Sharing is Caring

  God’s chosen instrument     [Acts 9:10-19a]     Do you know about the Great Awakening, a spiritual revival movement that greatly influenced 18th-century American society?   It is also known as the First Great Awakening.   This movement provided light and hope in a tumultuous era.   Prominent universities, including Princeton, were established under the influence of this movement.   At the forefront of this movement stood Jonathan Edwards, a pastor and theologian born as the son of a congregational minister.   How was he able to shoulder the responsibilities of his time?   He renewed himself daily by confessing five resolutions.   Throughout his life, he exerted all his strength in living each moment to its fullest potential.   He never missed an opportunity, no matter how small, to adopt the most beneficial course of action.   He would never take something, no matter how profitable, if it would make him...

“If God is for us” (5)       [Romans 8:31-34]     Look at Romans 8:33-34: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns?  …”  The purpose of God's choosing us is that we may be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  Look at Romans 8:29 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”  Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, came to this earth, shed His blood on the cross, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is now at the right hand of God to intercede for us.  This is how God glorified His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  So, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, is sitting at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, the world of glory, praying for us.  God has chosen us to be like this onl...

“If God is for us” (4)         [Romans 8:31-34]       Look at Romans 8:33 – “Who will bring a charge against God's elect?  …”  When we think of the “God’s elect” here, when did God choose?  Romans 8:29 says that God foreknew.  In other words, God chose before the creation of the world, before all things existed.  Look at Ephesians 1:4 – “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, ….”  So, who are the people God has chosen?  They are those who has become conformed to the image of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29).  Here, the Son of God, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not only died, but rose again (v. 34).  Not only that, but He is the One who ascended into heaven, and sat at his right hand of God (Mk. 16:19; Heb. 10:12) to make intercession for us (Rom. 8:34).   As God's chosen ones, we must imitate Jesus.   The subject of all our wishe...