Sunday, April 17, 2022

Easter, by way of Romans, chapter 8 - sermon given today at Lake Marburg Baptist Church

 



We are celebrating Easter today, the Resurrection of Christ, the turning point in human history, in mankind’s relationship with his Creator. We should be celebrating this every day but generally it is the most important day of the year for us. It makes Christmas have meaning for without the Resurrection the Bible would just be a book of interesting stories and difficult philosophy. The Resurrection of Christ and the salvation made possible to us by it is the most important thing you can ever understand, accept, or believe. This is what its all about in God’s ministry of reconciling mankind, or the part He knows will be reconciled, to Himself.

 

Romans 8:1 ¶  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

This is an amazing chapter in the Bible that should give comfort to every Christian who reads it. Unfortunately it has been misused by too many preachers to try to control their congregations with guilt and self-contempt. This is a contrast between saved and unsaved not someone’s idea of what it means to be a good Christian or a bad Christian.

If you are in Christ, if you have received Him as your Saviour, then you are not condemned, and there is no condemnation in you. It is not literally saying there is no condemnation in you as long as you are a good boy or girl. It is saying that those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned but eternally saved. Those who are in Christ Jesus walk after the Spirit. It also doesn’t say that the Christian is not accused or that the Christian has done nothing worthy of condemnation. It doesn’t say there is no affliction, no suffering, no chastening, or no tribulation for the Christian. It says you stand uncondemned because of Christ, not because of anything you did.

The Law could not accomplish this. It was wholly unable to do this because of our sinful flesh. We can be justified and sanctified in Christ and not be held guilty for our sin by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Paul explains here clearly why those who have not received the Spirit of God and of Christ, the Holy Spirit in its function and operation, the very mind of God, named the Holy Ghost in His person elsewhere, those who have not received this Spirit cannot please God because they are in their flesh, judged and tainted by a sin nature. If the Spirit of God dwells in a person they do please God because of Christ. Here is evidence that a person has that Spirit abiding in him or her. First, the promise, then the evidence.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

Here is what God does in separating flesh from soul in His own spiritual circumcision.

 

Colossians 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

Romans 8:10 ¶  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 

This is a call to salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

Again, as before, Paul makes it clear that you, Christian, are freed from the power of sin. By Christ’s resurrection by the One who created us we will be raised from the dead, given life, quickened. Our current flesh cannot please God and by the fact that we have the Spirit of God, the mind of God, in us we can be raised. Here is evidence of the mechanism, why a Christian can be resurrected as they will be. Because the Spirit of God lives in us we will rise, be raised, from the dead.

We are debtors to the Spirit that will raise us up so that every man and woman on earth owes it to God to trust in Christ. We are the children of God because of the Spirit of God dwelling in us. We have received this Spirit of adoption. The adoption, as will be explained, is the redemption of our body, the purchased possession made anew in Christ and like Christ. Abba, Father, according to Strong’s was used often in prayer as we use Father even today. It was an Aramaic word that came to have a sacred meaning for the Jews of the Greek-speaking world regarding God.

Romans 8:17 ¶  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 

As children of God we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ of all things visible and invisible. This is our destiny. The question in verse 17 is one of suffering. Must we suffer the physical agony of persecution and death as Christ did to have that inheritance? This has confused some in the past.

It is absurd for us to think that every saved Christian has been martyred or murdered to assure their salvation. Certainly, there were martyrs in the past who looked at their violent death at the hands of others as a way to obtain eternal life. In fact, I have read that in some early persecutions there was altogether too much volunteering to die going on so that pastors had to tell people that was not necessary or even acceptable to practically ask to be killed. Persecution would come to them without them seeking martyrdom.

Still, we must understand the context in which this is said. The early Christian lived in a world that hated them and hated Christ as it hates us but in a way we cannot understand with our Constitution’s Bill of Rights which supposedly guarantees religious freedom or even the modern belief in more civilized societies that all religions should be respected and allowed to practice. See the commands and expectations to suffer persecution for Christ.

Let’s focus on the word suffer and its derivations when it means, not to permit or allow something as in some contexts, but to endure affliction, persecution, and tribulation. One of the cruelest demands made against Christians under torture was to renounce Christ then as it is now in countries around the world.

PhIlippians 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

 

2Thessalonians 1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

 

1Timothy 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

 

2Timothy 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound…12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

2Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

If you live as a Christian it is sure that at some point in your life you will endure persecution for it, even if it is mild.

But, the context of verse 18 is the present time that Paul is living. You not being permitted to put up a scripture verse in your office cubicle hardly compares to what early Christians or Christians in Muslim or communist countries had and have to now endure.

We wait selfishly for a good reason earnestly expecting and in the hope of the receiving of a resurrection body that will not suffer and die. All of our lives we are subject to the bondage of death, a death that is under the power of Satan, the Adversary.

 

Hebrews 2: 14 ¶  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

As verse 22 makes clear the entire creation groans in pain and suffering as a result of man’s sin.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

But we wait expectantly in hope for a new body.

 

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

 

See this verse also on a physical resurrection from Job, written between 1500 to 2000BC.

 

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

 

And a thousand years later see this verse on a physical resurrection from Isaiah.

 

Isaiah 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

 

And then, a few hundred years later, as Daniel writes under the reigns of the last Babylonian emperors and the first Persian.

Daniel 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

Keeping this understanding of the ancient Jew and Gentile before the Jew came into being (Job) read the “dry bones” prophesy in Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel 37:12  Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

 

See the following on the rapture or translation, the Biblical term, of the church;

 

1Thessalonians 4:13 ¶  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Our current flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life. It is just not possible for it to do so.

1Corinthians 15:1 ¶  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

 

    12 ¶  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

 

    20 ¶  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Fatherwhen he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and

drink; for to morrow we die. 33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

 

    35 ¶  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36  Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38  But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39  All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41  Thereis one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

 

    51 ¶  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

    58 ¶  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

So, in order to live forever we must have a body different than one of mortal flesh and blood. We can be resurrected because inside each of us, if we have received Christ, the very Spirit of God dwells. Because of that we will be resurrected and with a different, spiritual body which we can enter into eternity with the LORD who created us.

This is our expectation and hope, one vital understanding of the meaning of Easter, the resurrection of Christ celebrated, whether it is worshipped once a year, every Sunday, or every day, as it should be. We will triumph over death by the One who resides in us. We have that hope.

Romans 8:26 ¶  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Paul says here that many times we cannot even pray for what we should or as we ought to and the Holy Spirit opens up that communication channel with the throne and says the things that need to be said. The Holy Spirit, the very mind of God, makes the throne of the universe just a whisper away.

Verse 28 is a very important verse and a good introduction to what comes next. According to the sentence structure people who love God are the called according to His purpose. It’s not rocket science.

Where else are people referred to as the called? In chapter 1 it was the Christians at Rome whom Paul was writing to as well as Paul Himself.

Romans 1:1 ¶  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace

from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

When you believe you are called to something, called to be saints, sanctified ones set apart for God. Here in this passage in Romans 8 loving God precedes the calling.

In Paul’s argument in 1Corinthians 1 the calling is for those that believe. It is not that the wise men after the flesh, mighty, or noble men can’t be saved but they often are too full of themselves to prostrate themselves at the foot of the Cross throwing themselves on God’s mercy.

1Corinthians 1:17 ¶  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18  For the

preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

In fact, those who are called are also elected, known beforehand by God, by virtue of their calling.

1Peter 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

2Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

And yet, that we would be sanctified, those who believe, was from before the world began, based on His foreknowledge. We are chosen that we would be holy and without blame before him in love.

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 

When we are saved we are said to be sealed and the Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, earnest money, so to speak.

2Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

            Now let’s remember this statement Paul makes later regarding God’s perfect will.

 

1Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

So, let’s put it together. God wants all men to be saved. He did not make any for the express purpose of damning them. While God calls all men to Christ only He knows beforehand who will receive Him. Those who receive Christ have a calling and are called by God to serve Him and love Him.

We are about to see what we are predestinated to be and how we can be predestinated to anything.

But, to conclude with this passage, what does it mean all things work together for good?

 

The Bible is primarily a book to us, a conversation if you will, from God to us. It is the revelation of His ministry, God’s ministry, of reconciling mankind to Himself. Hence whatever brings us closer to God is good. This is not about you getting the job you want or having a good day with no nuisances. Either something draws you closer to God or it pushes you further away. All things draw us closer to God if we are saved, the chosen, the called, the saints, the sanctified ones who belong to God. Unfortunately, that magical 1-2-3 repeat after me mantra that passes for  salvation has fooled many people into thinking they’ve made a commitment when they haven’t even considered Christ’s resurrection, the belief in which is the foundation of our salvation as stated in Romans 10:9-10. If a painful event in your life can push you away from God you need to immerse yourself in His words in His book to learn the truth about reality and your life. I recommend really digging into Job. Then pray, ask for guidance, and submit yourself humbly to His will as revealed in the Bible and in reality.

Romans 8:29 ¶  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 

Not only did God not create any human beings specifically for the purpose of casting them into Hell and then the Lake of Fire but those that He knew would receive Him in the form of Jesus Christ as their Saviour when they receive Christ are predestined to something after they are saved. That is, to be like Christ, the brother or sister of Christ by virtue of being conformed to His image.

1John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

And it is those people, those born-again followers of Christ, whom He calls to follow Him in holiness, good works, faith, and trust. And it is those people whom He justifies before Himself. And it is those people whom He justifies that He glorifies with Himself.

Brothers and sisters, you are now saved from the power of sin. You have been saved from the penalty of sin. You will be saved from even the presence of sin. This is your destiny, to be glorified with God by God.

1Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

 

Romans 8:31 ¶  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

In this perhaps greatest passage in the Bible on eternal security, that those in whom dwell the Spirit of Christ and God, the Holy Spirit, known as the Holy Ghost, cannot be lost.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give

unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30  I and my Father are one.

 

See here in verse 39 with creature as a created thing. Even the ancient Greeks like Plato understood that the forms we see and understand in this world have their perfect, eternal counterparts which first existed in the world of the spirit. It should not confuse us then that something like height or depth being spoken of as a creature. These things, first as ideas and thoughts, exist first in the mind of God and then in the physical world.

The point is though that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate those who have God’s Spirit in them from His love.

At Easter, celebrating, and I hope you are celebrating in your heart, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and by way of our faith and belief in that, our trusting in His righteousness and not our own to get to Heaven, to eternal glory and life with the One who made us, you realize your salvation. I hope you see that it is secure. Don’t let preachers try to talk you out of it to control you. Trust in the Lord. Put your confidence in Him. And above all things;

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  

12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

 

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