the bondage of law (spiritual legalism); for the law enslaves, accuses, condemns, and strikes hopelessness within the heart (Romans 7:1-25).
This is the whole point of all that has been written thus far in Romans...
Man desperately struggles against the pressures and forces both within himself and alien to himself… Alien means, unfamiliar, unknown, strange, foreign…
He struggles against the weight and discouragement of trials; against the pollution and corruption of life; against the relentless accusations and bombardments of his own conscience; against the pain and decay of his body; against the striking fear and hopelessness of an eternal judgment hereafter.
He struggles against the unknown and against pain, hurt, sorrow, loneliness, alienation, aging, death, and hell… And somehow, through his suffering and struggle throughout life, he feels that his suffering and struggling are due to a wrong relationship with God…and more times than not, when we do suffer, it is a direct result of our not living in a right relationship with God…
Therefore, man views his many problems as really being one supreme problem: How to get right with God…
If he can establish the right relationship with God, he feels sure God will help him through his trials and take care of his future hereafter…
This is the very message of Romans… Man needs to get right with God, because, without God, he is under the condemnation and wrath of God..
Man needs a right relationship with God; he needs to be justified, that is, declared righteous by God (Romans 3:21-5:21)…
Man needs to be freed from the struggle of sin, because sin corrupts and leads to death (Romans 6:1-23)…
Man needs to be freed from the bondage of law (spiritual legalism); for the law enslaves, accuses, condemns, and strikes hopelessness within the heart (Romans 7:1-25).
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24).
"I thank God [that] Jesus Christ our Lord" shall free me from struggling and suffering (Romans 7:25a; cp. Romans 8:1-39).
All the discussion in Romans 8 up to this point has now moved to the summit, (peak, high point)… .
Those who love God and are called by Him will definitely be freed from the bondages and corruptions of this life and ushered into glory…
God assures this… Nothing, absolutely nothing, shall prevent God's settled plan and purpose from coming about in the life of the believer…
God's settled plan and purpose for the universe shall be consummated…(Completed, carried out, accomplished…)
He has determined two supreme things (Romans 8:29).
I) Believers shall be conformed to the image of His dear Son (Romans 8:29).
II) His Son shall have many brothers, among whom He is to be honored as the first (the most preeminent) Person (Romans 8:29).
I) Believers shall be conformed to the image of His dear Son (Romans 8:29).
II) His Son shall have many brothers, among whom He is to be honored as the first (the most preeminent) Person (Romans 8:29).
1) (8:28) God works all things out for those who Love Him…
This is the first assurance of deliverance…
This is the first assurance of deliverance…
What a comforting declaration!
Scripture actually declares that "all things work together for good" to the believer…
Scripture actually declares that "all things work together for good" to the believer…
Think about it: nothing could assure the believer any more than God working all things out for his good…
Note four things.
1.The words "all things" go well beyond the great events of the world… God does control the events of the world, but He controls much more…
He rules over "all things"—all the events and happenings that occur in the life of the believer… He works "all things" out for good in behalf of His dear child...
2. The words "work together" mean to create and eliminate… place and replace… connect and group… interrelate and intermingle… shape and forge… press and stretch… move and operate… control and guide… arrange and influence…
The words "work together" are also present action which means that all things are continually working together for good... God is in control of the believer's life… Daily, moment by moment, God is arranging and re-arranging all things for the believer's good…
1.The words "all things" go well beyond the great events of the world… God does control the events of the world, but He controls much more…
He rules over "all things"—all the events and happenings that occur in the life of the believer… He works "all things" out for good in behalf of His dear child...
2. The words "work together" mean to create and eliminate… place and replace… connect and group… interrelate and intermingle… shape and forge… press and stretch… move and operate… control and guide… arrange and influence…
The words "work together" are also present action which means that all things are continually working together for good... God is in control of the believer's life… Daily, moment by moment, God is arranging and re-arranging all things for the believer's good…
3. The word "good" means for the ultimate good…
We cannot see the future; we cannot take a single event and see all the lines and ramifications that run from it…
We cannot see all the things that result from one single event, much less see the results of every event…
But God does; therefore, God takes all the events of our lives and works them out for our ultimate good.
4. There is, however, a limitation on this glorious promise, a limitation that desperately needs to be noted...
God works all things out for good only to those who love God and are called according to His purpose
We cannot see the future; we cannot take a single event and see all the lines and ramifications that run from it…
We cannot see all the things that result from one single event, much less see the results of every event…
But God does; therefore, God takes all the events of our lives and works them out for our ultimate good.
4. There is, however, a limitation on this glorious promise, a limitation that desperately needs to be noted...
God works all things out for good only to those who love God and are called according to His purpose
a. This fact is graphically seen in the Greek… The clause "to those who love God" is placed first in the sentence: "But we know that to those who love God all things work together for good…"
Scripture makes sure the point is not missed.. God only looks after the affairs of the person who loves Him...
Scripture makes sure the point is not missed.. God only looks after the affairs of the person who loves Him...
~~~Think about it for a moment, it is the only reasonable conclusion…
If a man does not love God—does not place his life into the hands of God—how can God take care of Him?
If a man does not love God—does not place his life into the hands of God—how can God take care of Him?
God works all things out for good only to those who love God and are called according to His purpose…(Those who have responded to the call of God)
He is not going to make mechanical robots out of us, forcing us to live at His beck and call… Such is not love; it is only mechanical behavior…
What God wants is love that flows from a heart that chooses to love Him...
The choice is ours: Either we turn our lives over to Him in love, or we continue to take our lives into our own hands…When we take our lives into our on hands, we just hurt ourselves and others severely…
b. Note the words, "called according to his purpose…"
The believer's deliverance is purposed by God… God calls him for the glorious purpose of being saved from the struggle and sufferings of this life…
The believer's deliverance is purposed by God… God calls him for the glorious purpose of being saved from the struggle and sufferings of this life…
Note a significant fact: The believer's position and behavior are both involved in the call of God...
a. Positionally, God chooses the believer by setting him apart through the Holy Spirit and through belief of the truth… (What is the truth?)
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 2:13-14).
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 2:13-14).
b. In behavior, God calls the believer to a life of purity and holiness…
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thes. 4:7).
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thes. 4:7).
The point is this: God delivers the person who is positioned in Christ and who lives an unpolluted and holy life…
The person who truly loves God and is living a godly life is the person who experiences all things being worked out for his good…
It is the godly person who loves God that will be delivered from the struggling and suffering of this corrupt world...
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).
"Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
Contrast the carnal attitude of Jacob and the spiritual attitude of Paul.
· Jacob said, "All these things are against me" (Genesis 42:36).
· Paul said, "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).
"Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
Contrast the carnal attitude of Jacob and the spiritual attitude of Paul.
· Jacob said, "All these things are against me" (Genesis 42:36).
· Paul said, "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).
2) (8:29) God has determined to fulfill His Purpose for the believer…
This is the second assurance of deliverance…
Note three significant points.
1. This passage is often abused and misused…
It is not dealing so much with theology or philosophy, but more with the spiritual experience of the Christian believer…
If the pure logic of philosophy and theology are applied, then the passage says that God chooses some for heaven and others for a terrible hell...
But this is simply not the meaning God intends for the passage... What God wants believers to do is to take heart, for He has assured their salvation…
God knows the suffering that believers go through daily…
God "did foreknow" even before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:29).
But no matter how great the suffering, no matter how great the opposition, no matter how great the struggle, God is going to complete His purpose for believers…
God has "predestinated [believers] to be conformed to the image of His Son," and absolutely nothing can change that... Why?
"That Christ might be the first-born [have the preeminence or superiority] among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).
We must know that God loves His Son in the most supreme way possible…
God has ordained that His Son shall have many brothers (adopted brothers) who will love and serve Him as the first-born, that is, as the first Person or the most preeminent Person of the universe…
God has ordained that Jesus Christ shall hold the highest rank and position: that He be the exalted Head of all creation and the One to whom all men look…
Therefore, God is going to allow nothing to permanently defeat believers… God is going to allow no fallen child of His to ever remain down permanently…
God is going to fulfill His purpose in every child of His, and nothing can stop His purpose…
Jesus Christ, His Son, will have a multitude of brothers and sisters who worship and serve Him throughout eternity…
Note three significant points.
1. This passage is often abused and misused…
It is not dealing so much with theology or philosophy, but more with the spiritual experience of the Christian believer…
If the pure logic of philosophy and theology are applied, then the passage says that God chooses some for heaven and others for a terrible hell...
But this is simply not the meaning God intends for the passage... What God wants believers to do is to take heart, for He has assured their salvation…
God knows the suffering that believers go through daily…
God "did foreknow" even before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:29).
But no matter how great the suffering, no matter how great the opposition, no matter how great the struggle, God is going to complete His purpose for believers…
God has "predestinated [believers] to be conformed to the image of His Son," and absolutely nothing can change that... Why?
"That Christ might be the first-born [have the preeminence or superiority] among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).
We must know that God loves His Son in the most supreme way possible…
God has ordained that His Son shall have many brothers (adopted brothers) who will love and serve Him as the first-born, that is, as the first Person or the most preeminent Person of the universe…
God has ordained that Jesus Christ shall hold the highest rank and position: that He be the exalted Head of all creation and the One to whom all men look…
Therefore, God is going to allow nothing to permanently defeat believers… God is going to allow no fallen child of His to ever remain down permanently…
God is going to fulfill His purpose in every child of His, and nothing can stop His purpose…
Jesus Christ, His Son, will have a multitude of brothers and sisters who worship and serve Him throughout eternity…
2.(2nd of three points) Believers will be conformed to the image of God's dear Son… The words "conformed to the image" mean both an inward and an outward likeness…
a. "Conformed" means the very same form or likeness as Christ… Within our nature—our being, our person—we shall be made just like Christ... As He is perfect and eternal—without disease and pain, sin and death—so we shall be perfected just like Him… We shall be transformed into His very likeness...
b. "Image" means a derived or a given likeness…
The image of Christ is not something which believers merit or for which they work; it is not an image that comes from their own nature or character…
No man can earn or produce the perfection and eternal life possessed by Christ…
The image of Christ, His perfection and life, is a gift of God…
To be conformed to the image of God's Son means...
· To become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
· To be adopted as a son of God (Ephes. 1:5).
· To be holy and without blame before Him (Ephes. 1:4; Ephes. 4:24).
· To bear the image of the heavenly: which is an incorruptible, immortal body (1 Cor. 15:49-54; cp. 1 Cor. 15:42-44).
· To have one's body fashioned (conformed) just like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21).
· To be changed (transformed) into the same image of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18).
· To be recreated just like Him (1 John 3:2-3).
3. (3rd point) Note what it is that assures the believer's deliverance from the suffering and struggling of this world.
It is two things…
a1. The foreknowledge of God. The word "foreknow” is used three different ways in Scripture…
It means...
· ·to know something beforehand, ahead of time.
· ·to know something intimately by loving and accepting and approving it.
· ·to elect, foreordain, and predetermine something.
Scholars interpret the present passage differently… Note that the second and third meanings are much the same. When a person is loved and approved, selection or election is involved…
a. "Conformed" means the very same form or likeness as Christ… Within our nature—our being, our person—we shall be made just like Christ... As He is perfect and eternal—without disease and pain, sin and death—so we shall be perfected just like Him… We shall be transformed into His very likeness...
b. "Image" means a derived or a given likeness…
The image of Christ is not something which believers merit or for which they work; it is not an image that comes from their own nature or character…
No man can earn or produce the perfection and eternal life possessed by Christ…
The image of Christ, His perfection and life, is a gift of God…
To be conformed to the image of God's Son means...
· To become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
· To be adopted as a son of God (Ephes. 1:5).
· To be holy and without blame before Him (Ephes. 1:4; Ephes. 4:24).
· To bear the image of the heavenly: which is an incorruptible, immortal body (1 Cor. 15:49-54; cp. 1 Cor. 15:42-44).
· To have one's body fashioned (conformed) just like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21).
· To be changed (transformed) into the same image of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18).
· To be recreated just like Him (1 John 3:2-3).
3. (3rd point) Note what it is that assures the believer's deliverance from the suffering and struggling of this world.
It is two things…
a1. The foreknowledge of God. The word "foreknow” is used three different ways in Scripture…
It means...
· ·to know something beforehand, ahead of time.
· ·to know something intimately by loving and accepting and approving it.
· ·to elect, foreordain, and predetermine something.
Scholars interpret the present passage differently… Note that the second and third meanings are much the same. When a person is loved and approved, selection or election is involved…
The person becomes a very special or select person…
Again, the point to see is not the pure logic of the theological or philosophical argument… This is not God's purpose in this passage…
God's purpose is to assure the believer:.. The believer is going to be conformed to the image of Christ, and nothing can stop the glorious process...
God foreknew the fact, saw it even before the world was ever founded…
He has always loved and approved the believer, electing and ordaining him from the very beginning…
Again, the point to see is not the pure logic of the theological or philosophical argument… This is not God's purpose in this passage…
God's purpose is to assure the believer:.. The believer is going to be conformed to the image of Christ, and nothing can stop the glorious process...
God foreknew the fact, saw it even before the world was ever founded…
He has always loved and approved the believer, electing and ordaining him from the very beginning…
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15:18).
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).
"God hath not cast away his people [Israel] whom he foreknew" (Romans 11:2).
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19).
b2.The predestination of God… The word predestination (means to destine or appoint before, to foreordain, to predetermine...
"God hath not cast away his people [Israel] whom he foreknew" (Romans 11:2).
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19).
b2.The predestination of God… The word predestination (means to destine or appoint before, to foreordain, to predetermine...
The basic Greek word means to mark off or to set off the boundaries of something…
The idea is a glorious picture of what God is doing for the believer… The boundary is marked and set off for the believer..: The boundary of being conformed to the image of God's dear Son…
The believer shall be made just like Christ, conformed to His very likeness and image…
Nothing can stop God's purpose for the believer… It is predestinated, set, and marked off…
The believer may struggle and suffer through the sin and shame of this world; he may even stumble and fall or become discouraged and downhearted…
However, if he is a genuine child of God, he will not be defeated, not totally.
He will soon arise from his fall and begin to follow Christ again…
He is predestinated to be a brother of Christ, to worship and serve Christ throughout all eternity…
In addition, Christ will not be disappointed.
He is predestinated to be a brother of Christ, to worship and serve Christ throughout all eternity…
In addition, Christ will not be disappointed.
God loves His Son too much to allow Him to be disappointed by losing a single brother…
Jesus Christ will have His joy fulfilled; He will see every brother of His face to face, conformed perfectly to His image…
He will have the worship and service of every brother chosen to be His by God the Father…
The believer's eternal destiny that of being an adopted brother to the Lord Jesus Christ, is determined…
The believer can have The Blessed Assurance of this glorious truth... God has predestinated him to be delivered from the suffering and struggling of this sinful world...
"According as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephes. 1:4-5).
"According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom [Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him" (Ephes. 3:11-12).
God has given us His Blessed Assurance…That…
1) God works all things out for those who Love Him…
2) God has determined to fulfill His Purpose for the believer…
Minister Robert N. Graves, Sr.
Oak Grove Baptist Church…
Grays, S.C. October 4, 2010
God has given us His Blessed Assurance…That…
1) God works all things out for those who Love Him…
2) God has determined to fulfill His Purpose for the believer…
Minister Robert N. Graves, Sr.
Oak Grove Baptist Church…
Grays, S.C. October 4, 2010
posted by Fisherman For Christ at 10/28/2010 05:51:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home