God's Sovereign Purpose: Assurance and Transformation in Christ
Summary
In Romans 8:28-30, we find a profound assurance of God's purpose for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This passage reveals the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints, emphasizing that our ultimate salvation is guaranteed by God's eternal purpose. God, in His sovereignty, has foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified His people. This divine plan, established before the foundation of the world, is certain and unchangeable because it is rooted in God's character and will.
The passage also addresses the question of who this purpose applies to. It is not a universal promise for all humanity but is specific to those who are called according to God's purpose. This refutes the doctrine of universalism, which suggests that all will be saved in the end. Scripture consistently divides humanity into those who are saved and those who are not, emphasizing belief in Christ as the determining factor.
God's purpose for His people is that they be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. This transformation is not merely about forgiveness or justification but involves a complete renewal of our nature to reflect Christ's likeness. This conformity is both inward and outward, affecting our essence and being. It is a derived likeness, much like a child resembles a parent, and it is achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, God's purpose is to glorify His Son, making Him the firstborn among many brethren. As believers, we are to share in this glory, being transformed into Christ's image. This transformation is the culmination of our salvation, where we will be like Christ in spirit and body, sharing in His glory and reigning with Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Sovereign Purpose: Our salvation is rooted in God's eternal purpose, established before the foundation of the world. This purpose is certain and unchangeable because it is based on God's character and will. Our assurance of salvation rests in the fact that God has foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified us. [01:05]
2. Refuting Universalism: The promise of salvation is not universal but specific to those who are called according to God's purpose. Scripture consistently divides humanity into those who are saved and those who are not, emphasizing belief in Christ as the determining factor. [04:14]
3. Conformity to Christ's Image: God's purpose for His people is that they be conformed to the image of His Son. This transformation involves a complete renewal of our nature to reflect Christ's likeness, both inwardly and outwardly. It is a derived likeness, much like a child resembles a parent. [21:26]
4. The Glory of the Son: The ultimate purpose of salvation is the glory of the Son, making Him the firstborn among many brethren. As believers, we are to share in this glory, being transformed into Christ's image and sharing in His reign. [20:48]
5. Transformation by the Spirit: Our transformation into Christ's image is a work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us from glory to glory. This process prepares us for our ultimate glorification, where we will be like Christ in spirit and body. [43:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 8:28-30
- [00:45] - Assurance of Salvation
- [01:20] - God's Eternal Purpose
- [02:12] - Certainty of God's Will
- [03:02] - Who Are the Called?
- [04:14] - Refuting Universalism
- [06:23] - Scriptural Evidence Against Universalism
- [08:08] - Division of Humanity in Scripture
- [10:44] - The Sheep and the Goats
- [12:28] - The Fullness of the Gentiles
- [15:38] - God's Purpose in Salvation
- [16:29] - Conformity to Christ's Image
- [20:48] - The Glory of the Son
- [21:26] - Understanding Conformity and Image
- [43:37] - Transformation by the Spirit
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:28-30
- John 3:16-18
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 8:28-30, what are the steps in God's plan for those He has called? How does this passage assure believers of their salvation? [00:28]
2. In the sermon, how is the doctrine of universalism refuted using John 3:16-18? What distinction does the passage make between those who believe and those who do not? [08:08]
3. What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 say about the transformation process of believers? How is this transformation described in the sermon? [23:19]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being "called according to His purpose" in Romans 8:28-30 challenge the idea of universal salvation? What implications does this have for understanding God's plan? [03:02]
2. The sermon emphasizes the transformation into Christ's image. What does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ, both inwardly and outwardly? How does this relate to the work of the Holy Spirit? [21:26]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the ultimate purpose of salvation is the glory of the Son? How does this purpose affect the believer's understanding of their own salvation? [20:48]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of God's sovereign purpose in your life. How does knowing that your salvation is part of God's eternal plan affect your daily walk with Him? [01:05]
2. The sermon refutes universalism by emphasizing belief in Christ. How does this challenge you to share your faith with others who may not yet believe? [04:14]
3. Consider the process of being conformed to Christ's image. What specific areas of your life do you feel the Holy Spirit is working on to transform you? How can you cooperate with this transformation? [21:26]
4. The sermon highlights the glory of the Son as the ultimate purpose of salvation. How can you live in a way that reflects and honors this purpose in your daily interactions? [20:48]
5. Think about the concept of being transformed from "glory to glory." What practical steps can you take this week to focus on spiritual growth and transformation? [43:37]
6. How does the assurance of being glorified with Christ impact your perspective on current struggles or challenges you face? [33:33]
7. Identify one person in your life who may not understand the specific nature of God's calling. How can you engage them in a conversation about the assurance and purpose found in Christ? [15:38]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Eternal Purpose and Our Assurance
God's sovereign purpose for salvation is rooted in His eternal plan, established before the foundation of the world. This plan is certain and unchangeable because it is based on God's character and will. Our assurance of salvation rests in the fact that God has foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified us. This divine sequence assures believers that their ultimate salvation is secure, not because of their own efforts, but because of God's unwavering commitment to His purpose. The certainty of this plan provides believers with a profound sense of peace and confidence, knowing that their salvation is not left to chance but is part of a divine orchestration. [01:05]
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: In what ways can you rest in the assurance of God's eternal purpose for your life today, especially in moments of doubt or uncertainty?
Day 2: The Specificity of Salvation
The promise of salvation is not universal but specific to those who are called according to God's purpose. Scripture consistently divides humanity into those who are saved and those who are not, emphasizing belief in Christ as the determining factor. This refutes the doctrine of universalism, which suggests that all will be saved in the end. Instead, the Bible teaches that salvation is a gift offered to those who respond to God's call through faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding challenges believers to recognize the importance of sharing the gospel and living out their faith as a testimony to others. [04:14]
Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV): "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of salvation? How can you intentionally share the gospel with them this week?
Day 3: Transformation into Christ's Likeness
God's purpose for His people is that they be conformed to the image of His Son. This transformation involves a complete renewal of our nature to reflect Christ's likeness, both inwardly and outwardly. It is a derived likeness, much like a child resembles a parent, and it is achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit. This process of transformation is ongoing and requires believers to actively participate by surrendering to the Spirit's work in their lives. As believers grow in Christlikeness, they become more effective witnesses of His love and grace to the world around them. [21:26]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What specific area of your life is the Holy Spirit prompting you to surrender for transformation into Christ's likeness today?
Day 4: Sharing in the Glory of the Son
The ultimate purpose of salvation is the glory of the Son, making Him the firstborn among many brethren. As believers, we are to share in this glory, being transformed into Christ's image and sharing in His reign. This glorious future is not just a distant hope but a present reality that shapes how believers live today. By living in light of this future glory, believers are motivated to pursue holiness, love others sacrificially, and engage in the mission of God with passion and purpose. This shared glory is a testament to the power of the gospel and the transformative work of Christ in the lives of His followers. [20:48]
Colossians 3:4 (ESV): "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: How does the promise of sharing in Christ's glory influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Day 5: The Spirit's Role in Our Transformation
Our transformation into Christ's image is a work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us from glory to glory. This process prepares us for our ultimate glorification, where we will be like Christ in spirit and body. The Spirit's work is both a comfort and a challenge, as it assures believers of God's presence and power while also calling them to cooperate with His transformative work. By yielding to the Spirit, believers experience growth in their spiritual lives and become more effective in their witness to the world. This ongoing transformation is a testament to the Spirit's power and the believer's hope in Christ. [43:37]
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in your life today to bear more fruit and reflect Christ's character?
Quotes
"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." [00:08:43]
"The greatest guarantee of our final perseverance and of our ultimate complete and entire salvation is the fact that this is the purpose of God for us. As it is the purpose of God for us, as we are told, we are the called according to his purpose." [00:54:93]
"The purpose of God in salvation applies only to those people, not to anybody else. In other words, to put it negatively, there is no suspicion or the suggestion in the scripture anywhere of what is called sometimes universalism." [03:38:72]
"God's purpose for every one of us is the Christian in this building at this moment. Here it is: we are to be made conformable to the image of the Son of God, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." [12:12:33]
"The ultimate purpose is the glory of the son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. The preeminence of Christ, the glory of the son of God, that's the ultimate in the subject of salvation." [12:41:22]
"This is a wonderful teaching. This is the height of the teaching concerning salvation. This is the thing that you and I must get hold of. What is salvation? Well, it's something that's going to bring me to this." [13:18:59]
"Conformity means an outward expression of an inward essence of nature, an outward expression of an inward essence or nature. Now, what we are told therefore is this: that we have to be made conformable to be like unto the son of God in our inward essence." [16:80:78]
"We are to receive them, and we do receive in the new birth the seed of this new nature. We receive a part of this new humanity from him. We are born of him. He is the head; we are the members." [24:44:19]
"Because this is God's purpose, that eventually you and I, we shall be made perfectly conformable in essence to that perfect glorified humanity that is there at this moment in the son of God." [25:50:58]
"The son of God became the son of men that the sinful sons of men might become the sons of God. He came down so low, was born as a babe. Why? That you and I might ultimately might be entirely glorified, might be conformed to his image in spirit and in body." [26:65:04]
"As you think of him and as you praise his name, keep this in the forefront of his mind. There's a day coming when you see him. We already know we the sons of God, and we know not yet what we shall be, but we know this: that when he shall appear, we shall see him." [27:12:50]
"We beseech thee by thy spirit, open our eyes that we may see this glorious purpose, and that we may ever think about ourselves from this very moment as men and women were destined for that." [27:71:02]
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