Hearing - September 29th, 2013 sermon

By Pastor Greg

To know love and to feel loved; to know and believe that you have value and worth as a person. This is the desire of every heart. We all long to feel loved and valued. We all long to know that our life has purpose and meaning. Some people seek to find fulfillment in personal relationships. Many people turn to religion to find value and worth. And in Christianity a person who is thirsty for love and value and purpose and significance can find their deepest longings fulfilled when they believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord and confess faith in the promises of God. Only in Christianity will you find that, “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). But as beautiful as this promise is, many reject it. Many refuse to accept it. Their reasons vary, but many people chose to remain thirsty; still longing for the desires of their heart while the answer is right in front of them.

For those who have tasted the glorious things of God, it is hard to believe that someone would refuse. It makes no sense at all, which is exactly the way the Apostle Paul feels about his fellow countrymen. He just can’t understand why many Jews refuse to believe that their Savior had come. It is this lament that Paul talks about in Romans 9, 10, & 11. In chapter 9 he points out that the Jews have a long history of rejecting God. And in chapter 10 he points out that instead of believing in God’s promises they believed in God’s rules and regulations. The Jews were striving to make themselves right with God when in reality all God was asking for was faith.

As Paul talks about this rejection, he asks several questions. Maybe someone asked him these question. Maybe it was an issue within the Roman Church. I mean, if I were a Gentile Christian and learned that God had already revealed Himself through the Jewish people, I too would wonder why these people did not accept Jesus as their Messiah. My mind would be filled with a ton of questions. So to answer them, Paul writes to these Gentile Christians in Rome with his answers. And we’ve heard some of the questions already. “Did the Jews need a Savior”? Absolutely, says Paul. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. “Maybe the Jews were right with God because they followed His rules”. Not at all, says Paul. It has been and still is faith which makes a person right with God. And in this next section we hear another question the Gentile Christians must have been asking (Read Romans 10:14-21).

The question apparently asked was, “Did the Jews hear and understand the message of faith”? Absolutely, says Paul. They heard and understood, yet chose not to believe. And God knew they would choose not to believe (Isaiah 53:1). God continually called the people of Israel to first believe in their heart then follow His commands. Yet they refused. Many of the Jews simply went through the motions, or worse. Some even ignored the commands of God; simply believing that they were right with God because they were born a Jew. And in light of this, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah that He would permit Himself to be found by the Gentile nations because Israel continued to rebel (Isaiah 65:1-2).

What did all of this mean to the Gentile Christian’s in Rome? That’s what Paul discusses in the next chapter. But what does this mean to you and me today? Is there a lesson here that we need to hear? Absolutely. Perhaps the most important lesson for a believer is found in verses 14-15 – the idea of being sent.

It seems to me that our society has missed the main point in Paul’s command here. Even the Church has a tendency to miss the point. Paul is not talking about the professional minister here. The idea of telling others about the Good News is not limited to only those who have been professionally trained and skilled and called. Maybe it’s because some translations use the word preacher in verse 14. This word is not a title used to describe a person, but a verb used to describe an action. Notice that Paul merely speaks of being sent to proclaim, not called to lead. This is a significant difference. Some are called to lead. All are sent to proclaim.

This idea of being sent to proclaim is easily seen in the demon possessed man from Gerasene. In Luke 8:26-37 we meet a demon possessed man who lived among the tombs. This is the story of where Jesus cast the demons into a herd of pigs. Once healed, this naked disciple, now in his right mind, wants to travel with Jesus and the apostles. But instead Jesus sends him back home with the command to, “describe what great things God has done for you.” So he (the man) went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Jesus did not call the man to be a leader, but He did send Him to proclaim; to preach. And this man faithfully obeyed.

This story takes on greater significance when we realize the affect his telling had on those who heard him. Sometime later Jesus again travels to the region (compare Matthew 15:29-31). However, rather than chase Jesus away like they had done earlier, Matthew says that many came to Him. They glorified God because the lame, the sick, the blind, and the mute were healed by Jesus. And the difference in the crowd is because this former demon possessed man went back home proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.

One important truth we must remember is that God calls a few to specific leadership responsibilities within the Church. But He sends everyone to preach the Good News. And we do not preach only within the walls of a church building. We can proclaim this Good News no matter where we are or what we are doing. A person need not become a set apart minister in order to share the gospel. As a matter of fact, a person is probably more effective when they proclaim this Good News right at home; right where they live or work.

Our responsibility is to go and tell. Sure, not all who hear will believe. But that doesn’t mean we stop telling. And neither should we delegate the telling to only a few individuals. All have been sent to preach; to proclaim what great things Jesus has done. Wherever we are sent, we must tell others about the wonderful things that God has done. We do not know what will happen WHEN they hear the Good News. But we do know that they must at least hear it.

Belief - September 22nd, 2013 sermon

By Pastor Greg

There’s a good chance we all know someone who has extraordinary passion. Some are passionate about becoming the best athlete. Others are passionate about a talent, or becoming rich and famous. Most people seem passionate about something. The video I just showed asks the question about whether we will decide to become passionate about the Kingdom of Heaven; passionate about serving, worshiping, speaking, and living for Christ. And I would echo that call. Why do we live as ordinary Christians instead of striving to be extraordinary Christians? Why can’t we show the same passion and zeal for Christ that we do for the other things of life? Yet with that passion and zeal, we must be careful that it is not misplaced. If we are going to passionately believe something, that belief must be directed in the Truth.

Misplaced passion (or zeal) was something that had plagued the Jews for a long time. When they returned from Babylonian captivity, they no longer struggled with idol worship. They learned their lesson. Their faith transformed, they became quite passionate in following all of God’s commands. They even came up with a few of their own. Yet this passion for God was misdirected and misunderstood. Many Jews, especially the Pharisees, felt that following all of God’s Laws and commands would earn God’s love and earn them eternal life. And just like the wealthy ruler we meet in Mark 10:19, many Jews believed that they would gain eternal life because they did not murder, did not commit adultery, did not steal, did not lie or cheat, and honored their father and mother. But in spite of all that passion and zeal, they had missed God’s lesson in Micah 6:6-8. “What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”. The Jews were passionate about God, but searched for righteousness in the wrong way.

When Jesus began teaching, He often scolded the most religious for their misplaced passion. Talking to the religious leaders Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me” (John 5:39). And what He meant was that following a long list of rules and commands will not bring salvation. Salvation was not far from them. Salvation was right in front of them, yet they refused to accept the truth and be saved.

The Apostle Paul used this example to teach a valuable lesson to the Roman Christians. A person might believe something quite passionately, but they just might be passionately wrong. In Chapter 10 of Romans he teaches that being religious will not save anyone; that making up our mind to follow a long list of rules is not the method to gain salvation (Read Romans 10:1-13).

Quoting from Deuteronomy 30, Paul reminds his readers that even Moses understood that getting right with God begins in the heart (by faith), not by obeying a list of Laws and commands. Moses argued that the Jews had no reason to disobey the Word of God because it had been clearly explained to them and it was not far from them. In fact, Moses urged them to receive the Word in their hearts (see Deuteronomy 5:29; 6:5–12; 13:3; 30:6). It is the same with the Gospel of Christ. The Word of faith is available and accessible. The sinner need not perform difficult works in order to be saved. All he has to do is trust Christ.

Paul, a former Pharisee, would understand this. He too once had a passion for the Law. He had lived it for many years. But Christ came along and opened his eyes. And now, fully understanding the truth, Paul says that salvation has always been a matter of belief, not religious practices.

The church today does a pretty good job of teaching that salvation comes by believing. We often quote from Romans 10:9-10. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved”. But there are times when we don’t believe quite like we should. Oh, I’m not saying that we doubt that Christ paid the penalty for our sin, but I do believe we begin to doubt the depth of God’s love for us. There are times when we actually believe that God’s love is conditional; that as long as we behave like a Christian and act like a Christian and give up doing all those bad things, that God will love us. Of if we make sacrifices and become active servants that He will love us more. Some believe that God loves missionaries and pastors and nuns more than He loves the person who only comes to church once and a while. Some people believe that God loves the Christian more than He loves the atheist. But even though we might be passionate about this belief, it is misplaced. It simply is not true.

Just as we dare not categorize sin, neither should we categorize Good Deeds. An abundance of obedience might please God (compare Romans 8:8), but all our good deeds do not increase God’s love for us. Yet it seems to me that many Christians believe this. They work and serve and make sacrifices with great zeal, yet it is misplaced. They either puff themselves up or tear themselves down by comparing their work with the work of other Christians. These people believe quite passionately that they are either earning God’s favor, or are searching for excuses why their life is a wreck. They believe that they have either earned God’s love or deserve God’s anger. Both are wrong.

Paul claims that there was no distinction between Jew and Gentile (see verse 12). All have sinned, both Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:23). But all are loved (Romans 5:8). And all might be saved through faith (Romans 10:13). We give God the glory when we submit all of ourselves to Him. But we do not earn salvation, nor do we earn His love. He has already demonstrated His love while we were still sinners. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). You are already loved. Stop trying to earn the Father’s love and start living believing that you are loved.

Predestined - September 15th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Sometimes it seems to me that there are more people rejecting God than accepting God. I have cousins, former classmates from school, aunts and uncles, former coworkers, nieces and nephews that appear to be turned away from God. And it breaks my heart. I don’t try to pass judgment on their salvation, but I just wish there was some way to convince them to respond to God, something the Apostle Paul wishes as well.

As Paul has taught us, salvation comes from God, and it happens when we believe by faith that Christ died for our sins. But how does that belief process begin? What causes a person to fall on their knees and confess their sin in the first place? I mean, we have all seen this; two people hear the same message yet one turns away while the other turns to God. Why does that happen? Some people believe it has to do with election - God willed the one to be saved but willed that the other would reject salvation. Other people feel that we do the choosing; as if the offer of salvation is presented and we have the freedom to choose or reject that offer.

Whether you believe in predestination or free will, it is essential that you and I realize that God is the One who makes this initial step in a person's life. Election is not a human act or achievement. God is the One who convicts, calls, illuminates the truth in our heart, and enables us to find faith. Whether this initiative is resistible or irresistible is where theologians disagree. John Calvin said it was irresistible. When God initiates this process within a person's heart they will be saved. Jacob Arminius said we still have the freedom to choose. If we were not free, then we could not be held accountable for our thoughts, words, or actions.

So whether grace is irresistible or resistible, the point is that we don't reach up to heaven, God reaches down into our hearts and ignites a spark when we hear the Good News preached. Once that happens, the debate is whether we have the ability to choose (free will) or that we will be saved (predestined or elected). However, the debate between predestination and free will does nothing to reach those who are still lost or those whose hearts remain hard toward God. Making up our mind about predestination will not lead someone to Christ. So it is important that we have a healthy perspective about this debate. About the only thing this theological debate will accomplish is to bring peace to those who grieve over an unsaved friend or family member. And this, I believe it what Paul was trying to address in Romans chapter 9 (Read Romans 9).

Grieved that many of his fellow Jews have rejected salvation through Christ (Romans 9:1-5), Paul points out that God had revealed Himself to them. But even though the People of Israel had been chosen, many still rejected. This is an important lesson. Of all the nations in the world, God elected to reveal Himself to Israel. Yet many of Israel's descendants rejected God. They rejected Him in the Old Testament and here we see them rejecting Him in the New Testament. But Paul is not talking about an individual in this section of Romans (specifically Romans 9:6-13). He is speaking about a nation.

In choosing Jacob over Esau, God was making a choice to fulfill His will through Jacob’s descendants, not Esau’s. God made a choice based upon His divine will and plan, not based upon human achievement or good deeds. In verse 13 Esau was rejected as the one through whom the line to Jesus would continue. It had nothing to do with Esau being rejected as a person. It had nothing to do with God rejecting the descendant of Esau. As a matter of fact the descendants of Esau were present in Jerusalem during Pentecost when God poured out His Spirit into the church. Acts 2:11 says there were Arabs present. They were the descendant of Esau. There is a good chance that some of these Arabs heard Peter's sermon, were convicted, and baptized as believers. So God's election of Israel was a matter of choice. Israel could not boast that they had earned this or deserved this. It was simply part of God's plan. And He worked in ways to fulfill His plan.

Paul gives another example of how God elects people to be the instruments through which His will is accomplished (Romans 9:14-24). God used the Pharaoh and his hard heart to fulfill His plan for Israel. Yes, Pharaoh’s heart was already hard (“There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God” – Romans 3:11). God’s plan was for Israel to leave Egypt and settle in the Promised Land. If the Pharaoh had a soft heart toward the Jews, they would not have had the desire to leave. God used the Pharaoh’s hard heart to accomplish His will. The same could be said about Paul. His heart was hardened toward Christ and toward the gospel earlier in his life. Yet from the stoning of Stephen and Paul’s persecution of the early disciples, we see the Apostles taking the message of Jesus out to other nations. In other words, God desired that the message of Jesus would be spread throughout the world. But had there been no persecution, the disciples of Jesus would have been content to stay in Jerusalem. God chose to use unsaved Paul to accomplish His purpose. Later, God revealed Himself to Paul and chose to use Him for another purpose. The main emphasis here is not on salvation, but being used to fulfill God's plan. Some are used to reveal His glory and some are not. Even the potter/clay reference does not speak about rejecting. Paul is not saying some jars are treasures and some are garbage. He is saying that there is a difference in the way they are used. Neither jar was useless.

The point is that God elects according to His will and His timing (Romans 9:25-29). In the past God did not reveal Himself to the Gentile people. But that did not mean they would stay that way for eternity. As a matter of fact, Paul mentions several Old Testament scriptures that hint at God's plan to include them in on His promises. But just as some Jews would choose to reject God, the Gentiles would be warned not to reject Him as well (Romans 11), even though God has chosen to reveal Himself to them.

The whole point to this section is this: God choses to reveal Himself to some and not to others, but it has nothing to do with whether they deserve this or not. It has everything to do with His will and His timing. Based upon the character of God, we know that He is not mean-spirited, vindictive, or angry. God, as revealed in the Old Testament and as revealed in Christ Jesus, is filled with goodness, justice, fairness, and love. And God has predestined that those to whom He has revealed Himself and who have responded to His invitation, that they might be conformed into the image of the Son (Romans 8:29). This is the heart of predestination. God intended all along that those who respond to His invitation of grace would become justified and glorified.

Predestination speaks of God’s plan to transform believers into the image of Christ. It does not speak of God’s permanent rejection of an individual or permanent acceptance of an individual. And Paul’s life is the perfect example. Based upon his actions, we could have judged Paul as predestined for judgment when we first meet him in Acts 8. Yet here in Romans we see a whole different man. What was a vessel of wrath has become a vessel of honor. And God is praised because of the transformation.

You and I cannot know what God knows. We cannot look into a person’s heart and determine if they are ready to believe or if they ever will believe, even if someone were to rise from the dead. Only God knows this. And we do not know if God is planning to glorify Himself by waiting until a future day to reveal Himself to someone; to transform a common vessel into one of honor and glory. So perhaps what appears to be God's rejection of someone is in reality God simply waiting until the time is right. Or maybe He is waiting for one of us to be His messenger – something Paul will address in the next chapter.

As I think about the people I know who seem to have rejected God or those who simply do not care, I must keep in mind the character of God. I do not believe God purposefully desires that someone be condemned to hell. From God’s own mouth He has said, “As I live!” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). I do believe that God will raise someone up to be used by Him in order to accomplish His will, however, that is completely different that God predetermining their condemnation. So as said before, it’s important that we stop worrying if grace is resistible or irresistible, and instead make a choice to respond when God reveals Himself to us. If you have felt the tug of God within your heart, by all means open yourself up to Him. You will not be disappointed. And for our unsaved friends, continue to pray. Pray that when God does reveal Himself to them that they would be ready for the invitation; when God invites them to enter into a relationship with Him through Christ Jesus the Lord.

Uncondemned - September 8th, 2013 sermon

By Pastor Greg

‎At the end of a revival in Chicago, Dwight Moody noticed a young man still seated in a pew in the back of the church: his face in his hands and obviously deeply troubled. Being the compassionate man that he was, Moody walked back, placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder, and asked “What’s troubling you son?” But instead of the expected response of conversion, the young man replied “Sometimes I don’t think I am a Christian. Sometimes I don’t act like one or even feel like one”. Moody sat down next to him, opened his Bible to John 5:24. He asked the young man to read the verse. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life”. [1] Moody asked the young man if he believed and accepted Jesus as Lord, and the young man said that he did, to which Moody asked “Are you a Christian?” But the young man replied “Sometimes I think I am, but other times I’m not so sure”. Moody asked the young man to read the verse again, and then asked the same question: “Are you a Christian?” But still the young man had doubts. He began to mention circumstances and trials in his life. He mentioned his struggle with faith and in living the way a Christian should. As he began listing all the reasons that caused his doubt, Moody interrupted the young man and said, “See here, whom are you doubting?”

There are appropriate times in our lives to focus on our sin. Without conviction there can be no salvation. But once a person has confessed their sin and believed in the work of Jesus upon the cross, there needs to be separation from that sin; an understanding that it is no longer held against them. But from time to time a believer has a tendency to dwell on the sin and forget the salvation. Too often we remind ourselves of who we were. Sometimes others remind us of whom we were as well. But this is not true of God. If we have heard the promises of God, believed that in Jesus we have salvation, and have confessed Him as Lord and Savior, there is no condemnation. A person is no longer judged and has moved from death to life.

I believe what we read in Romans is Paul’s own personal struggle with condemnation. I believe Paul struggled to put his past behind him and instead embrace the affirmation of God. I say this because the words of Paul at the end of chapter 8 seem to be very personal - as if Paul was reminding himself of God’s magnificent promise; a reminder to not doubt the promises of God no matter what he did, how he felt, or what others might say about him (read Romans 8:31-39).

Paul is not talking about a prosperity gospel here. Give us all things in verse 32 is not speaking about possessions, wealth, and prosperity, but grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace. Even though God would be justified to condemn us when we stumble in our walk or are weak in our battle over the flesh, He chooses instead to see the righteousness of Christ. When we are weak; when we stumble and fail, God listens to Jesus who is at the Father's right hand pleading on our behalf. Paul suggests that believers should never see trials and hardships as God's punishment for our sins. Either God permits our trials and sufferings to strengthen and conform us, or He uses what is evil to bring about that which is good (compare the response of Joseph in Genesis 50:20).

Missing from this section is the thought that a Christian will never make mistakes or never fail. Christians do fail. Christian do sin. Nowhere are we taught that as a Christian we will live perfect lives. Oh, we are to strive to live as holy people, but we will slip up and mess up from time to time. However, even though we may sin while we are believers, that sin will not change God’s promise to us. God’s declaration about us never changes. Even though the world may accuse us of being hypocrites when we fail to live as a Christian, and even though we may condemn ourselves when we fail and fall in our Christian walk, God will not summon us to court and accuse us. That’s because Christ has already paid the penalty.

Doubt of salvation and self-condemnation should not be found in the heart of a believer. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should fear no evil. Why, you may ask? It’s because God is with us. It’s because God is for us. It’s because Christ died for us. It’s because God has declared us innocent. It’s because Christ intercedes for us. It’s because Christ loves us. And nothing can or will keep God from loving us. Nothing. Yet how often do you struggle believing that God is for you? How often do you doubt that you are really saved; really a Christian? Do you ever wonder this? Do you ever look at the situations and struggles’ in your life and think that God must be pretty upset with you right now? Do you ever feel that God is against you because you’re living a miserable life filled with suffering, are afraid of death, or are under attack from the adversary? Well, you are not alone. I struggle with this, and I believe Paul struggled with this as well, which is why he needed this reminder. If God is for us, who is against us?

As a Christian, you and I must live each day accepting this and believing this regardless of the circumstances. And even though others may condemn, or circumstances may give us the impression we are being condemned, we do not stand condemned before the Father. This He has promised. Because of Christ we stand before Him as His child. This He has promised. He wraps us in festival robes and pours out His love upon us. This He has promised. In all things and through all things, don’t ever forget this promise of God. If God gave us His best while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), imagine what we will receive from Him now that we are believers!!!

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^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Jn 5:24). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Redemption - September 1st, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Often times the message Jesus proclaimed is called the Good News. And perhaps you’ve wondered what that Good News really is. According to the Apostle Paul, in the book of Romans, the Good News is that from the very beginning God had a plan to restore humanity’s broken relationship with Him. It begins by revealing our sin, condemning our sin, and judging our sin. And although we object to being judged, our actions demonstrate our sinfulness. We might argue that God’s judgment is unfair, but in the end His judgment is justified. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard of living. But . . . rather than leave us eternally separated, God established a way to restore that broken relationship. Because of our faith in Jesus, we can finally be at peace with God. And this peace results in a new life, a new master, in being conformed and in being comforted. God grants us His Spirit which equips us with the ability to become sanctified; set apart and holy, and to act in ways that please God.

This is the Good News found in Jesus the Messiah. Because of His sacrifice upon the cross, we have been delivered from the penalty of sin, and because of the Holy Spirit we have been delivered from the power of sin. Yet there is more. God’s plan for humanity does not stop there. Paul actually speaks of a day when we will be delivered from the presence of sin; when sin is cut away, no longer having its influence in our lives. There is to be a glorious redemption for those who have placed their faith in Jesus (Read Romans 8:18-25).

There is a central point Paul is making in this sections, and that can be seen in the word groaning. Creation groans. We groan. The Spirit groans. But what are these groaning's? It is the longing to be free from the presence of sin, and for God to finally fulfill His promise. There is a longing to make things whole again. There is a deep desire within us to be holy and set apart, and a growing weariness within us as we are daily confronted with sin, death, and moral decay. We groan and desire to become the kind of person that honors God. And yet even though there is the desire, sin is still present. And we are faced with it every day.

My heart aches. My heart aches because I know that life can be, should be, so much better than it is. Some days I feel powerless to overcome the darkness around me and within me. From the depth of my soul and with every fiber of my being I long for the day when God’s great plan will finally be realized and the world will be free of sin. But not only the world, for you and I and all who have confessed their sin and believe in the work of Jesus upon the cross, we too will be finally free from sin. And the Good News is that this is what God had planned all along.

How deep the Father’s love is for us that he would not merely free us from sin’s penalty and sin’s power, but that He planned all along to free us from sin’s presence. This was God’s plan all along. He predestined (or predetermined) this from the very beginning. For those who have been adopted into the family of God through their faith in Jesus Christ, God planned from the very beginning that they would be conformed into the image of the Son, that the penalty of their sin would be covered by the Son, and that they would be glorified when sin’s presence is removed.

Oh how I long for that day; to finally be free from the presence of sin within this world and within myself. What an amazing day that will be! We will no longer struggle to do what is right. Overwhelming victory will be ours. On that day we will no longer see ourselves through the eyes of sin, but through the eyes of God. And on that day we will see ourselves as God sees us. We will not be identified by our weaknesses, our sin, our hurts, and our sadness. We will know ourselves and be known as the person God intended us to be all along. This is why there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God sees us already as we will be, not just as we are.

What Paul is talking about in this section speaks about God’s plan of redemption, which means to purchase back something which was lost. And as Paul points out here it is not merely our souls which have been redeemed, but our bodies as well (verse 23). However, it is not just humanity that will be redeemed but also all of creation. One day even this earth will be free from the presence of sin. Just as we are promised a new glorified body, so too will there be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

God causes redemption to happen. He causes sanctification. And He planned this from the very beginning. And a believer can be assured that this has happened, is happening, and will happen. So no matter what a believer might face in this life, they must persevere knowing that regardless of the circumstances, the fact remains that God has adopted us as His children, and that He has confirmed this by pouring out His Spirit. We have been, are being, and will be redeemed. And nothing will ever keep that from happening. That, my friend, is the Good News.

Epilogue: this section of Romans, along with chapter 9, leaves many theologians with a difficult question. Where does the desire to begin this whole process come from in the first place? What happens in a person’s heart to convict them that their sin has separated them from God? You see, a person who has no desire to restore their relationship with God will not begin this whole process that leads to redemption. Theologians throughout the ages have endlessly debated this topic. It’s one of those questions we wish we could ask Jesus. “Hey Jesus, so did I become saved because you predestined me to be saved? And what about the person who seems to really hate You? Did God make them hate You?” But somehow I get the feeling that even if you and I did have the opportunity to ask Jesus about predestination and free will, I suspect Jesus would respond by saying “What is that to you? As for you, follow me” (John 21:22).

By focusing on predestination and free will, I believe we miss the main point here. Regardless if God predestined you to be saved or if you have the free will to be saved is not the point Paul is trying to make. His point is that God intended all along to purchase you back, all of you; mind, soul, and body. He intended to free this world of sin. And honestly, maybe we should be reading this section in a positive note instead a negative one. Instead of focusing on who is excluded, maybe we should be looking at who is included. Maybe we should be praising God that once former sinners are now hungering and thirsting for righteousness. I can picture Paul pointing to the repentant Gentile and asking the Jew, "You can deny it all you want, but the truth is that God planned all along to bring these people into His Kingdom. He didn't just choose you. He chose them as well. And we know that He has because He placed within them the same Spirit He placed in you".