(How to develop unshakeable faith in an unshakeable God)
Sometimes when construction companies need to build a bridge or a high building on unstable ground, they first drive reinforced concrete piles into the soil using a pile driver until they hit bedrock. This is to ensure that the construction will have an unshakeable foundation. If we take the words of today’s Scripture to heart, we will develop what I want to call “bedrock faith”.
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (29) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (30) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (31) What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (33) Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (36) As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." (37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today I want to share four key components of bedrock faith…
Firstly: Know That In All Things God Works For Your Good (v 28)
Paul uses the “royal we” and says “And we know that in all things…” Do you really know this – are you included? But you might say, “Come on Paul, you don’t know what I am going through!” (For a quick overview of some of Paul’s sufferings take a peek at 2 Cor 11:20-29; this might put some perspective on your hardships. I think this man earned the right to speak!) Please note that this verse doesn’t say everything is good. (In fact, many things you’re going through probably aren’t), but it does say that out of them good can come provided we continue loving God and pursuing our God given calling. Think about the adversities you’ve gone through and ask God to show you what positive fruit resulted. Truth be told, many of us were saved when we were under suffering and adversity and cried out to God for help. Reminding ourselves of this will help us develop a positive attitude to trials. Jas 1:2-4 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Secondly: Know That God Has a Program For Your Growth (vv 29-30)
This helps us make sense of some of the things we might be going through – they are to develop Christ-likeness. Indeed, Christ followers are predestined to be made just like Jesus. Good news is there’s going to be a whole lot of people who think like, talk like and act like Jesus. They will bear the family likeness.
Verse 30 says, “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Please note the personal pronoun “He” – this says to me that it’s God’s program. Your salvation and sanctification doesn’t depend on ‘little old you’. Indeed, your salvation and mine depends not on our ability, but on the ability of God. What is impossible with man is possible with God. Jesus Christ is able to save us completely. He is mighty to save!
Heb 7:25 says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
God’s program has these significant steps: predestined --> called --> justified --> glorified
Hallelujah! We are headed for glory!
Simply be willing to change and God will do the rest. Put yourself on the operating table and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.
Thirdly: Know That God Is On Your Side (vv 31-34)
Verse 31 says, “..If God is for us, who can be against us?”
God is on your side, He is for you. Indeed, He is in covenant with you – a covenant sealed with the blood of His only begotten Son. This does not mean that you won’t have adversaries, but that your adversaries will be of little consequence because God is with you and for you. I often say, “One man and God is a majority. Take Moses for example, he wasn’t afraid to take on his brother Aaron and the whole nation of six million men when they fashioned a calf idol.
Verse 32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” This says to me that God’s hands and His heart are open to you. He will freely give you all things.
Verse 33 tells us that it is God who justifies and Jesus who defends. Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Verse 34 highlights Jesus as our intercessor, our defense attorney. I’ve found that one of the things that floors many a Christian is guilt and condemnation. Counteract this by developing a bedrock faith in your justifier and defender who is pleading for your innocence in the courts of heaven on the basis of His shed blood.
Fourthly and finally, the real cement in your faith foundation is this…
Be Convinced of God’s Love (vv 35-39)
No circumstance, no situation – nothing can separate us from the love of God. God is able to save the righteous even when He’s pouring out judgment on the wicked. He saved Noah and his family in the Ark when He destroyed the world by the flood. God does make a distinction between the wicked and the righteous. The plagues in Egypt came upon the Egyptians and not the children of Israel.
Know that God’s love is unfailing, unending, unconditional and absolute. Nothing you do today can make Him love you more or love you less. Not only that, God’s love always takes the initiative:
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…
Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s love is sacrificial.
Bedrock Faith
I trust you’ll develop a “Bedrock Faith” which knows and is convinced that:
1. God is working for your good
2. God has a program for your growth
3. God is on your side
4. God loves you
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