God's Sovereign Call: Grace, Peace, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: God's Creative Power in Our Lives

God's ability to call into existence things that do not exist is a profound truth that extends beyond the creation of the world. It is evident in the formation of the church and the transformation of individuals. The church in Rome, despite its challenging environment, serves as a testament to this truth. In a city known for its grandeur and vice, God planted His church, demonstrating His power to create a new community in the midst of a pagan society. This creative power is not limited to the past but is active in our lives today, shaping our faith and existence as believers. [02:04]

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel there is nothing but emptiness or chaos? How can you invite God to bring His creative power into that area today?

Day 2: God's Sovereignty in Church Planting

The origins of the Roman church highlight God's sovereign hand in establishing His church. With no clear human founder, the church's existence underscores that God is the ultimate church planter. Acts 2 provides insight into how God orchestrated events, bringing visitors from Rome to Jerusalem during Pentecost, who then returned home with the gospel message. This divine orchestration demonstrates that God moves people and history to fulfill His purposes, establishing His church in places where it seems impossible. [08:22]

Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."

Reflection: Consider your own community. How might God be orchestrating events and relationships around you to plant seeds of faith? What role can you play in this divine plan?

Day 3: The Specific Love of God

God's love for us is not generic but specific and covenantal. It is a love that chose us before we chose Him, rooted in His sovereign will rather than our merit. This understanding should bring us comfort and assurance, knowing that our relationship with God is based on His initiative. The Roman believers were called to belong to Christ, loved by God, and identified as saints, not because of their own merit but because of God's sovereign love. [23:28]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of love. How does understanding God's specific and covenantal love for you change your perspective on that experience?

Day 4: The Effectual Call of God

The call to belong to Christ is not just a general invitation but an effectual call where God opens our hearts to respond to the gospel. This divine intervention is necessary because, in our natural state, we are incapable of seeking God. It is His grace that enables us to hear and respond to His call, transforming our hearts and lives. This effectual call is a testament to God's grace and power in drawing us to Himself. [33:07]

John 6:44 (ESV): "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

Reflection: Think about your journey of faith. How have you experienced God's effectual call in your life? What steps can you take to be more open to His leading today?

Day 5: Grace and Peace as God's Disposition

The message of grace and peace is central to the Christian experience. It is not merely a greeting but a profound declaration of God's disposition towards us. In a world filled with turmoil, the assurance of God's grace and peace provides comfort and stability. Regardless of our circumstances, God's grace is sufficient, and His peace surpasses all understanding, offering us a foundation of hope and security. [43:06]

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV): "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience God's grace and peace today? How can you actively seek His peace in the midst of your current challenges?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of Romans 1:6-7, we delve into the profound truth that God calls into existence things that do not exist. This divine ability is not just about the creation of the world but extends to the formation of the church and the transformation of individuals. The church in Rome serves as a testament to this truth. Despite being a young church, its faith was renowned throughout the world, a remarkable feat considering the challenging environment of ancient Rome. This city, known for its grandeur and vice, was not an easy place for a fledgling church. Yet, God planted His church there, demonstrating His power to create a new community in the midst of a pagan society.

The origins of the Roman church are shrouded in mystery, with no clear human founder. This absence highlights God's sovereign hand in establishing His church. Acts 2 provides a glimpse into how God orchestrated events, bringing visitors from Rome to Jerusalem during Pentecost, who then returned home with the gospel message. This divine orchestration underscores that God is the ultimate church planter, moving people and history to fulfill His purposes.

The Roman believers were called to belong to Christ, loved by God, and identified as saints. This calling is not based on human merit but on God's sovereign love. The love of God is not generic but specific and covenantal, a love that chose them before they chose Him. This truth challenges us to understand that our relationship with God is rooted in His initiative, not ours.

Furthermore, the concept of being called extends beyond a general invitation. It involves an effectual call where God opens hearts to respond to the gospel. This divine intervention is necessary because, in our natural state, we are incapable of seeking God. It is His grace that enables us to hear and respond to His call.

Finally, the message of grace and peace is central to the Christian experience. This is not merely a greeting but a profound declaration of God's disposition towards us. In a world filled with turmoil, the assurance of God's grace and peace provides comfort and stability. It is a reminder that, regardless of our circumstances, God's grace is sufficient, and His peace surpasses all understanding.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Creative Power: God alone has the power to call into existence things that do not exist. This is evident in the creation of the world, the formation of the church, and the transformation of individuals. Our faith and existence as believers are a testament to His creative power. [02:04]
2. The Sovereignty of God in Church Planting: The church in Rome was not founded by human effort but by God's sovereign will. He orchestrates events and moves people to establish His church, demonstrating that He is the ultimate church planter. [08:22]
3. The Specific Love of God: God's love for us is not generic but specific and covenantal. It is a love that chose us before we chose Him, rooted in His sovereign will rather than our merit. This understanding should bring us comfort and assurance. [23:28]
4. The Effectual Call of God: The call to belong to Christ is not just a general invitation but an effectual call where God opens our hearts to respond to the gospel. This divine intervention is necessary because, in our natural state, we are incapable of seeking God. [33:07]
5. Grace and Peace as God's Disposition: The message of grace and peace is central to the Christian experience. It is a profound declaration of God's disposition towards us, providing comfort and stability in a world filled with turmoil. [43:06]
** [43:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Admiration for Skilled Craftsmen
[01:50] - God's Unique Creative Power
[02:44] - God's Work in the Church
[03:48] - The Church in Rome
[05:25] - The Planter of the Roman Church
[08:22] - God's Sovereignty in Church Planting
[11:37] - The City of Rome
[14:42] - The Gospel's Centripetal Force
[17:05] - Planting in Decaying Soil
[19:18] - The People of Rome
[20:13] - Called to Belong to Christ
[23:11] - Loved by God
[32:54] - Called to be Saints
[43:06] - Grace and Peace to You

Sermon Clips

"Only God can do that in fact, Paul's going to tell us in Romans 4:1 17 that it's God who calls into existence things that don't exist they didn't happen before and now they are this is what he does when he creates the World Imagine This being able to watch God at work calling into existence the world that we know this created order that he's done." [00:02:04]

"God called into existence that which did not exist I think we could say it this way God planted the church in Rome now of course he uses people but here's what I mean God decided I want a church in this city and we'll talk about the city in a moment but I'm going to move the pieces of history and I'm going to move uh people in this world so that they hear the gospel and they go back and they they uh win others with the gospel and they plant a church in Rome." [00:08:22]

"How did they come to belong to Christ the biblical answer is this they were loved by God they belong because because they were loved now listen when you hear they were loved by God this is not a generic love right told the early service like I can say to you at the end of ser every service and I mean this I can say to you I love you and you ought to hear that differently than a couple of things I don't I love you differently and more specifically than I love Grace Church up the road does that mean Grace Church is a bad Church no." [00:23:28]

"Here's what I mean by that Jesus will tell a parable and you you've probably heard it where he says a sewer goes out to to to to se right and he takes a bag of seed and he just starts scattering okay and he's just indiscriminate he's not looking he's not sprinkling into little holes he's made he's just scattering scattering some Falls here on the path and some Falls among stones and some Falls among weeds and then he says but there's this one group that falls in this rich soil." [00:33:07]

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that is such a pregnant phrase and that is a phrase the reason I say this is the need is I think this is the need of every Roman I think this is a need of everybody at Foothill church this is God's disposition toward you as those in Christ this is God's disposition towards you if you're not in Christ he's saying I'm offering this to you this is Gospel in miniature God's grace comes and with it he brings peace." [00:43:06]

"Paul says I want to go and preach the gospel where nobody's preached the gospel before interestingly in just a few verses in Romans chapter 1 and verse 15 look down there he says to the Romans I am eager to preach the gospel to you in Rome so how is it that Paul can say I want to preach the gospel but I don't want to go anywhere where so if Peter had taught them then then why does Paul say I want to come and teach you and help you understand this okay so so I don't I don't think it was Peter so then if it's not Peter if he's our best candidate who planted the church in Rome." [00:11:37]

"Rome is a place of virtue and a place of deep deep Vice right Rome is a place of wretched excess and here's what here's what we we believe the human heart has not changed since the creation and the fall of Man we are the same we've always been so people are always seeking out illicit things there is always going to be scams in big cities and Scandals in big cities and prostitution in big cities and sexual immorality in big cities and Paul's going to deal with all those but here he writes to a a community that finds himself in the midst of this you might say wretched exess the midst of this human you know just just putrification." [00:17:05]

"Christianity is not um a a Leap Forward in human progress we don't we don't look at ourselves the church and go you know what eventually everybody's going to kind of you know be enlightened and they'll get where the church has been trying to point them outside of Christ that'll never happen we are not a Leap Forward in human progress we are a brand new creation the Bible says so in the midst of this Jesus says God saysi want to call into existence a culture I want to call into existence a new Humanity a new creation that's going to come in and just begin to spread that's how it always happens that's how it always happens." [00:20:13]

"Paul says uh that they were called to belong to Christ Jesus called to belong to notice he doesn't say called by Christ Jesus right in fact what you'll see in scripture very often is the one who does the calling in Salvation is God himself he says rather you were called to belong to Christ Jesus you you you through your salvation you were attached to him now you belong to him he owns you if you will Paul said of himself in chapter 1 verse one Paul a servant and we said when we did that it's actually the word slave a slave of Christ." [00:32:54]

"God gives ears to hear God gives pulls out hearts of stone puts in Hearts to flesh God does that all God must break through our Rebellion see ask yourself this question how did you become a Christian and some of you'd say man one day Chris I was sitting in a service like this and the preacher was preaching to me and I heard the gospel and it's like everybody in the room went away and I was so dialed into what he was saying I'm like my gosh he's speaking to me he read my mail this week and I have to believe what he's saying and you believed and God saved you." [00:38:56]

"God was at work to call you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light God was at work helping the soil of your heart to be Reed you listened and you believed this is why I could grow up in a home as the youngest of five children and hear the gospel all all the time for my parents and in my church and my oldest brother who's seven years older than me I came to faith when I was four my other brother didn't come to Faith until well into his 50s we heard the same gospel why does that happen I don't know why God didn't open his heart at that point I don't know why God did that for me but he did it and he finally opened his heart and his eyes and he saw." [00:41:00]

"Paul ends verse 7 by simply saying grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that is such a pregnant phrase and that is a phrase the reason I say this is the need is I think this is the need of every Roman I think this is a need of everybody at Foothill church this is God's disposition toward you as those in Christ this is God's disposition towards you if you're not in Christ he's saying I'm offering this to you this is Gospel in miniature God's grace comes and with it he brings peace and not a peace that's like this is a we're gonna we're going to have a ceasefire like they're trying to get in Ukraine or over in Israel it's not a ceasefire it's it's not a cessation of hostilities it's a it's a restoring it's a shalom it's the old Hebrew right that Hebrew word Shalom that's translated into the Greek that that simply means this holistic whole body whole life peace isn't this our greatest need to know when you walked into church today you may go I'm going to sit on the back row or I don't even know if I should go in maybe I should sit on the patio or maybe I should just watch because I blew it this week or something's gone on in my life and I feel like my whole life is in turmoil here's the message Grace and peace to you Grace and peace to you Grace and peace to you I don't know what you've been through I don't know what you're going through but Paul says before I give any confrontation I want to bring comfort and some of you just need to hear the words of comfort this morning Grace and peace to you God's grace comes to us and this is what's going to happen to the Romans they're going to take up and they're going to hear the word of God and it is going to be the power of Grace in their life and it's going to be that Grace that brings them peace to all those in Rome who are loved by God to all those in Glendora who are loved by God Called to be Saints great grace to you peace from God our Father Lord Jesus Christ." [00:43:06]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?