Five Facts Every Christian Should Know
Revealed in Romans 8:29-30
FACT #1, For whom
He did foreknow -- Before the foundation of the world, God
determined who shall be the objects of his love (1
Peter 1:2; Eph.
1:4; Rev. 21:27).
FACT #2, He also
did predestinate -- Before the foundation of the world, God
determined how the objects of His love shall be made to know their
position (1 Thess. 5:9; Eph.
1:5,11; Phil.
2:13).
FACT #3, Them He
also called -- Before the foundation of the world, God
determined when in their lives He would quicken them to spiritual life (Gal.
1:15,16; Eph.
1:10,13,18).
FACT #4, Them He
also justified -- Before the foundation of the world, God
determined by what means the objects of his love would be reconciled to
Himself (Rom 3:24; Eph.
1:6; Eph. 2:13).
FACT #5, Them He
also glorified -- Before the foundation of the world, God
determined where the objects of His love should spend eternity (Rev.
21:24; Eph.
2:4-7; Col. 3:4).
Consider that these five facts were established in
time, before the foundation of the world and they cannot be completely
fulfilled until after this present world passes away, yet, they are
recorded in the Sacred Scriptures in the past tense, as though they had
already been fulfilled. Such is the certainty of God”s purpose for you.
We also notice, that, whereas, these facts have to
do with your personal and eternal salvation, none of them depend upon
you for their fulfillment, but were determined long before you ever
existed and are according to the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise of the glory of His grace (Eph.
1:5,6).
One thing that is very evident, is, that you are
not a Christian today because of some twist of fate, or because the
odds happened to be in your favor, or that you are just plain lucky.
You are a Christian today because of some very deliberate planning on
God”s part, that began before He created this world and shall continue
long after this world is dissolved.
How may you know that these things pertain to you
after all? Peter admonishes us to, “give diligence to make your calling
and election sure.” First of all, you will know that you have been
quickened or made spiritually alive by God, if you have a spiritual
appetite. Do you truly hunger after the things of God? Do you seek to
know and understand the Word of God? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident
in your life? Do you have love, joy and peace within your own soul,
longsuffering, gentleness and goodness towards others and faith,
meekness and temperance before God? Have you confessed that Jesus is
Lord and do you believe that God raised Him from the dead? Do you
recognize that only the blood of Jesus Christ, God”s Son, can cleanse
you from all sin?
If you can answer yes to these questions, this is
evidence that God has wrought a miracle of grace in your heart and you
have been born again.
These things are certain because they depend not
on you, but on God the Father, who purposed your redemption, God the
Son who accomplished your redemption and God the Holy Spirit who
applies your redemption.
What shall we say then to these things? If God be
for us, who shall be against us? (Romans
8:31) So, rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven (Luke
10:20).
C.R.M.