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)
Transition Statement: Second, our eternal security does not depend on us
2. Our Eternal Security Does Not Depend on Us - 37
A. The key words in this verse that I want to point out is “through Him”, not us
B. No where in Scripture does it indicate that keeping our salvation depends on us
C. You did nothing to earn your salvation and can do nothing to keep it - Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
D. John 1:12-13 – 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
E. We are kept or held by the power of God - 1 Peter 1:3-5 – 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
i. To be kept is to be preserved
ii. Through faith is the channel by which we were able to believe
iii. Salvation is the result
iv. The last time denotes the day of redemption when Christ comes for His own
Transition Statement: The only truth we need to rely on is that our eternal security is totally dependent on God
3. Our Eternal Security Is Totally Dependent On God – 38-39
A. Look at the list that Paul makes in verses 38-39
i. Death and life – the two extremes of existence
ii. Angels, principalities and powers – both good and demonic, governments and plans of man
iii. Things present or things to come – events and circumstances current or future
iv. Height or depth – above or beneath us to catch us by surprise
v. Any other created thing – we don’t want to leave anything out
B. To separate is the same word used for divorce
i. God will not divorce His bride
ii. God will not divorce or disown His children
iii. There is not one thing in heaven or hell or in between that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. It is His work to keep us - Jude 1:24 – Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (1 Peter 4:19)
i. The guarantee of Christ - John 10:28-29 – 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
ii. The seal of the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13-14 – 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph. 4:30)
iii. Evidenced in the complete cycle of salvation - Romans 8:30
D. Perfected and sanctified - Hebrews 10:14-18 - 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
i. Sanctified is to be made pure and holy
ii. He said we are perfected forever
iii. He remembers our sins no more
iv. There is no need anymore for an offering for sin because Christ has remitted them once and for all
E. We know because of the promise of God - 1 John 5:13 – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Conclusion:
What are you trusting in for salvation?
God wants us to move on for Him and not be bogged down by worry over whether we have our salvation or not.
If you have truly trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, than you can claim the promise of Scripture.
From that point you need to be living for Him; are you?
