INTRODUCTION, One of the biggest mistakes that happens in a marriage is when we take each other for granted. After being married for a few years, it’s easy to assume that your spouse knows that you love him or her. But when you don’t express it with words or actions, human nature likes to assume the worst. You need to keep the communications open.
God compares our relationship to him with a marriage - where he is the groom and we are the bride. Whereas we are sometimes negligent in our communications with each other, God is never negligent with us. He keeps his communications open. The book of Romans is a wonderful letter from God that expresses His wonderful love for us in Christ.
Whenever you get to wondering whether God really loves you, all you need to do is open this book. Then you will quickly find that - There is No Reason to Ask, “Do You Love Me God?”
The greatest message of the Bible is that there is one who loves you so much he was willing to give his only son for you.
In Romans 8, Paul has looked at 4 treasures from God
Forgiveness – no condemnation
The Holy Spirit – Our partner in faith
Hope – more than this life
Security – God is working life out for our good
TODAY – The eternal love of God.
God loves you – there it is – Kind of simple is it not – God Loves You
THINK ABOUT THAT FACT FOR JUST A MINUTE
God loves you
The one who knows your past
The one who knows your failures
The one who knows your fears and your faults
Is madly in love with you.
LISTEN
Jer 31:3, "I have loved you, O my people, with an everlasting love; with loving-kindness I have drawn you to me.
I Jn 4:9, This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Eph 2:4-5, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.
Look at our Text
ROMANS 8:31-39
Notice 3 ways God displays his love for us
1. God loves us because of the action he took in relation to his son
He did not spare his own son, but gave him up for all of us.
To the Jews – this phrase took them back to the writing of Moses and Genesis 22
Illustration of Abraham and Isaac
Gen 22:9-12
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham was willing to give up his son – BUT GOD WENT THE FULL MEASURE, HE ALLOWED HIS SON TO DIE.
Why did he not spare his own son?
So that he might graciously give us all things
Grace to forgive us off all of our sins
The ability to continue in our salvation – Holy Spirit
2. The Second way we know God loves us is how his son relates to us.
Paul now turns to a legal argument
Sin our sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ – who condemns us. Who is able to accuse us?
Col 1:21-22, Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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.
There is only one who has the right to accuse us or to condemn us that is Jesus Christ look at verses 33-34, Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 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.
He does not accuse us, but he intercedes for us – literally he has God’s ear!
In the OT it was the priest – interceding continuously
Our culture wants us to have many ways to God
But there is only one way and that is Jesus Christ.
3. A third way we know God loves us by his watch care over us.
Rom 8:35-39, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
Paul first of all speaks of his present condition
2 Cor 11:23-27, I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. I have traveled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded rivers and from robbers and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles. I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and from death in the deserts and in the stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
BUT LISTEN to the conclusion Romans 8, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.
Paul is saying God loves us so much there is nothing that can isolate us from Him.
THERE’S NO ISOLATION
Paul says, “I’ve thought it over and I’m completely convinced. I’m permanently satisfied.”
(a) Things That TROUBLE Us (vs. 38b)
Death nor life. (Just the thought of death paralyzes some people.)
Death won’t separate you from God. Death takes you into the presence of God.
What about life? The burdens and business of life?
- Disappointments, disease, growing older, etc.? (They can’t isolate us.)
(b) Things That TERRIFY Us (vs. 38c)
#1 - Faithful angels and Fallen angels. (They can’t isolate us.)
#2 - The present and the future. (NLT: “Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow.”) We have no idea what tomorrow will bring. But we know Who holds our tomorrows.
#3 - Verse 39. “Height nor depth.” (Astrological terms) - The height of stars or the lowest points when they fall. - Some people think the movement of the stars determines their lives. Friend, your life is not determined by the stars. Your life is determined by the Savior. * Whatever’s out there in space, it can’t separate you from Jesus.
- Verse 39. “Nor anything else in all creation.” Paul’s saying, “If there’s anything else out there that I haven’t thought of, it can’t separate us.”
Can you see how much God loves you?
We began this chapter discovering there is…
There is no condemnation, Now Paul says there is not separation
We have discovered no one can make a n accusation if we are in Christ Jesus
Finally there is no isolation nothing can hold you back from the love of God
EXCEPT YOUR HESITATION.
(READ)
At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like the president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him.
But later on when I recognized God, It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.
I don’t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since--life with my God makes my life exciting!
But when He took the lead, it was all I could do to hang on! He knew delightful paths, up mountains and through rocky places--and at breakneck speeds. Even though it looked like madness, he said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. When I’d say, "I’m scared," He’d lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, God’s and mine.
And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and our burden became light.
At first I did not trust Him in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. but He knows bike secrets--knows how to make it lean to take sharp corners, dodge large rocks, and speed through scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant Companion.
And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, He just smiles and says, "Pedal!"
When we have a God who loves us, when we have a God who wants the very best for us, when we have a God who sent his son to die for us there should be not hesitation.
No Condemnation
No Accusation
No Separation
No Isolation
No Hesitation.
There needs to be a response –
Your life should be different because of the Love God has for you
Your focus should be different
Your priorities
INVITATION
