WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.160 Well, we are spending January studying Romans chapter 8. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:08.720 We're learning what does it mean to walk in the Holy Spirit? 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:12.240 And so we have seen different things each week, these four weeks. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:18.079 Romans 8, 1 through 4, we've studied that the Holy Spirit lives in us, bonds us to Christ. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:25.199 Verses 5 through 17, the Holy Spirit reorders us, shapes us into Christ-likeness. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:33.600 Verses 18 through 30, last Sunday, the Holy Spirit gives us hope as we long for the restoration of heaven. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:42.320 In verses 31 through 39, what we're about to dig into, the Holy Spirit applies the indestructible love of Christ to our hearts. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:44.079 And I love that word indestructible. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:51.280 I started to see that it was popping up in my life because it's been a couple weeks since I gave you the puppy update because we're getting a puppy. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.399 February 4th, this little guy is gonna join our family. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:58.479 He's a bernadoodle, he's already my best friend. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:00:59.759 We love each other. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:01.600 I look at the video update. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:02.960 So he's coming February 4th. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:11.200 So I've been in puppy prep mode, been buying a lot of things, been buying a crate and bed and treats and food and all that, and toys. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:18.719 And you know, in the puppy toys, you got like snuggle toys, and they have like a heartbeat in them, and snuggle toys that are like they have smells, and then there's like chew toys. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:23.200 And the key word in the chew toys is that word indestructible, like over and over and over again. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.239 An indestructible. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:30.719 The pet people love this the word because they don't want these little puppies to die, to choke on some little piece of the toy. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:32.959 And so they love that word indestructible. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:34.239 So finally I looked it up. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:40.000 It means it cannot be ruined, it can withstand damage and decay. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:45.120 It is unbreakable and has enduring spirit and purpose. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:51.840 So, Romans 8, the Holy Spirit applies the indestructible love of God to your heart. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:55.200 Love that cannot be ruined by anything. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:59.599 Unbreakable with enduring spirit and purpose for you. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:00.879 Let's look at these verses. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:03.120 Romans 8, verses 31 and 32. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:05.359 What then shall we say to these things? 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:08.319 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:16.800 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? 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:24.879 Point number one is this God's welcome and delight in us is through Christ alone, not our efforts. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:30.159 And even our lack of efforts can't break the indestructible love of God to us. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:37.919 So we would call that theologically, we would call it justification by grace alone, through faith alone, and Christ alone. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:39.680 And we are the receivers. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:51.039 Verse 31 builds off of what we studied last week, verses 29 and 30, that says that God foreknew that you would be his follower, predestined you, justified you, glorified you. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:58.479 And if you remember, we looked at that word for knew, which means a personal relationship of care and affection. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:05.199 That God has set his affection on you even before you cared for him. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.759 He decided to choose you. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:26.560 He decided to love you even before you decided to choose him or love him or serve him, which means that if you do love him or choose him or serve him or walk an aisle or pray a prayer, if you love him, you're secure with him not because of your love and your choosing and your service and your commitment. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:32.080 You're secure because of his indestructible love to you. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:39.599 So Paul concludes at the end of that reasoning: if God's for us, who can be against us? 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.879 Paul says in verse 32, B, He provides it all. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:56.719 Now, it turns out that doesn't mean that He's gonna provide you with the baby blue Ford Bronco that I want, or the cabin in Wyoming that I want, you know, the cabin that I want in Wyoming. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.400 Just humble, that's my humble cabin in Wyoming that I'm really praying for. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.319 God's gonna provide that and provide the private jet to get there, you know, nothing big. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.919 You know, turns out, verse 32 does not mean that. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:08.800 Not even close. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:09.680 Not even close. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:11.919 Provides all things, not those things. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:19.279 Paul is speaking specifically about God provides all things you and I need for a relationship with him. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:25.759 To be right with God, to be secure with God, not to be paralyzed with spiritual anxiety. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.560 How good am I? 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:27.519 Am I good enough? 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:28.639 Am I secure with him? 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.319 Did I screw this up? 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.800 That Jesus is enough for us. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:37.439 I saw this old sermon clip by Alistair Begg, great pastor, preacher. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:39.040 I saw it on a reel this week. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:40.240 So let's watch this. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:41.680 Couple minutes of his preaching. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:43.519 Think about the thief on the cross. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:47.199 I can't wait to find that fellow one day to ask him. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:52.639 You've never been in a Bible study, you never got baptized, and you made it. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:54.480 You made it. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:56.240 How did you make it? 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.560 That's what the angel wants to stand. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.759 You know, like what are you doing here? 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:00.879 I don't know. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:03.759 What do you mean you don't know? 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:11.439 You've watched the ball. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:41.600 That is the only answer. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:43.839 That is the only answer. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:57.120 And if I don't preach the gospel to myself all day and every day, then I will find myself beginning to trust myself, trust my experience, which is part of my fallenness as a man. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:05:59.680 Great accent. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.639 Can you imagine how great my preaching would be if I had that accent? 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:07.839 I was watching, I was like, if I just had the accent, I mean my preaching that would be like five times better. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:27.360 Begg goes on to say that if you don't preach the gospel to yourself, that Jesus is enough, that you're gonna end up trusting in yourself, and that that is the path, either to despair, I'm not good enough, or arrogance, I'm better than you, and I'm better than you, and I'm better than you. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:30.079 And either way is a spiritual exhaustion. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:39.199 The gospel's different because the gospel just says I'm not unworthy, I'm fully worthy, and yet I'm in need of help, and Jesus is enough. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.480 Here's my current list of Jesus is enough. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.079 I had to keep a running list. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.920 One-way love to me. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.399 Love without conditions or limits, love and acceptance that does not end. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.720 He's my forgiveness and my righteousness. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.160 Jesus is the end of my guilt trips and the end of my condemnation. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.399 Jesus is constant companionship. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:01.600 He's tenderness, and yet there's challenge with Jesus. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:05.360 Secure acceptance without regard to my issues or mistakes. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:07.279 Jesus is my peace with God. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:08.959 He's my validation that I'm worthy. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:16.959 He's my rescue from sin, relief from judgment and judgmentalism, relief from performancism, godliness and empowerment to grow godly. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.000 Jesus is my welcome into my heavenly home. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.800 Now imagine if I had read that with a Scottish accent, right? 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:24.879 I mean, y'all would have been like, that is amazing. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:26.079 Amen, Russ. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:26.720 That was amazing. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:27.680 Verse 33. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.480 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.560 It is God who justifies. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.160 Who is to condemn us? 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:40.879 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. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:44.240 So point number two is this God already decided. 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:48.160 There's no condemnation and no separation for you. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:56.800 Paul says that since God, our judge, already justified us, Jesus on the cross, we can never be condemned. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.240 Because Jesus, as our advocate, died for us. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.000 So who can accuse us? 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:09.120 Well, of course, you will feel accusation that you're not enough or that you're a miserable sinner and God can't love you. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:10.399 We're all gonna feel that. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.000 It's just not the Holy Spirit. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.800 The Holy Spirit does not condemn. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.879 People will say that kind of stuff. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.399 The devil will say that kind of stuff. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:22.720 Our old Adam, the sinful self, inside of us will say that to ourselves. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:27.360 But when we feel condemnation, it's never the Holy Spirit. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.959 Now the Holy Spirit will speak conviction. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:32.799 But conviction is totally different. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.320 Here's how we can see the difference here. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.240 The Holy Spirit does not condemn us, but may convict us of our sin. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:43.519 Condemnation leads to guilt trips and shame cycles. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:52.320 The conviction of the Holy Spirit in us is by the kindness of God, and it leads us to repentance and freedom and growth. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.320 And that's how you know the difference. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:02.159 If you're sitting in guilt trips and shame cycles, that's condemnation by the world, by other people, by your own sinful self, by the devil. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:04.159 It could be any of those. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:16.799 And that's when even that, you say, Holy Spirit, move me from condemnation to any conviction I need to be open to, but a conviction will be a movement in God's kindness to freedom and growth. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.159 Verse 35. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.320 As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all day long. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:32.639 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:37.600 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:51.440 For I am 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. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.440 Point number three is this we are assured, meaning we're we're safe. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:01.759 We're secure with God by the Holy Spirit's work in us, not our effort. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:13.759 Paul rattles off a series of horrors that could happen to us in this world, and we could add to them cancer, failure, bankruptcy, divorce, death. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:20.320 And his conclusion to all the possible horrors that could come to us is verse 37. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:20.879 No. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.480 And all these things were more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:37.120 And what Paul is saying is that there's a life in the Spirit that even in the worst things this world could give us, we are still conquerors because God's in us and at work at us. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:46.240 Walking with the Holy Spirit is about slowing down enough to let that engine of self-effort, that engine of self-justification to stop. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:54.960 And to hear God's Spirit in you that's saying to you, you're fully forgiven, you're fully righteous in Jesus alone. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.320 And there's no condemnation. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.240 You might feel conviction, but there's no condemnation. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:00.960 There's no more guilt trips or shame cycles. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.120 That's not the path of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.360 There's no separation from God. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:07.759 There's no distancing. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.360 There's no sliding. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.279 There's only being assured. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.200 There's only safety, there's only security. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:17.519 The Holy Spirit keeps drawing our gaze back to the cross. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.240 Because that's the only answer we have. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.759 Jesus alone. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:25.039 It's the object place of God's love for us. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:28.960 It's indestructible because it's based in Him, not us. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.279 And so Paul has one conclusion. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.480 And that's point number four. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.799 In Jesus' love, we're more than conquerors. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.559 That's his conclusion. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.279 A couple of years ago, I read this book called Endurance. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.480 It's about the adventurer Ernest Shackleton. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.080 This guy was an absolute stud. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.399 I got a few pictures we'll roll through as I tell you about him. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:51.360 In 1915, his ship, 27 men, got trapped in the Antarctic ice. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:58.960 I was actually assigned this book for our class on adaptive leadership because this Shackelford guy, things keep going wrong. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.159 And whatever situation popped up, he would just find a new solution. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.679 He would adapt and move forward. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.039 Adapt and move forward. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.519 So 27 men trapped in the Antarctic ice. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.399 They're not going to make it. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.519 Nobody's going to find them. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.799 1915. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:16.320 So he takes three little boats and they make it to Elephant Island, this little island. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.759 The problem is nobody's on this island. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.440 So then he leaves some guys there. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.879 Five guys get into a really small, like rowboat. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:27.519 They go 800 miles in the open sea, drifting and rowing. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.840 Eventually they get to South Georgia Island. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:35.600 Once they get there, they have to climb the mountains to get to the other side for help. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:40.960 And the men back on the ice, it's 128 days they waited. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.879 Almost half a year. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.600 And every single man was saved. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.240 I mean, this guy was a conqueror. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.080 Like that became the joke in our class. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.000 We were like, you know, shackled. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.720 Like, and the conclusion was like, yeah, I'm not shackleford. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.919 Like, not even close. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.440 Like, I'm not a shackle. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:01.519 I would have died on the ice about day eight, is probably where I would have died. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.519 Not even close to a shackleford, right? 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.240 But for him, it wasn't about personal glory. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.840 It was about saving his men. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:12.639 The situation was not hopeful, but he just always found a way. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.240 Our situation is very often not hopeful. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:21.039 Our situation to be good enough to get to God, not hopeful, won't happen. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:23.600 We need a shackled to rescue us. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.279 We need outside help. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.759 We're not the shackleford and we need one. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.279 And Paul is saying in verse 27, we have it. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.480 We have it. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.360 Because we cannot earn it with our own goodness, but God gives it to us. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.120 He pursues us. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:44.240 He's closing the gap between us and him by his pursuit to us. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.759 And it's indestructible. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.360 Because he already chose that. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:54.000 He already determined that he wants that relationship with you: care and affection, personal relationship. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:58.639 And that is enduring, indestructible love that we can rely on. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.000 So in Romans 8, we've seen how the Holy Spirit works in us. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:10.480 And what we said back in week one is that the Holy Spirit is applying to us the redemptive work of God that we have in Jesus. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.120 He is the applier of it into our hearts. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.240 Here's what he's applying, verse 1, no condemnation. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.360 Verses 2 through 13, there's a new power by the Holy Spirit inside of our lives. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:26.799 Verses 14 through 17, we have new identity as sons and daughters. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:31.039 Verses 18 through 27, there's a new hope that we have in suffering. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:39.039 Even in our suffering, even if we don't see the restoration of that suffering in this world, that we hope in a next world. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:48.879 And then lastly, verses 28 through 39, that there is unbreakable assurance because of that indestructible love that God has for us. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.919 There's a scene in the movie, The Pursuit of Happiness. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.480 It was actually on television yesterday, I saw it. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.799 It captures Romans 8. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:00.000 If you remember this movie, the father and the son are homeless. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.120 They're in a subway station. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:07.679 The scene I want us to watch is in the subway station, it's toward the beginning of the movie, and they're looking for a place to sleep. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.639 Let's watch as the father cares for the child. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:00.320 And did you notice that the child is not clinging to the father? 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:02.639 That's why the images of the gospel. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:05.599 The father is clinging to the child. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.480 This is what Paul is saying in Romans 8. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:17.279 We have a Holy Spirit at work in us, applying to us that kind of love, that care, that affection. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:23.599 Applying to us that enduring, indestructible love that the Father clinged to us. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:30.799 To close, listen to these lyrics from the modern hymn that we often sing in Christ alone. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.319 And then I close with this. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:36.000 In Christ alone, my hope is found. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:44.240 He is my light, my strength, my song, this cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:51.920 What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are sealed, when striving cease, my comforter, my all-in-all. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.400 Here in the love of Christ I stand. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.759 Let's pray together. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:08.960 Heavenly Father, we're so thankful that while we desire to cling to you, it is inside of your sovereign, gracious, determined care of us. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.559 And that our pursuit of you is inside your pursuit of us. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:21.839 Thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit that is in us, not to condemn us, but to welcome us, to woo us, to delight in us, to convict us. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.480 Help us to trust even more in the gift of Jesus. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:37.519 That Jesus, you are enough for all the forgiveness we need, all the righteousness we need, all the security, safety, and assuredness we need in a relationship with you. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.079 In his powerful name we pray. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.880 Amen.