Search the Community

Paul the Apostle gives several examples of how the giving of God's gifts are by His choice and shows us how God makes His choice for whom He will save and whom He will refuse (Romans 9:16, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.). Here we learn that Salvation is available for all but God will not give it to all (Matthew 22:14, For many are called, but few are chosen.). They must answer the call God's way (In humility and contriteness before Him) and not their own way (with Pride and/or self effort). In this message we focus on the many steps God takes to cleanse and save whom He will (all of the truly righteous) while ensuring the spiritually wicked will receive just punishment. (2 Peter 2:9, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:) We show God's wisdom in this process to ensure none will escape judgement while all his children will be saved. In this process we show how God starts in eternity, beyond moments in time, to determine whom He will save, based on humility, and then orchestrated their salvation in time to ensure none of them would be lost. While hard to understand in our mind, all that we need to be assured we are one of the saved elect is to simply believe God in humility. (We had audio issues with this recording so a few minutes of silence in some places were cut out.)

Mankind is so busy trying to justify themselves that they forget hear the plain teaching of God's Word regarding Righteousness (verse 3). Not of us striving to obtain it but of the substitution of Christ for us (verses 4-9). Paul the Apostle and the Old Testament Prophets all proclaimed the Gospel of Faith and its sound went unto all the world, and is available for all people but the issue is not availability but of the willingness to hear it (verses 16-21). In this message we focus on the importance of being a people with open ears with open hearts willing and ready to hear what God says. In particular this needs to start with God's way of Salvation (Righteousness by Faith). We see in this chapter God is ready and willing to give the Gospel to all and will save whomever will hear it.

Many think that salvation began with their faith or that "their" salvation depends on them "continuing in faith" but in this passage of Romans 8, Paul the Apostle reveals salvation begins and continues by God's faith and divine will, showing that God does not begin a work of faith in a person without first also committing to, continuing in and completing thoroughly, that same work of faith. "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" ~ Philippians 1:6 "which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ~John 1:13 In this message we show the faith of God towards those he foreknew would have a "contrite and humble spirit". For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. ~ Isaiah 57:15 We explain how God's faith, from before the beginning of time to end of time, will save and continue to keep saved all who believe and receive him in faith and that "our faith in time" is the evidence to us that he has begun this work in us and because it is foreknown by God, it cannot be stopped, lost or even given up by us. "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, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" ~Ephesians 1:4-7

The Holy Ghost indwells all believers and is personal proof to each of us that we are the Spiritual children, Born of God. In this passage Paul the Apostle shows us how we can discern the Holy Ghost that is within us. In particular the willingness to suffer with Christ, to Hope for our future redemption, and to groan for the things of God, are several of the evidences within us that we have a spiritual union with the Holy Spirit. In this message we also show how these evidences of Spiritual union, while still in a corrupt mortal body, are used to develop and prepare the believer for eternity. For through them, our character, by our loving father, is trained to rely and focus on our union with Him, by Christ, rather than the abuse of our gift of redeemed freedom in self will or self reliance.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one (John 10:28-30 KJV). Revelation That Leads to Salvation All people, everywhere, experience revelation from God about Himself. “”For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). Some receive clearer revelation than others. Jesus said, “”If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin" (John 15:22). Sadly, because people are sinful, they tend to marginalize God or completely negate Him, suppressing what He reveals (Rom. 1:18-20). Some people experience a dramatic encounter with God on their life’s journey that brings them to salvation. Consequently, it is easy for them to know the moment that they have become a “new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). For many others, salvation is not a clearly identifiable point in time. However, even though they cannot pinpoint when it happened (and may even misidentify the timing), the miracle of their behavioural change makes them know that at some point they must have been “born again” (John 3:7). They might not even know these terms, but, if explained to them, they will identify with them. Salvation Examination Many other people who have believed in God and His Son, have ended up falling away. This is because they never fully understood. Instead, they believed in their own notion about God and His salvation. Consequently, they had never come to be justified by God and born again. Paul told the members of the Corinthian church, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. 13:5). From his words, we can deduce that merely thinking that you’re in the faith is no real evidence of actually being in it. However, being spiritually joined to Christ, so that He lives within you, is Paul’s definition of whether or not someone is truly in the faith. Evidence of Salvation God’s word has a range of evidence that can help a person identify whether or not they been saved from spiritual death to eternal life. Here are just three of them: An inner witness. One evidence that you’re actually in the faith, with Christ dwelling within you, is an inner knowing. Paul writes, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:16). A supernaturally changed life. Another witness to true salvation is a supernaturally changed life. This is because Love Himself has joined Himself to that person. Jesus said, “. . . whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). A witnessing life. There’s an overflow about God and His goodness that comes from the mouths of those who are saved. This is because God, and what He has done to save us, really is good news. After all, Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Caveats Concerning Salvation Not all Christians excel in all of the above evidence. That said, to live their new life to the full, they ought to grow in each of them. Also, although the fruit of a person’s life is usually the clearest evidence of salvation (or the lack thereof), many loving, generous, and pleasant people are unsaved. Conversely, there are many saved folk who are caught up in selfishness, worldliness, and sin. Consequently, we don’t always know who has been saved, therefore, we must not simply assume that someone is or isn’t. On another note, not everyone who has been saved has understood that biblical faith gives assurance of salvation. Consequently, despite being justified by God, these folk may, at times, because of sin and feelings of unworthiness, feel unsaved. Assurance of Salvation God has gone to great lengths to lead people to a faith that saves and to assure them of their salvation. For example, the apostle John says in his gospel, ". . . these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Then, in a letter to believers, John says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). God clearly wanted people to believe and, having believed, be assured of their salvation. Assurance of one’s salvation is often found on the journey of discipleship. For, even after someone is saved, they will continue to receive revelation about their salvation. Consider what Paul had prayed for the Christians in Ephesus: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” (Eph. 1:17-19a). Are You Saved? All people have sinned against God, nevertheless, because of His great love for the world, He offers salvation as a free gift to everyone who repents and receives Jesus as Lord of their life. For He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and take our sins upon Himself so that we could be acquitted. Having risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, Jesus offers mercy and new life to all who humble themselves and come to Him. Rob Morley March 31, 2021, Light and Life Bible Ministries. Scriptures here are KJV.

To live eternally before God we must have prefect Righteousness (Purity of heart) but the Law shows us our hearts are not pure before God. As we grow, being born innocent and in our own righteousness, we eventually receive understanding of sin, and sin in our corrupt nature will continually work to condemn and destroy us. Try as we might to keep ourselves clean the world and corruption of our flesh will cause us to fall short of His Holy standard which condemns us and causes the death of our spirit. By our own ability we cannot attain nor maintain God's pure standard but God has established another way of meeting the standard, separate of ourselves, by sending Christ who obtained and maintains that Righteous standard from God for us all who believe on Him. By Believing in Christ for God's Righteousness, we then are partakers in Christ and all his gifts. In essence salvation is by rejecting our our own self ownership and ability to pay our debt and allowing Christ to stand in our place of judgement before God. We believe Christ can and will pay for us. This also means our relationship before God is no longer based on law and debt but it is now determined by Christ's standing before God. Because this standing has nothing to do with us or the law, our works, or rituals, then it is not up to us to do anything to keep it. All we are to do is believe that it is unto all and upon all that believe. (Preached Sunday morning, 11-21-2021, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)