Romans 8:31KJV
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
-Sobibor - 1942-1943
- “Escape from Sobibor” – Movie 1987
- Hitler blamed the Jews for all of Germany’s losses in World War I
- Hitler hated anyone and everyone who was not of the "Aryan race"
- Holocaust took 5-6 million people
- Extermination death camp hocusing 700 Jewish workers
- 19 months 250,000 Jews were murdered in Sobibor
- This = 439 murdered every day at Sobibor
Three gas chambers, about 12 feet by 12 feet, each of which could hold about 160-180 people. Carbon monoxide generated by a diesel engine mounted outside was piped into the gas chambers. The killing took between 20-30 min. The corpses were removed from a second door and buried in huge, specially excavated pits. Carts, and later trolleys on a small rail track, were used to carry deportees who were too infirm to walk to the burial pits where they were shot so as not to delay the killing process.
During this time, the death camp at Treblinka had an escape, causing the Commandant at Sobibor to vow (actually threaten) that his camp would never experience the same thing.
Sobibor was surrounded by a triple line of barbed wire fencing and guarded by watchtowers, land mines were outside this area
Sgt. Gustav Wagner: ‘This morning, two prisoners escaped from North Camp. Thirteen other prisoners, no doubt inspired by their idiotic example, also tried to escape. If any of you would like to cheer, go right ahead. There will be no more escape attempts in this camp. I’ll repeat that. THERE WILL BE NO MORE ESCAPE ATTEMPTS IN THIS CAMP!!”
But those who were its captives, the Jewish laborers that had been spared from the ovens, knew that they were on borrowed time and that their only hope was to escape... the only question was how to do it. However, because the Germans would kill an equal number of others whenever a group attempted to escape, the captives knew that if ever an escape was tried, all 600 prisoners in the camp would have to be included... logistically precluding any ideas about tunnels or sneak breakouts. Indeed, to have such a mass escape could only mean that the Ukrainian guards and Germain officers would have to be killed, which many of the Jews felt simply reduced themselves to no better than their captors... thus making it a struggle of conscience. And therein lies the story, with the film being based on a factual account of what then happened at that Sobibor prison.
- Oct 14, 1943
- Approximately 300 prisoners managed to escape, but most were killed later as they fled.
- Those remaining at the camp were quickly liquidated by the Germans.
- All in all, only approximately 50 Jewish prisoners escaped Sobibor
- The escape forced the Nazis to close the death camp, dismantling it and planting a forest to hide what they had done.
- Sin is out to exterminate us
- We are held in it’s extermination death camp
- Jesus has broken through to set us free
- v. 31 What shall we then say to these things....
- This question goes back to Rom 8:28-30
- v.31 If God be for us
- This is not a question but an affirmation — Since
- “IF” A conjunction joining two ideas or thoughts together
- Joining v.28-30 with v.31
- Eight “These Things” words form an unbreakable chain links
Romans 8:28-30 NCV
28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan. 29 God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. 30 God planned for them to be like his Son; and those he planned to be like his Son, he also called; and those he called, he also made right with him; and those he made right, he also glorified.
❶. WHO IS AGAINST ME?
1. Satan is against me.
- All his force, malice, subtlety, and skill
- He and his forces are against me
1 Peter 5:8KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2. The world is against me.
- It’s attractions and allurements lies to me
John 15:18-19KJV If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
3. My own heart is against me.
Romans 2:5KJV But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
❷. WHO IS FOR ME? — Rom 8:31
- His assurance calms my fears and strengthens my faith
- Demonstrated throughout Scripture
Abraham
Genesis 15:1KJV After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Isaac
Genesis 26:24KJV And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
Gideon
Judges 6:12 KJV And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
David
Psalm 27:1KJV The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 118:6 KJV The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Elisha’s Servant
2 Kings 6:15-16KJV 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 KJV Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah
Jeremiah
Jer. 1:17-19KJV 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Paul
Acts 18:9-10KJV 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
To Me
1 John 4:4KJV 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christ’s Last Words
Matthew 28:20 “Lo, I am with you alway; even unto the end.”
His Assurance
1 . God is on my side - v. 31
- His Word is what I stand on
- He has made an everlasting promise.
2. Jesus is on my side. - v.32
- Tells us His love, v.35, 37, 39
- He proved it at the cross
- If He died for me certainly he will save me
3. Holy Spirit is on my side v.32 (freely give us all things)
• He quickened me when I was dead
• He taught me when I was ignorant
• He comforts me when I am distressed
• He empowers me when I am weak
❸. NOTHING CAN BE AGAINST ME
• The Law Cannot, for it’s condemnation of sin is removed
• Justice Cannot, for Jesus has met its demands, and His resurrection is a full discharge of all its claims
• Satan Cannot, has been defeated at the cross
• Men Cannot, for the ungodly are restrained
• Time Cannot, Through Sickness, Suffering, Weakness, Old age Death, Not having enough It has been meet by the eternal one
• Fear Cannot - It has been replaced with confidence, joy & peace through him that loved us
Isaiah 41:10KJV Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Chrysostom - 347-407
- Early Church father, Preacher
- Stood before the Roman
- The emperor threatened him with banishment if he still remained a Christian.
- Chrysostom, “Thou canst not, for the world is my Father’s house; thou canst not banish me.”
- “ I will slay thee,” said the emperor.
- “Nay, but thou canst not,” said the noble champion of the faith again; “for my life is hid with Christ in God.”
- “I will take away thy treasures.”
- “Nay, but thou canst not,” was the retort; “for, in the first place, I have none that thou knowest of. My treasure is in heaven, and my heart is there.”
- “ I will drive thee away from man, and thou shalt have no friend left.”
- “Nay, and that thou canst not,” once more said the faithful witness; “for I have a Friend in heaven, from whom thou canst not separate me.
- I defy thee; there is nothing thou canst do to hurt me.”
Conclusion:
- It is an awful thing not to have God for us.
- And if God is not for us then He must be against us.
Leviticus 26:27-28KJV And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
