Therefore Part Eight - Our Secure Salvation
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Introduction
Introduction
Therefore Series: Audacious truths about what it means to be a Christian.
Let me be honest with you guys. Sometimes, when my sin seems overwhelming; when the circumstances in my life seem overwhelming; I am tempted to think that God doesn’t love me. I am tempted to think that perhaps I have managed to do something to be lost. Or perhaps God has just forgotten about me?
Do you ever feel like that?
Question: Here’s a good question: do you think God has left your salvation to chance?
Illustration: Farkle or 10,000
Main Idea: Here in verses 29-30, we are given a rock solid foundation that our salvation is secure. Three reasons:
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Originated it
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Originated it
How does a person become a Christian?
Paul, throughout Romans 8, has been giving us the “inner workings” of our salvation. We definitely have a part to play., We believe. We decide to follow Jesus. However, Paul lets us know that there’s more to the story.
Illustration: Commercial where kid tries to use the force on dad’s car. The car starts and the doors open, but what the kid doesn’t realize the that it’s just dad inside with the keys.
We are told that God “foreknew” us.
This does not mean a general knowledge that God has because he knows everything.
It also doesn’t mean that God needed to know that we somehow met some condition or requirement.
This foreknowledge is God’s favorable or special recognition. God’s foreknowledge is reserved for those matters which God favorably, deliberately and freely chose and ordained.
We see this in Romans 11:2—The Israelites are described as “His people whom he foreknew” What does that mean?
Deut. 7:7 --
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
Illustration: wife asks “why do you love me?” Don’t answer because of ______.
So God chose you for salvation, not for something you’ve done or would do; but just because he loves you.
Then we are told that those whom he “foreknew” has has “predestined” to be make like Jesus.
God is working a plan in your life to make you like Jesus.
And this plan includes EVERYTHING! We saw this last week. God causes all things to work together for good—to make us like Jesus.
Everything means everything. Good and bad.
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Affects It
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Affects It
In our calling and justification God is involved in both parts of our salvation. In justification, God accomplishes what we could never do.
He reconciles us to him self, forgives us, and gives us a perfect record of righteousness.
But in order to receive that justification, we must respond. We must believe it and receive it by faith.
There’s a problem with that though. We would never do that on our own.
Look back at Romans 3:10-12, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Paul teaches us that no one seeks after God. So God has to do something special to enable us to even want salvation.
This is called “effectual calling”.
John 3 — “must be born again”
John 6:44--No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Everyone who has become a Christian should come to the point where they would say that in spite of all the work I did, the commitment it took, the “sweat”, the choice I made; the reason I’m a Christian is not because I’m more spiritual, humble, dedicated, or righteous than other people—its because God has persistently loved me until I finally broke and responded to him.
Illustration: “I feel like something is drawing me to go to church and read this Bible.”
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Completes It
Our Salvation is Secure Because God Completes It
The really good news in all of this is in this last phrase. “those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:30
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
To be glorified means to have all sin eradicated and to be made perfect in body and soul. It is what Paul has already spoken of in verses 18-21: "glory ... will be revealed in us ... the glorious freedom of the children of God."
In other words, he finishes his project.
Ill. All my unfinished projects
But what is the project? That we would “be conformed to the image of his Son.” — that we would become more and more like Jesus. This is what is meant here by “glorified”
You might ask, “who cares about that?”
If what the Bible says about Jesus is true, there is no one more perfect, lovely, selfless, giving, caring, joyous, etc. than Jesus himself.
He is what we all deeply long to be. He is the perfect you.
Conclusion
Conclusion