David Henneke's Podcast

Psalm 85

DUE TO SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES,  WE WERE UNABLE TO LIVE STREAM OUR SERVICE AND THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THE SERMON WERE NOT RECORDED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. 

The question, “What must we do to be saved?”, is nowhere in Scripture stated more clearly than in this text. Paul tells us that there are two conditions that must be met in order for someone to be saved. The first condition is to confess and the second condition is to believe.Do you…Believe in your HEART that God raised Him from the DEAD?Will you…Confess with your MOUTH that Jesus is your LORD?

In Romans 9:19-29, Paul is going to address and answer further objections to God’s Sovereignty over Salvation. In verses 1-18, we addressed a major reality that if God were only to exercise His Perfect Justice then we would ALL be in trouble…no one would ever receive Salvation, because every person who has ever lived deserves nothing but the wrath of God. Therefore, it is hardly a matter of injustice for God to show mercy to SOME but not to ALL. Salvation is an expression of His Divine mercy and compassion.

Our security in Christ is an established fact. Nothing can separate us from His love! In Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation or separation! Since God is for us, who can be against us?

While we might not be able to fully comprehend God’s omniscient eternal plan, we can believe in what the Bible clearly says—every aspect of salvation, originates with God. Salvation is empowered by God’s Grace Alone, thru Faith Alone in Christ Alone.

Since salvation has nothing to do with our own efforts, since salvation is purely by Grace Alone, thru Faith Alone in Christ Alone, then… why does God save any of us? Since salvation is not based on my work or my activity, then… what is its purpose?The purpose of Salvation is so that Believers would be “conformed to the image of His Son” and that Christ would be “the firstborn among many brothers”.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”What do we know? As Children of God, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that every aspect of our lives is in God’s hands. We know that every aspect of our lives will be divinely used by the Lord for His Glory and for our Good.

Although we have been redeemed and we are absolutely secure in our adoption as God’s children, we still struggle, We still face adversity, hardships and times of great suffering and there are times when we do not even know how to pray in the midst of those circumstances. The Holy Spirit knows both the mind of God and the mind of His children. The Holy Spirit works to facilitate the communication that takes place between God the Father & His beloved children so that we can walk in obedience to the word of God, the will of God and the heart of God. That’s why the answer to our prayers often looks completely different than we ever imagined.

Suffering and struggling are a refining process through which we all must pass. As we pass thru the Seasons of suffering, we learn to expand our trust in God and we learn how to rest & rely upon the care & control of God. In verse 17, Paul stated that believers will share in Christ’s suffering. In verse 18, he completes that thought by stating that the sufferings we now face are completely overshadowed by the glory that awaits those who are in Christ Jesus. The present suffering is temporary, while the future glory is eternal!

In the 1st part of Chapter 8, Paul has given us a beautiful overview of God’s work in believers’ lives (1–11). God has fully participated in our salvation and He continues to participate in our sanctification. The fact that we have been regenerated and that we have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit do NOT in themselves guarantee holy living, but they do make holy living possible. In fact, in this section (12-17), Paul emphasizes our responsibility to eliminate sin from our lives. Fulfilling the obligation to “put to death” the desires that draw us away from God is only possible by the Spirit ……….because We cannot do this on our own!

A Psalm of Thanksgiving