Romans 8:29-30 - God's Choice of You

What happens when a clear doctrine in Scripture assaults and comes into direct conflict with our personal conviction of right and wrong, or what is fair and just or what is unfair and needs to be corrected

What happens?

Do we simply accept the clear teaching of Scripture as truth? Or do we somehow try to place the blame for this moral inconsistency on the head of God Himself?  

Unfortunately, my experience says the latter.  Especially when dealing with issues like election, free-will and personal accountability.

Want to know more?  Keep listening.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:29-30.

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Romans 8:28 - More than a Biblical Placebo

Romans 8:28 is either one of the greatest statements of divine encouragement found in the New Testament or it is, hands down, the greatest excuse for our "stay at arms length, don't get too close" lack of ministry to others who are hurting.  It has become for many a Biblical placebo freely prescribed by uninformed, apathetic Christians to those who are in deep distress spiritually, physically, or emotionally.

It's as if by saying the words or quoting the verse we have somehow uttered the magic incantation that will set everything right and soothe away all the pain and hurt.  "There's no place like home.  There's no place like home."

It has become the church's default ministry position when we simply don't know what to say or don't want to get too involved or we are just too busy to hear about their problems or bear their burdens.

Is that all this verse mean?

But for those who how understand and live in the realm of the sovereignty of God, it is something more.  Much more.  After all, according to Psalm 115:3, "Our God is in His heavens and does what He pleases."

So, which is it?  Encouragement or placebo?  Listen and find out more.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:28.

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What Does Worship Really Mean?

Question:  What does worship really mean?

Answer (and more questions):  Is worship simply a style or type or genre of Christian  music?   Or, is worship just the singing part of our Sunday morning church routine?

 Does worship always have to be connected with music or can worship intersect other parts of our lives?  And, if so, what other parts?  And how?  In what way?  

What does true worship look like?  How does it feel?  What does it accomplish?  What does it do for God (as strange as that sounds) and what does it do for me?  What is the purpose of worship?  

Need more?  Then keep listening.. 

  

The following is a study on true Worship.

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Sons, Adoption, Children and Heirs

When we tire of the constant struggle between the inner man and our flesh sometime we can begin to believe that maybe we aren't really saved, that maybe we're not one of the chosen ones... maybe we've just been fooling ourselves or maybe we just flat missed the boat. 

During those dark times it is helpful and encouraging to see the three confirmations of our sonship in Christ that are found in Romans 8. 

We can relish in the fact that being (1) led by the Spirit proves our (2) adoption, and if we are adopted then we are (3) sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ. 

And it doesn't get much better than that.

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:14-16.

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Painting With a Narrow Brush

One of the dangers of living in the lukewarm, Laodicean church culture of today is that we tend to adopt the mantra of the world regarding sin and repeat it over and over again, as truth, within our church circles. 

For example, "Don't ask, don't tell."  

Or, in other words, if you won't ask me about my sin and lack of Christian virtue and holiness, then I promise I won't ask you about yours.  Then we can both live under the deception that we are saved, living the "abundant life in Christ," and that the Lord is "mighty pleased with us." 

Really?  But the Scriptures may say something quite different. 

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:3-5.

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What Does it Mean to be "In Christ"?

"In Christ."  Martin Luther puts it this way:

"Everything which Christ has becomes the property of the believing soul; everything which the soul has, becomes the property of Christ. Christ possesses all blessings and eternal life: they are thenceforward the property of the soul. The soul has all its iniquities and sins: they become thenceforward the property of Christ. It is then that a blessed exchange commences."

But there is much more.  Being "in Christ" is... well, such a profound truth that it boggles the mind to even think about it. 

Keen listening...

  

The following is a study on Romans 8:1.

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The Great Paradox: Slavery = Freedom

The Christian life is full of some strange, yet Biblical paradoxes.  Consider the following:

Salvation is both free and costly.
To find your life you must lose it.
Those who are last will be first.
The least among men is the greatest.
Those who give will receive.
Those who are humble will be exalted.
God is Three yet One.

And the granddaddy of them all...

True freedom comes only through slavery.  Really?  Oh, yes.  It is the most marvelous paradox of all.  Listen and find out why.

  

The following is a study on being a Slave.

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Time to Man-Up, Dude

Sometimes when we view God we have a selfish, sinful, Laodicean tendency to think that He is just like us.  After all, we bend over backwards to cut our kids slack because we want them to like us and... uh, I guess that's how God deals with us.  Wrong. 

Then we continually make excuses for sinful behavior and just chuck it all up to the mantra of, "you know how kids are these days" or "boys will be boys" or "that's just the way I am"... and we think and pray that God views our sin the same way.  Again, wrong. 

God is not created in our image.

And it's high time to man-up.

  

The following is a study on the Holiness of God.

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The Horrid Condition of the Human Heart

Some people feel that the Scriptures no longer speak to us today.  That the answers it offers are to questions we no longer ask. 

Really?  Try this one on for size. 

Question from Romans 6:  If it is true that the Law convicts and condemns, and if I am now free from the Law and under grace... then it would stand to reason that I am free from any moral restraint in my behavior. 

In other words, if the law no longer needs to be obeyed, and if God's grace covers all my sins, then I (and all Believers) are perfectly free to do as we please and sin to our heart's content.

  

The following is a study on Romans 6:15-23.

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Doulos - One Strange Word that Changes Everything!

 Doulos.  It means "slave, or one who is held in servitude as chattel (or property) of another."  But there is much more. 

Doulos deals with a permanent relationship of servitude to another.  It is one whose very existence is characterized by obedience, one whose own personal will is surrendered to the will of another.  It depicts one who is completely devoted to and dependent on another. 

It is the exact opposite of what we honor and esteem in our culture today. 

And, most important, it is the type of "slave / master" relationship that we are to have with Jesus. 

Confused?  Then keep listening.

  

The following is a study on being a Servant or a Slave.

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Sacrificing Our Children to Demons

Psalm 106 tells of Israel's rebellion and sin and the bountiful mercy of God.  But is also paints a prophetic picture of the church in America today. 

Consider the following:

"But they mingled with the Gentiles (or heathens) and learned their works.  They served their idols, which became a snare to them.  They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons."

Are you wondering how someone could sacrifice their children to demons?   Then keep listening... because we do it everyday.

 

 The following is a study on Psalm 106.

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The Persecution Promise

Did you know that one of the true signs of saving faith is the fact that you will face persecution?  Consider the following:

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Romans 8:16-17

Are you wondering exactly what that means and how it plays out in our lives today? 

Good.  Then keep listening.

 

The following is a study on John 15:18-27.

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The Vine and the Branches, Part II

The players from John 15:

One, Jesus is the Vine... all of the Vine.  He is the roots, the stalk, the leaves... literally, He is everything. 

Two, we, as Believers, are the branches of the Vine.  We are a part of the Vine, not separate and distinct from the Vine, but connected to the Vine to serve a specific purpose.  And what is that purpose?  To bear the fruit of the Vine.  Note, we don't create the fruit for our own use, we just bear it.  And why?  For what purpose? 

Three, for the enjoyment and glory of the Vinedresser, God the Father.  

But there is so much more.  Keep listening.

 

The following is a study on John 15:1-8.

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The True Vine Stole My Heart

When the Scriptures speak about the terms of salvation, they always seem to frame the event as either right or wrong, with no wiggle room, no grey area.

For example, two roads and two paths.  One leads to destruction and the other to life.  Notice, there is no third choice.

Two fruits, one good and one bad.  Nothing in between.

And when Jesus calls Himself the true vine, doesn't that imply a distinction between a possible false vine?  Absolutely!  Listen and find out more.

 

The following is a study on John 15:1.

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Every Letter Bleeds Jesus

There is a cryptic statement Jesus makes to the religious establishment of His day that is startling if taken at face value.  It goes like this:

"You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."

Wow.  What Jesus is saying is that all Scripture, even the genealogies of the Old Testament, testify and speak of Him. 

Really?  Does that also include the "in your face" passages like Psalm 55? 

Listen and find out.

The following is a study on Psalm 55.

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Rewards in Heaven? Oh, Yeah!

Just because we live in the age of grace doesn't mean that works do not play into the Christian life.  After all, Scripture clearly teaches that we will be rewarded for our deeds done in the flesh... or, our works. 

Oh yes, there is a Bema seat judgment where we will be judged by the Lord for our works and we will receive our rewards. 

In fact, the promise of receiving rewards from the hand of Christ was an incredible motivator for the apostle Paul and countless other heroes of the Christian faith throughout the centuries. 

What?  You think that sounds self-promoting and selfish?  Then listen on.

The following is a study on the motivation of Heavenly Rewards.

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The Marks of Saving Faith

In the 3rd chapter of Romans we see the word "faith" repeated over and over again.  Believers are deemed righteous by faith.  Man is justified by faith.  God justifies both the circumcised and the uncircumcised by faith.  God is even called the just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

Everywhere we look it's faith, faith... and still more faith. 

But what exactly is this faith?  What kind of faith are we talking about?  And is this the kind of faith that saves?  Is there another kind of faith that doesn't save?  What is the difference?  How can I know? 

Are you hungry for some answers?  Then listen on.

The following is a study on the Saving Faith.

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Time to Come and Die

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, before he died at the Flossenburg Concentration camp on April 9, 1945, summarized in his book, the Cost of Discipleship, the Christian life like this:

"When Christ calls a man,
He bids him to come and die."

Is that true?  Does Christ really demand total abandonment of self to follow Him? 

Is that what was portrayed in the gospels?  Because it certainly isn't what is esteemed in current Christian circles today, is it? 

And why not?

The following is a study on the Cost of Following Jesus.

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Goin' Down

Sometimes life is just hard.  Real hard.  And sometimes it's hard to understand why the Lord allows things to happen to His children that, well... happen to his children. 

 And when they do we are often left with the nagging thought that maybe God doesn't care as much as we care or maybe we've done something to make Him not love us anymore. 

Do you ever have thoughts like that?  Maybe when the situation looks hopeless and dark?  Maybe when you feel alone and forgotten?  Or maybe when you're sure you're going down for the last time? 

If you have, you're not alone.

 The following is a study on Peter and Jesus.

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Poison in the Stew

Question:  If we cannot be saved by keeping the Law, does that mean that we are no longer under any obligation to pay attention to the Law?

Answer:  No.  When a person is saved or redeemed, there is never a separation between Law and grace.  Christian grace does not remove the obligation from us to obey God.

Question:  Then, can I receive Jesus as my Savior and not my Lord?  Or, can I get saved today and make Him my Lord at a later date?

Answer:  Keep listening.

The following is a study on Romans 3:20-26.

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