Safe & Secure
INSURE / ENSURE / ASSURE…UNSURE? John 3:16 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Revelation 3:17
To “assure” a person of something is to make him confident of it. To “ensure” that something happens is to make certain it does. To “insure” is to cover it with an insurance policy.
Life can be full of surprises and uncertainty. Too many proclaimed “Christians” treat God like some sort of insurance policy:: “If only I pay the deductible (say prayers, read my Bible, go to church, give offerings, do good things, take communion, get baptized), then God will cover the rest.” Unlike the insurance policies we are all too familiar with, God offers us assurance without any deductible!
John – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Perish to suffer destruction or ruin; to pass away; disappear
Ephesians – Grace means that God loves, forgives and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. Faith is a gift from God that saves and cannot be exercised from our own power.
God gives this gift of faith and salvation to ensure that believers will be confidently assured that He has given them eternal life through Christ.
Revelation – To the lukewarm church in Laodicea:: “you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Do you find yourself being self-sufficient? Do you rely on your own earning ability to give yourself the life you desire here in this world? What “deductibles” are you paying to insure a better life for you here in the temporal world? “For what does a man profit, if he should gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?” [Mark 8:36]
ACCEPTANCE / SECURITY / SIGNIFICANCE Romans 6:23 / Galatians 3:26-27 / Psalm 61:3 / John 10:27-29 / Colossians 3:3
Romans – Spiritual death is a paycheque for man’s slavery to sin. Eternal life is a free gift God gives to undeserving sinners who believe in His Son.
Galatians – Believers are accepted as God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus…to be baptized into Christ means to be “immersed” or “placed in” Christ by the spiritual miracle of union with Him in His death and resurrection…so we clothe ourselves with Christ’s righteousness before God and men, in our conduct.
Psalm – What gives you the greatest sense of security? Why? Do you know God to be a place of safety, security and strength? Why or why not? Discuss.
John – Have you decided to follow Jesus? Do you hear His voice? As believers, we do not have to fear anything because CHRIST IS WITH US and no one can snatch us out of His hand…no one is able to steal from Father God who gives us security in Christ Jesus.
Colossians – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” We were united with Christ in His death, our penalty of sin was paid, and we arose with Him in new life. Believers have a common spiritual life with Father God and Christ which the world cannot understand. Believers are eternally secure, protected from all spiritual enemies, and with access to all God’s blessings.
CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST Philippians 1:6 / 4:11-13 / Ephesians 2:18 / 3:11-12
Philippians 1:6-When God begins a work of salvation in a person, He finishes and perfects that work. Here the “day of Christ Jesus” looks to the final salvation, reward, and glorification of the believer.
Philippians 4:11-13 – I can be strong as God puts His power in me to withstand all things…in whatever circumstances of difficulty and in prosperity. God infuses believers with His strength to sustain them until they receive some provision. Do you trust in His strength?
Ephesians 2:18 – I have direct access to Father God through the Spirit of Jesus Christ! Believers are granted this right through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death.
Ephesians 3:11-12 – Every person who comes to Christ in faith can come before God at any time, not in self-confidence but in Christ-confidence. We are granted this access through Christ so that we can live “the eternal purpose”…TO GLORIFY GOD! He keeps us safe and secure to fulfill His Kingdom Purposes.