Paul teaches us that in Christ, God has given us everything! So what are we waiting for? Go ahead… name it, then confidently claim it! It’s yours!
Read it for yourself. God didn’t spare His own Son, and therefore will freely give us all things! (Romans 8:32) Paul declares that because God didn’t hesitate to do the hardest thing (to give His Son), He surely will do the comparatively easier thing (to give everything to those who place their trust in His Son).
It would be unthinkable to see God giving His Son… then backing out on our part… wouldn’t it?
It’s probably best to ask at this point, “What does He mean?” Does ‘all things’ guarantee a life of prosperity, comfort, and safety from the persecution of enemies maybe?
Probably not… considering a few verses later he cries, “For Your sake, we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (Romans 8:36).”
Paul describes this as being brought about by tribulation, distress, peril, and the sword. Yet… he insists… at the cross, Jesus obtained all things for us.
Paul is declaring that God will give us all things that are good for us. He will give us everything we need to be conformed to the image of Christ, to bring glory to His name, and to acquire everlasting joy. Our real needs are met even when we don’t know what those real needs are.
He will do this when our greatest… our only need is His grace to deal with, well… whatever comes…
Paul is not declaring something unrealistic here. Christians will endure many of the same trials as the rest of the world… sometimes worse. But in tribulation, all those in Christ will be proven more than conquerors… we have been (and will be) given everything… everything we need to be like Jesus.
ccragamuffin
mtsweat
>> “He will give us everything we need to be conformed to the image of Christ, to bring glory to His name”
That sums it up well.
Great post Mike, glad you are back! 🙂
Prosperity gospel=no gospel. Jesus suffered, and we will not? Don’t think so.
Greg
Glad to see you’re back! I was actually a little worried about you and yours. Wonderful post — thanks Michael. Carley
Great to see you back, MT… with a great post to boot.
“God will give us all things that are good for us.”—-that is indeed the “kicker”, isn’t it? Why, because He will only give us “everything we need to be like Jesus.” Bless you for this extremely clear and practical explanation of the nature of God’s gifts to us. In this case, Father really does know best!
The Prosperity Gospel people (or health & wealth, or the name it/claim guys) defy all logic. How anyone could teach from the New Testament that God wants to give us everything with no strings attached is beyond me. Read about the life of Jesus described in the Gospels. Read about Paul in Acts and then his letters. The stories of these two men make up the vast majority of everything the New Testament has to say, and neither of them lived a life of ease and leisure, abundantly blessed in this lifetime with health or prosperity. If the Christian life doesn’t look like Christ, what are we doing?
It is good to see you blogging again. Your title made me smile, I knew somehing good would follow. And it did. Isn’t it funny that those who name and claim their way through prosperity theology, never name and claim the promise from Jesus that “in this world you will have trouble”. We have overcoming faith because there are things to overcome. Good word.
Praise God! Great Post! Inspiring!
God Bless You!
I have found that sometimes the road to “everything” leads directly through “nothing”. You can’t get to victory without going through a war!
Amen my friends, AMEN! I concur! 😀
Oops! Gave the link through google reader… didn’t want to do that. Here is Lee’s link… http://theleegoodall.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/who-are-you-relying-on-07-mar/
Well, hello stranger. You have been absent for a couple of weeks. Good to “see” you.
When I read the tilte I thought, oh dear, but as you pointed out, the prosperity gospel is so misleading and salvation is not equivalent to a perfect life. You might like this link…http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Ftheleegoodall.wordpress.com%2Ffeed%2F. Lee makes some good observations about reliance and trials.
Keep the Faith!
I love your balanced perspective. Thank you for sharing.