Joseph’s declaration in Gen. 50:20 reveals the breathtaking reality of concurrence. At the same time that men intend evil with their action, God intends good with that very action. The intentions reveal to us the two well-established and irrefutable doctrines of sovereignty and human responsibility. These two doctrines hold true to the farther extent of creation, including the fall of Satan, his presence in Eden, and the fall of man. All that has transpired perfectly accords with the eternal purpose of God. History is indeed the unfolding of the plan of God.
Jesus prays regarding two kinds of glory. He speaks of glory in the present age for His people’s sanctification. God’s elect grow in conformity to Him as they behold His glory in Christ. Jesus also prays for future glory, that His people behold His full, divine, eternal glory in heaven. We are to behold the glory of God now for our sanctification and the glory of God in the future for our glorification.
Jesus concludes His prayer with love and glory. Love is the focus of this sermon. The Lord prays that we would come to experientially know (taste) of the Father’s special love. This is the special love of the Father like His love toward His only begotten Son. Like that love, the Father loved His elect from eternity past and “in love predestined us to adoption as sons.” This is the love which Jesus wants us to savor. May the Holy Spirit reveal to us more and more of this awesome love of God.
God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are a biblical paradox. They do indeed work together, though they appear to be contradictory.
Jesus has given His glory to the church for her sanctification and one day she will behold His full resplendent glory.
Jesus prays that all of God’s elect would come to taste of the special love of God.
Jesus’ death on the cross opened salvation to everyone, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one family of God. While the Jews were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, tasked with carrying His promises and the Law, Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled God’s plan to extend grace to all, as promised through Abraham’s seed (Acts 3:25). Now, all who believe—regardless of background—are part of God’s family, heirs of His promises, and one in Christ, with no distinction between Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female (Galatians 3:28).
Romans 8 reveals three transformative truths about Christ’s sacrifice. First, there is no condemnation for those in Christ; He has freed believers from the penalty of sin—spiritual death and separation from God (Romans 8:1). Second, earthly accusations and hardships, even Satan’s attacks, cannot separate us from Christ’s love; through Him, we are victorious (Romans 8:37). Finally, with God on our side, we have an unshakable assurance that nothing can stand against us (Romans 8:31, Psalm 27:1). In Christ, we find freedom, victory, and eternal hope.
At the heart of the gospel lies an astonishing truth: Christ's death not only paid the price for our sins but also provided the perfect obedience we could never achieve. Through Jesus’ life of obedience and sacrificial death, He fulfilled God’s requirement for righteousness on our behalf. This lesson explores the depths of 2 Corinthians 5:21, showing how Jesus’ obedience “to the point of death” became our righteousness. His righteousness is imputed to believers, allowing us to stand wholly justified in God’s sight—not by our works, but by Christ's perfect obedience and grace.
After being arrested, the religious leaders of Israel searched for accusations against Jesus. Instead of accepting His self-declaration as the Messiah, they rejected Him exactly as Jesus and the Scriptures had predicted.
What is the hardest thing a person will have to go through? Dying. How do you prepare for death? Let’s look at Jesus and how He prepared for His crucifixion that would happen soon. How did He obey God and follow God’s plan, no matter how hard it was?
Jesus has gone away but promises to return one day. How can a person be ready for Jesus’ return? What does Jesus want His disciples to do? Jesus uses the parable of the talents to explain this. Let’s find out how!
