Four Great Blessings from God - Four Certain Assurances
Pastor Tan Thai · Jan 29, 2023
The sermon presents four certain assurances believers have in Christ: freedom from condemnation, assurance of God's love, the intercession of Christ, and the promise that all things work together for good. These assurances are based on Christ's redemptive work and the Holy Spirit's governance in the believer's life.
The sermon presented at Albuquerque Baptist Church on Sunday, January 29, 2023, focuses on four great assurances that God grants to believers. The first assurance is freedom from condemnation, based on Romans 8:1-2, where Paul declares that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed them from the law of sin and death. This assurance is foundational to Christian faith, affirming that Christ's work of redemption has resolved the problem of sin and human judgment.
The second assurance concerns God's love, illustrated through Romans 5:8, which states that God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The third assurance is about the intercession of Christ, according to Romans 8:34: Christ died, rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us. The fourth assurance is that all things work together for good, based on Romans 8:28-29, explaining that those called according to God's purpose will see all events in their lives cooperate for good, because God predetermined them to be conformed to the image of His Son.
The sermon uses extensive passages from Romans 8 to teach about assurance of salvation and the perseverance of saints. Paul in Romans 8:35-37 asks: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? And answers that in all hardships—tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or sword—we are completely victorious through Him who loved us. Romans 8:38-39 is the climax of the sermon, affirming that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
The sermon also incorporates an example from Acts 27:22-24 about Paul in a storm, where an angel of God appeared and declared that God would protect Paul and all those sailing with him. This illustrates how God protects believers through difficult life circumstances. The sermon applies these assurances to the congregation's real-world life, encouraging them to trust in God's sovereignty, Christ's care, and the Holy Spirit's guidance, even in the most difficult circumstances.