Hey Gang,
This is our last lesson on Living Beyond Yourself through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We have had lessons using the words: Free, Victorious, Empowered, Wise, and this week Confident to describe how we should live with the Holy Spirit in our lives. So what does give you confidence in what will happen to you when you die and how does that affect how you live today?
Someone once asked Martin Luther about his confidence, “Do you feel your sins are forgiven?” He replied, “No, but I’m as sure of it as heaven, for feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving: My faith is in the Word of God, nothing else is worth believing.”
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
If you were to ask Rob Bell the same question, I think he would answer yes, because God loves me and “Love Wins.” Please Note: I do not agree with Rob Bell's Love Wins theology, but it's a discussion we should have because it confronts us each day more and more. At the core of Apologetics is understanding and defending what you belief and Paul would tell you that we should understand why others believe the way they do in order that we might explain our belief in a loving way.
Olympics Chick-fil-a Rob Bell
Someone once asked Martin Luther about his confidence, “Do you feel your sins are forgiven?” He replied, “No, but I’m as sure of it as heaven, for feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving: My faith is in the Word of God, nothing else is worth believing.”
1 John 5:11-13
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
If you were to ask Rob Bell the same question, I think he would answer yes, because God loves me and “Love Wins.” Please Note: I do not agree with Rob Bell's Love Wins theology, but it's a discussion we should have because it confronts us each day more and more. At the core of Apologetics is understanding and defending what you belief and Paul would tell you that we should understand why others believe the way they do in order that we might explain our belief in a loving way.
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How can we live confidently in what will happen to us when we die?
- Today’s lesson concludes a five-week study on the work of the Holy Spirit with a focus on the confidence the Spirit gives. This is not arrogance but a foundation of truth and trustworthiness. God will be with us.
- The Holy Spirit encourages us to remember that God never leaves us or forsakes us.
- We all have some idea of what we think will happen, but there really is no guarantee when it comes to our earthly lives.
- Today’s session focuses on the realities that we can know for sure: As believers, God has redeemed us, we have a relationship with Him, and it will be forever.
I. CONFIDENT IN MY REDEMPTION – EPHESIANS 1:13-14
13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
If you were to ask Tim Tebow how to live confidently in your faith, what would he say?
- Isaiah 40:31 - but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.
How does the Holy Spirit give me this confidence?
- What are proofs of ownership that we have today? Why are these important? Which would be the most convincing if ownership was questioned? Samples: receipts, car or house title, contracts.
- What mark of ownership does God put on the life of the believer? How can we know we have it? The Spirit also serves as a down payment of our inheritance. Down payments secure future actions.
Is the Holy Spirit enough confidence to influence the way I live?
- How should this “seal” and “down payment” influence our lives?
- Since the seal indicates security and ownership, believers must live as God’s possession. Our relationship with God should affect our decisions, words, and actions.
- The down payment guarantees our future, so we cannot simply live for this world. Our redemption is for the praise of His glory. Everything we do should point others to Him. The work of the Spirit described in these verses is reserved for genuine children of God – those who have heard and believed the message of Christ.
II. CONFIDENT IN MY RELATIONSHIP – ROMANS 8:14-17
14 All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
How does my relationship with God give me confidence in the way I live?
- In spiritual terms, we don’t have to wonder if we are accepted or not. We belong in the family of God because He has redeemed us. But the Holy Spirit can serve as a reassuring companion when doubts creep in.
- Paul is speaking about believers. Those who follow the Spirit are God’s children through spiritual adoption. Those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. Believers are adopted by God.
How does the Holy Spirit give me confidence in this relationship?
What role does suffering play in relationship with God? What is godly suffering, as opposed to pain we’ve caused with wrongdoing?
- While coheirs share blessings, they also share in the suffering. The path of being glorified with Him (v. 17) passes through difficulties.
- Some may be tempted to think of suffering as a punishment or all suffering as from God.
- The fruits of adoption are deliverance from fear, an intimate relationship with God, assurance that we are God’s children, promise of a future inheritance, and grace to endure suffering.
III. CONFIDENT IN MY REWARD – 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-5
Our Future after Death
5 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
What gives you confidence in your reward of heaven?
- How long have you had your current cell phone? How often do you replace your phones? Why? What else is temporary?
- We tend to change phones and other devices, such as computers or electronic readers.
- Why do you change – because the device wears out or because you want the next new device? Either way the item is a temporary thing.
- Everyone will die unless Christ comes before death. When Christians die they are assured of having a permanent place in heaven.
- The Holy Spirit is the down payment on and guarantor of our inheritance.
- We can be confident of our reward in heaven.
What contrast did Paul present? Based on this contrast, where should we focus our things and our bodies? How do temporary things find their places in light of eternity? How do we manage our bodies between now and heaven?
- Paul used these terms to contrast our failing human bodies that will be destroyed (through death) with the eternal body He has for us after death. Yet we need to care for our bodies and items as Jesus did.
- Our earthly body is suitable for its current purpose, so God expects us to make the most of the time we have. Heaven is a reality, but we cannot ignore our tasks on earth.
- Paul hoped that the Lord would come before his death so that he could avoid a bodiless state.
- We don’t know exactly what our state will be; but since it is in God’s hands, we can trust Him to provide what we need.
During this 5 week study of “Living Beyond Yourself” we have looked at five words that identify marks of a person who lives beyond self. The words are Free, Victorious, Empowered, Wise, and Confident. This lesson challenges us to claim by faith all the good things God offers to believers. At the same time, God calls us to turn from whatever causes us to live with any fear other than the fear of God.
Prayer of Commitment
Lord, help me have the kind of confidence only You can give. Amen
Lord, help me have the kind of confidence only You can give. Amen
I hope everyone has had a blessed week and that you will be in prayer for this lesson on Sunday as we close out an important series on how we should live with the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Hope to see you Sunday - remember we will be in C221 accross the hall from our old class!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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