God Is For Us!

Title: “You are Loved”

Big Idea: “God is for us”

Romans 8:31 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 (persuaded) 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.

Introduction:

Engraved on the inside of my wrist-watch are these words: “to the moon and back.”

You can’t imagine how much I cherish this watch – because of who it's from and what it says... my adorable daughter, Heather, now 25, a paramedic in Toronto...

The words come from the children’s book - “Guess How Much I Love You”

The entire passage reads:

‘I love you up to the moon,’ said Little Nutbrown Hare.

‘Oh, that’s far,’ said Big Nutbrown Hare. ‘That is very far.’

Big Nutbrown Hare settles Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves.

He leaned over and kissed him goodnight.

Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile,... ‘I love you to the moon and back.’

Isn’t it hard to communicate your love?

And so, happy Valentine’s day, everyone!

Romans 8 “ is a brilliant oratorical passage worthy of any orator in the world ...

The context... - Paul is writing from Corinth in AD 57

o Paul has been a believer for about 25 years now.

o Believers have been killed and persecuted by Rome and by Jews

Hardship is “normal” for the early Christian community... being thrown to the lions is a real and present danger.

o Romans is a letter of gospel proclamation/theology and a call to unity for the church in Rome.

o ... at times Paul seems to be preaching... he is so passionate about the good news....

o Paul also wants the church in Rome to help him get to Spain.

Chapter 8 Is The Climax Of The Book!

o It begins...There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ; v. 1-

o It moves into a celebration of Life in the Spirit: v. 2-17

o In verse 18 Paul says, our Present sufferings cannot compare with our future glory: v. 18-27

o And then the famous words of v 28-30 “All things work together for our good... v 28-30

o This concluding section of ch 8 is ...pure poetry.

1. God’s Eternal, All-Powerful Love Is Affirmed for Believers: 31-39

In this passage Paul makes frequent use of 5 rhetorical questions...(5 of them)

Q.1 - What Then Shall We Say In Response To These Things? V. 31

Q. 2 – if God is for us – who can be against us?

“What things” is Paul referring to?

Likely persecution and hardship...

What shall we say in the face of the global pandemic?

Paul’s Answer ...is to focus on Christ and his love for us...

He describes...

This passage here in vv. 31-39 is essentially a summary of chs 5-8.

And so Paul launches into a celebration of God’s love... we find here some of Paul’s most eloquent words... words of timeless beauty... written about God by a man who knew him better than most...

3. Paul says, God is “for us” (!) (redemptively, cosmically) ...so, who can stand against us?

Question. 2 – v. 31 who can be against us?

Answer – Nobody!

“... having God “for us” literally changes everything in life for God’s people –

That includes us ...who have come to God through the work of Christ Jesus and the ministry of God’s Spirit!”

*** ...and The Ultimate proof that God is for us is the cross!!!

Verse 32: “He who did not spare his own son what gave him up for us all how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things ?