Easter: God’s Solution To Man’s Problems Series

Several years ago I heard about the story of the late, great pastor Adrian Rogers and his encounter with someone on an airplane. I quote:

I once met a lawyer on an airplane. We began to talk about what we like to read. I said, “I read newspapers, books, journals, devotional studies, but primarily the Bible.” He said, “If you don’t read any further than that, how do you know what to talk about when you speak to people?” I replied, “Sir, man only has three problems: sin, sorrow, and death.” My new friend answered, “There are more than that.” I replied, “No, only three.” “Oh,” he said, “there are other problems.” I said, “All right, tell me another.” He thought for a long time, came back, and said, “You’re right, everything I can think of fits in those three categories.”

Every problem you can think of into one of these three categories: Sin, Sorrow, and Death. But the greatest news this morning is that Easter is the answer to ALL of these problems. Because Jesus rose from the dead, he defeated both the power of sin in the present and the penalty of sin in the future. Because Jesus rose from the dead, one day the sorrow of this earthly world will be replaced with the glory of heaven and eternity. Because Jesus rose from the dead, death has been defeated because for the Christian, and now death is simply the means to eternal life. And so in a very real sense, Easter IS the answer to the world’s problems.

If you don’t have a Bible today, that’s okay because we’re going to put the words on the screen, but if you DO want to follow along in your Bible, we’re going to spend our time in Romans 8 which is an unlikely Easter passage. But as we walk through the verses at the end of this chapter, I can assure you that the power of the resurrection will be on full display this morning.

And let me say this before we read this passage—I don’t pretend to know why you are here this morning. It may be because this is where you find yourself every Sunday. It may be that visiting church on Easter is a family tradition. Maybe you’re here today because you are spiritually searching. And maybe, the reason that you’re here is because you are a grown up but you’re still scared of your mom, and she told you that you were coming. I have no idea why you’re here, other than this – you are not here by accident. For the past three weeks, we have literally had hundreds of people praying for you every day, so it is no accident that you are here this morning and we think God wants to speak directly to YOU this morning.

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say 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 with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

For so many people that study the Bible, me included, this is one of their favorite passages of Scripture because it communicates both the DEPTH and the WIDTH of God’s love for us (if you grew up in church, maybe you remember the song Deep and Wide). And so this morning, I want you to see three powerful truths contained in these verses we just read…in fact, I believe they’re SO powerful that they can literally change your life. So what are they?

1. JESUS’ DEATH PROVES GOD IS FOR YOU – vs. 31-32

I have had many friends that I have invited to church over the years that have said, “You don’t want me coming to YOUR church because the roof might cave in or the walls might catch fire when I walk through the doors.” But in spite of hearing this dozens of times over the years, this very room gives testimony to the fact that that has never happened—yet (don’t get too comfortable because the day’s not over).