“Faithfully”
Romans 8: 31-39
November 6, 2011
Intro: When Mike Kollin was a graduate of Auburn University and was playing linebacker for the Miami Dolphins he received a call from his old coach Shug Jordan. Jordan called to ask him if he’d help him out w/some recruiting for his team. Kollin said it would be a pleasure but he needed to know what kind of player the coach was looking for.
-The coach said, “Well, Mike, you know there’s that fellow, you knock him down and he just stays down?” Mike said, “Yeah coach, we don’t want that guy.” The coach said, “That’s right. But then there’s that guy you knock him down, he gets up, you knock him down again and he stays down.” Mike said, “We don’t want that guy either, do we coach?”
-The coach said, “That’s right. But then there’s that guy you knock down, and he gets up, you knock him down and he gets up again. You just can’t keep him down.” Mike said, “That’s the guy we want, right coach?” And the Coach Jordan said, “No! We don’t want him either. I want you to find the guy who’s knocking everyone down! That’s the guy we want.”
-You know, there are a lot of times in life when we end up settling for 2nd best instead of going after the very best. And this is especially true when it comes to a relationship w/Jesus Christ. Over and over again in the Scripture we’re taught that God desires for us to have an abundant life; we’re taught that Christ can cleanse us; He can wipe our slate clean concerning our past sins; we’re taught that eternal life is promised for those who trust in Him; and the list goes on.
-And yet the majority of us settle for just patching up our life here and there instead of seeking after the God who has charge over all things. When you’re in need; when you’re looking for victory in life, the place you can turn to find it is in Jesus Christ. God never lets His people down; He never fails those who are His own. It’s time for us to start looking for the One who’s doing the knocking down in this life; the One who’s knocking down the walls that separate us from a fulfilling life; the One who’s knocking down the sinful way of life that hinders us from finding true contentment and purpose in life.
Sermon Idea: Today in our passage of Scripture we’re going to see Paul sharing w/the Roman Xians the absolute faithfulness of God. I believe this is a message for all times b/c all of us desire to find something we can count on. We all desire to be a part of something that’s going to work every time.
-Paul shared 3 ways God is faithful to His people. I hope this message will encourage you as you see that there is a God who’s worthy of your trust.
TEXT: ROMANS 8: 31-39
Bckgrd: I find this to be one of the most comforting passages of Scripture concerning the faithfulness of God. Apparently the Roman Xians were struggling w/the idea that they could somehow lose their salvation; that somehow God would renege on His promise to be faithful to His people and they’d be left twisting in the wind when the day of judgment came.
-In our human minds it’s hard to imagine anything that is eternally faithful. And when you study our society it’s not hard to see why we have so many questions concerning God’s faithfulness to us. Everyday people take marriage vows that they’ll be “faithful and true so long as they both shall live.” But still half of marriages end in divorce.
-People make promises every day that they’re going to perform a job to the best of their ability, and yet quality work seems hard to find. And then you turn to the Bible and read @ a God who promises to be faithful for all time. That’s pretty hard to believe when you’ve jaded by your personal experiences w/people.
-So my hope today is to demonstrate to you thru Scripture the faithfulness of God. So how is God faithful to us? For starters:
DIV. 1: HE IS FOR US (v. 31)
Exp: This might come as a surprise to many of you. But did you know God is for us; that God’s on our side desiring the best of our lives? Very clearly v. 31 states that God is FOR us! Now you might say, “Hey, it says IF God is for us! That seems a little ambiguous to me.” Well, let me share w/you some good news.
A.The word “if” doesn’t signify that it’s just a possibility that God might be on our side. The word “if” should be translated “because.” It’s a guarantee that God is for His people.
1. And if God is for us, then who in the world can stand against us? Who in the world would have the ability to overpower God? No one would. Unfortunately a lot of us don’t realize that. There are people who see God as one who’s sitting up in the sky hoping for the next mistake so He can unleash His wrath.
a. Others view God as not really caring @ us. The idea being that we’re too insignificant to warrant His attention. And I can sort of see the logic in this type of thinking. You know, when you’re flying on an airplane and you look out the window and you see all the cars driving on the highway? From way up in the sky those cars look pretty insignificant. Those cars don’t look like much from the air.
b. But in each car there’s a life. In each of those cars there are people who are dearly loved by their children and families. And while they may seem insignificant to me, they’re not insignificant to the people who love them. Did you know God loves you? Jesus said in John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world.”
2. Rom. 8: 28-29, “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. 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.”
a. You might be thinking, “Why is God for me? Why is God on my side in life?” Very simple. B/c He crated you and created you in His image. He created us w/the capability of being like Him. Therefore He’s rooting for us to be like Him.
b. 2 Pet. 3: 9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His slowness, as some understand slowness, He is patient w/you, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” God has your best interest in mind. He’s cheering for you. But we won’t experience the great knowledge of God being on our side until we allow Him to be in charge of our lives.
B. Now as I say that, understand this. God won’t be on our side until we invite Him to be on our side. Does that make sense to you? Why does God wit for us to invite Him. B/c God’s not going to force His way into anyone’s life. Now there are times when I wish He would, but we all know that when someone forces their way on anyone the person’s never appreciative.
1. At this juncture Paul was talking @ when people stand before God to determine if they can enter heaven. And the fact is all sorts of different reasons can be given as to why none of us deserves to go to heaven.
a. The argument can be made that we can’t go to heaven b/c of some terrible sins we’ve committed in our past. The argument can be made that there were times when we lost our temper and were hateful. But if those arguments are given @ a person who trusted Christ w/their life, did you know those arguments will hole no weight whatsoever?
ILLUS: Let’s say you go out and rob a bank. You’re arrested and brought into a court of law. When the prosecutor stands up to present his case he begins to list all the evidence against you. He says, “We have James Ballew on videotape robbing the bank. We have his fingerprints on the $ that was stolen. We have his wallet that he dropped at the crime scene.”
-We have 20 eyewitnesses who saw him commit the crime. The evidence is overwhelming and there’s no doubt he’s the man who committed the crime. And then the judge tells you, “You have no standing evidence against you, you may leave.”
b. I want you to know that when those who’ve committed themselves to Jesus approach death, Jesus will intervene and say, “I’ve already paid the price for Him.” And then you can see Jesus.
2. You see, when you entrust your life to Christ, He defends you, He gets on your side. John wrote in 1 John 2: 1-2, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate w/the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Timself is the whole propitiation of ours sins and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
a. God’s waiting to be a part of your life. And once He becomes a part of your life He’ll be faithful to you for all time.”
Reit: The 1st way God is faithful to His people is He is for us. The 2nd way God is faithful to His people is:
DIV. 2: HE PROVIDES FOR US (vv. 32-34)
Exp: There’s an old saying that says “Talk is cheap.” And there’s a lot of truth to it. It’s so easy to say something, but what you do is much more impressive than what you say. For a long time before we got married, I told Emily I loved her. Now I think she believed me when I told her that. But I think she believed me even more when I asked her to marry me.
A.I know it’s easy to stand here and tell you that God’s on your side; that God loves you; that God’s always faithful to us. But God also proved His love for us by doing something @ it. What did He do? He provided for us.
1. How did He provide for us? He provided for us by paying our debt of sin. Rom. 6: 23, “The wages of sin is death.” Each of us owe God our physical and eternal lives b/c of sin. But God provided the payment for us in His Son Jesus. V. 32 says God gave up His Son that we might have life.
a. Now I know for those of you who are used to coming to church, all this stuff’s familiar to you. But don’t let it bore you. Think @ it for a minute. God loves you so much that He provided for you. He loves you so much that He provided for you in such a way that would guarantee your relationship w/Him.
ILLUS: I like guarantees b/c it puts my mind at ease. Dr. Evan Kane, the chief surgeon of the Kane Summit Hospital in NY, had been a surgeon for almost 40 years. And he became fascinated by the possibility of the use of a local anesthetic in areas that had always used general anesthetics. The reason why was he was concerned @ the overuse of general anesthetics on a person’s body.
-So what he wanted to do was find an appendectomy candidate who’d be willing to undergo surgery w/a local anesthetic; where they’re awake during the procedure. Dr. Kane had performed nearly 4,000 of these surgeries over the years, but it was tough to find anyone to do it.
-Finally, after weeks of trying, he found a candidate. And on Feb. 15th he wheeled in the patient, prepped him for surgery, and prepared for the operation. The surgeon cut into his patient, found the troublesome appendix, and took it out w/o any problems. The operation was a rousing success, and the patient recovered nicely.
-The date was 1921 and the patient was Dr. Kane himself. He’d succeeded in taking out his own appendix w/a local anesthetic. And b/c of that, b/c he was able to personally guarantee the success and safety of a local anesthetic, people felt confident to take it for themselves.
b. Well, God personally guaranteed our salvation when He gave His son Jesus to pay our debt of sin. This extraordinary gift of God should show us that God means business when He says He desires for us to come under His leadership in life. When people give up something that’s precious to them we can feel confident they’re being serious @ what they’re saying.
2. God’s love was made manifest to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. But you know how else God provides for us? He raised Jesus from the dead, and today Jesus sits at the right hand of God. And guess what Jesus is doing there? Look at the end of v. 34. It says, “Christ Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
a. Jesus is praying for you right now! What’s He praying for? For us to be strong in Him. For us to w/stand temptation. And of all people, don’t you believe the prayers of Jesus will be answered? Christ’s prayers for us guarantee our relationship w/God. God didn’t just create us and then leave us to fend for ourselves.
b. Heb. 4: 14-16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone thru the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize w/our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet w/o sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace w/confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
B. But what does that mean? It means that since Jesus endured and successfully lived this life w/o sin, b/c He conquered death, He can now offer us mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
1. I hope you see that God is faithful. He knows better than anyone else who we are. And He knows that left to our own devices we’re weak. So He provided for us that we might have His strength available to us in this life.
Reit: The 1st way God is faithful is He is for us. The 2nd way is He provides for us. And the final way God is faithful is:
DIV. 3: HE PROTECTS US (vv. 35-39)
Exp: Every parent wants to do whatever he can to keep his children safe. When our kids were small we’d watch over them, make sure they ate the right things and weren’t placed in dangerous situations. But as your kids get older it becomes even more difficult to keep your eye on your kids constantly.
A.I feel like half the time I have no clue where Hank is. But the fact of the matter is that as hard as we try there are just some things we don’t have control over. And when you begin to realize that it gets a little unnerving. But what’s really neat to discover is that those who are followers of Jesus can KNOW that God will protect them.
1. Look at v. 35. It says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” You might be thinking, “In v. 36 it says we’re like sheep being led to the slaughter! I don’t see how that’s God protecting us!”
a. That’s a pretty good point. But v. 37 follows this up with, “we are more than conquerors thru Him who loved us.” You see, Paul’s telling us that even though we face terrors on this earth, we still end up being victorious. No matter what the world does, no matter what circumstances we face, ultimately God protects us by bringing us into His presence.
b. VV. 38-39 are so powerful. Paul said, “I am convinced.” He was saying he absolutely knew nothing could separate him from God. Did you know death can’t separate you from God? For the Xian, death is merely the means that brings us into God’s presence. Life can’t separate us from God. We all know that while we live here we fail and disappoint God. But none of those failures are strong enough to rip us from the grasp of God
2. Paul goes on to say that the things present can’t separate us from God. What’s that mean? He’s saying our present circumstances can’t do anything to remove us from God’s love. The Roman Xians were facing difficulties at this time b/c of their faith. They were discriminated against and persecuted.
a. But Paul was saying that discrimination wouldn’t cut into the relationship w/Christ. Not even future events will have the power to remove us from the protection of God. Paul’s teaching us that God looks out for His people all the time.
b. Jesus told His followers in Matt. 28: 20, “I am w/you always, even to the end of the world.” In this life we’re going to face trials; we’re going to face shortcomings, we’re going to face death. But thru all of these things, God will bring His followers into His presence.
B. Why would God do this? Duet. 7: 9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.”
ILLUS: I remember the story of a girl named Callie Grenald, who was one of the girls killed at Columbine High School 12 years ago. As the 2 boys were running thru the school shooting as many people as possible, they came into her classroom. One of the gunmen asked, “Will anyone in here stand up for Jesus?” Amazingly Callie spoke up and said, “Yes.” She stood up and was then shot and killed by the gunman.
-In the interview w/her parents, her mother said that just the week before her daughter had died, they’d been talking @ death. And Callie told her mom, “Mother, if I were to die, I hope you would know everything would be all right b/c I’d be going to be w/Jesus.”
1. How could that young 17 year old girl say anything like that? B/c she knew that her God would FAITHFULLY take care of her.
Conclusion: As we live in a world that spirals out of control; a world where nothing is certain; we have one great assurance: God is faithful. How is He faithful? He is for us. He provides for us. And He protects us.
-Maybe you’ve been searching for a long time for something you can count on; for something you know that’s going to faithfully come thru for you. Well, that someone is Jesus. Why don’t you become a follower of Jesus today?
-Just pray this prayer after me, “Dear Jesus, I need you. I’m sorry for my sins and I ask for your forgiveness. I am surrendering my life to you. I believe you are real and I am trusting you to save me.”
-If you prayed that prayer, open your bulletin and fill out the right side. Check the line that says you committed your life to Christ. Then after the service, take it to the Welcome Table and hand it to the lady there and she’ll hand you a “Survival Kit Workbook” that explains what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
-Others of us simply need to recognize the faithfulness of God in our own lives. We need to take this time and simply say, “Lord, thank you for being true to your Word. Help me to be faithful to you.”
