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Are You Sure?

Can we really be sure of anything? Some would say only taxes and death are sure. Thankfully, that is absolutely wrong. There is much we can be and become sure of!  But, we must daily walk in Grace by faith in the Lamb of God in order to experience what is already sure/true about us! While everything around us is shaking, crumbling and unsure; we can be sure! Following are some of the shades of meaning in becoming Biblically sure.

Biblically Sure:

Certain, impossible to doubt or dispute; Sure Convictions, not hesitating or wavering-firm; Confident, sure of ultimate victory-a mindset as of something awaited or expected; Inevitable, bound to come about or happen; Sure to Succeed, having one’s course directed and destined; Having a Sure Hand, steady and certain not to miss or err; Reliable, worthy of being trusted or depended on-being marked by freedom from doubt; Safe, secure and as such free from care/worry; Positive, steadfast in one’s beliefs-free from harm or danger…wouldn’t you like to have all of these qualities? In Jesus you already do!

I am absolutely sure (Are You?) that not even death or life can separate us from God's love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can do that. 39 Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can do that. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God's love because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. Romans 8:38 NIRV

Being absolutely sure is the ‘norm’ for followers of Jesus! Following are some of the truths that reveal and secure our surety.

1. Simply following the clear and simple directives of the Lord are non-negotiable for us to flourish in His assurance and security!

8 The rules of the LORD are right. They give joy to our hearts. The commands of the LORD shine brightly. They give light to our minds. 9 The law that brings respect for the LORD is pure. It lasts forever. The directions the LORD gives are (sure) true. All of them are completely right. 10 They are more priceless than gold. They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold. They are sweeter than honey that is taken from the honeycomb. Psalm 19: 8-10 NIRV

1. We are clearly invited by God to continually ask Him for assurance; especially in our relational security with Him.

13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Psalm 69: 13

1. Build your life on and trust the sure foundation laid by Jesus as the precious cornerstone!

16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. Isaiah 28: 16

6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33: 6

1. The Resurrection of Jesus brings all of His sure promises to light in and through us!

34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.' Acts 13: 34

15 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" 16 God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. 17 And we know we are going to get what's coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance! Romans 8: 15-17, Msg

1. Living in sure hope is certain in Jesus; no matter the turmoil and drama around you!

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Hebrews 6: 10-11

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb.11:1

Making One's Calling and Election Sure

Calling: having a strong and overpowering urge to follow…

Election: the fact of being chosen by God for special favor, salivation or a specific task…

Calling and election are not exclusive. All are included!

2 Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. 3 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 4 We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you - your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. 5 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, 6 alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, 7 warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. 8 With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet; no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. 9 Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. 10 So friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, 11 the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. 12 Because the stakes are so high, even though you're up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I'm not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. 13 This is the post to which I've been assigned - keeping you alert with frequent reminders - and I'm sticking to it as long as I live. 2 Peter 1: 2-13 Msg

May I be so bold as to proclaim that Papa’s bottom line of our being sure is relational? Above all His desire is that we become completely sure/secure in our relationship with Him! Our agreement with God’s fierce love for us is the surest position to live. Calvary’s passion is our security!

"If we behold the Cross, and it causes us to see the Father in an unfavorable light, and Jesus in a heroic light, we’re seeing it wrong! Jesus is not saving us from the Father, but with the Father. He is saving us, not only from sin, but from the warped perception of reality that sin imparted to us.

He is revealing His Father in a light that the world had all but lost! He is showing us, once for all, that God is not angry at us, needing to be appeased before friendship could commence, but that He is fiercely loyal and devoted to His creation, and though we misunderstood and mistreated Him, He will stop at nothing to show us just how much He cares for us!" Jeff Turner

Sure in the grip of Papa’s Grace! Ron Ross