WEBVTT 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.160 Well, friends, if you're like me, you might be, I wouldn't use the word I'm terrified of heights, but I have a strong discomfort with heights. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:24.879 And not too long ago, some of you are familiar with Lola Babb, when she celebrated her eighth birthday, my family was invited to the Greensboro Science Museum to do the high ropes course, obstacle course, if you're familiar with that. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:34.560 That's when you walk across these obstacles as you're stringed high up in the air and wearing nothing but a harness attached to a rope. 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:41.200 And so, wanting to be brave, I said, okay, let me try that, which in hindsight, that's pretty brave for an eight-year-old. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.840 So shout out to Lola for your bravery at that age. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:54.880 But um, what was interesting is there was one particular course where, by God's grace, there were several people ahead of us, so I got to watch them go first to see how they would tackle this particular obstacle. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:04.000 And there was one where we all had to walk across this big open area with nothing but a rope with a small circular piece of wood attached to the bottom. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:10.799 And as I'm watching the adults go before me, I'm realizing I'm getting more and more nervous because they're all doing a horrible job at it. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:14.959 Uh they they warned us, like, hey, this is one of the most difficult parts of this particular course. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:20.959 And so just take your time because when you step on these little circular platforms, most people just tumble and fall down. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:25.680 So I'm watching people go, and you know, I'm I'm competitive, so I'm like, no, I'm not gonna fall, I'm gonna get it. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:30.719 And so I'm watching what other people are doing wrong to try to correct and do it the right way the first time. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:39.439 Well, it's my turn and got my harness on, take one step onto the wooden platform and immediately drop. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:42.000 And I'm just suspended in the air. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:50.480 However, even though I don't like heights, I felt very confident I wasn't gonna die that day because the harness was secure. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:02:00.000 That harness was holding me to the safety rope above me, and so I just dangled in the air, looking embarrassed and tangled in a bunch of ropes, but was able to finish the course. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:04.640 That reminds me a little bit about how we understand as Christians God's love. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.319 Like we believe what our sister Marie just read to us. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.960 If you've been a Christian for a while, you know those verses. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:17.919 You know that if you're a child of God, God loves you, and that the text says we're secure in his love and it's never changing. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:27.039 But I think sometimes if we're honest in our inner man experientially, we sometimes in our walk with Jesus wrestle with, but is God's love is it really safe? 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.039 Like, is it really secure? 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:34.080 Can it really hold me up and do all the things that the Bible says it can do? 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:41.840 What we're gonna do in this series is focus on the theme of stewardship and generosity. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:48.240 Now you might be wondering, okay, on a sermon series on generosity and stewardship, why are you starting with Romans 8? 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:59.360 Well, because I believe the more we understand the heart of God and his love towards us, that then shapes our understanding of our generosity and stewardship towards others living in God's world. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:00.800 Because we are God's children. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:05.280 And as Paul says in Ephesians 5, we are to be imitators of God and to walk in love. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:09.759 And so if we want to imitate our Father, we need to understand the heart of our Father. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:20.240 And so what we're gonna do throughout this series is look at the Word of God through various texts of scripture and try to understand how we should as believers understand this theme of stewardship. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:25.759 And when I say that, I'm not just referring to our pockets, our pocketbooks, our wallets, our bank accounts. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:33.439 I understand sometimes in churches when you preach on the topic of stewardship and money, that's when some people say, I think it's a great time to go visit my in-laws now, right? 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.960 But we want to know God's full counsel for every area of life. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:53.280 And so I pray that this series encourages us to think about what does it mean to be a faithful steward who has been entrusted with God's things and who will one day give an account to how we steward his stuff for his glory and for the good of others. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:09.840 So we're gonna focus this morning on verses 31 through the end of chapter 8 here, verse 39, and look at the gospel of Jesus Christ, the heart of God in saving sinners, and how that knowledge should shape our stewardship and generosity. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:21.439 But before we do that, we need to just develop some context because obviously we're jumping in the middle of a book, Romans chapter 8, and it would be helpful to understand what has led up to Paul's argument in chapter 8. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:28.560 So back in the beginning of the book, in chapter 1, Paul makes it very clear that we are all universally guilty before God. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.040 There is no one who is neutral on the planet. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.879 We are all born in sin because Adam felled in the garden and he was our representative heads. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:42.959 That means every person on this planet stands condemned before God. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:54.800 But he then talks about justification by faith, the fact that we are, if you are in Christ, you are declared righteous by God alone, judicially, forensically in the courtroom of heaven. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:05:00.000 He has determined to forever think of you as forgiven, as we see in Romans 4 and 5. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.199 But then he starts talking about the spirit-empowered life. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:11.600 If you're in Christ, you have God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out, sanctifying us, renewing our minds. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:25.040 And he talks about the beauty of the doctrine of adoption, that we are adopted as brothers and sisters, or sons and daughters, rather, beloved children of God, co-heirs with Christ to the right hand of God. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:38.079 And then he flows into our text here, into this logical, logical argument of if God has done all of that for the Christian, how will he not also do more good to you? 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:45.600 Or if he's done all of that in saving you and justifying you, then what on earth can separate you from God's love? 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:51.680 And the intent of Paul's words that I want us to see this morning is this, friends. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:57.759 God's radical generosity and redemption produces radical generosity in his people. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:04.079 God's radical generosity and redemption produces radical generosity in his people. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:07.279 So this sermon is going to be a little bit of a gospel primer. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:13.279 We're all just going to go back to the quote unquote fundamentals and let's focus on what does it mean that we are saved? 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:19.759 What is the heart of God in saving sinners and how should that shape our own lives today? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:26.240 So if you turn, I'm sorry, if you look down in your Bibles, beginning at verse 31. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:34.480 We're going to look at first verses 31 through 34, where Paul says, What then are we to say about these things? 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.920 If God is for us, who is against us? 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:43.040 He did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.040 How will he not also with him grant us everything? 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.639 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:52.959 God is the one who justifies. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.279 Who is the one who condemns? 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:58.319 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.800 But even more has been raised. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:05.439 He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:06.800 Praise God. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:09.920 What I want us to look at first is this. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:16.480 Friends, if you're in Christ this morning, God the Father spared nothing to save you. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.879 God spared nothing to redeem you. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:25.120 When Paul asks this question, what shall we say then to these things? 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:27.439 He's summarizing everything he has just argued. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.879 I would say specifically in chapters five through eight. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.720 And his conclusion is stunning. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:48.480 It's almost like he's just bursting out in praise, saying, with all this rich doctrine I have just been unpacking, the doctrine of justification and union with Christ, all of this, the fact that you have been baptized into Christ, if all of this is true, what then shall we say to these things? 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:54.399 How should we respond to such glorious truths of ourselves and how God has redeemed us? 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.800 And his conclusion is stunning. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.319 What does he say? 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:03.759 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:08.000 Brothers and sisters, that is a rhetorical question. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:17.120 Paul is essentially saying, brothers, if you understand this gospel I'm unpacking, if God is on your side, no matter how many stand against you, you are always a majority. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:20.800 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:22.800 Just think about that sentence. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.480 If God is for us, we got to stop with, well, who is God? 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.600 Yeah, the one who existed before time itself. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:40.159 He created time, there was nothing in existence, and then all of a sudden everything that we know and still have yet to discover, he simply spoke it into existence? 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:51.840 The God who wept and bled to redeem us, the God who sustains every particle, every atom in the universe, that God is for you if you're in Christ. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.480 So if that God is for you, who can be against us? 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:02.000 Of course, let's be clear, the Christian does have enemies. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.080 We face the flesh, the world, the devil. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:11.200 We face trials, persecution, opposition, suffering. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.120 Paul is not minimizing any of those things. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.840 Those are real factors in the Christian life. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:23.519 But Paul would say, friends, they those things may trouble you, but they can never destroy you. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:29.279 They can afflict you, but they can never take away your salvation. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:37.360 They can do harm to you and cause havoc in your life, but they can never thwart God's plan for your life. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:43.840 So let me ask you this morning, what is it that you are afraid of in your Christian life? 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.759 What enemy looms large in your mind? 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:58.399 Is it your health, finances, relational conflict, job security, whatever it may be? 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:06.399 Paul would look you in the eyes and just remind you if God is for us, who or what can be against us? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.639 It's a rhetorical question meant to exhort and encourage you. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:14.240 I love how David says this in Psalm 27. 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:15.679 Listen to David. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.480 The Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.639 Whom shall I fear? 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.639 Isn't that very similar to what Paul just said? 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.960 He's starting with a theology of God. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:29.600 Whom should I fear? 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.399 The Lord is the stronghold of my life. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.000 Whom should I dread? 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:40.720 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:46.480 Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.960 Though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.919 That's God honoring cockiness right there. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.799 Even an army can break out against me, and I'm straight. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.720 Because the Lord of hosts is my light and my salvation. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:06.320 Therefore, whom should I fear? 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:13.120 If God gave his son, that is the ultimate proof that God is for us, isn't it? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.279 Look down at verse 32. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.080 If God is for us, who is against us? 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:24.559 Verse 32, he did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:31.279 How will he not also with him grant us everything? 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.960 Paul doesn't stop with a rhetorical question. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.279 He gives us proof. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:42.240 Verse 32 is the proof that God is for you if you're in Christ this morning. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:44.480 This is the foundation of everything. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:49.600 This is the ultimate demonstration of God's radical generosity and love. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:55.679 He gave up his son for us all. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:07.840 This is a reality, brothers and sisters, that we will spend an eternity learning more about, basking in the glory of God, on how on earth could you reconcile sinners to yourself through the person of Jesus Christ? 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:18.480 How is it that you were willing to offer up your son freely, sacrificially for all of us who were your enemies, who had no desire to love and serve you? 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:24.559 This is the foundation of the Christian faith, the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.799 But it is also the clearest evidence. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:34.480 If you ever wrestle with does God love me, does God do good towards me, all you gotta go is to Romans 8. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:40.080 If he offered up his son on your behalf, how could we ever question his love for him? 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:41.440 For us. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.960 Turn to the left to Romans chapter 5. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.960 Romans chapter 5, verses 6 through 10. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:56.639 Paul echoes a similar truth in verse 6 of chapter 5. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:04.639 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ Jesus died for the ungodly. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:11.759 For rarely will someone die for a just person, though for a good person, perhaps someone might even dare to die. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:22.240 But God proves his own love for us, and that we and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:30.159 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath? 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:41.360 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:50.720 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we have been whom we have now received this reconciliation. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.320 Do you notice the language? 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.320 We were, does it say he died for us because we were lovable? 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:03.759 He died for us because we were just like the kindest people, he died for us because he knew we were really gifted and he could really use us on his team. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.960 Friends, it says while we were still helpless. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:18.720 It says, while we were ungodly, while we were his enemies and rebels, that's when Jesus said, I will voluntarily strip myself of glory and die for them. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:29.840 So that means when we were actively hostile to God and gave him every reason not to redeem us, Jesus said, I will initiate salvation towards them. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:35.200 This is why the text the Bible says we love because he first loved us, right? 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.200 Not the other way around. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:45.200 He gave his most precious treasure, his only son, to save sinners like you and me. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:50.480 And here's the logic Paul wants you to grab onto the that he wanted his audience to understand. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:59.039 If God was willing to give his one and only son for you, an enemy, will he withhold anything that's good for his children now? 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.399 Logically, it makes no sense, doesn't it? 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:11.600 If he was willing to give his greatest possession, his greatest treasure to save his enemies, how will he not also do good to his children? 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.440 Let me illustrate it for you. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:26.960 Imagine a father finds out that his child has a cancer diagnosis, but he doesn't have the finances to get his son the medical care he needs, and so he sells his home and everything he possibly can to give his son the treatment he needs. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:34.080 And by God's grace, the cancer's in remission, the child's doing well, and that child one day says, Hey dad, I'm hungry. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:36.720 Can we go to the grocery store and get some groceries? 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.559 And the dad says, Oh, I don't know, son, I've already did a lot for you. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.039 So I don't think I can I can feed you. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.440 That is absurd, isn't it? 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:48.639 That's how we project onto God, though, isn't it? 00:15:49.360 --> 00:16:02.799 Oh, God, you were willing to send Jesus to hang on a cross to pay for my sins, but certainly you don't care about the suffering I'm going through or this trial that is afflicting me. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:08.879 We tend to think that God is only generous one time, but he's certainly not going to do that again. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.559 He was generous on the cross, but now he just tolerates us. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:17.919 But when we look at the text, brothers and sisters, that's not what Paul is trying to help the church in Rome understand. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:21.120 He's trying to help them understand, no, it gets better. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:32.480 Yes, he saved you, and he has so much more in store for all of his children, and he desires to lavish you with all of his spiritual blessings that he has for you. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.960 That is our salvation. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:42.320 That is the logic that Paul is trying to help his audience understand, which then challenges us in our Christian walks here in America. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.559 Why are we always so anxious? 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.200 Why do we struggle to trust God? 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.120 And the answer is because we don't believe verse 32. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.360 We believe it in our heads. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:17:01.279 I think we do a good job of getting theology right, but it doesn't turn into experiential, practical theology that we live out. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:06.720 We say he did not spare his son, but do we actually believe it in our hearts? 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.880 Is it a reality in our lives? 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.039 Do we read verse 32? 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.880 He did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.720 How will he not also with him grant us everything? 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.680 We need to be praying, God, help me believe that. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.000 I mean, I believe it, but help my unbelief. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:33.759 Like I know it's true because it's inspired scripture, but if I'm honest, it's not consistently what I'm experiencing in my Christian walk. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.440 So help me there, Lord. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:39.839 Because that, friends, is the true test of whether you truly believe something or not. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:47.359 And when we don't believe these things, to an extent, we're hindering our own sanctification. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:55.440 Because we're not experiencing the fullness of all the blessings and goodness that God has for us. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:18:03.200 When you believe that the God who gave us his son will also give you all things, it changes everything. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.759 It literally changes everything. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.079 This is why I'm always gonna beat the drum on. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:11.200 We want to be people who are fluent in the gospel. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:17.440 I don't mean, you know, the ABCs of the faith, Jesus came, he died, and rose on the third day and ascended back into heaven. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.400 Absolutely, that is true. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.599 You gotta get that right. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:21.759 But what are the implications of that? 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:25.839 What are the implications of the gospel in every aspect of your life? 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:33.759 And how you confess sin and how you address conflict in your marriage, and how you parent your children, and how you work in an unbelieving workplace. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:36.240 The gospel touches every fabric of our lives. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.480 So when we understand it, it changes everything. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.119 We live more sacrificially. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.880 We serve God and others generously. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:54.000 We take quote unquote risks for Christ's glory because we trust his provision and his sovereign hand guiding our lives. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.319 This is the foundation of all Christian generosity and stewardship. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:13.440 We're not generous out of guilt or obligation or tradition, tradition, or to check a box or to earn blessings, but it's confident trust that the God who gave everything to save you will provide everything you need as we pour out ourselves for others. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:24.880 But notice in verses 33 and 34, Paul goes on with his argument Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.119 God is the one who justifies. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.720 Who is the one who condemns? 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:33.279 Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more has been raised. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:37.440 He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.200 Let me just add a quick disclaimer, real quick. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:50.079 I think as Christians, something we can be guilty of, and it's not necessarily a bad thing, is we focus on Jesus' death and resurrection as we should. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:52.240 That is the epicenter of the gospel. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:20:01.440 But I would encourage you, wherever you're at in the pages of scripture, whatever, whatever that passage is highlighting of the ministry of Jesus, like pause and celebrate that. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:04.559 What I mean is don't just focus on Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:07.279 We should celebrate his transfiguration and what that implies. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:09.920 We should celebrate his ascension as well. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:19.359 And we should celebrate what we see in these verses, 33 and 34, the fact that right now Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God praying on behalf of his saints. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.839 That is a part of your salvation as well. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:24.319 That's that's part of the package deal you get. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.359 Think about that. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:28.720 Jesus Christ is praying for you this morning if you're in Christ. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:34.240 I sometimes just play that in my head when I'm weak in faith or I'm discouraged or I'm struggling to trust God. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:46.480 I'm like, God, if I could just, if you could just leave the door cracked and I could just walk in and just hear just 30 seconds of just one prayer that Jesus is praying on my behalf, I probably would have the faith to conquer the world. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.599 But knowing that should give us that type of confidence. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:54.559 Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, prays for his children. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:58.319 But Paul keeps building his case in verses 33 and 34. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:01.279 He says, Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:05.039 God's the one who's just who justifies, who is the one who condemns? 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.640 Notice Paul is using forensic legal language here. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.400 This is courtroom language. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.759 He's saying an accusation, a justification, condemnation. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:22.079 He's painting a courtroom scene here and he's asking, pay attention, who can legitimately accuse you? 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.519 Who can legitimately condemn you? 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.240 Why? 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:31.039 Well, because God the Father is the judge, and he is the one who justifies you. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.400 And Jesus Christ is the one who died in your place and rose again. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:39.200 He is the one interceding for you as your defense attorney to the right hand of the Father. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.000 So think about the contrast Paul is setting up here. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:49.759 First, you have your enemies bring accusations, but God is the one who justifies. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:56.240 Your enemy can be the devil, which is not his name, it's just a title, the adversary, Satan. 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.240 It means the accuser of the brethren. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.960 Think about that. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.759 That's what Satan does. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960 Does spending his time accusing you to God. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:14.480 But Paul says, your enemies might bring accusations, but the question we need to ask from our understanding of God's word, even if the enemy brought an accusation to the Father against us, is it legitimate? 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.720 Could it hold up in court? 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:23.599 According to Paul, our enemies can bring accusations, but God's the one who justifies. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:28.799 He's the one who slammed the gavel down and said, This one is forever forgiven. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:36.400 Our enemies may try to condemn us, but the question is, according to God's word, can they legitimately condemn us? 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:43.279 But according to Paul, Jesus died, rose on your behalf, and reigns on the throne. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:48.240 Okay, well, can our enemies or can anything in the created order separate us from God? 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:50.160 Well, according to Paul, no. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:53.359 Absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.880 We'll get to that later. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.960 Listen to Psalm 118. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.920 The Lord is for me, I will not be afraid. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:02.319 What can a mere mortal do to me? 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:08.079 The Lord is my helper, therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:10.880 Ooh, y'all need some of y'all need to memorize that one. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.200 Now let's just be fair here. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.799 Most of us don't have enemies in the sense that the Bible describes enemies. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:20.960 I think some of y'all might declare some people enemies, but I don't know, man. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.599 David was on the run from people trying to kill him, okay? 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:34.319 But notice how understanding who God is, so let this be an encouragement to you to know your Bibles, to know good theology, to know a doctrine of God, who is God, what are his attributes? 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.519 Because that's what's shaping and fueling how these brothers speak. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.440 That is why he can say, The Lord is for me, I will not be afraid. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.920 What can a mere mortal do to me? 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:51.200 The Lord is my helper, my helper, therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:53.359 What a perspective. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:58.319 Sometimes when we go through life, our circumstances might not change. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:15.039 God might not alter our emotions in the midst of our circumstances, but he might graciously just shift our perspective by reminding us of the truth of his word, or just reminding us of who he is and the fact that we belong to him. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:25.200 It's almost like for some of you, you know, maybe you were that kid in school when you were very young, maybe you had some conflict with another kid in school and you say, you know what, my dad can beat up your dad. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.160 Right? 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:30.559 But in this sense, as Christians, that is true all the time. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:37.119 If you belong to God, that should give you a level of confidence that meant that doesn't make sense to the world. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:46.160 Or think of it this way, like when you're a child, and maybe you're scared that there's a monster in the in the closet or under your bed. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.839 And as parents, what do you do? 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:52.079 You come in, you turn the lights on, you say, Look, there's nothing there. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.079 You're safe, you're secure. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:25:08.480 That's like kind of what Paul is doing in Romans 8, where he's like, Hey, Christian, if you wrestle with does God really love you, or will God ever forfeit his love for you, or can you lose your salvation, or can anything separate you from God's love? 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:13.119 It's almost like Paul is saying, Look, look under the bed, look in the closet, turn the light on. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.400 There's nothing there. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:26.799 There's nothing that can legitimately make an accusation against you, there's nothing that can legitimately condemn you, there's nothing that can even come remotely close to separating you from the love that your Heavenly Father has for you. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:30.000 So even if you feel that to be true, it doesn't matter. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:33.920 It's an unjust fear because it's not based on truth. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:37.200 This is why we can sing. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.680 How's that song go? 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:43.279 God is bigger than the boogeyman. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:47.039 He's bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV, right? 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.880 Shout out to Veggie Tales. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.680 It's true. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:26:01.039 When you have sound doctrine, when you understand the character and power of God, it shapes how you view life. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.440 Listen to verses 33 through 34 again. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:11.279 Who can bring an accusation of God against God's elect? 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:14.640 God is the one who justifies. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.480 Again, these are rhetorical questions. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.759 He's encouraging, instructing the church in Rome. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.200 Who is the one who condemns? 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:24.240 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:27.680 But even more, has been raised. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:32.640 He is also at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.160 I love that. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.920 I love that. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.480 Think about this. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:54.720 The only person who can legitimately accuse you, the only person who can legitimately condemn you is the same person who died for you to free you from condemnation, to justify you. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:27:06.240 So the only person in the universe who can legitimately accuse you and condemn you for all eternity is the one who died on your behalf so that you never have to experience the wrath of his father. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:09.839 That's how secure you are in Christ. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:20.559 But Paul also explains that a part of God's love, a part of your security in his love, and whether you can trust it is the fact that God chose you before you chose him. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.599 Now I want you to notice something important in verse 33. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:30.000 Paul calls us, if you're in Christ, God's elect. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:33.200 That word means he chose you. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:38.480 And it connects back to what Paul said just a few verses earlier in verses 29 through 30. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:49.599 If you just look up a few more verses, verse 29 says, For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:58.640 And those he predestined, he also called, and those he called, he also justified, and those he justified, he also glorified. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:17.680 That word foreknew just means he had intimate, loving knowledge of beforehand, which means before God created anything in this universe, he already knew his church by name, he already set his affection on you, and Jesus was sent in real time in history to die on the cross for his bride, the church, to atone for their sins. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:20.480 Now some struggle with passages like this and say, no, no, no. 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:25.119 I think what that's saying is that God just predestined that you would be sanctified and holy. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:30.960 Okay, but it says for those he foreknew he predestined. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:34.480 And those who he predestined, yes, are going to be sanctified. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:55.119 But verse 30 says, and those he predestined, he also called, which is an effectual call, meaning God, when whenever whoever in this room, whenever you came to faith in Christ, whether you heard a preacher standing up like me proclaiming the gospel, or someone was sharing it with you one-on-one, or you read the word of God yourself, something happened when you transferred into the kingdom of light. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:29:01.839 You had the word of God illuminated to your heart, and God effectually called you through his gospel. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:08.880 But it says, and those who he called, he also justified, and those he justified, he also glorified. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:12.480 Brothers and sisters, that that is a eternal love. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.519 That's how secure you are in God's love. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:20.240 Before you even knew about God's love, he already had his affection set on you. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:23.920 I love how Charles Spurgeon articulates the doctrine of predestination. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:30.319 He says, I'm grateful that God chose me before the foundations of the earth, because if he chose me after, I probably would have never chose him. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:39.200 An election, as we saw in the book of Ephesians, if you remember, has nothing to do with anything in us whatsoever. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:46.960 God doesn't elect anyone because, well, I think, you know, so-and-so will be great at this, or so-and-so could be used like he doesn't need any of us. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:49.200 It's all solely by his grace. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:54.160 One of the most helpful ways I could illustrate it is imagine all of humanity is in a bucket. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:59.839 And according to Romans 1, that Paul unpacks very well, as I said earlier, everyone is born in sin. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:03.440 No one is neutral, no one is on the fence about do I love God or not. 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:05.599 We are born in rebellion to God. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:09.359 We don't love God, we don't treasure him, we have no desire to love and serve him. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:16.640 Let me put it this way: imagine if we had a plate of vegetables and we put that plate of vegetables in front of a lion. 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:20.240 That lion would have zero interest in that plate of vegetables. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:20.799 Why? 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.720 Because it goes against its nature. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.160 It's a carnivore. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:26.480 It wants to hunt, prey, and eat meat. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.720 That was us before our salvation. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:30.079 We didn't love Jesus. 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:32.000 We could care less about the gospel. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:35.359 We were slaves to sin by nature. 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:39.200 That is all of us in that bucket of humanity I described. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:53.119 But God and his infinite grace and mercy, before the foundations of the earth, decided, I'm going to glorify my name by reaching into that bucket and extending grace and salvation to some, called my church. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:31:02.720 And my son will die to purchase their salvation, to deal with the sin debt that has to be dealt with so that they can become my adopted sons and daughters. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:10.240 That is how deep and har how far back God's love for you goes, brothers and sisters, if you're in Christ this morning. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:16.640 This these verses 29 through 30 is what some theologians call the golden chain of redemption. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:23.359 And notice every link in that chain is God's initiating action, not our own. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:32.000 God foreknew you, God predestined you, God efficaciously called you, and God justified you. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:36.079 And if you're in Christ, He promises to one day glorify you. 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.240 What part do you play in all that? 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.400 None. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:45.039 Now, why does all this matter? 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:47.440 Well, because it shows us two things. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:53.440 Number one, first, that God's love is an initiating love, not a reactive love. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:58.559 God didn't call an audible in the garden and say, Oh, snaps, I didn't know that was gonna happen. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:01.359 How can I make a good thing out of a bad thing? 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:05.920 God's love is an initiating love before the foundations of the earth. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:11.279 But second, your salvation is certain, it is secure. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:13.839 If God started the work, he will finish the work. 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:22.160 This is why Paul says in Philippians, I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:28.480 Your security in Christ does not rest in your own strength, it rests in the mighty strength of your heavenly Father. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:32.400 It rests on God's sovereign choice and his faithful promises. 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:41.839 This is one truth that I am so grateful for as a Christian, that our security in Christ is never determined on how powerfully we're holding on to Jesus Christ. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:44.400 It reminds me of a mother carrying her newborn baby. 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:52.160 That baby's being carried around by that mom all throughout the day, but we would never say that baby is secure because it's holding on to the mom. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:55.920 We would say, no, that baby's secure because that mom is holding on to that baby. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:58.240 That is us in Christ Jesus. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:00.079 He is holding on to us. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:02.720 And let's just be honest, we're sometimes like a kid, right? 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:06.799 We're wailing and kicking, trying to get our socks off and run away from the father. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:10.079 And he's like, you can keep trying, but you ain't going nowhere. 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:13.359 Because my son died to secure my love for you. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.640 So think about this, brothers and sisters. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:21.359 When the enemy whispers in your ear, you're gonna fall away. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.759 God certainly doesn't love you. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.359 You know what you've done. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:29.920 You're gonna lose your salvation. 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:33.920 Or maybe he whispers to some of you, you're not strong enough. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:40.720 Or maybe some of you grew up in some really broken homes and you had parents who said very demeaning things to you growing up. 00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:43.359 You're never gonna amount to anything. 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.079 Maybe you've experienced some marriages like that. 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:52.319 When the enemy whispers in our ear to tempt us, you're gonna fall away. 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.839 You're not good enough. 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.759 You're not worthy of God's love. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:58.960 Sure, he saves you, but you know, he doesn't really want you. 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.920 You know what we can say back? 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:04.400 We can say, you know what, Satan? 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.359 You're right. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.759 I'm not strong enough. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.840 But God is. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:13.119 I'm not worthy of his love. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:16.000 But my worth never earned his love. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:19.199 I know I'm not strong enough to hold on to him. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:21.840 Praise be to God that he's holding on to me. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:29.360 I know there is past shame and guilt for all that I have done, and yet my Savior took my shame on the cross. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:32.559