He Loves Me!
Romans 8:31-39
Hey guys, just a reminder that this coming Thursday is an important day for your bride - hence, an important day for you! Yes, it's Valentine's Day which means that you better do something nice or extra nice for her! Ladies, on behalf of the men, we thank you in advance for doing something nice or extra nice for us!
But when it comes to this day, there may sometimes be the question of one's love for another. In fact, I think about the girl that has the flower and she pulls off one petal at a time, "He loves me… he loves me not. He loves me… he loves me not." And that goes on until there are no more petals. The love of another may be in question, but I've got some great news for you this morning when it comes to the love of God - He loves you! Never do you have to worry that He may change His mind regarding His love for you. When Jesus spoke, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…" He hasn't changed His mind. In fact, before then, God spoke through Jeremiah, "I have loved you with an everlasting love," it's still true today. And what we find in these verses this morning is Paul's expression of the incredible love of our God - and how fitting as we are in such an incredible chapter that shows us just how great a God it is that we serve.
Friend, I want to go ahead and tell you loud and clear that God deeply, deeply loves you. And just in case you're wondering what that love looks like, you've come at the right time and you're looking at the right verses that will help you to see just how great is the love of our God. This is how Paul put it,
Romans 8:31-39
8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.
So far, we have learned that, "There is no condemnation because we share the righteousness of God and the Law cannot condemn us. There is no obligation because we have the Spirit of God who enables us to overcome the flesh and live for God. There is no frustration because we share the glory of God, the blessed hope of Christ's return. There is no separation because we experience the love of God: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ?"1 Because of the love of our God, we see that the believer's eternal salvation is completely secure in God's hands.2 But how?
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A selfless love vv 31-32a
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We have a God that is for us v 31. Paul begins with a question, "What then shall we say to these things?" What are "these things?" Well, some say that it is everything up to this point - all of Romans. Others say that it is vv 28-30. Regardless, as we have seen the overwhelming grace of our God in the previous verses, this chapter, and all the book of Romans to this point, I think the response would be the same, "Hallelujah! What a Savior!" John Walvoord said it well - an appropriate response is to stand in open-mouthed amazement3 to the love of our God. And then Paul shares a great question that comes with the answer tucked in, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This is the first of a handful of arguments that prove there can be no separation between the believer and the Lord.
Picture in your mind this scrawny little man now on up in years standing before a mixed crowd of believers and non-believers, those who think they are okay and those who know they're not - and he is about to present a challenge to every one of them. "If God is for us, then who can be against us?" This is a challenge to every doubter. And even in this question we already see that there is no one on par with God - no one.
I know there are some here this morning and you're really wondering if God is for you. As we're going to see in a few moments, that God is for you does not mean that you'll have an easy life. In fact, you really are not fully convinced that God is fully for you until you have gone through some fires and trials. God is for us.
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We have a God that gave His best for us v 32a. The imagery of this verse takes us back to Abraham as he obeyed the Lord in taking his son Isaac to the mountain where he was going to offer him up as a sacrifice. As Abraham lifted up the knife to take the life of his son, the Lord stopped Abraham and told him that his son could be spared. But at Calvary, it was God the Father that not only offered up the Son, but did not spare Him the anguish of our sin. He died!
For those that challenge the love of God for them, I have only to ask how they can look at the cross and say that God hates them. God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Listen, if anyone had the right to spare a son from death, it was God Almighty. He got no fair return! He gave His perfect Son for sinners! But you may ask why God would do such. He loves us!
My mind goes back to our choir as they sang that song in the Christmas pageant, "Amazing love, how can it be that Thou my God should die for me!" But we also see another aspect of this selfless love,
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We have a God that will not withhold from us v 32b. If God was willing to give His own Son and not spare Him, then there's another great realization that is given in the form of a rhetorical question, "then how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Isn't it amazing how quickly we forget that God is the omniscient and omnipotent One? In fact, here is what will happen to some this week. We are here today and we will be encouraged from God's Word to trust in Him. We will worship and celebrate and be so very thankful that God really is who He says He is, but then on Tuesday, if not Monday, if not today at lunch time - we have already forgotten all of that and we are overwhelmed and worried that things are out of control - not our control but God's! How much we are like the children of Israel! God delivers them from the Egyptians as they left with their arms filled with goods from them. They get to the Red Sea and they panic again - yet God delivers them. They get on the other side and have an awesome worship service, but three days later they're complaining and worrying and are saying that God left them. In just three days they have already forgotten the wonderful provision of their God!
Listen, I don't know what is going to happen to you or me this week, but I can tell you that it will be very tempting to worry and squirm that God may not be able to handle "this" problem. I've got some good news for you - God is able - and He will work in His way in His time for His glory! He knows your needs and your concerns and your limits - and He cares. So trust Him.
What a selfless love our God has. But also notice that His love is,
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A shielding love vv 33-34
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There is no charge that can stand against God's elect v 33. As we move into the second point, we see where the questions continue - and they are questions that will have the answer, "No one." "Who will bring a charge against God's elect?" Answer: No one. "Who is he who condemns?" Answer: No one. But here is what some will say, "Wait a minute. Satan is known as the accuser of the brethren. That means that he will accuse us." Yes sir, he will. And he may try to bring up lies, or he may even bring up the truth.
Imagine a courtroom setting in heaven. And you are the one that is on trial. The prosecuting attorney is none other than Satan himself. The defense (for the believer) is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Judge - God the Father. And the Accuser of the brethren stands before the Judge and begins to state reason after reason that you or I are not worthy of being acquitted. Do you have the scene pictured in your mind? The accuser will say, "Judge, this one lied when he was a little boy. He stole when he was older. He had a struggle with a hurt, habit or hang-up that was something that was shameful. He's nothing but a hypocrite." On and on the rants proceed from Satan until the Defense stands to His feet - and when He does, the accuser can do nothing but to remain silent. Why? Our defense is the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and the devil knows that as He stands he has nothing else left to say or do. The Lord Jesus Christ, in defense of one that has placed their trust in Him alone, declares, "Judge, all that the Accuser has brought up is true. He was a liar… He was a thief… He had a hurt, habit and a hang-up. But Judge, what the Accuser did not bring out was that I purchased their soul at Calvary. I took their place and I shed My blood for their sin to be covered. And they accepted by faith that grace that was extended to them." And having said that, the Lord Jesus Christ, MY defense attorney sits down. And it is immediately that the Judge, the eternal God, rings His gavel and declares that believing sinner, "Innocent by Justification. Their penalty has already been paid and they have been set free, because it is no longer them that I look at, but the One, My Son, that took their place. Case closed!"
It is just as the apostle Paul declares here, "Regardless of whoever may bring a charge, God the Judge has already declared me justified." Thank God that I have been justified in the Lord Jesus Christ! There is no charge that can stand against God's elect, and,
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There is no condemnation that can break our relationship with Christ v 34. The next question, "Who is he that condemns?" No one is the answer. The accuser still accuses, but the great news is that the Savior is still interceding on our behalf! Why Jesus? Notice what Paul says, "It is Christ who died, and FURTHERMORE who is risen, AND He is at the right hand of God, AND He is making intercession for us!" Believer, have you ever wondered whether or not anyone was praying for you? I've got some great news for you - Jesus was and is interceding for you!
"Well, what's He praying for me?" I don't think His interceding has changed much over the past 2000 years. As He prayed in John 17:21, I believe He is still praying, "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
I believe He prays that we will have the wisdom that we desperately need, and James 1:5 reminds us that He will give it when we ask in faith.
I believe He is still praying what He spoke through Jeremiah (29:11), "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
I believe that He is praying that God will provide for every need that we have as we trust Him with all that we have.
He is praying for us that as we go through the trials and struggles that we will see and be even more convinced that God is our Rock and our Refuge.
Brother and sister in Christ, just know that the Lord Jesus Christ that died on the cross for you is still busy for you - lifting you up to the Father. What a comfort to know that "In the whole universe there is nothing which can provide greater assurance than the finished work of Christ."4 But this amazing love of our Lord is also,
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A secure love vv 35-39
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There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Twice in these final verses Paul addresses this issue of separation. First he addresses it as a question, and then as an emphatic statement. Put simply, Paul wants us to understand that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can get Christ to love us less.
As Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" we understand that there may be things that happen these days that may cause husband and wife to love each other less, but never is that the case with our Lord. Paul lists some things here that really are nothing more than a biography of his life. He knows from experience that tribulations cannot pull Christ away from us, distress cannot, persecution cannot, famine cannot, nakedness cannot, peril cannot, and sword cannot! But there's a point that needs to be made here in the midst of this great encouragement.
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We are never promised an easy carefree life as believers. In verse 36, Paul makes this very clear as he quotes Psalm 44:22, "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." What does that mean? It simply means that we will have tough, hard, unfair, and overwhelming days as we choose to stand for Christ. Yet, we may initially think that all of those things are going to bring about a bad outcome - nothing good. Not to be dear friend. We learned in Romans 8:28 that God can, does, and will work all things together for good - even the bad and unfair events of life.
Why? You may ask. "God does not shelter us from the difficulties of life because we need them for our spiritual growth (Romans 5:3-5)…. God permits trials to come that we might use them for our good and His glory. We endure trials for His sake (Romans 8:36), and since we do, do you think that He will desert us? Of course not! Instead, He is closer to us when we go through the difficulties of life."5
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It is through the challenges of life that we become emphatically convinced and victorious believers vv 37-39! In verse 37 he says that we are superconquerors! We "keep on being conquerors to a greater degree" or "keep on winning a glorious victory" through Him who loved us. Jesus Christ and His love for believers enable [us] to triumph."6 What does that mean? It means that "We do not merely hold our own in the face of testing, but through suffering we are drawn closer to Christ and become more conformed to His image. Notice, however, the means by which we are superconquerors, through him that loved us. Personal heroism and inner strength are not contributors to success in the Christian life. As we owe our justification to Him and our sanctification to Him, we also owe our assurance to Him. All we have we owe to Him."7
So, because we are superconquerors through Christ, then there is a deep conviction, an established fact. What's the deep conviction? Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Like what? Paul says (even in chains), "I stand convinced"!
Notice the list that he gives here.
Death - it can't separate a believer from the love of Christ - in fact, it will take us into His presence.
Life - it can't separate us from God's love, though it is often more difficult to face life than it is to face death. But be encouraged brother! "Life's temptations, failures, disappointments, uncertainties, and sufferings will not separate us from the love of God that is in Christ our Lord."
Angels, powers and principalities - the spirit world both good and bad (if "angels" does not mean fallen angels) - those spiritual enemies, though strong and formidable are no match for the believer with their spiritual armor on. We are more than conquerors and we cannot be separated from the love of God!
Things present - what is it that you're facing today? It may be a large burden. It may be an overwhelming load. It may be the toughest time you have ever experienced. BUT it's not enough to separate you from the love of God!
Things to come - who knows what is to come? Unrest in the Mideast; uncertainty in our economy; absolute fright when it comes to what may potentially happen in the election in November - there are lots of things that we could worry about. But let this one fact ring true and clear - whatever may come is not enough to separate you or me from the incredible and inestimable love of God!
Height - is there anyone here afraid of heights? I was visiting with someone on Monday night and he said, "I won't get in an airplane." Here was his reasoning and it's not a bad thought, "What if the pilot is having a bad day?" Point taken. In fact, some have used Matthew 28:20 as support that flying is not of the Lord, "and lo (low) I am with you always…"! That's a little bit out of context.
Depth - go to the lowest parts of this world that you can go, but the good news is that there is nothing down there than can reach up and keep you from the love of God!
Any other created thing - It's like Paul gets to this point and he wants to make sure that just in case there is anything that he left out gets covered, so "any other created thing" - cannot keep us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
"What a climactic way to affirm the certainty of believers' salvation!" And our response? Hallelujah what a Savior! Is He your Savior? Are you certain?