ROMANS 8:38

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,”

What does it take for you to be persuaded about something? In this day of AI, you have to be careful about what persuades you. What might seem to be true could, in fact, be totally fabricated by the use of AI. I am convinced of a few things. I am convinced that I am sixty-five years old. I am convinced I live in TN. I am convinced I have been serving the Lord since April 1979. Other than that, it’s all up for grabs, lol.

But Paul tells us today that we can be convinced, just as he was, of some things. The word “convinced” is a primary verb used throughout the New Testament for being persuaded about faith. In faith, the Greek word here is peitho which is the root of pistis (faith). HELPS Word-studies says, “The Lord persuades the yielded believer to be confident in His preferred-will (Galatians 5:10; 2 Timothy 1:12).” Are you convinced?

APPLICATION

Paul was a persuader! In Thessalonica, when he preached to the Jews there, some of them believed. Acts 17:4 says, “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,…” Why were they convinced? Because Paul taught from the Scriptures how Jesus had to suffer and die and was the long awaited Messiah, the Christ. Then the Holy Spirit did His job and wooed them to the Lord. It is not only up to us. God uses us, but He calls them.

One of my favorite verses that uses peitho is 2 Timothy 1:12. “For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” There is even a hymn entitled “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” All four stanzas of that hymn talk about what we do not know. Here is the first one:

“I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed for His own.”

But then the Chorus burst out:

“But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able

to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day. “

Praise be to God for the convincing power of the cross and His unfailing love for us. He has convinced me. Has He convinced you?

Lord, I am persuaded. I am convinced that You are able to keep me secure against all that comes against me.

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