Sunday 17 May 2009 ASHINGDON PM
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
(Nothing Can Separate You from God’s Love)
Romans 8:1-8:39
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I’ve been wrestling with what the Lord has given me for you for a couple of days.
In my personal devotions this week I read Luke 24:45 which says:
“Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
And I really felt that was where we were supposed to be tonight.
That tonight we needed God to speak to us through scripture, to open up His word for us. A word relevant for today.
And I prayed that God would speak into the time in which we live, speak into our lives now and build us and strengthen us.
And something strange happened.
Normally the Lord will lead me to a passage first and then the points of the sermon follow.
This time He gave me the points first and then led me to the passage.
The three points are:
1. Receiving Jesus brings freedom from condemnation and war against sin
2. Being close to God means surrendering control to our loving Father
3. Being a part of God’s family means we are blessed when we face difficulty.
And God then led me to Romans 8 and I understood what He wanted to say to us today.
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Before we look at Romans 8 I want us to take a quick look at the whole book of Romans,
yes the whole book,
all 16 chapters in the next couple of minutes!
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Imagine it’s the winter of A.D. 57-58, Paul is in Corinth at the close of his third missionary journey.
Soon He will return to Jerusalem with an offering for the poor.
A woman named Phoebe, who lives in a suburb of Corinth, is going to sail to Rome soon and Paul sees an opportunity to send a letter to the church in Rome with her.
The only postal service in the Roman Empire was for government business, personal letters had to be carried by friends.
Paul was not sure he would get away from Jerusalem alive and he wanted the Christians in Rome to have a written explanation of the gospel. He wrote this letter, which Phoebe delivered safely to the church.
Realizing that this may be his only only communication with the church in Rome, he wrote about two important truths of the Christian faith – the belief that results in salvation and the behavior that results from salvation.
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In chapter 1 Paul begins the Roman letter by clearly outlining man’s depraved condition before God. After a few introductory words about himself, the Roman church’s reputation, Paul’s thwarted plans to come to them, and the nature of the gospel he preached, he tackles the sin problem.
In the latter part of chapter 1, Paul deals with the gentile world. Although they do not have the Mosaic law, they have a law within their own hearts, which they have violated, failing to live up to the truth they posses. For that reason, the Gentiles stand as sinners before God.
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In chapter 2, Paul deals with the Jewish people who have religious privileges - but fail to realize their possibilities, violating God’s law and refusing to live up to the light that has been revealed to them.
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Paul ties all the strings together in Chapter 3, ending with that great statement that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (v23).
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Chapter 4, deals with salvation by faith. Man has always been saved by faith, even in Old Testament days – we are told that it was Abraham’s faith that God counted for righteousness.
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In chapter 5, the glorious results of faith are outlined;
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in chapter 6, Paul makes clear the obligations of one who has been justified by faith, concluding with the timeless declaration that the “wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v23).
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Chapter 7, pictures the struggle between the old man and the new man in the life of the believer.
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Chapter 8, shows the victory that comes to those that are in Christ and the security they enjoy because of God’s constant presence and unfailing power. Paul concludes chapter 8 with a glorious statement that nothing is able “to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v39).
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Chapters 9 through 11, deal with the Jewish people and are, in a sense, a transition between the doctrinal section and the practical section.
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Chapter 12 is the “watershed” of this letter. Paul explains a life given over to Christ and life in the body.
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Chapter 13 explains the life in society, a life in love and issues a wake up call to “clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”.
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Chapter 14 and 15 deal with how believers live with one another, the weak and the strong. In the latter part of 15 Paul talks of his desire to visit Rome.
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Chapter 16, The commending of Phoebe to the church in Rome, personal greetings from Paul and the book of Romans ends with the statement “to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen”
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And that in a nutshell is the book of Romans.
But please take the time this week to read it yourself.
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Ok, into the message.
At the core of every human is the desire to be approved – to be liked.
We often set our self esteem on the opinions others have of us.
Why is it that so many of us feel so badly about ourselves?
Is it because deep down we have a sense that we have failed in some way – failed either to please those around us, ourselves – or our God?
The Apostle Paul, in fact, seems almost to strengthen our own notions of failure through the first seven chapters of Romans –
we realize that whatever shred of self reliance,
self sufficiency, or self justification we have created is utterly useless in the quest for acceptance.
In my flesh, that is in my old nature, Paul tells us, dwells no good thing.
In fact, when we try to do good we do bad,
and when good needs to be done,
we do not do it.
Paul sums it up at the end of chapter 7 by saying: 24 “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”
Then, he answers his own question in the same breath: 25 “Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
It is not then through our own efforts,
through our family line,
through our associations or deeds that we receive acceptance –
it is through the efforts of Jesus Christ on our behalf that we are rescued, cleansed, and loved
then empowered and changed.
That is the message of Romans chapter 8.
As I said earlier there are three points for us to consider from this chapter the first is:
1. Receiving Jesus brings freedom from condemnation and war against sin
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8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
This one verse should be written on everyone’s heart – printed on paper - stuck on your fridge, memorized by every believer.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done,
how you’ve acted,
who you are –
how much you think you have failed –
if you are in Christ,
you are NOT condemned anymore.
Think about that, let it settle in.
God isn’t sitting up there with a giant hammer just waiting for you to mess up so He can hit you on the head.
This is hard for us to accept – we are so quick to judge ourselves – so Paul goes on to tell us why this is a reality.
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
We’re under a new jurisdiction now – its like when you leave the United Kingdom, you are no longer under British law, but the law of whatever country you go to.
By believing in Jesus Christ you have left the country called “the world” and have joined God’s kingdom – and are now under a new law – a law called “the law of the Spirit of life.”
So in Christ we are not condemned because we have been set free – set free from what?
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Set your mind on the Spirit.
I know that’s easier said than done – but it’s important for us to see the distinction.
I think one of Paul’s points is that we have been empowered and set free so we can now choose which mind will control us.
Before I was a Christian my sinful nature controlled my mind.
Jesus said “You cannot serve two masters.”
We like to think of ourselves as really independent – but in reality we are not.
We are controlled – either by the sin nature, or by the spirit nature – the Spirit of God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
A life controlled by Jesus has order and purpose.
This order becomes more evident the more time you spend in Christ.
In practical ways our lives are a constant giving of control over to Jesus.
The wonderful promise is that even though we continue to live in bodies and live with a nature that is opposed to God –
one day our perishable bodies will put on an imperishable nature.
Like Jesus we will have a perfect, indestructible body without a flesh nature – won’t that be wonderful?
So where then does our allegiance lie?
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
We have an obligation Paul says – it’s the idea of owing a debt to someone.
God gave us life through the Spirit so we are in debt to Him, He owns us –
it’s a spiritual reality we need to make an outward reality in our lives.
We are no longer indebted to the sinful nature –
in fact, we need to put to death the flesh
Paul doesn’t mean that if you sin you are going to hell as a Christian.
There is a truth, though, that if you live according to the fleshly nature you will experience death as a natural consequence.
If you steal, you will feel guilt,
you may get caught and you will be punished –
and more importantly,
you’ll miss out on the life God’s Spirit is trying to live through you because by giving in to the fleshly nature you are not giving in to the spiritual nature.
And that leads to the next point:
2 Being close to God means surrendering control to our loving Father
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Verse 14: because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
There is so much truth here but the main point is this:
the fleshly nature leads to death and fear –
fear of punishment and condemnation.
But when we come to Christ we don’t get condemned, we are welcomed into a special relationship.
“Abba” was the cry of a child to it’s daddy.
Not only that but we are now heirs of God’s riches – and boy does He have riches – not the kind you spend in a shop, but the kind you live off of for the rest of eternity.
We have a special closeness to God
Also look at the end – there is something to sharing in Christ’s sufferings that is a part of this process of becoming a child of God –
but look at what Paul says about it:
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Having this new relationship means we will be changed
Right now creation itself has been waiting since the fall for the day when we receive new bodies.
It hasn’t happened yet – but its coming.
In the meantime, “wait patiently” Paul says.
How – when we are constantly in this battle between flesh and spirit? Read on:
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
In the meantime, the Spirit helps our weaknesses
Don’t you love that?
God’s Spirit searches your heart and then prays to the Father to bring about specific things in our lives that will bring us into accordance with God’s will.
Need a prayer partner?
You’ve got one!
So now next comes one of the most important concepts in this letter:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
There is a lot of theology in these verses – and many books have been written on predestination and foreknowledge. It’s at the bottom of an argument between Calvinism and Armenianism.
Calvanists believe that God chose who He was going to save and we had little to do with it.
Armenians believe that we chose God and God had little to do with it.
My position is in the middle –
I believe God knew beforehand those that would chose Him and so predestined them –
that there is a balance between the actions of God and the actions of man when it comes to salvation.
Time doesn’t allow us to fully explore that.
What I want to focus on is verse 28.
And in all things God works for the good of those who love.
Do you really believe this?
A more literal way to translate this would be:
“to them that love God, all things work together for good according to His purpose.”
It all starts with that relationship.
This promise does not extend to those outside of the relationship.
In that case this Scripture is true: 2 Peter 3:9
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Once that repentance happens ALL things work together for good.
The word translated “work together”
sunergeō soon-erg-eh’-o is a good one –
its where we get the word synergy.
Synergy is where more than one thing works together well – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
In your life an isolated event might seem bad –
like being in a accident.
But that accident could take you to a hospital where you are able to share Christ with someone who is dieing and they turn to the Lord and go to heaven.
It “worked together” for good.
The word “good” here means: “benefit.”
It’s not “good” like “virtue.”
God isn’t saying “well you’re going to suffer but it’s a good thing to suffer.”
“No pain, no gain!”
There is an actual benefit that God works through circumstances – yes there will be suffering,
but know that part of this relationship you have means, in the end God will work even the bad to your benefit.
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Now, we might not see that benefit till we get to heaven – and that leads to the final point:
3. Being a part of God’s family means we are blessed when we face difficulty.
Lets carry on from verse 31:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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 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. 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.”
God is on our side (vs 31-36) and we need fear no enemy –
not losing our job
or sickness
or hardship
or even death and taxes.
What a wonderful picture he is building –
accepted into a new family all things work together for good and God, is now on our side – but it gets better. verse 37
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
So we can conquer in God
The word for “conquer” means “a means of success.” Not only that but it’s a “super” success.
We vanquish our foes –
the enemy has nothing on us,
we are valiant warriors –
not on our own but “through Him who loved us.”
Sin no longer has mastery,
trials no longer hold terror,
life is no longer something to be dreaded because we ARE more than conquerors.
It doesn’t mean we are free from suffering,
but we are always connected to the One who works for our benefit – no matter what.
As if that weren’t enough,
Paul puts the finishing touch on this wonderful chapter of promises with this:
38 For I am persuaded - literally I stand convinced - 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.
What more could we ask for? –
nothing can separate us from God’s love
Paul lists four areas here:
“death nor life”
meaning that nothing in our human existence can separate us from God’s love
“angels or demons”
meaning nothing in the spiritual realm can separate us from God’s love –
“the present or the future” – and “height nor depth” suggesting that you can’t go anywhere where God’s love can’t go with you.
What great confidence we have, then.
There is no one,
no thing,
no event,
and at no time that you can be torn from God’s love in Jesus.
There is no reason to fear.
No reason to say “Oh, God can’t love me anymore after what I’ve done.”
Oh yes He can and He does.
Far from separating from you He wants to forgive and cleanse you.
This is the truth – separated from fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, now returned to God FOREVER.
Let’s recap the points of progression then through chapter 8:
1. Receiving Jesus brings freedom from condemnation and war against sin
In Christ we are not condemned because we have been set free (vs 1-4)
So set your mind on the Spirit (vs 5-11
And to put to death the flesh (vs 12 – 13)
2 Being close to God means surrendering control to our loving Father
We have a special closeness to God (vs 14 – 16)
Which means we will be changed (vs 18 – 25)
In the meantime, the Spirit helps our weaknesses (vs 26, 27)
And in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (vs 28-30)
3. Being a part of God’s family means we are blessed when we face difficulty.
God is on our side (vs 31-36)
So we can be more than a conqueror in Him (vs 37)
Knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love (vs 38, 39)
Paul said I am convinced – are you?
Nothing can separate us from the Love of God.
Let’s believe it and rejoice in it.
If He would begin the work of accomplishing His purpose in us at the dear cost of sacrificing His only sinless Son for us,
what in all the universe would make us think that He will not complete that work; whatever the cost to us?
From the moment we believed,
nothing has happened in our life,
no circumstance of life has beset us,
that is not a part of His process of making us more and more what we will finally become,
when we see Him face to face...and nothing can thwart His plan for us...nothing can separate us from His love.
I firmly believe, that if we ask the Holy Spirit to bring this truth home to our hearts,
and begin to see our walk through this world,
not as a burden or trial, but as a preparation
IN WHICH WE HAVE HIS HELP, AND THROUGH WHICH HE WORKS WITH US TO CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that it would put some spring in our step and a greater sense of victory over all the circumstances of life.
The flesh sees circumstances and asks the faithless question, “why?”
The spirit is borne witness by His Spirit that He is causing all things to work together for good in us, and says, “Thy will be done”!
THAT ACCOMPLISHES HIS PURPOSE IN US...THAT MAKES US MORE LIKE JESUS!”
Now I have a duty here to say that if you have never repented of your sin and turned to God, believing in the shed blood and resurrection of Christ and received God’s free gift of salvation, none of this applies to you.
The Bible makes clear that we are all separated from God by our sinful nature, and that no one is good enough to come to God on his own. It says, the wages of sin is death; and that, friends, is all you have to look forward to if you do not belong to Him. It’s a dark message, but it is true. On the other hand, the Bible goes on to say that while the wages of sin is death, God’s free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is when we recognize our sinful condition, our spiritual poverty, and turn to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ atoning work, and appropriate to ourselves that free gift He has offered, that we begin to receive the benefits I’ve talked about here...and only then.
I strongly encourage you, if you have never taken that step of faith and believed in Jesus for forgiveness of sin and His gift of life, that you do not let today end without doing so. You can go on your way today with God on your side...with the Holy Spirit of God indwelling you, and you’ll never face your circumstances alone again.
Eccl 6:12 says, “Who knows what is good for a man in his lifetime?”
We do not. But the Spirit who knows the perfect will of God DOES know. Let Him be your Helper.
Christian, although you already belong to Him,
and since the day you were saved have had His help and have received the benefits of His intercession, you may have been living as though the struggle of life was all your own, praying for comforts and seeking deliverance from your circumstances instead of development in them.
Before you complete the day, please say a brief prayer that He will bring the truth of these words home to your heart as never before,
so that you may begin as never before to see this life and your relationship with Him from His perspective and not from your perspective.
You can begin to walk in a sense of victory that you’ve possibly never had since you were first saved.
You can step out today and face all those doubts, depressions and fears with Him.
You are one of the called.
You’re marked for God.
His.
The victory has been won and He has already “triumphed over them through Him” (Col 2:15)
Walk in the victory He has provided at the cross.
And we know that in all things, God works together for good, with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose...which is to conform us to the image of His Son!
TO MAKE US MORE LIKE JESUS!
Amen
Lets pray
