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NASB | Romans 8:28 ¶ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:28 ¶ And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. |
Subject: Aren't we in the age of GRACE? |
Bible Note: Very good, ngkh... Your awakened conscience is a sign of God's work in you (John 15:2, Rom 7:4, 1 Tim 1:5). The law is not an evil thing at all that we should fear it (Rom 7:7). It is a valuable instructor. The Holy Spirit is, indeed, a great source of power and hope (2 Tim 1:7). He is the seal (guarantor) of our salvation (Eph 1:13). I praise God for how you are growing! He is awesome in what He does! I encourage you not to think of the power being in "the sinner's prayer." Indeed, there is no saving power in prayer nor anything that we can do. God brought you to life (we call this regeneration, Titus 3:5). After giving you life, you are able to respond in belief and submission. A great example is the story of Lazarus (see John 11). Lazarus was dead. Lazarus couldn't pray. Lazarus couldn't speak or act. (Dead people can't do anything.) Therefore, when Christ called, Lazarus would not be able to respond. So, what had to occur, was *before* the call of Christ, the Spirit of God entered into the tomb and did two things: (1) healed Lazarus from that which killed him and (2) brought him back to life. Thus, Lazarus could hear the command and respond to it. The hardest part of the job was something God did. That is how it is with you (and all of us who are saved). God had to do a work (John 6:29) -- a great, mighty, miraculous work (Heb 4:10) -- in you before you could even hear His call or respond in any way (John 6:44). Because of this, you can't say, "Well, at least I had the good sense to pray the sinner's prayer." :-) No, had God not done the work, you wouldn't have had any reason to pray or even to want to pray. The real cool thing about all of this, is that God had it planned from the beginning (Eph 1:4)! How much He loved you -- even before you existed! :-) Pastor Glenn, thank you for your patience in letting me respond to our brother's comments. You know me... I just have to cross T's and dot I's. :-) In Him, Doc |