Sermon Notes for 19 April 2026
Grace That Invites, Faith That Responds (Part 1)
Romans 8:29-30 (KJV)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
SOTERIOLOGY: The study of how God saves people.
Soteriology is the branch of theology that studies the doctrine of salvation—how a person is saved, from what they are saved, and what salvation includes.
Soteriology is the branch of theology that studies the doctrine of salvation—how a person is saved, from what they are saved, and what salvation includes.
1. FOUNDATION: GOD’S PLAN IS RELATIONAL, NOT FATALISTIC
God’s salvation plan is rooted in His foreknowledge of persons, not an arbitrary decree.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 3:17 (NKJV) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Titus 2:11 (NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Fatalistic refers to a worldview called fatalism—the belief that all events are fixed in advance and human choices cannot change the outcome.
Definition: fatalistic is believing that what will happen is going to happen no matter what you do.
2. FOREKNEW: GOD KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU CHOSE HIM
Foreknowledge is God’s prior knowledge of those who would believe. It does not mean God causes their faith. It reflects God’s omniscience, not determinism.
1 Peter 1:2 “elect according to the foreknowledge of God...”
Romans 10:9–10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3. PREDESTINED: DESTINED FOR A PURPOSE, NOT PRESELECTED WITHOUT CHOICE
Predestination refers to what God has planned for believers, not who will believe.
Predestination is about what believers become, not who becomes a believe.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
God’s salvation plan is rooted in His foreknowledge of persons, not an arbitrary decree.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 3:17 (NKJV) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Titus 2:11 (NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Fatalistic refers to a worldview called fatalism—the belief that all events are fixed in advance and human choices cannot change the outcome.
Definition: fatalistic is believing that what will happen is going to happen no matter what you do.
2. FOREKNEW: GOD KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU CHOSE HIM
Foreknowledge is God’s prior knowledge of those who would believe. It does not mean God causes their faith. It reflects God’s omniscience, not determinism.
1 Peter 1:2 “elect according to the foreknowledge of God...”
Romans 10:9–10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3. PREDESTINED: DESTINED FOR A PURPOSE, NOT PRESELECTED WITHOUT CHOICE
Predestination refers to what God has planned for believers, not who will believe.
Predestination is about what believers become, not who becomes a believe.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
DESTINED FOR A PURPOSE
1. God Has a Purpose for Every Life
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you… to give you a future and a hope.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
2. Destiny Is Not Forced—It’s Responded To
From an Arminian perspective, purpose flows like this:
Romans 8:29–30 (NKJV) shows the chain—but it doesn’t remove human response.
Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem … How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
3. You Can Miss or Fulfill Purpose
Acts 13:36 (NKJV) “David… served his own generation by the will of God.”
David fulfilled purpose—but others didn’t. Jonah ran from purpose; Judas abandoned his calling.
4. Purpose Is Discovered Through Relationship
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV) “Trust in the Lord… and He shall direct your paths.”
Application: You are destined for a purpose, therefore:
Takeaway: You are not a robot fulfilling a script. You are a person invited into a divine purpose. Are you walking in His purpose?
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you… to give you a future and a hope.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
2. Destiny Is Not Forced—It’s Responded To
From an Arminian perspective, purpose flows like this:
- God foreknows
- God calls
- We respond
- God forms and uses
Romans 8:29–30 (NKJV) shows the chain—but it doesn’t remove human response.
Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem … How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
3. You Can Miss or Fulfill Purpose
Acts 13:36 (NKJV) “David… served his own generation by the will of God.”
David fulfilled purpose—but others didn’t. Jonah ran from purpose; Judas abandoned his calling.
4. Purpose Is Discovered Through Relationship
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV) “Trust in the Lord… and He shall direct your paths.”
Application: You are destined for a purpose, therefore:
- Seek God daily
- Respond quickly when He prompts you
- Stay faithful in small things
- Be willing to adjust when corrected
Takeaway: You are not a robot fulfilling a script. You are a person invited into a divine purpose. Are you walking in His purpose?
HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THE LOVE OF GOD?
Will you give your life to Jesus today?
Pray this prayer to receive Jesus as your Savior:
“Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again to give me new life. Today, I turn from my old ways and invite You into my heart. Be my Lord, be my Savior, and help me follow You all the days of my life. Right now, I trust you as my Savior and will follow you as my Lord. Thank You for loving me. Amen.”
Assurance of Salvation
If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart, you can be sure that you are saved.
Romans 10:13 (NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”
Romans 10:13 (NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”
(If you prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, please complete the Connection Card below and watch the "Bridge Illustration" video at the bottom of this post.)
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