The Unbreakable Chain of Redemption
by Paul Tautges | June 3, 2019 7:58 am
Last month, the
legendary actress and singer, Doris Day, died at the age of 97. This means that
many of you don’t know her name, since the peak years of her career were the
1950s. But some of you are like me…probably…in that you are too young to have grown
up with her music, but old enough to have a mom who was a Doris Day fan. Because
of my mom’s love for her, I remember hearing one song in particular…perhaps her
best known song…Que será, será. For it she won an Academy Award and was
inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Que será, será means
“whatever will be, will be.” Though it is closest to Spanish in translation,
the phrase is actually Italian by origin, and later was added to the lexicon
because of the fame of the song. In each of the three verses, the singer asks questions
about the future, each time answering with the refrain…
Que será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que será, será
What will be, will be
There is some truth contained in those words. The future is not ours to see…in its details. As believers in Jesus, we walk by faith not by sight. However, the words are incorrect in the way they basically leave all to fate. Que será, será. “Whatever will be, will be…” as if all is left to chance.
As believers, we
have an infinitely greater, more secure assurance. Nothing is left to chance, but all things fall under the sovereign
governance of a kind and good God. And all things are being used by God toward
the fulfillment of His goal to remake us into the image of His Son. In Romans 8:28-30
our eyes are directed to the Lord who alone is worthy to receive all glory.
The truth revealed
in these three verses establishes unshakable confidence in our hearts as
believers. God’s redemptive purposes will be accomplished in the hearts of
those whom He has determined to save by divine power and grace. This is
displayed for us to consider in two ways.
God’s Unifying Purpose (v. 28)
God’s eternal
purpose comes first. It comes before any of the more specific works mentioned
in verses 29-30.
God’s Unbreakable Chain (vv. 29-30)
Here the apostle
lays out for us an unbreakable chain of five links. Please notice that this
chain is unbreakable because it is God who—in every case—performs the work in a
way that moves toward the fulfillment of His unifying purpose.
- Foreknowledge
- Predestination
- Calling
- Justification
- Glorification
God has purposed to
save. And His plan will incorporate all things toward His intended goal, which
He will accomplish. Nothing is left to chance. From beginning to end, salvation
is the work of God. He is the initiator and provider of relationship with us.
By empty-handed faith, we respond to the call of the gospel, repent, and
entrust ourselves fully to Jesus Christ our redeemer.
This being the work
of God, you are secure in Christ. And you can be assured that God who began a
good work in you, through the gospel, will continue that work. He will remake
you more and more into the image of Jesus…until you see Him face to face.
Listen to, or watch, the sermon.[1]
Related
Endnotes:- Listen to, or watch, the sermon.: https://cornerstonemayfield.org/church-sermons/message/469
Source URL: https://counselingoneanother.com/2019/06/03/the-unbreakable-chain-of-redemption/
The Unbreakable Chain of Redemption
by Paul Tautges | June 3, 2019 7:58 am
Last month, the legendary actress and singer, Doris Day, died at the age of 97. This means that many of you don’t know her name, since the peak years of her career were the 1950s. But some of you are like me…probably…in that you are too young to have grown up with her music, but old enough to have a mom who was a Doris Day fan. Because of my mom’s love for her, I remember hearing one song in particular…perhaps her best known song…Que será, será. For it she won an Academy Award and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Que será, será means “whatever will be, will be.” Though it is closest to Spanish in translation, the phrase is actually Italian by origin, and later was added to the lexicon because of the fame of the song. In each of the three verses, the singer asks questions about the future, each time answering with the refrain…
There is some truth contained in those words. The future is not ours to see…in its details. As believers in Jesus, we walk by faith not by sight. However, the words are incorrect in the way they basically leave all to fate. Que será, será. “Whatever will be, will be…” as if all is left to chance.
As believers, we have an infinitely greater, more secure assurance. Nothing is left to chance, but all things fall under the sovereign governance of a kind and good God. And all things are being used by God toward the fulfillment of His goal to remake us into the image of His Son. In Romans 8:28-30 our eyes are directed to the Lord who alone is worthy to receive all glory.
The truth revealed in these three verses establishes unshakable confidence in our hearts as believers. God’s redemptive purposes will be accomplished in the hearts of those whom He has determined to save by divine power and grace. This is displayed for us to consider in two ways.
God’s Unifying Purpose (v. 28)
God’s eternal purpose comes first. It comes before any of the more specific works mentioned in verses 29-30.
God’s Unbreakable Chain (vv. 29-30)
Here the apostle lays out for us an unbreakable chain of five links. Please notice that this chain is unbreakable because it is God who—in every case—performs the work in a way that moves toward the fulfillment of His unifying purpose.
God has purposed to save. And His plan will incorporate all things toward His intended goal, which He will accomplish. Nothing is left to chance. From beginning to end, salvation is the work of God. He is the initiator and provider of relationship with us. By empty-handed faith, we respond to the call of the gospel, repent, and entrust ourselves fully to Jesus Christ our redeemer.
This being the work of God, you are secure in Christ. And you can be assured that God who began a good work in you, through the gospel, will continue that work. He will remake you more and more into the image of Jesus…until you see Him face to face.
Listen to, or watch, the sermon.[1]
Related
Source URL: https://counselingoneanother.com/2019/06/03/the-unbreakable-chain-of-redemption/