God's Eternal Purpose: Assurance and Salvation for Believers

 

Summary

In Romans 8:28-30, we find a profound declaration of God's purpose and assurance for believers. This passage is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, emphasizing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This assurance is not contingent upon our love for God but is rooted in His eternal purpose. The Apostle Paul provides a detailed exposition of this truth, highlighting the steps of salvation: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. These are not isolated events but interconnected links in the chain of God's redemptive plan.

The doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints is central here, affirming that God's purpose will be fulfilled in the lives of His people. This doctrine, however, is not for the unbeliever; it is a source of comfort and assurance for believers. It is crucial to approach this doctrine with reverence and humility, recognizing that we are dealing with the mind and purpose of the Almighty God. Our understanding is limited, and we must not approach these truths with a spirit of intellectual pride or controversy.

The ultimate assurance comes from knowing that we are part of God's eternal purpose. This knowledge should lead us to holiness and sanctification, not complacency. The doctrine should fill us with wonder, humility, and praise, driving us to live lives that are pleasing to God. It is a reminder that our salvation is secure in God's hands, and nothing can thwart His purpose.

Key Takeaways:

- The assurance that all things work together for good is rooted in God's eternal purpose, not in our fluctuating love or faith. This truth provides a firm foundation for our faith, reminding us that God's plan is unchangeable and will be fulfilled in our lives. [03:19]

- The doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints assures us that our salvation is secure in God's hands. This doctrine is not for the unbeliever but is a source of comfort for believers, emphasizing that God's purpose will be accomplished. [05:57]

- Approaching the doctrine of God's purpose requires reverence and humility. We must recognize that we are dealing with the mind of God, and our understanding is limited. This approach keeps us from intellectual pride and leads us to a deeper appreciation of God's grace. [12:02]

- The interconnected steps of salvation—foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—are part of God's redemptive plan. These are not isolated events but are links in the chain of God's purpose, providing assurance of our final salvation. [10:04]

- The knowledge of being part of God's purpose should lead us to holiness and sanctification. If our understanding of these doctrines does not drive us to live holy lives, we have misunderstood them. True understanding fills us with wonder, humility, and a desire to be pleasing to God. [32:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Romans 8:28-30
- [01:18] - The Promise and Its Application
- [02:26] - Necessity of the Promise
- [03:19] - God's Purpose as the Foundation
- [04:48] - Doctrine of Final Perseverance
- [06:13] - God's Purpose and Our Good
- [08:17] - Assurance in God's Purpose
- [11:40] - Approach with Reverence
- [14:21] - Not a Philosophical Problem
- [18:17] - Doctrine for Believers
- [22:21] - Focus on Christ for Salvation
- [25:08] - Conversion Before Predestination
- [29:30] - Comfort for God's Children
- [34:41] - Right Approach to Doctrine

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:28-30

Observation Questions:
1. What are the specific steps of salvation mentioned in Romans 8:28-30, and how are they interconnected? [10:04]
2. According to the sermon, what is the foundation for the assurance that all things work together for good? [03:19]
3. How does the sermon describe the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints, and why is it significant for believers? [05:57]
4. What attitude does the sermon suggest we should have when approaching the doctrine of God's purpose? [12:02]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding God's eternal purpose provide comfort and assurance to believers, especially during difficult times? [02:08]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the knowledge of being part of God's purpose should impact a believer's life and actions? [32:31]
3. Why does the sermon emphasize the importance of approaching the doctrine of God's purpose with humility and reverence? [12:02]
4. How does the sermon differentiate between the assurance of salvation for believers and the understanding of this doctrine by unbelievers? [18:17]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How can the assurance that all things work together for good change your perspective on that situation? [03:19]
2. The sermon emphasizes living a life of holiness and sanctification. What specific steps can you take this week to align your actions with God's purpose? [32:31]
3. How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and reverence when studying complex doctrines like the final perseverance of the saints? [12:02]
4. Think of a time when you approached a theological discussion with intellectual pride. How can you change your approach to be more humble and open? [15:09]
5. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's purpose. What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in His plan? [08:59]
6. How can you encourage fellow believers who may be struggling with doubts about their salvation to find comfort in God's eternal purpose? [05:57]
7. Consider someone in your life who is not a believer. How can you share the assurance and comfort of God's purpose with them in a way that is meaningful and respectful? [19:25]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Unchanging Purpose as Our Foundation
God's eternal purpose is the foundation of our assurance, not our fluctuating love or faith. This truth provides a firm foundation for our faith, reminding us that God's plan is unchangeable and will be fulfilled in our lives. The assurance that all things work together for good is rooted in God's eternal purpose, not in our fluctuating love or faith. This truth provides a firm foundation for our faith, reminding us that God's plan is unchangeable and will be fulfilled in our lives. [03:19]

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust more in God's unchanging purpose rather than your own understanding or feelings?


Day 2: Assurance in the Final Perseverance of the Saints
The doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints assures us that our salvation is secure in God's hands. This doctrine is not for the unbeliever but is a source of comfort for believers, emphasizing that God's purpose will be accomplished. It is a reminder that our salvation is secure in God's hands, and nothing can thwart His purpose. [05:57]

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that your salvation is secure in God's hands change the way you approach your daily challenges and struggles?


Day 3: Reverence and Humility in Understanding God's Purpose
Approaching the doctrine of God's purpose requires reverence and humility. We must recognize that we are dealing with the mind of God, and our understanding is limited. This approach keeps us from intellectual pride and leads us to a deeper appreciation of God's grace. It is crucial to approach this doctrine with reverence and humility, recognizing that we are dealing with the mind and purpose of the Almighty God. [12:02]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a spirit of humility and reverence in your study and understanding of God's purpose?


Day 4: The Interconnected Steps of Salvation
The interconnected steps of salvation—foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—are part of God's redemptive plan. These are not isolated events but are links in the chain of God's purpose, providing assurance of our final salvation. Understanding these steps helps us see the bigger picture of God's work in our lives and assures us of our final salvation. [10:04]

"And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:30, ESV)

Reflection: How can understanding the interconnected steps of salvation deepen your appreciation for God's work in your life?


Day 5: Holiness and Sanctification as a Response to God's Purpose
The knowledge of being part of God's purpose should lead us to holiness and sanctification. If our understanding of these doctrines does not drive us to live holy lives, we have misunderstood them. True understanding fills us with wonder, humility, and a desire to be pleasing to God. This knowledge should lead us to holiness and sanctification, not complacency. [32:31]

"But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to pursue holiness and sanctification in response to being part of God's eternal purpose?

Quotes


The Apostle starts with a practical and experimental and from that rises to the doctrine and we've been considering therefore how it works act unto whom it is applicable we've also considered how we can be sure of this truth and then the last time we spent our evening in considering how we can be sure and certain that it applies to us. [00:01:25]

The statement here is not that all things work together for good to us as long as we love God because in faith that is what he said the statement is true of us because we are the called according to his purpose and because of that the statement of the premises must of necessity be true. [00:03:36]

Now here we are face to face with what has been called the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints and that's a great theological term that's a great doctrine which first began to be taught of course at the time of the Protestant Reformation it had been taught before but it was defined and became a great term in the Christian Church at the time of the Protestant Reformation. [00:04:52]

The greatest statement here is not that all things work together for good to them that love God that is a subsidiary statement in the greater statement about God's purpose for his people the statement therefore that all things work together for good to them that love God is not something that must ever be taken in and of itself that is but means to an end. [00:06:38]

What guarantees the fact that all things will work together for our good that they always have done so that they always will do so that they are now doing so is the fact that it is all a part of God's great purpose with respect to us now that's the way to understand this vapor and here we are face to face with the ultimate ground of assurance. [00:08:17]

We must approach what we are doing if I may borrow a phrase from the Epistle to the Hebrews with reverence and with godly fear or again if we may borrow a statement from the Old Testament we are on holy ground why well because we are dealing with the mind and the will of the Almighty God his purpose God we are venturing to consider the mind and the purpose of God. [00:11:49]

Whoever approaches these doctrines in a controversial spirit is displaying generate that his whole attitude is woefully wrong it is terrible sin and I'm not sure that it doesn't indicate that such a person has never really understood the doctrine otherwise they could never approach it in that way neither must we come to this great matter with a desire primarily to understand the thing. [00:15:15]

The test of a right approach to the doctrine is this that we come to all that we are told we are not in a spirit of militant partisanship I'm taking up the cudgels on one side the other men on the other and we're gonna have a fight and I'm gonna prove that I'm right and he's saying this that's absolutely fatal be better not to consider it at all. [00:30:54]

Ultimately the proof of a right approach to these doctrines is just this of course that you find them the greatest possible urge to holiness into sanctification and if your belief of these doctrines hasn't driven you to holiness well you're in a very dangerous condition because they've probably driven you to antinomianism you're using them to say well I'm alright it doesn't matter therefore what I do. [00:32:31]

The Apostle wants us to see that the thing for us to know ultimately is the purpose of God and if we know the purpose of God and if we know that we are in the purpose of God well then there's only one conclusion to come to and that is that all things must be made to work together for our good otherwise the purpose of God would never be carried out. [00:41:43]

The thing we shall start with God willing next Friday night is the purpose of God that's the thing to stop before predestination before foreknowledge before calling before everything the purpose of God that's the final the ultimate thing and if we are clear about that and know we are in it well then there's no difficulty but understanding the glorious promise of verse 28. [00:42:48]

We are astounded that thou didst ever choose to share these things with us and to give us a glimpse of them forgive us O Lord that we have often approached this very truth in an unworthy manner o God forgive us that our approach to thy word so often is unworthy and sinful help us ever to remember that we are here handling holy things and that we must enter them in the appropriate manner. [00:43:55]

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Transcript
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