All right, so Romans 8. Today's passage really is
structured in kind of a wonderful him like ways.
Paul is coming to the end of arguments.
He's been making reason, you know, reasons for our salvation
and reasons for confidence in that salvation and reasons for
confidence in the Lord, despite great tribulations and
persecutions, and the like of which, he'll mention more of In
this passage. And so it acts as a summary,
It's a response, really a song like response to all that.
Paul has said, not only in chapter 8, which we looked at in
depth, but five through eight, really as a whole which we
didn't look at 537. So you just got to have to kind
of be familiar with those. I don't have time to go through
the themes of chapters 5 through 7 but just trust me.
It's wonderful. Good stuff.
All right and you should read it if you have not.
But the text here Lays into parts and so I'm going to
present it to you in those two parts.
First, is that Paul reminds us that God is for us?
Paul reminds us right out of the gate that God is for us.
The second part that we see is Paul celebrates the love of God
in Christ for us. And so there's an everlasting
love of God that has come to us through Christ and Paula
celebrating that and the two go hand-in-hand.
And so I've tried to summarize it this way.
If you're taking notes which I Encourage you to do adults and
children alike. You have a guide as well, you
can take notes in I've summarized it this way since
God, has for us in Jesus Christ, nothing can separate us from his
Everlasting Love. So, since God is for us in Jesus
Christ, nothing can separate us from his Everlasting Love.
Now, if you would, would you stand to your feet?
As we read the word of God. This morning.
He's going to read verses Romans chapter eight, thirty 1339
today. When I finish reading, I'll say
this is the word of the Lord invites you to respond.
Thanks be to God. All right?
What? Then shall we say to these
things if God is for us? Who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all.
How will he not also with him? Graciously, give us all things
who shall bring any charge against God's elect.
It is God, who justifies, who is to condemn Christ?
Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised.
Who is at the right hand of God. Who end?
Deed is interceding for us who shall separate us from the love
of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written for your
sake. We were being killed all the day
long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
Now in all these things, we are more than conquerors through
him, who loved us for. I'm sure that neither death nor
Life nor angels nor rulers nor things present, nor things to
come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus. Our lord, this is the word of
the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Let me pray for us. Heavenly Father, we thank you
for today. We thank for this time we have
to read and to study your word to hear it proclaims my Lord.
I pray that you would speak. He threw me, Lord.
I humble myself before you and ask Lord, that I had that you
would take your word and impart it to your people, Lord, that it
is not coming through my own opinions, are my own biases or
my own shortcomings in essence, but however, Lord, that it would
come as it is the unadulterated word of God is sufficient for
all things pertaining to life and godliness for your people.
I pray Lord that you would grant us life today that you would
grant us godliness today as a result of having heard your word
preached. Give us ears that are ready to
listen hearts that are inclined to believe mines that are
willing to put these words to work as we dwell on them.
Think on them and hands and feet Lord, that are willing to go and
do the work that you've called us to do.
It's in the Name of Christ I pray.
Amen. Amen.
So here in Romans 8, verse 31, the first section I want to look
at again is that God has for us in Jesus Christ?
Okay, God has for us in Jesus Christ and right here in Romans
8:31. What you see is Paul begins with
the question? What then shall we say to these
things? As I mentioned, a moment ago,
Paul is summarizing what he has said, thus far from Romans, 5:1
to Romans, 8, 30, but this is the kind of statement that one
makes when he finds out that something, which once seemed too
good to be true is, in fact true.
Hi. I remember being dumbfounded by
Patricia so I had been there's a long story but I there's always
a story, right? But I had been pursuing Patricia
for some time and she was paying We know mind and not totally,
but in essence and so, but I remember the first time she came
to my to my house and told me that, you know, that she was
willing to kind of start talking and what have you?
And I was just dumbfounded. And here's here's how you know,
Charming, I was this is first conversation about dating and
all of that and I told her in the opening moments, I love you.
So which she never answered for like the next three or four
weeks she just left me hanging but that's the kind of thing
that happens when you see something that doesn't make
sense. For hate like, how can these
things be? What shall I say to these
things? I love you, right?
And that's, that's essentially what Paul is getting at here,
right? Having written and seen all that
he has about God's Saving Grace toward his people, over the last
eight chapters Paul now, Says, what more shall we say to these
things? What what more can be said he's
astounded by it like he thinks these are things too marvelous
for him. It sounds a bit, like job a job
at the end of The Book of Job, which, again a whole lot
transpires. But Joe comes to see God in a
way that he has never seen God before.
Because God speaks to job in a way that he had never spoken to
man before at least that we have recorded for us and in the end
of all of that job and 42 23 says this to God.
He says, I know that you can do all things.
And that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
I have uttered. What?
I did not understand things too wonderful for me, which I did
not know. And then in verse 5, just a
verse later, he says, I heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
meaning I've heard these things about you, but now my eye sees
you Now, my eye sees and that's really what's happened to Paul
here and I think it's what's happened.
Probably to this church in Rome as I begin to read these things
to Jews and Gentiles alike and they see what's transpired for
their salvation, how God is working together for their good,
which is for their eternal glory in heaven?
What then shall we say to these things?
These things are too wonderful for us.
They're so wonderful that they've got Paul nearly
speechless. Nevertheless he collects himself
by the power of the spirit, he sums up for us in glorious
fashion. What he is saying and thank God
he does or left. We'd be left with the question.
What more shall we say? Nothing.
Right, but he doesn't say that. He says, one more.
Shall we say to these things if God is for us?
Who can be against us? What a marvelous point.
It's really again things too. Wonderful for us.
Now, you may come to the end of Romans 8, and the study, which
is only been seven weeks and we flew by some really difficult
things in Romans 8. But you may come to the end of
Romans 8, with no small amount of questions.
As what I'm saying, we've dealt with several difficult,
understand, themes things, you may need.
You may never fully Plumb the depths of this side of Eternity.
However, this I know to be true. We must commit ourselves to
being lifelong Learners, because once again, when you see God's
truth clearly your heart comes, your heart cry becomes.
What then shall I say to these things?
It's a cry of praise. It's an acknowledgement of the
glory of God in a question. What more shall I say to these
things? What then shall I say to these
things? So if you have questions at the
end of Romans 8, great it means your inquisitive, you're
curious. You're using the mind that God's
given you to learn. Fantastic.
Do it right? That's fine.
This is part of your growing, in your knowledge of God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ. This is what we hope for you at
New Life Community Church. When we say, we exist to glorify
God by growing in our faith in Jesus Christ.
We're saying is we hope that your knowledge of him grows that
your understanding of the Lord grows?
We want it to continue to grow. But one thing Paul wants you to
understand here, one thing he's making abundantly clear, is
this, if God is for you, who can be against, Who can be against
you? It's really an incredible thing.
In other words, the opposition of Satan and his workers against
us will never succeed. Since God is for us.
Amen. But I'll be honest, I expected
more of the name in there, but I'll keep going.
All right throughout chapter 8, we've discussed the themes of
adoption and sonship we've seen that we are children of God by
adoption. That God has made us his own
child, through his adoption and that we are co-heirs with Christ
and his. So we are children of God.
If we are in Christ by faith, in other words, if we have placed
our faith in Christ, For the Forgiveness of our sins.
We are a child of God. This is what Paul says in Romans
8. Are sure hope in the midst of
sufferings and trials. It is your great hope when
things are not going. Well it is your great hope.
When Satan seeks to Buffett you and all that he throws at you,
it is your great hope when those fiery arrows are those fiery
darts is Ephesians, six calls them come flying at you.
And all you can do in that moment is hold up.
The shield of faith that you've been given its faith in Christ
Jesus. Is that Wards off the sufferings
that Satan would seek to throw it here?
Martyn lloyd-jones says this. He said, God is for me.
We could say it along with Martin lloyd-jones, because this
is what Paul is saying to Believers.
God is for me, go ahead. Say it one, two, three.
God is for me, amen. I am his child.
Martyn lloyd-jones continues. I'm his child because he is for
me. And if God be for me, no one and
nothing can be against me in the sense of ever separating me from
him. So, what we mean, when we say
the God is for us, is what Paul is saying is that because God is
for you, nothing can come against you two ever finally.
Separate you from God. It's not that nothing can befall
you. It's not that no one can ever
persecute. You absolutely evil will happen
in your life. You will be persecuted.
You'll be mocked, you'll be scoffed at you'll suffer for the
name of Jesus Christ. Praise God.
We do. Right?
Because we read early and Romans 8 that we will also be glorified
with him provided we suffer with him.
So this is good for us, the truly Christian Life is riddled
with persecution and suffering. It must be, if you serve God
wholeheartedly, you set yourself against the powers of this
world. Meaning you set yourself against
Satan and his work, in this world, meaning unbelievers, who
are doing the bidding of Satan unbeknownst to them most of the
time. Will not like that.
You serve God. They will not like you for
serving God. This is why it's important for
you to remember, again, Ephesians 6.
Paul says, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.
But the bringing against dark Forces and Powers, right?
So, even when evil is having its way in a person's life, you must
have the wherewithal about yourself.
The mind about yourself to decry the evil.
Yes, to rebuke the person. Yes, in the right ways, right?
That they are influenced by the enemy in the same way that your
mind has been transformed by the Living.
God, there's has been transformed by Satan.
Right? And so, it's important for us to
remember these things yet. None of those things suffering,
persecution. None, of those things could
ultimately separate you from God.
How do we know this because Paul says?
So right here, in Romans 8:32, he who did not spare his own
son, but gave him up for all things.
Sorry, he who did not spare? His own son, but gave him up for
us all. How will he not also with him?
Graciously, give us all things. So we know that God has for us,
this is how we know that God has for us, how because he
graciously gave his own son. For God.
So loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever
believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.
This is how we know that God loves us.
So we know that he is for us. If you believe that Christ is
the savior, then God is for you. Because Christ is the only one
who could ever deliver his people from their sins.
Not only did he give us his son but he made us his own children.
Not only did he make us children but true children in the sense
that you are co-heirs with Christ.
And so he will graciously, give us all things.
He gives you all things. Now for your Holiness and in the
life to come for your glorification, If God has given
us the greatest thing he can give which is his own son.
Will he not also? Give us countless lesser things
as well. Yes, he will.
Amen. Amen.
Romans 8:33 continuing on. Who shall bring any charge
against God's elect? It is God.
Who justifies here? We see another way that God is
for us. It's in your justification.
It's in the that erasing of debt to sin, right?
Our debt freely erased by the work of Christ Jesus on the
cross. So who can bring any charge then
against God's elect. Now elect here means chosen
ones. Those chosen by God for his
purposes, coincides with Romans 8:28, 29 and 30.
Which we looked at last week, anyone who calls on the name of
Jesus Christ in Saving, faith is what we know about.
God's elect anyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ in
Faith is numbered among the elect people of God.
Anyone who calls on him to be saved those who come to faith in
Christ will then never be found guilty because they are
Justified freely from from their sins for God, declares them
righteous forever. Righteous forever.
There's not a time where you become righteous your justified
in a moment and then you know, as you go and you sin now, your
unjustified and then as you repent your re Justified and so
because that's a re crucifixion of Christ and in essence and in
Christ is not to be re crucified.
It what this means is that you are Justified forever and so as
you go on in your life and you battle against the Flesh, and
you find yourself in sin, you repent and believe.
Just as you did to could become a part of the family of God,
repent and believe therefore any accuser any accuser of the
redeemed, any accuser of God's people's whether they be Satan
himself is demons or your very own.
Audience, right? All those accusers shrivel in
stature, alongside the Risen Christ, who is interceding for
us now, at God's right hand. They shrivel and stature.
They cannot compare to Christ. Who has defeated death and the
grave, who is defeated, Satan and Hell who has defeated sins
once. And for all those accusations,
cannot compare to the love that you've received in Christ Jesus.
To make himself abundantly clear, Paul, just restates the
argument, in the very next verse he's like, hey, you need to
understand this, let me re say it, who is to condemn Christ.
Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised who at
the right? Who's at the right hand of God,
who indeed is interceding for us.
Now, again, this is a summary of all that we've seen so far in
Romans 8, but especially verse 1.
In Romans 8:1 we read There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Paul told you at the beginning of Romans 8, what he wanted, you
to know, He's explained it all in verses 2 through 30.
And now here again, he is telling you once again there is
therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus, who is to condemn? You, that's what he's asking.
Who is to condemn you? All right, Christ.
Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised, who
is at the right hand of God. Who indeed is interceding for
us. You see, Christians will never
be condemned because Christ was condemned for them so that they
might live eternally. A Christian will never be
condemned to death. Because Christ died and rose
again. His victory is your Victory by
faith. His strength to overcome is your
strength, overcome by faith. His willingness to submit to his
father as your willingness to submit to the father by faith.
Everything that you need. Again, we've been saying this
all of Christ for all of life, all of Christ, for all of life,
you have everything you need in Christ, Jesus for Life, as a
believer. If you're not lacking a thing
and Paul again, who is to condemn, no one cried, it was
Christ. Jesus, who is who is dead?
It was Christ. Jesus, who was raised with
Christ Jesus, who is at the right hand of God?
It was now interceding for us. So, Paul is grounding the work
that you know, in your life, that no one can condemn you,
that Satan demons, your consciences, nothing can condemn
you and he grounds it in the past and present.
Work of Christ Jesus he looks back.
Right? Christ died.
He's looking back to the death of Christ, Christ died.
And therefore, the argument is the penalty of sin is paid fully
It's paid fully. Somewhere in Hebrews which is
okay to say because the writer of Hebrews says, somewhere it
says, alright. So I'm going to say somewhere in
Hebrews, I think it's chapter 10, not sure.
But in Hebrews, we read about this great high priest which
we've received and Hebrews 4. But later on, he talks about how
there would be no end to the out, the offering of the blood
of bulls and goats the that a priest would have to come into
the temple day after day. Not only would he make
sacrifices for the sins of the people who would have to make
sacrifices for his own sins, because he wasn't a perfect high
priest. There's none.
Perfect. No, not one.
There's none righteous. No, not one right?
Romans 3. But in Hebrews, what we see is
there is one who has come a great high priest.
Greater than the line of priests, which we know from the
Old Testament. One who was able to not only
enter the glory of the temple which is heaven.
As it says, Not only was able to enter it, but he was also able
to make sacrifices once and for all for the sins of all the
people and he didn't need to make sacrifice for himself.
And so his sacrifices, once for all good, meaning, there's no
there's now no need to continue making sacrifices.
And so you are, if you are in Christ, your sins are finally
and fully paid for forever. What an amazing thing.
Christ died in the full penalty for your sin has been paid.
By the Merit of his death, he paid your debt.
Christ is our able all sufficient savior a mess.
Christ was raised from the dead. This is the second argument here
that he's grounding this in Christ.
Was raised from the dead. It is Christ who died as Christ
was raised and he's being raised what, you know, then is that his
death was effective. Listen, if Christ needed to die.
Are you listening if Christ needed to die?
For the Forgiveness of sins, which he did.
And yet his sent his death didn't accomplish what was
needed for the Forgiveness of sins.
Then he would have never risen from the dead.
He must still be dead, but that's not what we see here.
We see that he was raised. He's now at the right hand of
God he's interceding for us. His ministry goes on.
So his death was effective for the Salvation of all who call on
his name. Death was the payment for sins,
Resurrection, then is the legal release.
Marking, the dead of sin paid in full amen.
It's why you two will be raised from the dead, when Christ
returns. It's your debt has been paid and
so your soul. Now, when you die, your soul
will depart from your body and be immediately present with the
Lord. And when Christ returns your Our
soul will meet your body in the air at some in some way somehow
it will meet your body in the air and you will live with a
glorious body in the new Heaven and new earth.
You'll 12 forever in the state read 1st Corinthians 15 if you
struggling to comprehend, that make a note and read it later.
All right, now just do much good to hear.
Death was the payment for sins resurrections, the legal release
your debt of sin has been paid, Christ has died.
Christ is risen. We have hope then for True final
salvation. Because he died and because he
rose, we also see it in that he is now seated triumphantly at
God's right hand. At God's right hand.
This is further evidence that the work of Salvation is
complete. Again, he was raised from the
dead if that, which he had done, did not please God.
If that which he had done, did not satisfy the need for
salvation, right? If that was that which was done,
was not ultimately completed. Then Christ could not be invited
back to the right hand of the father.
He would have no place there. He would have been disobedient
to the father and what he accomplished.
But he was not disobedient. He says himself in John multiple
times that I and the father are one.
I only do that, which the father has sent me to do.
Right, I and the father are Unified.
He makes those statements over. And again, throughout the Book
of John, it's ultimately what led to his execution.
He was equating himself to be God.
The problem was he was goth. He is God.
So this is further evidence that he's that, the work of Salvation
is complete. All of a sudden has fired their
for accusations against God's children will not stand because
we have a friend in Heaven's Court.
You have a friend in Heaven's courts.
The Son of God stands there on your behalf and that's the next
point. He makes Christ intercedes for
his people on the basis of his own work.
Their Hebrews 7:25 says this consequently.
Jesus is able to save to the uttermost.
Those who draw near to God through him, since he always
lives to make intercession for his people.
Here's what we know about. Interceding, interceding means
effective intervention for someone Okay, it's effective
intervention, he's intervening in your life and he always lives
now to make intercession for his people.
Now what this does it mean is that God sits in heaven?
God the Father their presence is in heaven, wanting to whack you,
you know the whack-a-mole game. He doesn't sit there with a
padded Hammer, looking to beat you over the head, every time
you pop up in some sinfulness. This is not the Father's Heart
towards you for God. So loved the world that he sent
his son. Okay.
This is not the Father's Heart towards you, so I don't want you
to hear that. Jesus is interceding for us and
we know that that's a pleading. It's effective intervention,
right? So it can sound like he's up
there. Pleading with God.
No, no, no, don't do it. Right?
Look at my hands. Look at my side.
Look at my feet. And they've been pierced.
I'm bled. I died.
I've paid that debt. Like it's not like he's trying
to intervene in that God's coming at you.
To whack you over the head. This is not God's disposition
towards his people. Know, when you read that Christ
intercedes, he lives always to make intercession for his
people. That's meant for you.
Not the father? You understand that, at the
Father Knows from beginning to end, all that has happened.
He has planned it all out, especially the salvation of his
people through the death and resurrection of his son Christ,
right? So he knows that the death was
effective because he ordained the death.
He did that work, so he doesn't need Christ, pleading with him,
rather. When you read that Christ makes
intercession for you, that's for your confidence in your comfort.
That's for you to know that Christ stands with a body like
yours with scars and his hands and his feet and his side, he
was pierced for your transgressions.
He was wounded for your iniquities by his stripes.
You have been healed That's the intercession that's being made
for you. I'll Stand I'll make a few more
comments here. He stands in heaven with concern
for you. He's not unconcerned about you,
he's not disconnected from your life.
It's not that he doesn't want, he's not interested in what's
going on in your life. He is fully concerned for you.
He stands always lives, always to make intercession for you.
This is his ministry and Heaven for you and what we read earlier
in, Romans 8. And when I say earlier, I mean,
a few weeks ago, all right. What we read earlier in Romans 8
is that the spirit of God enter seeds Within In you and Christ
intercedes on your behalf and Heaven, the spirit of God,
intercedes carries those things to Christ Christ carries those
things to the father, you can trust that everything that is
being done in that, intercession is effective for your life and
godliness. It's really incredible, right?
Christ is your Advocates. He's the answer to all the
accusations from Satan and his demons and your own conscience.
When your conscience arises to accuse you of being a no-good
and worthless. When Satan Rises to accuse you
saying, you sinful wretch, you do not deserve the love of God
in Christ. When demons come to you too, Tim
to and your own Temptation arises within you even right.
Not the demons enter in you, that's confusing.
Okay? But that you're tempted from
without you or from within you, right?
When those things happen in your conscience would accuse you when
those things happen and you would stand there in your guilds
in your shame. You must remember, you must
remember that. Christ lives in heaven, as one,
who died, and rose again, seated, at the right hand of God
and full approval of God's work. Interceding for you.
Pleading his own blood for you. Able to save Hebrew says to the
uttermost all who draw near to God through him, able to save to
the uttermost. Why?
Then in sin, would you ever turn away from God?
She this is the great scheme of Satan in your life.
Guilt and shame are meant to paralyze you to, where you will
never run to the one who can actually save your soul.
You'll go on thinking I don't deserve the love of God and the
truth is you don't but it's been graciously given to you.
Been graciously afforded to you and so you don't have to run
away from the Lord, when you sin, right?
Go and hide. I know, I'm really jacking the
camera up here. I'll stay.
You don't have to do that. Instead you can come boldly as
Hebrews, 4 says the throne of grace and receive mercy and
Grace in your time of need because Christ is the great high
priest. He's able to sympathize with you
in all of your weaknesses because he was tempted and tried
as you are yet without sin. Incredible stuff.
This is why he's able to save to the uttermost.
What create comfort then is this for you.
What shall you say to these things right now?
You see my balls? Like what shall we say to these
things? What room is left and your heart
and in your mind for doubting when you suffer, when you find
yourself in despair or all other manners of difficulty and
strife, right? What room is there for doubting
the goodness of the Lord towards you?
There is no Rune now. It's what I'm saying to you.
There is no room left if you will believe the words of Romans
8. There is no room for doubting
God. Any longer?
Trust him. Or more Jones.
Again, he said this. He said because Christ is
eternal, his word will always be the same.
It is a perfect work. It can never end or fail.
It goes on forever in all its absolute perfection and glory.
Amen, No matter what? May come your way, you can
confidently, answer those things.
Those people if God is for me who can be against me, Since God
is for us in Jesus Christ, nothing can separate us from his
Everlasting Love. Let's look at that second half
of this now. Romans 8:35 through 37.
Paul's just continuing here with the questions who shall separate
us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress
or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword as
it is written for your sake. We are being killed all the day
long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. Let's hit those wonderful words
right, though, tribulations and distress, and persecution, and
famine and nakedness and danger, and sword.
May come to us. May threaten us.
We are more than conquerors through him.
Who loved us? We are more than conquerors
through him who loved us. so what this means is brothers and
sisters, Paul was Just not denying it, especially in his
day, his love for the Lord. Would eventually bring about his
death, he would lose his head for Christ.
Many of his brothers and sisters have already died for their
belief in Christ. And so when he says we were
being regarded as sheep led to a Slaughter, he's being for real.
This is not hyperbole He's being honest about what they're
facing. Especially here in Rome where
things were going to get real bad real soon.
And so we're not exempt from dangers.
Rather, we are empowered by God in the midst of dangers.
We're a strengthened to believe that nothing can take us from
his hand, which is just what? The great Shepherd.
Jesus Christ. Himself explains in John chapter
10, verses, 27, and 30. Listen to this, my sheep hear my
voice Christ says, and I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no
one will snatch them out of my hand.
My father who has given them to me. is greater than all and no
one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand, I and the
father are one You can be certain that you can be certain
as he said in Romans 8:28 that God is working together.
All things for the good of those who love him and are called
according to his purpose. You don't have to doubt this.
You don't have to wonder about this.
It's important to distinguish between.
And as you think about that, it's important because it talks
about for those who love God and are called according to his
purpose. So we need to distinguish
between the tribulation of unbelievers, and believers.
I like what Robert how they ain't said, he said, the
tribulation of unbelievers is the effect of the wrath of God.
The tribulation that unbelievers face is the effect of the wrath
of God. But the afflictions of his
people are beneficiary. Corrections, that's so far.
From separating them from his love.
They yield the Peaceable fruit of righteousness and our, for
their profits, that they might not be condemned with the world,
but partakers of his holiness, Getting all things work together
for the good of those who love God and are called according to
his purpose. I'm reminded though of Christ's
own encouragements to his disciples.
This comes on the night when he was betrayed when he was led to
wrongful trial after wrongful trial and when he was ultimately
condemned to death and died on a cross, he told his disciples
this as he sees the growing fear in them as he's announcing these
things he says I have said these things to you.
I've warned you what's coming. I've told you about the helper,
the Holy Spirit, who will be with you.
I have said these things to you that in you, sorry.
That in me, you may have peace. In the world, you will have
tribulation Christ, does not say in the world.
You might have in the world. You may have in the world is
possible that you will know in the world.
You will have tribulation, but take Hearts mean, be of good
cheer. Be encouraged be strengthened,
take heart because I have overcome the world.
Charles Hodge said this, he said all strength to endure and to
conquer comes to us through Christ who loved us all these
things may seem like they could defeat you.
Trial, tribulation nakedness sword hunger.
Famine. Bright holder. this thing seem
like they ought to defeat you They seem like they ought to
stop the work of God in your life that will put an end to it
immediately. And yet God and his people whom
he loves remain United and Inseparable now and forever even
in all those things. And that is where Paul takes you
Nets. Look at verses 38 and 39.
For, I am sure that neither death.
Nor live. Nor angels nor rulers nor things
present, nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor
anything else in all creation. Just in case I've left something
off the list, anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Our lord. As I was reading that it came to
my attention that boys and girls, you guys are doing an
incredible job. And I just wanted to say that,
You're doing a wonderful job, keep it up.
Absolutely nothing and all the created World, absolutely
nothing and all the created world can sever the relationship
of love that we share with God in Christ Jesus.
But the Creator will not be defeated by his creation that's
impossible. And, you know, unless it's
Terminator and I, alright, it's a human creation.
But the creator of all things are at the god of Heaven and
Earth, the God, who spoke and things came to being literally
out of nothing, out of nothing. He thought the things up, he
spoke them into being and they were this God, nothing in his
creation can thwart his purposes.
Nothing can defeat him in his creation rather rather in it's
important to make this distinction is not just that he
won't be defeated. Here's what's actually happening
the creation will always serve the ultimate.
Good purpose of the creator for the glory of God, who created
all things and the good of his people, whom he eternally loves.
That's what Paul is telling you here.
That's important, right? Because if I think that God is
in heaven and he's the creator of all things, and I believe
that because that's what the Bible tells us.
But all the things can just kind of do whatever they want.
And they can cause whatever problems they want the cause
then it's a chaotic world. I live in, and you have a
decision to make. Do you want Christ, or do you
want chaos? Because what we see here is that
Christ is seated at the right hand of the father always
interceding for us and so you can't have chaos and Christ at
the same time. Now they can go together but
you're going to believe the one in the one's going to save you
from the other. Chaos will not defeat you.
You're more than a conqueror. In Christ because of the love of
God. If God is for you, who can be
against you, if God is for you, what can be against you all
manner of things can come against you ride, but not
ultimately against you, not ultimately to sever the love
that you've received. That's not going to happen.
Absolutely nothing. And all the creative world, can
sever the relationship that we have with God, that we share
with him in Christ. And so again I'll say it one
more time, the creation will always serve the ultimate.
Good purpose of the creator for the glory of God, who created
all things, and the good of his people, whom he eternally loves,
amen. Me tell you what Charles Simeon
wrote at the end of this. He said, nothing can nothing
surely can be conceived. More delightful than to possess
an assured hope of Eternal happiness and Glory.
Nothing you can conceive. Could be more delightful than to
possess an assured hope of Eternal happiness and Glory.
He goes on if we profess that nothing shall separate us from
the love of God, let us then take care, that nothing does
separate us from it. Let nothing in the whole
creation draws, aside from the path of Duty or hinder our
progress in the Devon life. Amen.
So here's the deal brothers and sisters.
If you've been saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus,
your lord serve him as such. If you've made him Lord, through
faith submit to him as Lord. What I mean is obey God.
See to it that nothing separates this again, Paul makes the
argument all the way back in, Romans 6.
That just because Grace abounds does not mean we that our sin
must have bound. He says it's the exact opposite
because Grace abounds our obedience should have bound.
Again, it's like Patricia coming to me and saying hey you know,
if I'm ready to see what might come of this.
I love you, right? It's really foolish thing to say
somehow it worked like it's because God's greater than I am.
Miracles happen. Brothers.
Miracles, happen. and so, When you've received the grace of
God, though, when you've received the love of God in
Christ Jesus, the disposition of your heart.
Right? The stature of your spear heart
and your mind and your will is to say I love you and it's
Tennille. It's to bend the knee to Christ
the King. It's the say to him.
You were Lord of lords and King of Kings.
I'm surrendering my whole self to your lordship.
Not one area of my life is off of off-limits from you.
That one area of my life is my own.
I surrender to you my mind. My heart, my strength, my soul.
Right. What's the greatest commandment?
Love the Lord, your God with your heart, your mind, your
soul, your strength, and some translations.
You're surrendering those things to have.
You're saying not my will but your will be done, not my
kingdom, but your kingdom come. And that's since God has for you
in Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate you from
his Everlasting. Love, would you stand to your
feet this morning? We're going to receive the
Lord's supper together. And so a couple of quick notes
on that before my instructions for you.
First is we practice communion for believers here?
so if you are believer in Christ Jesus, you've been baptized In
Christ Jesus, in the name of the father.
Son. Holy Spirit, right?
You submitted yourself to him. Then we invite you to receive
communion with us today, whether you're a member of New Life
Community Church or not. You are a member of the Church
of Christ. Amen.
Second thing is, if you have a gluten allergy, there is a
gluten-free option there. You just have to look at the
tape. That's provided like your
brother at the top part of that. So trust, you'll figure that
out. She looks awesome.
You'll find that allergy there's nuts in there.
So sweet Okay, all right, so two great reasons to protect of the
Lord's Supper this morning. One is that God is for you in
Christ Jesus? We looked at it right.
His death, his resurrection, he sits at the right hand of God,
he makes intercession for you. Those actions those Works.
Save all, who believe forever from their sins.
And so I invite you today to believe these things to trust
these things, to prepare your heart to receive the Lord's.
Supper in a worthy manner, as you see the work of Christ that
we've seen today, his body and his blood are now provided in a
Cup for you to partake of. You're saying, I will always
trust in the broken body and shed blood of my Lord Jesus
Christ for my salvation. Second.
As I mentioned, just a second ago, we must take great for
suits. Great care.
Sorry must take, great care in our pursuit of Jesus Christ.
You must repent of sins. Believe In Christ for your
forgiveness and salvation. This is the work.
I tell. I even tell children when they
come and they want to talk about salvation repentance and believe
they explain. They've repented they believe
the gospel. I just encourage him.
This will be your life from now until your final breath to
repent and believe always. You never outgrow repentance and
belief. You never outgrow it.
It strengthens your maturity and so today, as we prepare, our
hearts to receive the Lord's supper, if there's sin in your
life, repent of it. and so we're going to sing a song together
this morning as the worship team sings, you need to pray can sing
along it Parts if you want to but commit your heart to prayer
in this moment. Pray for repentance, pray that
the Lord would strengthen belief as you receive Christ in the
Lord's Supper today. Amen.