A FAITHFUL PROMISE FOR THE NEW YEAR
(A Faithful Promise - December 26, 2021)
Series Big Idea "God's ultimate purpose is to make His followers holy"
Sermon Big Idea: "God is always at work in a Christian's life"
Key Scripture (Romans 8:28)
One of the most quoted and known verses in all the Bible comes from the Book of Romans.
(Romans 8:28)
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
This verse is possibly the foundational verse of the Christian faith. We often quote it when things are falling apart in our lives. But much more than that it says more about God and who He is than it does about us as humans. I want to give you five truths from this verse that will give you confidence and assurance in the new year ahead.
First, it is a Precise Promise. "And we know." People in our society say you can't know anything for sure and often times opinion trumps fact. But what you know IS important. Here we are told something we can know. This phrase is used five times in the book of Romans. Paul is saying we can know our lives are in the hand of God and not only is He gaining glory but He is working out blessing in our lives.
But Paul says in verse 26 that we don’t know what we should pray for. This is not an accidental wording by Paul because even though we can know that God is ultimately in control of our lives, we don’t know the day to day details. We know we will be with Him one day but He doesn’t let us in on the day to day experience. It is vitally important that we know that all things work together according to God's plan. The more we know, the better prepared we are for what comes our way.
Second, it is a Divine Promise. The NIV says "God works." We know that it is God that is at work in all this. When The Almighty says you can know this, He is saying He is for you and with you. You can count on Him that He is working behind the scenes for your good.
Thirdly, it is a Reliable Promise. "All things." Paul is not saying that it is good to be involved in an auto accident or for my house to burn down. But he is saying that God uses these things to produce the very best for you in I in our lives. God understands and He weaves it all together in a plan that is for your good and for His glory.
Fourthly, it is a Effective Promise. "Together for the good." This word in Greek is where we get our word synergism. It is the taking of things that seem to not have any relation and bringing them together to create something greater that them by themselves. Think about it in terms of sodium and chloride. Combine them together and you get sodium chloride or salt. It flavors most of our food. With God things don’t just work out. He causes the synergism to happen by stirring the mix.
Lastly, it is a Described Promise. God absolutely works all things our for good. But this promise doesn’t absolutely apply to everyone. There is a precondition that must be met for this promise to work. "Those who love God; to those who are called according to His purpose." This promise is for those who love God. Believers are God-Lovers. (Deuteronomy 7:9) (1 Corinthians 2:9) (1 Corinthians 8:3).
CONCLUSION
This promise for the New Year is for God-Lovers. Are you a God-Lover? God-Lovers are those who have taken God's wonderful gift of eternal life to themselves. Those who love looks at all this from our perspective but those who are called looks at it from God's perspective. He calls us to Himself.
God has called you here and He wants you to be a God-Lover. And once you become a God-Lover you will be a called one because He calls those to Himself. God has a purpose for our lives. We are called for His purposes. Ask yourself this question. Have I come to the place in my life where I can truly be called a God-Lover? Have I loved God with my heart and soul and received His gift of eternal from Christ? Am I one of the called ones?
The things that happen in our lives are not by accident. God is up to something in your life and my life. He is using the suffering in our life to make us like His Son Christ Jesus.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. Electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991.
Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.
Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.
Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.
Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.
Dockery, David S., ed. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.
Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.
Barton, Bruce, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, and Dave Veerman. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001.
Stanley, Charles F. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles, 2005.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.
Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.
The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.
Kruse, Colin G. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Edited by D. A. Carson. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England; Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2012.
Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Vol. 6. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.
Moo, Douglas J. Romans. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.
Mounce, Robert H. Romans. Vol. 27. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.
Pate, C. Marvin. Romans. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Teach the Text Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013.
Newell, William R. Romans Verse-by-Verse. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.
Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.
Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. The Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.
AFTER THE MESSAGE
After hearing today's message there may be a decision you have made and you want a pastor to connect with you. We want to make this easy for you. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and fill out the form and our pastor will contact you in the way you prefer.