Romans (Part 42) - Something Certain
Every human heart is longing for what is certain.
What is truly certain in this fallen world?
[Hebrews 9:27 ESV]
… it is appointed for man to die once,
and after that comes judgment,
Is there something certain that we can cling to,
that is able to give us true HOPE in this life?
Yes!
The Bible provides the answer. In Romans 15:
It shows us WHO can give real HOPE.
It shows us the GUARANTEE of it (how we can be certain of it).
And It shows us HOW we access it.
[Romans 15:8-13 ESV]
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
[Romans 15:7 ESV]
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
Every human heart is longing for what is certain.
These Verses show us:
WHO can give an unfailing HOPE.
These Verses show the GUARANTEE of it… (how we can be certain of it).
And these Verses show us HOW we access this hope.
WHO GIVES HOPE
[Romans 15:13 ESV]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
WHO gives true HOPE?
__GOD does!
… God of hope…
[Romans 10:9 ESV]
9 … 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.
[1 John 1:9 ESV]
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[1 John 5:4 ESV]
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
[Romans 8:18 ESV]
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
[Romans 8:28 ESV]
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
[Romans 8:38-39 ESV]
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Romans 13:11 ESV]
11 … salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
[1 John 3:2 ESV]
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be
has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears
we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
[1 Corinthians 15:52-53 ESV]
52 … For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body
must put on immortality.
[Revelation 21:3-4 ESV]
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
God gives HOPE and He does it through His promises.
THE GUARANTEE OF HOPE
[Romans 15:8-9 ESV]
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy…
What is the guarantee of this hope?
How can I be certain that God will do what He promises?
… Christ became a servant…
[Philippians 2:6-8 ESV]
5 … Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus proved that GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!
Jesus, God in flesh, displayed that GOD IS MERCIFUL!
Christ became a servant…
Putting on display for the world: that God does what He says!
[2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV]
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
GOD GIVES HOPE.
JESUS CHRIST IS the GUARANTEE of HOPE.
HOW WE ACCESS HOPE
[Romans 15:13 ESV]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
How do we access the hope that God gives?
in believing… GOD.
[Nehemiah 8:10 ESV]
10 … the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
[John 14:27 ESV]
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you…
[Isaiah 26:3 ESV]
3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Believe God.
… peace without God is stupefaction,
joy without God is madness,
and hope without God is presumption. —Charles Spurgeon
If you’re looking for Something Certain in a world where everything is shaking…
It’s Jesus Christ!
[John 14:6 ESV]
6 … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
[Romans 10:9 ESV]
9 … 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.
Will you?
[Romans 15:13 ESV]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.