Stabilizing Truths in Unstable Times: God’s Purpose for Me in Everything is Christlikeness

Knowing something with certainty can bring stability to our lives. Romans 8:28-29 tells us of a stabilizing truth that liberates us: God's purpose for me--in everything--is to become more like Christ. God is using everything in my life to conform me to His image. Listen to part 3 of the sermon series Stabilizing Truths in Unstable Times.

1. The Sureness of This Truth – “Know” (Romans 8:28)

• The Greek word oida means “to know something.”
• When this word is used in the perfect tense, it is used as a fact and has the force of certainty or sureness.
• Every believer can be certain of the fact “...that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God....”

2. The Span of This Truth - “All things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)

• How many things can we know for sure are for our good?
• In His providence, God orchestrates every event in life for both our temporal and   eternal good
  • God’s purpose for trials is Christlikeness. (James 1:2-4; Deuteronomy 8:10-16)
  • God’s purpose for preaching and teaching is Christlikeness. (Colossians 1:28-29)
  • God’s purpose for you in the local church is Christlikeness. (Ephesians 4:11-15)
  • God’s purpose for you in personal Bible is Christlikeness. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18)  “all things”

3. The Stipulation of this Truth - “To those who love God, to those who are the called   according to His purpose”

• The emphasis is not the measure of your love for God but the fact that you love God.
• Who loves God?
  • All believers love God. (1 John 4:15-16)
  • “Those who are called” refers to those whom God has chosen for salvation or, simply, those who repent and believe in Christ. (Matthew 22:14; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5; Revelation 22:17)
• This promise is only for true believers.

4. The Sense of this Truth - “To be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29)

• The goal God has for every believer is to become Christlike.
• This process is called progressive sanctification.
  • “Progressive sanctification is the process by which Christians mature spiritually, separating themselves more and more from sin and unto righteousness.”
• God saved you with the purpose of making you like Christ.