Good morning everyone, Living Water church family!
Good morning all of you who are with us Live or watching on the replay
Can I just say, Welcome home? We are so glad you’re with us today.
If you have been paying attention to the news you have witnessed all sorts of drama and sorrow and violence.
We have become a society of us versus them. We have begun to dehumanize those who hold different views or affiliations. Thankfully our hope is not in humanity, rather in the love and mercy of Almighty God. Today were going to talk a bit about God and his affectionate promises to us.
This phrase “In response to these things…” If you’re following along you will notice that last week, I spoke about How the Holy Spirit was given to us as a first fruits to intercede for us. This deposit of God’s spirit intercedes for our good and for God’s purpose. Through this, God initiated His plan that brought our salvation. We will begin today’s message be recalling “these things” Actually’ “these things” will cover actually most everything that we have read thus far’ especially chapters 5-8. This is Paul bringing to a close this part of his arguments.
My prayer this morning is that by hearing this message that we will begin to see ourselves and others though the true lens of God magnificent love, because if we can do this better it will radically change how we operate through life.
If you have your Bibles today, would you turn with me to Romans Chapter 8 and we’ll start with verse 31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 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 then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.”
Romans 8:31-39
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.
I have divided my thoughts into 2 sections or points in order to share them with you today. Before we take a look at my first point, consider this: In the forming of his closing remarks thus far, Paul asks two questions and these two questions will make up my two points. Let’s look at the first question.
Who Can Be Against Us?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? 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 then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.
Romans 8:31-34
If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will bring a charge against us? Who then will condemn us? Paul is asking these questions in a rhetorical sense to provoke thought and to draw in his audience. Job teaches us that Satan accused Job before God, chapter 1 verse 11 Satan suggests that Job only worshipped God because he had a good life, but that if God removed his possessions and wealth, Job would surely curse God to His face.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
Revelation 12:10
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
What Paul is saying in our text is that Christ Jesus possesses all power and authority that any attempts to bring charges against us, legal or otherwise, will fail. So again who can come against us? Who can bring charges? Who can condemn? Because of this Christ Jesus has made us more that conquerors.
…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.
Romans 8:34
God himself spared no expense to ensure our redemption. Giving His own son for our salvation. How much more would he provide to ensure our eternity.
… how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32
Paul is not talking about possessions or wealth; Paul is talking about the kingdom of God. He’s talking about eternity.
Often times we see things in a very carnal and physical way. In terms of struggle between good and evil. We imagine what things might look like and we see only what we have always seen. A physical war, a battle, of a fight. We hope that good guy will win. But it always seems like the bad guy has some dirty trick that tips the tide. This is where the suspense builds. Right?
Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Revelation 19:15-16
With a word Jesus defeats the armies of the world. No struggle. No suspense. I’ll ask it again, If the Lord is with us then who can be against us? We must at times look beyond the normal of the natural world and look to the eternal with supernatural sight. We God’s word tells us that God will give us everything we must rebuke our small-mindedness. Turn away from thoughts of material goodies. And understand that God’s plan for us is eternal life and possession of His kingdom. No one can come against us because no one can come against God. We are one in Christ Jesus.
As we move to my next/final point; the next question Paul asks is this:
Who Can Separate Us From God’s Love.
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.”
Romans 8:35-39
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.
Can trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword separate us from the love of Christ? No way!
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NKJV)
The truth of what Paul is saying here is that in all totality of creation physical and spiritual there is nothing that can separate love form Christ.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
1 John 4:16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
God’s love for us in Christ Jesus is and attribute of who God is. We cannot be separated from God’s love because God is love and in the unity of Christ God cannot separate himself from himself.
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21
We are one with Christ and with the father because of Christ and his love is on us and in us because of the unity of Christ. One to another and also to Christ and then to the father, as well. I’ll ask it again, who can separate us from God’s love? No one! Not a power or authority anywhere. Not time or space. Nothing in the spiritual or natural realms. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
As apparent sometimes our children can wear us out or frustrate us. We can be disappointed. We can even be angry at times. But never is our love for our children removed. I could never not love my child. God is the same way.
There are a lot of voices feeding us information. These voices try to define us. These voices will discourage us. These voices will even condemn us. All of these voices will do their best to talk over the voice of the Holy Spirit in your life. Surround yourself today with voices that will speak life over you. Allow the Holy Spirit to have center stage in your mind that when he speaks you can hear his truth and in that we will know that no one can come against us. We will know that no one can separate us from God’s love. When we absorb these 2 truths, we will change the way we operate. We will move with confidence in Christ. We will move in boldness and we will move in the strength of His spirit. I have been asking questions all morning and I have one final question…
Will you open your hearts to Jesus, the Son of the living God, and receive what your heavenly father has for you?
Will you call on him today? Will you ask Him to help you discern what his word is revealing today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of hindrance or bondage in your life or your relationships today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late. It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today.
Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here. Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me.
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’