Nothing Can Take It Away Series

Nothing Can Take It Away

Griffith Baptist Church – 8/24/08

A.M. Service

Text: Romans 8:35-39

Key verse: Romans 8:37 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

The Introduction

Here we have the finishing touch of Romans 8.

This is the icing on the cake and the completion of a wonderful chapter that gives us security in Christ.

All that has gone before culminates in the wonderful truth that nothing can separate us from this love of God.

Many Christians today are worried about their salvation, not that they have it, but that it will be taken away or that they can lose it.

God would no more take away our salvation that He would take away the shed blood of His Son.

The stain of sin is forever washed away by the blood of the Savior

When it comes to the question of eternal security, or some say, once saved, always saved, it surprises me how some tend to doubt their salvation that God has given them.

But why the doubt?

Let me ask you some questions, some of which you will be able to answer and some you will not:

1. Since God is infinitely powerful to save you, don’t you think He is infinitely powerful to keep you?

2. If you can lose your salvation, what sin or sins can be committed to cause this to happen?

3. Since Christ’s blood cleanses us from all sin, are you saying then that His blood is insufficient to keep on cleansing you? (1st Jn. 1:7)

4. If you can lose it, how do you know when you have lost it?

5. Can you ever get it back or when you have lost it, is it gone for good (Heb. 6:6)?

6. If eternal life is not forever, than what does God mean by “eternal”?

7. And last, if eternal does mean forever without end, and it does, does this not make God a liar? – Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Rather than try jumping through hoops to find an answer, let’s see what God’s Word says.

Eternal Security is defined as our Salvation being completely protected by God so that there is no possible way that it can ever be taken away or lost.

Transition Statement: First, Paul tells us in verses 35-36 that our eternal security does not depend on our circumstances.

Body

1. Our Eternal Security Does Not Depend on Circumstances – 35-36

A. Many years ago A.J. Gordon went to the World’s Fair. From a distance he saw a man pumping water with one of those old hand pumps. The water was pouring out and he said as he looked, “That man is really pumping water.” But when he got closer, he discovered that it was a wooden man connected to a pump powered by electricity. The man was not pumping the water, the water was pumping him.

i. Sometimes we let our circumstances decide how we are going to believe

ii. We let our influence come from the natural instead of the supernatural.

B. Paul mentions circumstances that caused believers in this book to feel forsaken by God

C. Sometimes we have similar trouble because of mistaken ideas about our faith:

i. Mistaken Idea One: Opposition that seemingly succeeds should never happen to a Christian, so therefore, have I lost my salvation. (tribulation, distress, persecution)

ii. Mistaken Idea Two: Christians should always be characterized by success so when I have failure or poverty, it must mean God has left me (famine, nakedness)

iii. Mistaken Idea Three: Constant persecution with no relief in sight must mean that God has abandoned me as His child (peril, sword)

D. Our life in Christ is not a guarantee of freedom from hardship and danger (Paul’s testimony) - 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 – 23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

E. True discipleship requires sacrifices that cost - Matthew 10:37-38 – 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (2 Timothy 3:12)