If God is For Us, Who Can be Against Us?

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Transcript

Welcome And Missionary Process Story

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Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in the Word. I'm Ronnie Cooksie. Years ago, when my wife and I were applying to be missionaries with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, we were assigned a candidate consultant. Our candidate consultant was the one who walked us through the arduous process of applying and eventually being approved and commissioned as missionaries. The candidate consultant was on our side, and his job was to make sure if it was the Lord's will, that we get through the process, to get from point A to point B to point C and all through the process.

God Leads From Start To Finish

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And in a much grander fashion, we see today, beginning in Romans chapter eight, verse thirty, how God walks us through all the way from beginning to end. Verse thirty says, and these whom he predestined, he also called, and these whom he called, he also justified, and these whom he justified, he also glorified. I believe that God predestines to salvation those whom he knows will receive him, much like what John chapter one, verse twelve says, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name. But however you see that process, we see the faithfulness of God here toward those who will place their faith in him.

If God Is For Us

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Romans eight, one of the most wonderful chapters in all of Scripture. We've been spending several days here, so Paul is pausing to recap. If there are any objections, he's going to bring it to a climax in these next verses and to say, If God is on your side, you have nothing of which to worry. All dark rooms become safe when Daddy is with us, and so it is that all is well when our heavenly Daddy is with us, as he is for all believers. And Paul says, and we looked at this verse thirty-one and thirty-two several weeks ago, that if God is for us, nothing can be against us, because God gave the ultimate example and that he spared not his own son. So how will he not freely give us all things that we need? So don't let this become lost in the poetry for you. This is serious. Would you give your son for someone else? Would you volunteer to allow your child to be killed for the sake of others? That's a hard one. But if I did give my son to save your life, I think you

The Cost Of Giving A Son

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would have the greatest faith that I am someone upon whom you can count. And this is true

No Charge Sticks Against Believers

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with God. In verse 33, he goes on, who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies. When the devil makes the accusations against you, and he's right about the things that we've done, but he leaves out the punchline, the bottom line that Jesus paid for all of that if you've placed your faith in him. And so the judge slams down his gavel and declares, overruled. As someone once said, if anyone in the world has a right to condemn you, it would be Jesus, because he gave his life on the cross for you. He left heaven, died for you and me, and then we sinned against him.

Jesus Intercedes Instead Of Condemns

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But instead of condemning us, in verse thirty-four, it says that he took his seat at the right hand of God, and there he prays for us. He intercedes for us. What an amazing thing. Picture it this way you've been accused of a terrible crime, a crime you committed. You were convicted, and now you must stand trial. There is no apparent hope. You deserve to die for your crime. And then as you take the stand, the unthinkable happens. The prosecuting attorney approaches the judge and begins offering reasons why you should be let off. That's what Jesus does. And he earned the right to condemn you, which he doesn't, but he earned the right to forgive you because he gave his sinless life in your place. He ran the marathon, he completed the race on your behalf, and now he waits beyond the finish line, cheering you on.

Surrender Your Burdens And Rest

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Oh, do you know Christ as your Savior? Please don't pass up what he has given his life on the cross to provide for you. How can you not believe in a God who would do all of this for you? And then what have you been carrying that's not yours? Will he not freely give you all things? Will he not freely do everything that is truly necessary in your life as he knows best? Will he not fight your battles? Will he not advocate for you? Will you not surrender all to him today? I loved it when my children would come into my arms and take a big inhale and exhale, and you'd feel their body just relax in Daddy's arms. Oh can you not just give it all to him today? Take a spiritual inhale, exhale, and rest because if God is for you, who can be against you?

Share With A Friend And Closing

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Be encouraged. Tell a friend if this is helpful, send one of your favorite episodes by link to a friend, and I'll see you here for the conclusion of Romans eight next time.