God's Unshakeable Purpose: Assurance of Salvation
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 8:28-30, we delve into the profound assurance of salvation that Paul offers to the believers in Rome. This assurance is rooted in the unshakeable purpose of God, which is to bring us to a state of complete salvation and deliverance from sin. Paul emphasizes that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This purpose is not just about our individual salvation but is ultimately about the glorification of Jesus Christ, the firstborn among many brethren. Our salvation is intricately linked to the glory of the Son, and it is through our glorification that the Son is honored and exalted.
The passage outlines five essential steps in God's plan: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. These steps are not random but are part of a divine order that ensures the fulfillment of God's purpose. Foreknowledge, the first step, is not merely God knowing in advance what we will do, but rather it signifies God's intimate knowledge and love for us, setting His heart upon us before the foundation of the world. This foreknowledge leads to predestination, where God determines our ultimate conformity to the image of His Son.
The calling is the pivotal moment when God's plan becomes actualized in our lives, leading to our justification and eventual glorification. This divine process assures us that our salvation is secure, not because of our actions, but because of God's eternal purpose and love. The ultimate goal of this plan is the glorification of the Son, ensuring that He is preeminent in all things. Our salvation is a testament to the glory of Christ, and it is through our transformation that His preeminence is displayed to the entire cosmos.
Key Takeaways:
1. Assurance of Salvation: Our assurance of salvation is rooted in the eternal purpose of God, which is to bring us to complete salvation and deliverance from sin. This assurance is not based on our actions but on God's unchanging purpose. [01:08]
2. The Glory of the Son: The ultimate goal of God's plan is the glorification of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is intricately linked to the glory of the Son, and it is through our transformation that His preeminence is displayed. [06:29]
3. Divine Order of Salvation: The steps of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification are part of a divine order that ensures the fulfillment of God's purpose. Each step is essential and reflects God's perfect plan. [16:31]
4. Foreknowledge as Divine Love: Foreknowledge is not merely God knowing in advance what we will do, but it signifies God's intimate knowledge and love for us, setting His heart upon us before the foundation of the world. [21:31]
5. Security in God's Purpose: Our salvation is secure because it is part of God's eternal purpose and love. This divine process assures us that our salvation is not contingent on our actions but is guaranteed by God's unchanging will. [45:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Romans 8:28-30
- [01:08] - Assurance of Salvation
- [02:21] - God's Purpose for Us
- [03:33] - Final Glorification
- [04:51] - The Preeminence of the Son
- [06:29] - The Glory of the Son
- [07:57] - The Cosmic Display of Salvation
- [09:33] - The Exaltation of Christ
- [11:12] - The Preeminence of Christ
- [12:10] - The Guarantee of Salvation
- [13:20] - God's Perfect Plan
- [15:08] - Foreknowledge Explained
- [17:13] - The Order of Salvation
- [19:02] - The Calling and Its Impact
- [21:31] - Understanding Foreknowledge
- [23:39] - The Misunderstanding of Foreknowledge
- [25:15] - Biblical Examples of Foreknowledge
- [31:02] - The Consistent Teaching of Foreknowledge
- [37:48] - God's Relationship with Humanity
- [45:54] - Assurance in God's Purpose
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:28-30
- Ephesians 1:9-10
- Philippians 2:5-11
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the five steps outlined in Romans 8:28-30 that describe God's plan for salvation? How do these steps reflect God's purpose? [16:31]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus being the "firstborn among many brethren"? How does this relate to the concept of glorification? [05:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of "foreknowledge" in God's plan? What does it mean beyond simply knowing in advance? [21:31]
4. In what way does the sermon suggest that our salvation is linked to the glory of Jesus Christ? [06:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the assurance of salvation, as described in Romans 8:28-30, impact a believer's understanding of their relationship with God? [01:08]
2. What does it mean for believers to be "conformed to the image of His Son," and how does this process reflect God's ultimate purpose? [02:21]
3. How does the sermon explain the connection between God's foreknowledge and predestination? What implications does this have for understanding God's love and purpose? [21:31]
4. How does the concept of Jesus' preeminence influence the way believers view their own salvation and purpose in life? [05:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt uncertain about your salvation. How does understanding God's eternal purpose and love provide assurance in those moments? [01:08]
2. In what ways can you actively participate in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ in your daily life? What specific actions can you take this week? [02:21]
3. How can you remind yourself of the significance of Jesus' glorification in your personal faith journey? What practices can help you keep His preeminence at the forefront of your mind? [06:29]
4. Consider the role of foreknowledge as divine love. How does this understanding affect your view of God's relationship with you? How can you respond to this love in your interactions with others? [21:31]
5. How does the assurance of being part of God's eternal purpose influence your approach to challenges and trials in life? Can you identify a current challenge where this assurance can provide comfort? [45:54]
6. What steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects the glory of Christ to those around you? How can you be intentional about displaying His preeminence in your actions and words? [06:29]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's purpose for your life, and what resources or practices can support you in this journey? [13:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Assurance Rooted in God's Eternal Purpose
Our assurance of salvation is not based on our actions or merits but is deeply rooted in the eternal purpose of God. This purpose is to bring us to complete salvation and deliverance from sin. It is a profound assurance that Paul offers to the believers, emphasizing that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This assurance is unshakeable because it is grounded in God's unchanging will and love for us. As believers, we can find peace and confidence in knowing that our salvation is secure, not because of what we do, but because of who God is and His eternal plan for us. [01:08]
Isaiah 46:10-11 (ESV): "declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."
Reflection: In what ways can you rest in the assurance of God's eternal purpose for your life today, especially in areas where you feel uncertain or anxious?
Day 2: The Glorification of Jesus Christ
The ultimate goal of God's plan is the glorification of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is intricately linked to the glory of the Son, and it is through our transformation that His preeminence is displayed. This means that our lives are a testament to the glory of Christ, and as we are transformed into His image, His preeminence is revealed to the entire cosmos. The glorification of Jesus is not just a future event but is happening now as we live out our faith and reflect His character in our daily lives. Our journey of faith is a cosmic display of salvation that honors and exalts the Son. [06:29]
Colossians 1:18 (ESV): "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in glorifying Jesus in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take today to reflect His preeminence?
Day 3: The Divine Order of Salvation
The steps of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification are part of a divine order that ensures the fulfillment of God's purpose. Each step is essential and reflects God's perfect plan for our salvation. Foreknowledge is not just God knowing in advance what we will do, but it signifies His intimate knowledge and love for us. Predestination follows, where God determines our ultimate conformity to the image of His Son. The calling is the moment when God's plan becomes actualized in our lives, leading to our justification and eventual glorification. This divine order assures us that our salvation is secure and part of God's perfect plan. [16:31]
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 the divine order of salvation in your life. How can understanding this order deepen your trust in God's perfect plan for you?
Day 4: Foreknowledge as an Expression of Divine Love
Foreknowledge is not merely God knowing in advance what we will do, but it signifies God's intimate knowledge and love for us, setting His heart upon us before the foundation of the world. This understanding of foreknowledge highlights the depth of God's love and His intentionality in our salvation. It is a comforting truth that God has known and loved us from the very beginning, and His plans for us are rooted in this divine love. As we grasp this concept, we can find security and peace in knowing that our lives are held in the hands of a loving and purposeful God. [21:31]
Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV): "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Reflection: How does understanding God's foreknowledge as an expression of His love change the way you view your relationship with Him today?
Day 5: Security in God's Unchanging Purpose
Our salvation is secure because it is part of God's eternal purpose and love. This divine process assures us that our salvation is not contingent on our actions but is guaranteed by God's unchanging will. The security we have in God's purpose is a source of great comfort and strength, especially in times of doubt or struggle. Knowing that our salvation is anchored in God's eternal plan allows us to live with confidence and hope, trusting that He will bring to completion the good work He has begun in us. This security is a testament to God's faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to His people. [45:54]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in the security of God's unchanging purpose, and how can you remind yourself of His faithfulness today?
Quotes
The theme is that the ultimate and the final source of assurance of Salvation is that we are in this purpose of God. We've had many other arguments to give us Assurance in this chapter but here we arise to the topmost level. It is the purpose of God that we should be brought to a state of final and complete salvation and entire deliverance from sin and from Evil. [00:01:48]
The Apostle puts it like this that the glory of the son is shown in the fact that he is to be the first born among many Brethren. Now it's very important that we should look at our Salvation from that standpoint, not only think of it in terms of ourselves but we've got to see that God's ultimate object of all in ever planning and bringing in the whole scheme of Salvation is to glorify his son. [00:05:28]
The whole purpose of Salvation is to glorify the Son of God. He is the first born among many Brethren. Can you conceive of what the position would be if suddenly he had no Brethren at all, nobody to follow him? He's left Heaven, he's come on Earth, he's given his teaching, he's died on the cross, he's been buried, he's risen again, and there's nobody following him. [00:06:36]
The glory of the sun is involved in this and he is finally glorified when he and all his Brethren are there as it were on view to the whole Cosmos, the whole universe. Now that's the way in which the Apostle put it and of course it is a theme with which all who are familiar with the New Testament Epistles will be quite familiar. [00:07:38]
The steps of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification are part of a divine order that ensures the fulfillment of God's purpose. Each step is essential and reflects God's perfect plan. The Apostle undoubtedly deliberately put them in that order. Now I do want to emphasize that the order is not accidental, it's not halfhazard. [00:17:13]
The first two you notice have a reference to what God has determined and decided with respect to us. The last two, the second two, the justification and the glorification have a more practical immediate reference to what is done to us and what the calling does which is in the middle is to act as a kind of connecting link. [00:18:08]
The calling is the point at which all this as it were becomes actual in US, becomes practical and applied to us. Well now then let's have a look at these great steps as they're outlined here. I trust that nobody has forgotten all I was saying at the end of November and the beginning of December about the right way to approach this subject. [00:19:29]
The first is the term for no for whom he did for no. Here's the first and let me say it's not only the first, it is the crucial term. It is the most important term of all obviously. There is the purpose of God here are we in sin. Now then the question is how does the plan and purpose of God with regard to the glorification of his son in Redemption what is the first move in our Direction? [00:20:39]
The actual meaning of the word of course means to know beforehand for knowledge. That's it from the mere standpoint of uh Linguistics, language. There's a a popular method of biblical Exposition today which seems to turn to the dictionaries when reading the scripture. Well all right up to a point it's all right but if you stop at your dictionary, well all I can say is God help you. [00:21:31]
The teaching is that the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was something that was planned by God before the foundation of the world. His death was not an accident. He came into the world in order to die. He came to taste death for every man. He came to be the Lamb of God and this is how the Bible says that that it has all happened according to the predetermined Council and for knowledge of God. [00:28:32]
The Lord did not set his love upon you nor choose you because ye were more in number than any other people for ye were fewest of all people but because the Lord loved you. That's why you see we we are told that he set his love upon them or take it in Jeremiah 31:3, yeah I have loved thee with an Everlasting Love Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. [00:43:14]
For whom he did for know in his purpose he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son and so on. Well may God give us Grace to meditate seriously and solemnly and lovingly upon this great word. What it tells us is this that if you and I are lovers of God if we are the called according to his purpose he knew us before the foundation of the world. [00:45:14]
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