FORESIGHT OF THE MASTER PLANNER

A Review of Foresight of The Master Planner So far

 

In our journey through the book of Romans We have overall looked at:

The Eternal purpose of God

PLAN A  (The Glory of God) – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

PLAN A1 (The Gospel of Christ) – In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

These, in essence (to some extent) capture what Apostle Paul was saying in Romans 1:1-3

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

all we have done so far is deal with Romans 1:1-3, as it is important to establish the credentials of this Jesus that we will be referring to in our study of the book of Romans;

In our last 4 posts on this series FORESIGHT OF THE MASTER PLANNER, we looked at the first of three questions asked to see if Jesus is the “Saviour” and “liberator” of mankind; we took a look at the question, IS JESUS MORE THAN MAN? we looked at Jesus as the Son of (M)man and also Jesus as the Son of God, where we looked at the essence or reality of His nature – the essential nature or reality of Jesus Christ, in which the divine and the human are believed to be combined – How it is possible for Him to be God and man at the same time?

We then continued with our look at the first in our classifications of who Jesus Christ is with regards to His Nature, His Pre-Existence and how He fits into the eternal purpose of the Master Planner. Then we went on to look at the question – IS JESUS EQUAL WITH GOD?

In our look at the question – IS JESUS EQUAL WITH GOD? We examined how the Father rewarded his Son for His obedience even unto death;obedience unto death that was the end result of His emptying Himself in His deity, and then in humbling Himself in His humanity: We then compared this with The Difference Between Actual Suffering & Having A Mind To Suffer. We saw that:

One – All who serve God need to possess an additional characteristic – that of having a mind to suffer
Two – Yet, let it be clearly known here that being willing to suffer is not the same thing as suffering itself.
Three – Here we see the dilemma in the Lord’s service. Sometimes, for example, in the work which God has called us to do, we find ourselves in physical need because He seemingly has not provided sufficiently for us. What shall we do amidst such trial?
Four – How much of a mind to suffer must we posses? The demand of the Scripture is: “faithful unto death”

At this point, we had to take a pause in our dealing with the series FORESIGHT OF THE MASTER PLANNER to have a look at a picture of the suffering of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the mini-series Maintaining a Healthy Fear of God – “While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.”

In looking at the first stanza of the hymn, Trust and Obey by John Henry Sammis as part of this mini-series In the posts, we have looked at God’s good will, His original plan of His eternal purpose Ultimately being, PLAN A  (The Glory of God)– We saw that it is safe to say that His good will, His eternal purpose, is a plan to ultimately, bring us to His Glory, with provision made for perceived blunders we will make along the way – this provision being The Gospel of Christ Jesus. We then started on this Journey of Regeneration– God’s Provisions & Man’s Acts. We then looked at what God has received from the death of Jesus Christ irrespective of a sinner believing and trusting in Jesus or not Propitiation – It Is Finished; before that, Redemption then Justification – You Are Not Guilty!!!! Says God as part of God’s Regeneration of man.

We then had a look at the work of the Holy Spirit in this eternal purpose of God especially the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man. We looked at this from the perspective of the specific activities of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man – His activities in the eternal Purpose of God and in His bringing life to man’s deadened conscience through quickening of the human spirit.
The Holy Spirit & Regeneration of Man. How God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit:

Part 1 – Confirms Man As A Sinner The Components of Man (Body, Soul & Spirit); Heart of Man; SELF & The Heart of Man; Conviction in unregenerate Man; What is the law? (At Salvation); The law & Grace?
Part 2 – Removes His Sins and Their Consequences The purpose conviction of sin is CHANGE OF HEART; CHANGE OF HEART! in unregenerate man as a result of conviction?; Product of conviction in an un-regenerated man; The purpose of conviction of sin is to change the heart; Grace From Cross At Calvary; Regeneration of the spirit (Quickening); A Quickened Heart (At Salvation).

We then looked at Christian conversion – Repentance In Christian Conversion; The importance of having a Good Conscience: Useful Heart and finally the place of Faith In Christian Conversion.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE ALL PLAN A1 (The Gospel of Christ) PRESENTATIONS

So we have overall looked at PLAN A  (The Glory of God)  & PLAN A1 (The Gospel of Christ), we will now continue with PLAN A2 (Back on Track). 

In PLAN A2 (Back on Track) we will  have a look at Christian Transformation; Glory and The proving of Faith; Freedom from the dominion of indwelling sin  (This involves: Freedom from Sin, Sanctification mainly dis-positional); growth in life;  building up and maturing.

 PLAN A2 (Back on Track)

 

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Eph. 1:3-12 emphasis added)

 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)

 

Meanwhile, seek to be set free from God’s wrath today and seek the righteousness that really counts:

Most Importantly!!!!!

 You might say – “Why do I have to know and experience this Jesus you are going on about?” Here is why, when and how you can get to know Him.

Admit your spiritual need.

We all are sinners: nobody likes that title “SINNER”, but the bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.

What is the result of sin?

In Romans 6:23 we read “The wages of sin is death…” in other words, every sin is another step towards death. One thing that we need to remember is that God never sends anyone to hell; one can send himself there by rejecting the truth.

Since we can never measure up to God’s standards by our own strength; God has reached out to mankind.

In Romans 5:8 we read, “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. It is Jesus, after all, who is the source of life’s greatest high.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17).

What must a person do to accept this gift?

Simply receive it! Matthew 11:28 states –“come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, seeking entrance into your life to give you peace, change you for the best. John 1:12 says: “For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God”.

If you haven’t already received Christ as your Saviour, don’t put it off another day! Take time right now to reflect on the state of your life, how does Romans 3:23 apply to you? Ask God to empower you to see the true state of your heart – “The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) then when enabled, invite Jesus into your life. Confess your sins. Receive His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. You could pray something like this:

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank You for giving me eternal life. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases You, for whatever time You give me here on earth. I look forward to living forever in Heaven with You. Amen.