Text: Romans 8:28-30
Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour is the greatest privilege of life. Many things may influence our decision to receive Christ as Savior, but primarily we desire to have our sins forgiven and to be assured of going to Heaven when we die. However, in the next few weeks we want to ask the question, “What was God’s purpose in saving me?”
God has a purpose for all that He does, and all His purposes are good. They are governed by His wisdom, righteousness, and holiness. Consider creation.
Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
God’s creation was good in its organization – every part created in perfect balance and harmony
God’s creation was good in its provision – God created everything necessary to support and sustain life.
God’s creation was good in the pleasure it provided – joy, singing, laughter, companionship, and excitement are byproducts of our interaction with the world God created for us.
In this lesson, we want to get the “big picture” (macrocosm) of God’s purpose for saving us. In the weeks that follow, we will zero in on some of the more important details of Christian living (microcosm) that help us understand God’s purpose for saving us, as well as to receive the blessings of having a life that is conformed to His will.
The Purpose of Salvation - 8:29c
To conform believers to Christ
Through God’s redemptive plan He is calling out a people for Himself. We will be a people who will dwell and reign with Him for all eternity.
It is God who calls us and it is God who accomplishes His will in us.
His work is complete: Therefore no believer will ever face condemnation. No believer can possibly lose salvation.
Spiritually – He will one day sanctify us to the image of Christ.
Hebrews 2:9-11 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Bodily – We will be like Him!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
– A Grandpa and granddaughter were sitting and talking when she asked, “Did God make you, Grandpa?” He said, “Yes God made me.” For a few minutes she examined her grandpa and then she looked at herself in the mirror. At last she spoke up. “You know Grandpa, God is doing a lot better job lately.”
To make Christ preeminent – That He might be the firstborn among the brethren.
Note – The term “first born” was used among the Jews to depict a privileged status. The firstborn became the head of the family and received the largest share of the inheritance. He then became the “executor” of his father’s will, so that all others received their inheritance through him. It is in that sense of preeminence that Paul uses it in Colossians 1:18.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The Plan of Salvation –verse 30
Note – The plan of God is based on His foreknowledge which is mentioned in verse 29. We cannot fathom the omniscience of God. However, God sees our faith in advance of our lives. In Jeremiah 1:5 God said, “Before I formed you in the belly I knew you.”
He pre-determined our destiny – A destiny of conforming to His image.
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Because God pre-determined our destiny, we can be confident that all things work together for Good!
All God’s plans are aimed at accomplishing one primary purpose in our lives: to make us like Christ.
He calls us to His destiny.
He calls us through the preaching of His Word.
Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The fact that He “calls” indicates that we must answer. We must exercise our will.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God does not limit who can be saved.
He does not choose who will be lost.
Men choose for themselves when they say “yes” or “no” to the saving offer of the Gospel.
He paid for our destiny - justified.
Justification refers to a believers being made right with God.
Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
God will justify (save) anyone who puts their faith in the saving blood of Jesus
He declares our destiny – (to be glorified).
Glorification is God’s future work in the life of the believer
Every true believer in Jesus Christ will live in Heaven and be like Jesus.
The Priority of Sanctification
Definition – Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Spirit whereby He leads in our life to bring us to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Becoming like Christ on this earth is a matter of progressive sanctification.
The Holy Spirit indwells all Christians.
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The Holy Spirit changes people from the inside out.
Before we are saved, our lives are conformed to this world. After we are saved, the Holy Spirit works from within us to conform us to the image of Christ through the application of God’s Word.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Conclusion
Romans 12:2 states:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In these next few weeks we want to learn how God’s Holy Spirit and His Holy Word will bring about the positive change of sanctification – gradually transforming our walk in this world to daily conform our lives to God’s will. The more our lives conform to His will, the more our lives will reflect the character of our Savior.
Thank You for visiting this site. If we can be of help in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. Much Blessings on you and yours, Dr. Joseph A.Carson Northland Baptist Ministries
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