Walk Through Romans: More Than Conquerors
Walk Through Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsThere is no power in the universe more powerful than God. We, as God's children have unlimited access to both the power and the grace of God in our lives, made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
Tonight if you will turn in your Bibles to .
We are going to be continuing our “Walk Through Romans” and pick up where we left off last time.
If you recall, last time we talked about God’s glory and how God’s glory would be revealed through our lives as Christians and evident by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We also talked a great deal about the hope that is found in Christ and only in Christ.
Then we finished up with verse 28 . . .
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.
Which is something we tend to want to hang our hat on, but many times as we face troubles and trials we forget this verse.
I mean who can say that all of the death, disease, and suffering we see and endure work “for the good” of God’s people?
It is hard to wrap our heads around and hard to accept.
But the reality is, the statement is still true.
One thing that I have learned is that even though I have no idea sometimes what God is doing and what direction things are going, God is still at work.
Even though I do not understand the suffering that I see sometimes, I have to know that God is still at work in that.
And the thing that we forget is that God’s master plan has many different moving parts.
It involves more than just us.
We are “us” focused, in that we focus on ourselves and fail to see and understand the big picture.
We don’t see how the way we endure our own personal suffering and stay true and strong with God, impacts others around us.
They see the Spirit working through us and it has a lasting impact on us.
I’ve shared bits and pieces at different times, but I think about my grandmother often when thinking about this.
My grandfather died in September 2007 and my grandmother found herself alone for the first time in almost 60 years.
But she never lost her faith.
In fact, she continued to pray for her children and her grandchildren every single day because many of us were not living a Christian life.
And she continued to pray until November 2012 until she also went to be with the Lord.
And during that time, she was not only lonely but she suffered in her body.
Arthritis took over and she could barely get around.
And eventually cancer also invaded and she suffered through that as well.
And I could see the influence on my aunts, uncles, and cousins, but it also had a great impact on me.
It showed me how real God is and how much God was still present and with her in her life.
And we need to be reminded of that from time to time.
Especially when we see the suffering of our brothers and sisters around us, in our little church.
So many suffer and two things we need to remember:
They should never suffer alone. We should be there with them, lifting them up and encouraging them.
We should remember that God is still there and there is a greater purpose.
We may not know and we may never know the purpose until we get to heaven, but there is a greater purpose.
And sometimes that purpose is so that others, who may otherwise never come to Christ, can see God present in us, and change their mind.
I’ve seen it happen.
So, that is why we need to remember that in all things God works for the good of those that love him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Which brings us to the next part of this, that begins in verse 31, which is where I will be picking up.
Paul writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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 is he that condemns? 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.
If God’s For Us, Who Can Stand Against Us (vs 31-32)
If God’s For Us, Who Can Stand Against Us (vs 31-32)
So Paul starts out here on a very strong point....
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
And if you notice he starts out with a question—In response of this, what shall we say?
In response of what?
What is Paul talking about...
Well, he is referring to all the things that we have been talking about our last time together and already tonight.
He is talking about the fact that whatever happens, and whatever comes our way, God is still with us.
God is still looking out for us.
God is still actively looking out and making arrangements for the greater good of His eternal plan.
However, and this is a big , however, Paul also knows that we get discouraged and down at times.
Paul knows first hand that things get tough and sometimes we wonder, where exactly is God in all of this mess that we call life.
And in response to that, Paul asks us another very important question…If God is for us, who can be against us?
And a better translation of that is If God is for us who can STAND against us?
Who is more powerful than God?
Who can defeat God?
Who can stand against God?
And we know the answer to that question already—no one and no force in this universe is more powerful than God.
In fact, the only power that Satan even has is the power that we relinquish to him when we give in to his temptations and lies.
He has absolutely no real power whatsoever—NONE-ZIP.
So, don’t be fooled by the perceived power that we think Satan has.
Also, don’t fear him either, which is a big problem.
We need to respect Satan’s intelligence and recognize his plots, plans, and ways, but we have no reason to fear him at all.
In fact Paul tells Timothy that . . .
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
And in fact Paul actually told Timothy to . ..
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
And also to . . .
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
2 Timothy 1:
Which is all a testament to the real power of God as opposed to the fake power of Satan.
So, when we are down and when we are discouraged, thinking the enemy has won, we need to ask ourselves If God is for us, who can stand against us?
And we also need to remember that God made all of this possible because . . .
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?
Romans 8:32
Who Can Bring Charges Against God’s People (vs 33-34)
Who Can Bring Charges Against God’s People (vs 33-34)
And if God is willing to do all of that and to give up absolutely even part of His very self, for us, do we not think that God would also stand with us through everything we face in life?
The answer is, God will not abandon us.
God will not leave us.
God will not forsake us.
We know the verses . . .
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
And....
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:
And finally....
w 28:
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
But again, we as humans keep forgetting these things.
You see, it is easy to remember them when things are going well for us, but when they are not going so well, we forget.
Not because we don’t believe the Bible, but because the enemy has isolated us and is whispering lies in our head.
Which is why it is important for brothers and sisters in Christ to rally around one another and be there for one another.
To support, to hold up, to stand in the gap, to remind each other that God is still there.
That God is still with us and in fact, God is sending all of us to be His representative and to stand with those who are struggling.
And when it comes to those who want to condemn and judge us—whether it is an outside source or we are condemning ourselves.
We need to ask ourselves the questions that Paul is asking here . . .
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? 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.
Romans 8:33-
Just like the adulteress that they were going to stone to death.
Jesus asked her, “woman where are your accusers?”
And of course, after Jesus had shown them their own sin, they were nowhere to be found.
And remember what he said, once she stood up and looked around and didn’t see anyone?
“Go and sin no more.”
Jesus didn’t condemn, Jesus forgave and restored.
Jesus stood in the gap and took care of her need.
Jesus didn’t care who she was or where she came from.
Jesus only cared that this was a precious soul that needed rescuing and Jesus rescued her.
And Jesus can also rescue us.
When you are feeling down and condemned, like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.
Lift your head up and look around.
Where are your accusers?
Most likely they are wallowing in their own sin.
So get up, and if there is sin that needs to be dealt with, deal with it.
Hold your head up and move forward.
Move on and remember, that Jesus is there interceding for us.
Jesus has already rescued us and paid the price.
We need to be walking in the victory that Jesus Christ has granted us.
What Can Separate Us From God (vs 35-39)
What Can Separate Us From God (vs 35-39)
And we need to also remember to ask ourselves, these final questions that Paul asks here . . .
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:35-
Again, is there any force in this universe that than overwhelm the love of God?
Remember, we have been studying the last few weeks on Sunday morning that God is love—in that love is the very nature of God.
That out of God’s love, everything was created.
Is there anything more powerful than that?
No, there is nothing in our universe more powerful than that.
So, there is absolutely nothing that will ever stop God from loving us.
Now, that doesn’t mean that there are not consequences for our sin, but God never stops loving us.
Think about it, when our kids do something that angers or hurts us, do we stop loving them?
No—And that’s just a small fraction of the capacity to love that God has.
There is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.
Nothing at all.
In fact, Paul finishes up this section by stating . . .
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.
Altar Call
Altar Call
The key here “we are more than conquerors.”
There is no power in this universe more powerful than God and we can conquer and overcome anything through God.
Remember . . .
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
phillipians 4:13
All things means just what it says.
Everything.
Nothing excluded.
But again we need to be reminded of that.
And I really think that is what God wants us to know tonight.
Through all of the suffering, pain, heartache, he is right there.
And not only that but He will always be right there and through Him we will get through it.
But we have to also stand firm and stand together.
No music tonight, we are just going to take a minute and pray, if for nothing else, pray for those who are sick and need a touch from God.