News:

Help us Congratulate the Winner of Mini Challenge #106~My Favorite Things
Here
Congratulations Fotobirder!
Bird Photos In Snow

Main Menu

Random Image

Another Easter poster from #smallgiftsministries

Owner: Mistmann

Mini Challenge Winners

Help us Congratulate the Winner of Mini Challenge #106~My Favorite Things
Here
Congratulations Fotobirder!
Bird Photos In Snow

Today's Verse

Site Menu

Shoutbox

Oldiesmann: I'm not aware of any Jenny. Not sure why activity has died down on this site so much though 2023-06-12, 00:06:36

JennyW: Also, does anyone know other photo sharing sites that are Christian? 2023-05-16, 08:47:03

JennyW: Hello Everyone! I really miss activity on this site. I've been discouraged by photography sites where you have to sort through so much explicit content in order to see photos that truly glorify God. I'd love to see this site pick up again. 2023-05-16, 08:46:36

Janet: Carol, I am just reading this.  So sorry for your loss, glad your beloved Don knew the Lord and you have the assurance of his eternity  and that you WILL see him again.  Much love to you.  Janet 2022-06-18, 08:49:36

Oldiesmann: So sorry for your loss Carol. Praying for you and your family :( 2022-05-01, 17:13:05

Carol: My husband Don is with the angels.....Our family was able to hold  ourselves together for the last moments.  Juar rhoufhr you might want to know. 2022-04-29, 23:35:15

Carol: Thankful:  Don is home from hospital.  I found him unconscious with head outside on the floor and the rest was in the shower.  At the same moment, one son was walking through the front door to visit.  Two fire trucks came racing in and they took over After 2021-12-29, 22:01:26

JennyW: Autumn is shaping up to be quite beautiful this year! 2021-10-02, 12:24:03

JudyB: I will be back this evening to start July's thoughts..... The wedding was beautiful! 2021-07-02, 11:51:09

JudyB: June is finally started! 2021-06-07, 12:34:35


Your Day in Romans - 16:25-27

Started by Al Moak, January 17, 2005, 01:47:43 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Al Moak

The Twenty-Fifth Sermon
Romans 16:25-27
Establishing Christians


The words before us today are nothing less than a joyfully emotional outburst.  And they're they apostle's words!  They express his gladness and praise to God - because of his confidence that God can and will establish the faith and Christian lives  of these ones to whom he's writing.

To adequately understand Paul's feelings we need to return to the beginning of his letter.  He had said, "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established - that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."  Oh how he longed to come and minister to them personally, to pray with and for them - and whatever else it would take to be used of God for their benefit!

That was always Paul's great longing.  He loved them for Christ's sake, and he loved them so much that it enitirely consumed him.  His love moved  him to write and to explain to these Romans all the marvelous truths of the Gospel, that they might grow thereby.

But, now, as he came to the close of this "theology for the average Christian," he reflected on the fact that the letter he had before him contained the answer to his own most deeply felt desire.  His great desire was their establishment, their maturity in his Lord.  But then, as he thought about the glories of his sovereign Lord, he realized that  he himself could never satisfy that desire, but that it was that wonderful God Himself Who could and would do it.

See what he says: "now unto HIM Who is able to establish you . . .!"  The very God he's been describing IS the great Establisher!  Suddenly Paul is flooded with confidence that this is GOD'S work, and that HE will do it!  It sends him off into a great burst of praise.  He fairly shouts, "to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever!"

We should feel the same way.  This sovereign God Who is able to establish the Roman Christians is also able to establish us.  There are three things we need to realize from this doxology: 1) it is God Who does any and all establishing; 2) He does it by means of the preaching of Christ; 3) the glory for it belongs entirely to God.  Let's look at these one at a time.

First of all, we need to understand that it is God Who does the establishing.  Errors about this lead to many difficulties.  Sometimes Christians may become frustrated or even despondent because they've experienced so little growth, so little change for the better in their relationship to Christ - they begin to wonder if they have any life in themselves at all.

But the problem is that they've forgotten Who is the Establisher. They've therefore tried to do it themselves - more Bible reading, strong attempts at self reformation, a self denial that borders on asceticism - all are used in a vain attempt to become better Christians.

What's needed, though, is simply an admission of inability, a surrender that says, "I'm unable.  I can't.  I'm an incorrigible sinner, Lord, worthy only of Hell!"  What Paul told the Philippians is true for us as well.  He said, "Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."  He began it, He will continue it, and He will perfect it.  It isn't enough to surrender to Him once at the beginning of our Christian lives, but it must be a continual surrender, a continual dependence upon Him and upon Him alone.  If it requires more frustration and more failures to bring us to (needed) brokenness and dependence upon Him, then that will be our lot.  But even in those circumstances He's doing His establishing work!

Or we may become impatient with our brother or sister in Christ.  We may wonder why they haven't made better progress.  Again we are forgetting that it is their Lord alone Who can establish them.  We need to pray for them and encourage them - but leave it all to Him.

Secondly, we need to be aware that the establishing of Christians isn't a magical act that occurs without our awareness.  God uses means to accomplish it.  See what His apostle says here: " . . . according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations . . ."  God uses the means of the Gospel.  He establishes each one's relationship to Christ in accordance with the Gospel Paul preached.  In other words, He will deal with each one exactly as Paul has written of it here in Romans - He will justify them by faith and sanctify them by His Spirit.  He will do it all through the means of His Church and their preaching of Jesus Christ - that He is Lord and Savior.  Those are the means - the only means - that God will use to establish His people.

And He alone receives the glory.  He receives it not only because He is the sole Establisher, but also because, when it's accomplished, it results in people who reflects that glory.  God's work results in people who exhibit God's Character, God's love, God's joy, wisdom, and goodness - all that He is.  Not only so, but His establishing work fills their mouths with His praise.  In this too He is glorified.

With these things in mind, it should come as no surprise that Paul is moved to an outburst of joy and praise.  We too should be so moved.  God WILL establish us!  God WILL establish our brothers and sisters in Christ!  It IS happening, even now!


Chris & Margit Saunders


Al Moak

IMHO, Finney's preaching exhibited a very false, very dangerous "gospel."

Chris & Margit Saunders

A hyper arminian "feelings"  belief!