REVISITING THE BELIEVER'S POSITIONAL RICHES IN CHRIST

Part XXV: Applying The Truth That Believers Are Within The Much More Care Of God

I. Introduction

A. This earthly life from the human perspective is a life of uncertainties: none of us knows what tomorrow will bring (Proverbs 27:1), and we often face physical threats or even threats in the realm of the angelic conflict. Dwelling on these threats can cause the believer to live in fear, immobilizing him.

B. However, one of the 33 positional truths that the believer possesses the instant he trusts in Christ is the truth that he is placed within the Much More Care of God, Romans 8:31-32. (Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. III, "Soteriology," p. 259-261) We view this truth with its Scriptural applications that we might understand the path of victory and spiritual rest in the Lord regarding the uncertainties of this life:

II. Applying The Truth That Believers Are Within The Much More Care Of God.

A. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's love so that he will be raptured before God's wrath is poured out on the earth in the Great Tribulation, and he will not enter hell, Romans 5:8-9.

B. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's unmerited favor, that is, His grace:

1. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to his salvation: in the ages to come, God will display His great grace toward the believer in having saved him from sin and hell, Ephesians 2:7-9.

2. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to his salvation's security: by faith in Christ, the believer stands ensphered in God's grace so he can live as justified by God, Romans 5:2.

3. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to his Christian service:

a. Just as God the Father sent His Son into the world to minister in Christ's earthly life, so Christ has in turn sent the believer out into the world to serve God's will, John 17:18.

b. Accordingly, the Lord promises to reveal His presence and hence enabling for the believer to accomplish his God-sending mission of Christian service wherever God leads him, Matthew 28:19-20.

4. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to his instruction in the things of God: God's grace instructs believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts so as to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age as they look for Christ's glorious appearing, Titus 2:11-13 ESV.

C. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's power relative to others and himself:

1. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to God's power being extended to rule in the affairs of every spirit being in the universe, every unsaved human on earth and every believer in the Church so that a given believer can function on earth as he is assigned to do by the Lord, Eph. 1:15-23.

2. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to God's power working within him to make him both will and then perform God's will, Philippians 2:13. All the believer must then do is yield to God's work in his being and he will want to do and then accomplish God's assignment for him.

D. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's faithfulness regarding his earthly life:

1. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to material needs: God's Hebrews 13:5-6 pledge not to leave or forsake the believer is in the context of what one owns that others might harm, so God's care involves protection from others in the realm of material possessions.

2. The believer is within the Much More Care of God relative to God's promise to disciple him properly throughout his Christian life, Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

E. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's peace relative to the believer's relationship with Christ (John 14:21-27), relative to the believer's relationship with other believers (Colossians 3:13-15) and relative to the believer's relationship with the unsaved world. (John 16:33)

F. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of God's consolation relative to functioning well in the face of upsetting false teachers and their false teachings, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-15, 16-17.

G. Within the Much More Care of God, the believer is an object of Christ's constant intercession to the Father in his behalf relative to the believer's weaknesses and sins, Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:25; 9:24; Romans 8:26, 34.

Lesson: The believer need not fear what might go wrong in this earthly life, for since he is in Christ, he is in the Much More Care of God so that all he needs for achieving God's will in his life is guarded by Almighty God.

Application: (1) May we who trust in Christ learn to RELAX, trusting God's COMPREHENSIVE Much More Care of us in every way we need so we can achieve the assignment He has for us. (2) If God has provided such extensive care for us, may we focus on performing His assigned will that we heed it as God's priority in our lives.