I Am Persuaded

The doctrines of the Bible are not a checklist of what is to be believed to get to heaven. They are much more important than that. Bible doctrine is God’s revelation of who He is, and His explanation of what He has done to accomplish the salvation of His elect and secure their glory. Paul was fully persuaded of his own salvation (and the salvation of others) because God showed him how and by whom it had been obtained. Paul was assured of the church’s inseparable union with Jesus Christ because the Lord explained how it had been achieved.

Assurance is trust

It is not special or extraordinary revelation that brings assurance of salvation. Those who go through life seeking a mystical ‘word from the Lord’ or ‘a sign from above’ to validate their faith have been poorly taught. Our hope and confidence of everlasting life is founded upon God’s nature and promises. Our Lord Jesus told His disciples, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. God has revealed His love, exercised His grace and fulfilled every requirement of justice in and by Jesus Christ. God has spoken and by the gift of faith we believe Him.

Convinced by truth

Paul was persuaded nothing could separate him from the love of God because God’s love is everlasting and effectual to save. Love formed the basis of God’s choice of certain sinners in election. Individuals were ordained in the mind and purpose of God before ever time began. They were predestined to be conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. In love they were set apart in Christ, committed into His care and keeping, justified by the merits of His blood and deemed righteous. Nothing in time can disannul God’s purpose in eternity.

A well-reasoned persuasion

In this chapter Paul has set out the doctrine of grace. He has shown the believers at Rome, and us with them, how the love of the Father, the intercession of the Son and the witness of the Holy Spirit all validate and endorse God’s purpose of grace and promise of salvation. What God has taught us of Himself, His sovereign will and the roles and offices fulfilled by the persons in the Godhead, demonstrate the absolute commitment of God to our present good on earth and our eternal glory in heaven.

A sound argument

The Apostle proposes a list of foes to convey the extent of his confidence. According to Paul neither the powers of evil nor the laws of nature can thwart God’s goodness to His church. Death itself cannot separate us from the love of God. Nothing in this created world such as angels, principalities and powers, by which may be meant wicked angels, earthly rulers and false teachers, can dissolve our love-union with Christ. No event or circumstance in this present life, and nothing future, can sever the elect from God’s love or disinherit you and me who believe.

Saved means safe

So entire is our security by God’s divine will and sovereign grace that nothing in heaven, earth or hell can separate us from Him. Holiness and justice are our friends. Once saved always saved. Under the covering of Christ’s blood we are reconciled and sheltered. Such is the unchangeable nature of God. He who has justified will never condemn. He who has redeemed can never relinquish. He who has quickened, He who has called, can never deny Himself. 

For His own name’s sake

Nothing in heaven above, nothing in earth beneath, nothing in hell below can disturb what we have been given in Christ. It is fixed and sure. Paul is persuaded and we should be, too. No creature can remove us; not a devil, not an angel, not a man. Not our own foolish heart, not our fallen nature, not our evil mind can pluck us out of God’s hand. The new man may be called to struggle and fight to withstand the evil, yet overcome he will and conquer he must, for God’s own honour is at stake.

Everything in Christ Jesus

God’s love is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. Divine love with every divine grace that love inspires is communicated to us by Christ. All God’s goodness and mercy is in Christ. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights to His church in Christ. Our God delights to give good gifts to His children and He shall have all His pleasure. Be persuaded, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing shall frustrate our inheritance in Christ.

Amen.