Grace is Greater Than Our Circumstances
Grace is Greater • Sermon • Submitted
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Next Sunday is “Big News Sunday” - Elementary students will be in the service, communion, Water baptisms, new sermon series (Home: ) BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
Introduction
Introduction
Barna research - #1 question = “How can a good God allow suffering?” (A question we’ve all wrestled with at one point or another)
When his 3-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that meant he would only live until his teens, Rabbi Harold Kushner attempted to answer that question in his book “When Good Things Happen to Bad People”. And since it was published in 1981, over 4 million other people have apparently turned to his book to get answers to that question.
In his book Kushner concludes that there are only 3 possibilities when it comes to suffering:
1) God does not exist
2) God exists but He is not good
3) God exists and He is good, but He is not all powerful.
Kushner choose the third explanation – that God is good, but that He just isn’t powerful enough to prevent bad things from happening to “good people”.
First, just let me say that Kushner’s entire premise – that bad things happen to good people – is a problem right off the bat. While, as we’re going to see in a moment, God is good, the Bible is clear from cover to cover that no man is truly “good”
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14:2-3
The real question – How can a good God allow suffering? (Why?)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:
1. By God’s grace we can have the right perspective in our sufferings
1. By God’s grace we can have the right perspective in our sufferings
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Suffering = not worth comparing
Holman New Testament Commentary: Romans D. A New Life: Based on the Promises of God (8:18–25)
Perhaps no truth is so glaringly absent from the understanding of most Christians than the truth, and the implications thereof, that this world is not our home. When it finally settles into the heart and mind of the believer that we are “aliens and strangers in the world” (1 Pet. 2:11; cf. also Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 1:1), many things change.
“Present sufferings” = sickness, pain, disappointments, injustice, rejection, sorrow (sufferings characteristic of this present age)
(1) Suffering due to sin (2) Suffering we endure for Christ’s sake (3) Suffering that arises because of this imperfect world
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Troubles = are achieving for us
“Paul didn’t write as a kindergartner in the school of suffering – he had an advanced graduate degree”. David Guzik (Commentary of Blue Letter Bible.com)
He described some of his suffering ...
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
#1 - Grace helps us to put our suffering in the right perspective!
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
2. By God’s grace He is able to use ALL things for the good
2. By God’s grace He is able to use ALL things for the good
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Read literally, it is easy to see why some consider this the greatest verse in Scripture. It tells us that nothing happens outside of God’s plan for our good.
God has two purposes in all that happens: Our good and God’s glory
The things themselves may not be good, but God harmonizes them together for believers’ ultimate good, because His goal is to bring them to perfection in His presence
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
The things themselves may not be good, but God harmonizes them together for believers’ ultimate good, because His goal is to bring them to perfection in His presence
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Ephesians 1:3-8
Nowhere in the Bible do we read that God predestined anyone to eternally condemned. People are condemned when by their own choosing they refuse to trust Jesus Christ.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
The Father is for us!
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
The Son is for us!
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
The Holy Spirit is for us!
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Sometimes we react like Jacob ...
36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”
Genesis
The truth is ...
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
3. By God’s grace we are more than conquerors
3. By God’s grace we are more than conquerors
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:35–37
rather than being separated from Christ’s love, believers are more than conquerors (pres. tense, hypernikōmen, “keep on being conquerors to a greater degree” or “keep on winning a glorious victory”)
More than conquerors: How is the Christian more than a conqueror? (David Gozik)
He overcomes with a greater power, the power of Jesus
He overcomes with a greater motive, the glory of Jesus
He overcomes with a greater victory, losing nothing even in the battle
He overcomes with a greater love, conquering enemies with love and converting persecutors with patience
To conquer is to be victorious over an adversary. To be "more than a conqueror" means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious.
There are many illustrations in the Old Testament of God bringing miraculous victory to His people, Israel. Humanly speaking, Israel was no match for their enemies. But God cautioned them not to be afraid, that He would fight their battles for them.
14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Paul closes out this great chapter with one more powerful thought that could be a sermon in itself.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:
“For I am convinced” = (perfect tense) I stand convinced that nothing can separate believers from the love of God!
Paul lists 10 items beginning with death; These elements in God’s universe are the extremes of all existence!
Even the most extreme things in this life can not separate you from God’s love and power over death and the grave!
Closing - Invite the prayer team forward