Clay Smith JFBC
Unshakable Assurance
Romans 8:26-39
Assurance is different than insurance. Insurance helps recover from loss. Assurance is not having to worry, confidence based on who God is and what he is doing in our lives.
Today wraps up the first section of Romans, chapters 1-8...
1. not ashamed of the gospel
2. Jew and gentile
5. We are set apart
6-7 who will set me free
8. No condemnation in Christ Jesus
We know:
1. v 26-27 the Spirit of God supports us. When the pressure of life comes, we groan. Also the Holy Spirit groans for us. He helps us and intercedes for us. He bears our load when we pray. Some our optimists, others pessimists. Sometimes we don't know what to pray for. How do we pray for someone who mocks God? For salvation or judgment? The Spirit prays for us, with groaning too deep for words.
2. v 28-30 the will of God sustains us. The pillow on which we rest our weary heads.
A. all things are not good. Cancer. Things don't go our way.
B. God causes all things to work for his glory, even the consequences of people's sinful actions. God is not the author of sin. God sees the good in our lives. He holds tomorrow.
C. We know why God does these things, to make us more like Him. Paul wasn't trying to complicate things. Calling, predestination, etc are hard to understand. Justification and glorification...the point of these verses is to comfort. We need this reminder.
Randy Alcorn's book "If God is Good". In hindsight we come to understand why bad things happen, and how God works through these things. God's will is perfect and good.
3. v 31-39 the love of God secures us. How do we know? In chapters 9-11 Paul asks...
A. v 31 if God is for me, who can be against me?
B. v 32 God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
C. v 33 who will bring charges against God's elect?
D. Who condemns? Jesus died on a cross for us. We are not condemned.
E. v35 who will separate us from the love of God? Not tribulation? Distress? Persecution? Peril? The love of Christ won't remove us from these things, but in these things we conquer - through Christ.
Parenting can be tougher not when they're little, but when they're older. Likewise God perfectly loves us despite these things.
More things: powers etc - none will separate us from the love of God. Paul says he is convinced - are you?
Researchers Claim Radar Scans From Archaeological Site in Turkey is the 'Fully Preserved' Noah's Ark.
BILL VIRDON [SABR Bio] is the only person to appear in uniform for the Pirates at 1.) Forbes Field, 2.) Three Rivers Stadium and 3.) PNC Park. Virdon played for the Pirates in Forbes Field 1956-‘65, 1968;coached there in 1968-‘70; managed for Pittsburgh in Montreal in 1969 and in Three Rivers Stadium 1970-73; coached there in 1970-’71, 1986, 1992-’95, 1997, 2001; coached Pittsburgh at PNC Park 2001-02. He was NL ROY in 1955 for STL. From Murtaugh to McCutchen, he saw it all. Though he first signed with the Yankees, Virdon’s first trade in the majors was engineered by Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby. A year after winning the NL ROY, the STL GM, Rogers Hornsby, traded Virdon to the Pirates for Bobby Del Greco & Dick Littlefield. Virdon had originally signed with the Yankees in 1950 as a free agent. His last managing gig was for MON 1983-’84.
I met a guy at Hot Stove who’s dad was best friends with Virdon. Cool that I am just 3 degrees of separation from Rogers Hornsby. Ceil used to read to former major leaguer Van Lingle Mungo, who was a contemporary of Babe Ruth – only 2 degrees of separation.
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