As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation there will be a lot of stories and memories of people who’ve fought for freedom. Is this the greatest of comforts? This may be comfort for living people but not for after our death.
Religion
Many believe our works and human achievements give us comfort. Dependence on self. As much as we strive to do good and be good the conscience bears witness of our sin. God will not be mocked with our self righteous works and offerings. No remedy for sin they rather provoke Gods wrath.
We belong to Christ and therefore we are saved forever. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35)
1 – Our reconciliation with God through Christ
Rom 5:11 – no longer enemies. Rom 8:15 – adoption by whom we cry out Abba – Father
2 – the manner of our reconciliation brings comfort because it comes through Christ
This bolsters our confidence and comfort because it was His work not ours. 1 Pet 1:18-19, Eph 1:7 redemption through His blood.
3 – The deliverance from all our miseries of sin and death.
Having the knowledge of this gives us comfort. Rom 6:23, 8:2,6:10,5:21, Heb 2:14, 1 John 3:8
4 – Constant preservation from our reconciliation
We belong to Him, He watches over His own treasured possession. Our comfort is in His hands. John 10:27-30 –
John 10:27-30 (NKJV) 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father’s hand. 30 “I and [My] Father are one.”
5 – He turns all evils to good.
We are inflicted in this life yet this things contribute to our salvation. Romans 8:23 – all things
6- The full persuasion of reconciliation is obtained by the Holy Spirit
The Spirit works in us – witnesses to us and testifies that we are children of God. Assurance and the effects of true faith repentance love and obedience affirm purpose to believe God. Entrance into assurance of salvation.
Possession of this comfort is lasting not temporary cause it comes from God.
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me whole-heartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.Matthew 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18; John 6:39,40; John 8:34-36; John 10:27-30; Romans 8:1-17,28; Romans 14:7-9; 1 Corinthians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 2 Corinthians 1:21,22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13,14; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 2:14,15; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:1-11.
Ephesians 1:1-14 (NKJV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also [trusted,] after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.