Messes and Masterpieces: Living with a God-Given Confidence

Messes and Masterpieces:  Living with a God-Given Confidence

Romans 8:12-39

6-9-19 

“Confidence” - God-given certainty and conviction in Jesus Christ and His promises.

I. Confidence in Christ’s cross.  (Romans 8:1-4)Condemnation – Judgment, punishment and rejection.

II. Confidence in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:5-16)

Fleshly living-Living as though Christ is not satisfying while living for lesser satisfactions.

Bears witness- Testifies and confirms by evidence.

III. Confidence in suffering for Christ. (Romans 8:17) 

Heirs- One who inherits riches, privileges and responsibilities.

Philippians 1:29 - “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

IV. Confidence in hopeful groaning.  (Romans 8:18-27)

Groaning -Expressing deep longing due to hurt, disappointment, or prolonged difficulty.

Hope -Confidently expecting we will eventually receive all that God has promised in Jesus.

V. Confidence in God’s love for His people. (Romans8:28-39)

1. Foreknew - Eternally known and intimately loved.

2. Predestined - Made certain before time began.

3. Called - Led to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus.

4. Justified - Declared righteous and accepted in Jesus.

5. Glorified - Made completely perfect in body and spirit in heaven.

3 Questions for Us:

1. Confidence question - Do I really have what I need to live every day with certainty? (Romans 8:31-32)

2. Forgiveness question - Am I still guilty in some way or am I totally forgiven? (Romans 8:33-34)

3. Relationship question - Will I be abandoned or am I forever loved? (Romans 8:35-39)

 For Discussion This Week

1. How might you sum up having a God-given confidence from Romans 8?

2. When and where do you struggle with confidence and why?

3. How should Christians think about our continued sinning in light of this Romans 8 passage?

4. How does Romans 8:28 give us hope as we deal with the groanings (physical & emotional) of this life?

5. How should the Christian’s view of death be different from the unbeliever’s view of death? (John 11:25-26, Romans 14:7-9, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 15:42-44, 2 Corinthians 5:6-9, Philippians 1:21, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Revelation 14:13 and 21:4) Pray for one another to live with God-given confidence as we proclaim the Gospel.