God's Sovereign Plan: Assurance of Salvation Explained

 

Summary

In Romans 8:28-30, we find a profound assurance of salvation rooted in God's eternal purpose. This passage is not a theological textbook but a pastoral letter meant to provide comfort and certainty to believers. The Apostle Paul outlines five steps in God's plan: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. These steps are not just abstract concepts but are deeply personal, reflecting God's intimate involvement in the lives of His people.

Foreknowledge is the first step, where God sets His love upon certain individuals in a unique way. This is not merely an awareness of future events but a deliberate choice, akin to election. Predestination follows, where God marks out a destiny for these chosen ones, setting them apart for a specific purpose. This is not a matter of human decision but a divine determination.

The calling is where God's eternal purpose intersects with our lives. It is an effectual call, not just a general invitation, but one that comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to respond in faith. This call is crucial because it leads to justification, which is always linked to faith. Justification is not based on our works but on our belief in Jesus Christ, a belief that is itself a gift from God.

Finally, glorification is the ultimate goal, where believers are conformed to the image of Christ. This entire process is a testament to God's sovereignty and grace. It is not about human effort but about God's unyielding purpose and love. Understanding these steps provides assurance, not because we grasp every detail, but because we trust in the God who orchestrates them.

Key Takeaways:

1. Foreknowledge as Divine Love: God's foreknowledge is not mere awareness but a special, selective love for His people. This love sets them apart, ensuring their ultimate glorification. It is a reminder that our relationship with God is rooted in His initiative, not our merit. [04:09]

2. Predestination and Purpose: Predestination is God's marking out of a destiny for His chosen ones. It assures us that our lives are not random but are part of a divine plan. This understanding brings peace, knowing that our future is secure in God's hands. [10:17]

3. Effectual Calling: The calling of God is effectual, meaning it comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to respond in faith. This call transforms our hearts, making us receptive to the gospel. It is a testament to God's active role in our salvation. [19:11]

4. Justification by Faith: Justification is always linked to faith, which is itself a gift from God. It is not our faith that saves us, but God's grace working through our faith. This truth humbles us and eliminates any grounds for boasting. [22:06]

5. Glorification as the Ultimate Goal: Glorification is the final step, where believers are conformed to the image of Christ. It is the culmination of God's purpose, assuring us that our journey will end in eternal glory. This hope sustains us through life's challenges. [15:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 8:28-30
- [00:55] - Assurance of Salvation
- [01:44] - God's Eternal Purpose
- [02:04] - The Five Steps
- [03:09] - Foreknowledge Explained
- [04:09] - Divine Love and Election
- [05:28] - Assurance vs. Salvation
- [06:47] - Understanding the Doctrine
- [09:27] - Predestination Unpacked
- [10:17] - Horizon and Destiny
- [12:19] - Purpose and Calling
- [17:16] - Effectual Calling
- [22:06] - Justification by Faith
- [35:20] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [47:51] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:28-30

Observation Questions:
1. What are the five steps in God's plan for salvation as outlined by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:28-30? [02:04]
2. How does the sermon describe God's foreknowledge in relation to His love for His people? [04:09]
3. What is the significance of the term "effectual calling" as discussed in the sermon? [19:11]
4. According to the sermon, how is justification linked to faith, and what role does God's grace play in this process? [22:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding God's foreknowledge as a selective love impact a believer's view of their relationship with God? [04:09]
2. In what ways does the concept of predestination provide assurance and peace to believers about their future? [10:17]
3. How does the sermon explain the transformation that occurs during the effectual calling, and why is this transformation crucial for salvation? [19:11]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between human effort and God's sovereignty in the process of justification? [22:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's love in a unique way. How does understanding foreknowledge as divine love change your perspective on that experience? [04:09]
2. How can the assurance of predestination help you face uncertainties in your life with more confidence and peace? [10:17]
3. Have you experienced a moment when you felt a strong call to faith? How did that moment change your relationship with God? [19:11]
4. In what ways can you remind yourself that your justification is a gift from God and not based on your own works? How does this truth affect your daily life? [22:06]
5. Consider the ultimate goal of glorification. How does this hope influence the way you handle current challenges and trials? [15:23]
6. How can you actively participate in God's purpose for your life, knowing that He has marked out a destiny for you? [12:19]
7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's sovereignty. What steps can you take to surrender that area to Him this week? [25:51]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Love in Foreknowledge
God's foreknowledge is not simply an awareness of future events but a profound, selective love for His people. This love is akin to election, where God sets His affection on certain individuals, ensuring their ultimate glorification. It is a reminder that our relationship with God is rooted in His initiative, not our merit. This divine love assures us that we are known and cherished by God, providing a foundation of security and hope. [04:09]

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt truly known and loved by someone. How does knowing that God loves you even more deeply impact your sense of identity and purpose today?


Day 2: Predestination and Divine Purpose
Predestination is the act of God marking out a destiny for His chosen ones, assuring us that our lives are not random but part of a divine plan. This understanding brings peace, knowing that our future is secure in God's hands. It is not a matter of human decision but a divine determination, reflecting God's sovereignty and grace. This assurance allows us to live with confidence, trusting that God is guiding our steps according to His perfect will. [10:17]

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." (Ephesians 1:11, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel uncertain about the future. How can you trust in God's predestined plan for you in this area today?


Day 3: The Power of Effectual Calling
The calling of God is effectual, meaning it comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to respond in faith. This call is not just a general invitation but a transformative encounter that changes our hearts and makes us receptive to the gospel. It is a testament to God's active role in our salvation, demonstrating His desire for us to be in relationship with Him. This effectual calling assures us that God is at work in our lives, drawing us closer to Him. [19:11]

"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt God's call in your life. How did it change your perspective or actions, and how can you remain open to His calling today?


Day 4: Justification by Faith as a Gift
Justification is always linked to faith, which is itself a gift from God. It is not our faith that saves us, but God's grace working through our faith. This truth humbles us and eliminates any grounds for boasting, reminding us that our salvation is entirely dependent on God's mercy. Understanding justification by faith encourages us to live in gratitude and humility, recognizing that our righteousness comes from Christ alone. [22:06]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area where you might be tempted to rely on your own efforts for approval or success. How can you shift your focus to rely on God's grace and faith today?


Day 5: Glorification as the Ultimate Goal
Glorification is the final step in God's plan, where believers are conformed to the image of Christ. It is the culmination of God's purpose, assuring us that our journey will end in eternal glory. This hope sustains us through life's challenges, providing a vision of the future that is filled with promise and joy. Understanding glorification encourages us to persevere, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. [15:23]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a current challenge or struggle you are facing. How does the promise of future glorification give you hope and strength to endure today?

Quotes


Now then the first thing that God did in the carrying out of that purpose was that he called me certain people and let me sum up the conclusion at which we arrived last Friday night it comes to this that this means for ordination for off gain I consider the five uses of this word which are found with respect to God himself in the New Testament. [00:03:35]

It means that God set his love upon these people in a very particular and definite way he knows these people as he doesn't know other they are obviously a special people these are the people who love God all people do not love God we are only dealing those who love God because they alone are the ones who are the called according to his purpose. [00:04:09]

So what we're told is that goddess cities love in a very special and unique manner upon these people who ultimately come to loving and who are ultimately going to be glorified and like his own son so that if you prefer other words you can use them you can say that he chose them you can say that he elected all these terms mean exactly the same thing. [00:04:34]

Now let me remind you of this again at this point we are not teaching that the understanding of this doctrine is essential to salvation I'm not saying that you can be a saved Christian without understanding this doctrine there is a difference between salvation and assurance of salvation this is concerned about assurance of salvation. [00:05:32]

You can be a Christian without truly receiving this in your mind and understanding it means I would suggest that you are a defective Christian that your understanding isn't clear but it is not essential to salvation we must never say that what there is only one thing essential to salvation and that is that we trust utterly and absolutely to the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect work on our behalf. [00:05:57]

Nowhere in the scripture are you told that you have to believe this before you can be saved believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved what this teaches us is how you ever come to believe in it which is a different thing now let's bear that in mind lest there be any confusion furthermore let me was this at the moment I am simply giving you an exposition of the term. [00:06:20]

Now there's very little difficulty about this word this is really comparatively simple it follows directly of course from the first whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate there was step number 1 well having therefore done that having got them into his mind and half having selected them what does he do well he now predestined it's them what does this mean well it means simply to designate beforehand. [00:10:17]

But as it is a very interesting word let me just open it out a little the word that was actually used by the Apostle the Greek word is a compound word the pro means what we've got here in the three it simply means beforehand but it's the other part that's interesting for it so which means this it's precisely the word from which other word horizon comes horizon now what is what what you mean when you talk about an arrival you mean this the horizon is that which marks often separates what we can see from what we can't see. [00:10:47]

Well the word that is used the other untranslated predestinate just means that now god having total these people puts them within a given horizon he puts them in a certain circle he puts them within a certain limit now that's the meaning of the term or if you look at it the other way around it means that he is not only marked them out for something but he has marked out something for them that's what it really means and no more that he has predestinated for them. [00:11:59]

He has marked them out for this particular purpose in this particular ended object or if you like he has mapped out a particular destiny father now there's a very good exposition of this in the in Festivus Lapita in the second chapter and in the ninth verse yo you see Peter in his way is really saying the same thing he is reminding us now of what we are as Christians and he says you are a chosen generation that your foreknowledge you see a chosen generation well what what for. [00:12:34]

Well we've become a royal priesthood or if you prefer it a kingdom of priests this is a part of what his predestinated us for we become a kingdom of priests or a royal priesthood then another way of describing it is that we've become unholy nation the nation of Israel in the Old Testament was a holy nation though she was one of the nations she was a Cypriot nation a special nation a holy nation a holy nation but then here's the can a peculiar people which means a people for as a peculiar position of God these people are his peculiar possession of God. [00:13:04]

These people are his peculiar possession God owns everything God owns all people God owns the universe is but these people are his special and peculiar possession in other words he puts a ring around them as it were he's mapped out a certain destiny for them there are endless analogies that suggest themselves if you've ever known anything about sheep farming you would have seen a shepherd or the owner of the Sheep doing something like this he's got a great flock of sheep thousands perhaps but the now time comes when he decides that he's going to sell some and keep others so a great that he comes when he goes out with his dogs and he selects out these that he's going to keep for breeding purposes and so on and having taken them out of the great flock he puts them into a pen not into a fold on their ever that's the kind of thing that's said in our text tonight and in 1 Peter 2:9. [00:13:34]

That's the meaning of predestination now you see there's no difficulty about that all we are told by this term is that these people when God does for now he is now destined for this ultimate thing that he's got in his mind for them he's put a ring around them yes but he's also put a ring around what's going to happen to them and what is that well we've already dealt he also did predestinate what for well that to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brother he's called them out he selected them and he has now decided this is his determination that they are ultimately to be brought to that goal to their final position and well this turn tells us in that that is the goal which goddess marked out for us. [00:14:51]

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Transcript
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