(# 271) Romans 8 - What Do We Know? WE KNOW the Reason!

Class Outline:

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Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ…my name is Pastor Rory Clark.  Barah Ministries teaches the Word of God from God’s perspective and not from a human perspective.  We want to know what God has to say to us though His Word because we’re convinced that God knows exactly what He’s talking about.  And our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY

What Do We Know?  WE KNOW the Reason!

 

How many of you have every heard someone say he is agnostic?

 

An agnostic believes it impossible to know anything about God…impossible to know anything about the creation of the universe…and thus refrains from commitment to any set of religious teachings.  According to the philosopher William Rowe…

 

WILLIAM ROWE ON AGNOSTICISM

 

“In the popular sense of the term, an agnostic is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in God…whereas an atheist disbelieves in God.”

 

Agnosticism permeates areas other than the spiritual life.  My iPhone is agnostic.  Whereas you may have a mobile phone that is completely committed to one provider, like Verizon, or Sprint, or AT&T…my phone is agnostic…it is committed to no provider…it simply loves the provider it is with.  Right now I am with AT&T…but if I get mad at them, I can just take my iPhone to a new provider, like T-Mobile, and they can establish service for me without giving me a new phone.  If your phone is committed to a provider, when you switch companies, you need a new phone.

Agnosticism is thought of as a set of principles rather than as a religion.  The basic principle of agnosticism is that none of us can really ever know anything about God or about the spiritual life.  In fact, those who subscribe to agnosticism think it is IMPOSSIBLE to know.  Christians don’t see life that way.  We are committed to One God…we are committed to learning His exact thinking through the study of His Word…we adopt His teachings as a way of life…and through His Word, with the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit, we think we can know everything there is to know about God because we know God reveals Himself in ways that make sense to human beings.

 

You’ll remember Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 24…

 

Romans 8:24a

In the same way, God the Holy Spirit also helps our weakness; for WE DO NOT KNOW how to pray as we should…

 

Yes…there are some things Christians don’t know…there are some things we don’t do well…but at least WE KNOW this is true about us...that we don’t know everything.  And while we may not know how to pray as we should, there are many other things Christians know perfectly well.  For example, Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that God the Father causes all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

What does this verse say about Christians?  It says WE KNOW. 

 

Welcome to a place where a full knowledge of God and His thinking is available through the study of the Word of God.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

GOOD FIGHT

UnSpoken 

The opening song for this lesson is GOOD FIGHT by UnSpoken.

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, we know that you are a purposeful, absolute and decisive God and we know that You designed Your believers to be the exact same way…

 

We pray that You open our eyes, Father, and that You reveal to each of us our destiny…the specific purpose for which You designed us and brought us to the world…unlock who we are with the truth of Your Word and show us how to send our roots deeply into that purpose so that we can serve You just as You would like us to…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit in Christ’s name... Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY

What Do We Know?  WE KNOW the Reason!

 

When people say, “everything happens for a reason,” quite often they are wondering what the reason is.  As Christians, WE KNOW the reasons.  How do we know?  Sometimes by intuition…just by knowing how God is, we can make deductive conclusions about how other things are.  For example, I know God is always fair, so I know nothing I am going through in my life is unfair, no matter how it seems.  Mostly, WE KNOW by faith…Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 7…

 

Second Corinthians 5:7

…for we believers in Christ walk by faith, not by sight—

 

Our lifestyle as Christians is a lifestyle of faith.  We place our absolute confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, and we live under a blanket of a certainty that provides the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension.

 

As Christians, WE KNOW that we see things when we believe things.

Matthew, Chapter 21, Verse 22…

 

Matthew 21:22

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

 

God says we will see it when we believe it.  That’s faith.  Even when we don’t see things clearly…even we don’t understand what God is doing because we don’t have all the facts…God is working ALL the things that we are experiencing together for our own good.

 

You’ve heard parents say that … “I’m doing this for your own good”… just before they spank us.  It isn’t the same with God.  Parents can distort anything.  God never does.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that God the Father causes all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

Let’s take the offering, and then we’ll take a look at a few things WE KNOW for sure as Christians, as we begin the study of Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

The apostle Paul highlights the joy that a Pastor has in watching his congregation give in Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 15 to 18…he says…

 

Philippians 4:15

You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone…

 

Philippians 4:16

…for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

 

Philippians 4:17

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

 

Philippians 4:18

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied…

 

I love watching you give because I KNOW what God is doing for you in return…he’ll reward your cheerful generosity.  Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall to take the offering.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

Romans 8:27

…and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 

OFFERING

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Dave McClure, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY

What Do We Know?  WE KNOW the Reason!

 

The verse under study is Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that God the Father causes all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

What are the things the bible says WE KNOW as Christians?  There are many.  WE KNOW there is only one God…First Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verse 4…

 

First Corinthians 8:4

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one God (the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ).

 

As Christians, WE KNOW we are on God’s team.  And WE KNOW that God has an enemy…there is an opposing team as well.  First John, Chapter 5, Verse 19…

 

First John 5:19

WE KNOW that we believers in union with Christ are of God the Father, and on the other hand WE KNOW that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

 

Job found that out!  WE KNOW that that EVERYTHING God tells us in His Word is true…John, Chapter 21, Verse 24…

 

John 21:24

This is the disciple (John) who is testifying to these things and who wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

 

As Christians, WE KNOW we reside in the sphere of the grace given to us by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the shedding of His blood at the Cross; WE KNOW we are loved by God the Father unconditionally…a “so much” … a “much more” love; WE KNOW we have fellowship through the agency of God the Holy Spirit, our Mentor and our Teacher…here’s the confirmation in Second Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 14…

 

Second Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

 

WE KNOW is not “we wonder.”  WE KNOW is not “we can’t know.”  As Christians, who listen to the Word of God and place our faith in it, there is no doubt about what WE KNOW…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that GOD THE FATHER CAUSES all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

WE KNOW God is the source of everything good… WE KNOW God is the cause of everything good.  Who are the ones who love God in Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28?  Those who love God are His believers…First John, Chapter 4, Verses 7 to 11…

 

First John 4:7

Beloved (divinely loved ones…believers in Christ), let us love one another unconditionally, for unconditional love is from the source of God the Father; and everyone who loves unconditionally is a born again one of God the Father and knows God the Father.

 

First John 4:8

The one who does not love unconditionally does not know God the Father (that one is an unbeliever), for God the Father is the source of unconditional love.

 

First John 4:9

By this the unconditional love of God the Father was manifested (made clearly visible) in us, that God the Father has sent His uniquely born Son into the world so that we might live (the resurrection life) through (our union with) Him.

 

First John 4:10

In this (sending of His Son is the manifestation of) God the Father’s unconditional love, not that we loved God the Father unconditionally, but that He loved us unconditionally and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the only perfectly satisfactory payment acceptable to God the Father) for our sins.

 

First John 4:11

Beloved (divinely loved ones…believers in Christ), if God the Father so loved us unconditionally, and He did, we also ought to love one another unconditionally.

 

First John, Chapter 4, Verse 16…

 

First John 4:16

WE HAVE COME TO KNOW and (and as result of knowing) have believed the unconditional love which God the Father has for us. God the Father is unconditional love, and the one who abides in the sphere of unconditional love abides in God the Father, and God the Father abides in him.

 

First John, Chapter 4, Verse 19…

 

First John 4:19

We love unconditionally, because God the Father first loved us unconditionally.

 

Let’s take a quick music break...and then we’ll continue looking at what WE KNOW as Christians.

 

MUSIC BREAK

WHEN THE STARS BURN OUT

Phillips, Craig and Dean

 

TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY

What Do We Know?  WE KNOW the Reason!

 

If “everything happens for a reason,” as Christians WE KNOW the reason…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that GOD THE FATHER CAUSES all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

For Christians, it’s WE KNOW!!!!!  It’s not “you can’t be sure” … it’s not “we may never know” … it’s WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW.  (Tony LoGrasso>  What do we know for sure?  WE KNOW God works all things together for our good…Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verse 11…

 

Ephesians 1:11

In Him…also we believers in Christ have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose, the purpose of the God who works all things after the counsel (purpose) of His will…

 

As Christians, WE KNOW we are heirs of the Living God and that He has an inheritance for us.  WE KNOW everything happens for His purpose.  In Psalm 199, Verses 89 to 91, King David says…

 

Psalm 119:89

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

 

Psalm 119:90

Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

 

Psalm 119:91

They stand this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants.

 

What do WE KNOW as Christians?  First John, Chapter 5, Verse 20…

 

First John 5:20

And WE KNOW that the Son of God the Father has come, and that He has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in union with Him who is true, in union with God the Father’s Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God the Father and the true eternal life (the resurrection life).

 

WE KNOW that when things in our lives “go wrong” as we would describe it…things haven’t gone wrong at all.  Genesis, Chapter 50, Verse 20…

 

Genesis 50:20

(Joseph said to his brothers)…“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 28…

 

Romans 8:28

And WE KNOW that GOD THE FATHER CAUSES all things to work together for good to those who love God the Father, to those who are called according to the Father’s purpose.

 

WE KNOW God works it out, even when it doesn’t look like it…Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8, Verse 12…

 

Ecclesiastes 8:12

Although a sinner (an unbeliever) does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I KNOW that it will be well for those who fear (respect) God, who fear (respect) Him openly.

 

What else do WE KNOW?  First Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 12…

 

First Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but we have received the Holy Spirit who is from God the Father, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God the Father…

 

God the Holy Spirit is the one who causes us to know.  First John, Chapter 3, Verse 24…

 

First John 3:24

The one who keeps God the Father’s commandments (mandates) abides in the Father, and the Father abides in him. We know by this that the Father abides in us, and we know by the agency of God the Holy Spirit whom God the Father has given us.

 

WE KNOW we are like Him…First John, Chapter 2, Verse 2…

 

First John 3:2

Beloved (divinely loved ones), now we are children of God the Father, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when the Lord Jesus Christ appears, we will be like Him…

 

WE KNOW the reason.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the reason.  He is at the cause of all that happens to us, along with the Father and the Spirit…so now WE KNOW what Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1 to 5 is saying to us Christians…

 

Romans 5:1

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we believers in Christ have peace with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Romans 5:2

…through which Christ also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this sphere of grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God the Father.

 

Romans 5:3

And not only this, but we believers in Christ also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance…

 

Romans 5:4

…and WE KNOW that perseverance brings about proven character; and WE KNOW that proven character brings about hope…

 

Romans 5:5

…and WE KNOW that hope does not disappoint, because the love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

What do we know?  We know the reason.  If “everything happens for a reason,” we know, as believers in Christ, the reason is that God causes all things to work together for good.

 

Thank you Father!

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ

Promises Salvation, It’s a Guarantee!

 

Romans 3:10

…as it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one”

 

Romans 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind, in that while we were yet sinners (as unbelievers), Christ died instead of us.

 

John 3:17

For God the Father did not send the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) into the world to condemn the world, but the Father sent His Son into the world that the world might be saved through believing in Him.

 

John 1:12

But as many as received the Lord (taking advantage of the free gift of salvation), to them He gave the right (once and for all time) to become children of God…to those who believe in Christ’s name…

 

CLOSING SONG

YOU RAISE ME UP

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

          THANKS- INTERCESSION- PETITION

 

We pray that You protect our steps as we go out into the world, Father…and that you keep us on the narrow way, completely dependent on You and Your Guiding, Mentoring Spirit…we ask this in Christ’s name, Amen.

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!