Benefits of a Christian
Romans 8:16-37
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
RO 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
RO 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
RO 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
RO 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
RO 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
RO 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We all should know that as Christians we have certain benefits. We all know John 3:16-18 says JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
We know that God has loved us, he sent his son for us. But what are the benefits of being a child of God. Some time ago Bobby Arnold did a sermon on heavenly insurance. He showed a benefits card and told of how the premiums have already been paid. He highlighted the benefits of coming under this heavenly insurance. Yet what are the benefits. First of all we should realize that God has done it all for us. The psalmist asked What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me (KJV). We have to remember that God has done it all. This passage of Romans points out that God sent his Son for us. But do we really know the benefits of being a child of God.
If we liken evangelism to selling insurance or selling used cars, we might have better influence. People want to know what’s in it for me. So if we were to know the benefits of being a child of the KING, we might have better success at evangelism.
Benefit #1 is we have the benefit of His great LOVE; (John 15:13) We have the benefit of knowing that the creator of the universe loves us. In this passage from Romans we read that nothing can change that fact. God will love us no matter what. No matter how bad we mess up, God will still love us. God will still forgive if we repent, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. WE can reject his love, but he will never take it away.
Benefit #2 is GRACE, freedom not bondage: (Titus 2:11)
Sometime ago I did several sermons on GRACE, I like the acronym that Helen showed me. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It is Grace that brings salvation. It is by Grace we are saved, not by signing on a church roll or anything else that we do. It is by His Grace we are saved. God’s grace is sufficient to save the worst of sinners as well as the least of sinners. God’s grace is sufficient. His Grace is his gift to us. I like commercials sometimes they tell of the benefits of the product, and then they say: If you act now we will include at no extra cost this gift. Well in a way God does the same thing, the product he offers is Salvation, if we act now we receive at no extra cost His grace.
Benefit #3: Mercy not Condemnation. (Titus 3:5) Mercy is not getting what we deserve. We sinned, we broke the contract and we deserve the punishment for breaking the law. Yet God in his infinite mercy chose to save us. In his infinite mercy he chose to pay the price we could not pay. God paid the penalty. James tells us that God will judge with mercy if we do the same. The benefit package comes to together when we realize God has already paid that price. He already paid the premium.
Benefit #4: The Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38-39)
When we surrender our lives to God, become obedient to the precepts of the Gospel, we immediately receive the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is that Holy seal of promise. Look at Eph 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.
Benefit #5: Forgiveness not penalty
This actually stems from Benefit #4. If we repent and are baptized we have forgiveness for our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Who forgives our sins, Him who saved us. But not only are we forgiven we are given the power to forgive others for their offenses against us. He gives us the ability to forgive rather than carry a grudge. We have to benefit knowing our past is forgiven and forgotten, and we get the ability to do the same.
Benefit #6 Our needs met (Phil 4:19)
God supplies all of our needs. Our greatest need is forgiveness and salvation, through Jesus Christ we have those benefits and needs met. Yet that is not all, God sees to it that the basic needs of our life are met as well. People are out there searching for meaning, for love, for anything that would satisfy a hungry soul. God meets those needs, that is our benefit as a child of the LORD. He satisfies the hunger and sees to it we shall never go hungry again. He supplies our needs according to HIS riches.
Benefit #7 Eternal Life in the end we win.
There are certain indisputable facts. One is we will all die. The second is that we will spend eternity somewhere. The benefit of being a child of GOD is that we know we will spend Eternity with HIM. God gives us the benefit, the gift of Eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us that in Christ we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS. In Christ we are winners, not whiners. CONQUERORS not defeated.
So now that we know some of the benefits of God’s Plan, how easy would it be for us to sell it to everyone we meet?
Now that you know the benefits of being a child of the KING, what holds you back from accepting Christ and becoming HIS CHILD?
