WHAT SHALL I SAY?
Romans 8:31-39
* Have you ever been in position where you NEEDED to say something and didn’t know what to say? Certainly, we all have. Quite frankly, every person holds some fear of being in that situation.
* When does this seem to happen? Well two of those possibilities are when you receive REAL GOOD news or REAL BAD news. For instance, someone you love receives the news that they have an incurable disease, you know you SHOULD say something, you WANT to say something, but you really don’t know what to say. Or how about when someone says, “you are my hero, you have inspired and impacted my life in ways which you will never know.” What do you say? What words will have meaning at a time such as this?
* Last week, from God’s word, we were reminded that God is for us!! In fact, since February, we have been studying the heart of the gospel and have found many such encouragements along the way. Folks, GOD IS FOR US!! And He proves it by His words, His actions, His plans, and His leadership. Everything He does is for us. He has provided for us, He has given us a promised progression, and has developed a plan for us.
* Our scripture begins today with a telling question, “What are we to say then?” My question is very simple, “What shall I say?” If God is actually for me—what am I to say? I suggest 4 responses we have.
1. I am vindicated – The word vindicated means to be cleared of blame, guilt, suspicion, and/or doubt. Paul asks 4 questions in almost a rapid fire succession which reminds us that we need to be vindicated; “Who is against us?” “Who accuses us?” “Who condemns us?”, and “Who can separate us?” From these questions it is easy to assume that there is going to be a “WHO.” There are going to be those who are against us, who will accuse us, who will condemn us, and certainly who will attempt to tear us away from God. Know what is very sad today? Some of these come from inside the fellowship of a “Church.” Opposition, accusation, and condemnation, are a prevalent part of the modern day church in America and it’s really sad.
* However, make no mistake. People who are in opposition to the gospel are only puppets. The real opposition is the spiritual forces of evil, the rulers, authorities, and powers of the darkness. When Paul wrote this letter the opposition was coming from outside of the church body and was intense. The accusations were many.
* Here is his encouragement for us today; When are you (and you will be) opposed, accused, and condemned, be sure and recognize the source and know that, in Jesus Christ, you have been vindicated and there is no condemnation (Verse 1). It is because of the grace and mercy of God that there is no condemnation. We have been set free and vindicated of all our sin and shame. Because of Jesus our past is eternally forgiven and forgotten.
ILLUS: Down in Brazil, Maria, a girl who had recently become a Christian, stepped carefully down the well-worn path of the river bank. She had come to get water. Usually she found other women at the water’s edge, but this day she was alone. As she stooped to dip the pot into the stream, she happened to glance to one side — and froze with horror. From the bush on the bank not fifty feet away, a large crocodile emerged, stalking to attack. There was no time to run away or jump into the river — what should she do? “Lord, save me!” she cried. Instantly as the crocodile dashed at her she found herself heaving her water pot with all her might into its open mouth. Distracted, it let her escape. Seeing her rushing home almost out of breath, Maria’s relatives quickly gathered around her to find out what was the matter. Her enthusiasm knew no bounds as she told of her miraculous escape until she noticed that no one seemed to believe her. She was a new Christian, and if her relatives didn’t believe her, certainly the townsfolk wouldn’t, and they would not think much of a type of Christianity whose followers told such lies. Maria at first was heartbroken, but she committed the matter to the Lord. Ten days later she was walking back to the spot where she had nearly lost her life. But this time a big crowd had gathered. They were listening to a couple of fishermen who had a story to tell. She arrived in time to hear one of them say, “Yes, we found a big dead crocodile decaying on the sand down the river. And we found a water pot in its throat. It had choked to death.”
* APPLY: Never forget that “If God is for you” (and He is), then the who that opposes you is the enemy.
2. I am valued – Why? I can know that I am valued by God the Father, because of what is reiterated in verses 32 and 34. When I was hopeless, helpless, and even could care less, God gave His most prized possession for me. He gave His one and only Son, for me.
* I was a sinner (under accusation and condemnation) and deserving of death and God did not withhold His only Son for me. Knowing that I could not pay for my own sin, God “offered up” as a sacrifice, His own Son. I suggest that we truly need to get a fresh view of this act of God and then reconsidered how valuable this makes us to God! God went the extra mile to save our soul.
* In 2 Peter we are told that the Lord doesn’t want any to perish, but ALL (not just some) to come to repentance. Jesus himself said, “God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that ‘whoever’ believes will not perish, but have everlasting or eternal life.” But my value to God does not end with coming to faith. In fact, my salvation experience is the beginning. I am so valuable to God that the work He begins in me at salvation is a perfect progressive work. I have been saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved. Paul writes in Philippians that “He who started a good work in your will carry it on to completion.” God stays with us to make us into the person He wants us to be. That’s how valuable we are to Him.
* Each year, at the end of the football season, the NFL chooses the MVP. That is the most valuable player. This player is recognized for having contributed more than anyone else to the league.
* I’ll submit to you that God shows no favorites. Every one of His creation was His most valuable. How do we know this? When we were still sinners, He sent Christ to die in our place, to come back to life to provide us a right standing before the Him, and now has Jesus placed at His right hand where He is interceding for us.
3. I am victorious – In the old KJV, verse 27 describes us as “More than Conquerors” while the HCSB says, “More than Victorious.” Now think about both of those terms. We will always “settle for” actually “enjoy” being a winner. One who conquers or wins a victory is, by definition a winner. In God, we are more than this.
* The enemy is against us, accuses us, condemns us, and even attempts to separate us from God, and we are not simply victors, we are Overcomers! There is an old gospel song based on this text, “We are more than conquerors, Overcomers in this life. We’ve been made victorious, through the blood of Jesus Christ.” When I am attacked, accused, and assailed, what can I say? The blood of Jesus stands for me. For to be in Christ is to be under the blood, and this makes me a conqueror.
* When you slip and fall into sin, better said when you succumb to temptation and Satan is there to tell you how bad you are you can respond with how good Jesus is. When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.
* Victory is important to the human psyche’. In some areas of life we refuse to settle for less than victory. Two years ago, the University of Alabama forked out enough money to buy a small bank in order to hire a football coach who would bring victory back to them, and he has. Just this week, mid-season, Auburn fired a man in hopes that he was (or is) the blockade to winning football games. However, for most of us “winning” is good enough.
* When we come to Christ a contest (a war) rages. The enemy wants us to lose our way, our passion, our desire, and our connection to the Heavenly Father. When we are in Christ, sin and Satan no longer has the upper hand. Jesus has conquered every foe.
4. I am validated – While you may not like this term in the spiritual realm, let me explain. Two years ago Deb and I went to San Antonio to the SBC. It seems that every place we parked our car was a “pay me to park” space. However, when we went to the mail (yes, they had a pay to park lot) and we shopped, one of the merchants could validate our parking ticket. Know what that meant? We could park as long as we wanted and NOT pay a dime. We could not be thrown out or charged for parking, we had a spot there.
* Follow along as I re-read verses 38 & 39. If God is really for me and I am in Christ Jesus, there is nothing that can ever separate me from neither God nor His love. Never forget that Paul is writing to fellow believers and only believers can never be separated from God’s love.
* For the non-believer, you will be separated from Him after death. I have heard preacher after preacher remind us that while hell will be hot, the worst part is that it will mean eternal separation from the Love of God.
* As a believer, know this; you will have those who are against you, you will have those who accuse you, you will have those who condemn you, and you will even have those who try to convince you that God doesn’t love you. What do you say?
* You can say, “I know Jesus. I have the Spirit of God in my life. I have the security of now and eternity because of Jesus.”
* If you do not know Jesus, you will have nothing to say. Make no mistake, if you have never trusted Christ, God loves you and has made a way for you to become member of His family. You are valuable to God and He wants to save you. What will you do with His Son?
* ILLUS: When a certain wealthy man died, his will could not be found. Since his wife and only son had preceded him in death, his possessions were sold at auction. Everything was disposed of except a picture of the son. Nobody seemed to want it until an elderly woman approached and pleaded with the auctioneer to let her have it for the few dollars in her possession. When he gave her the picture, she hugged it to her heart, for she had been the son’s nurse in his infancy and boyhood days. Attached to the back of the painting she discovered an envelope addressed to an attorney. Taking it to him, she was astonished to hear him exclaim, "Woman, you have a fortune! This is the man’s will; in it he has left a large sum of money to anyone who loved his son enough to buy the picture."
* When your life on this earth is past, were God to ask you one question, that question would be, “What did you do with Jesus, my Son?” If He asks you that questions, What will you say?
