INTRODUCTION
SLIDE #1
• How would you like to know that no matter how you looked, what you did, that you were loved unconditionally?
• Of the many people who end up living a life of crime, how many of them do you think came from backgrounds in which they felt unconditionally loved by someone?
• As we have been looking at some of the wonderful benefits we receive from God when we come to the W-E-L-L, we have seen that when we come thirsty to God, He gives us refreshment.
• We are refreshed by God when we drink from His well.
• SLIDE #2
• WE can come to drink from God’s WELL we receive God’s work through Jesus on the cross. We receive His energy through the Holy Spirit. Last week we looked at the blessing of accepting God’s Lordship in our lives.
• Today we are going to look at God’s love.
• Are you feeling unloved? How would you like to experience the joy of being unconditionally loved by God right now?
• The world can be a tough lonely place. It seems like we are standing alone in the crowd, it seems like the whole world is standing against us.
• The world tells us we can be loved if we are smart enough, attractive enough, or wealthy enough.
• God, on the other hand; He loves you right now.
• Today as we come to drink from God’s well, we are going to look at Five Life-Changing Questions.
• These five questions are posed to us by Paul in Romans 8:31-39. Not only are we given the questions, but we are also given the answers.
• As we look at these Five Life-Changing Questions, I hope that you will let these soak into your soul.
• Once you understand the answers to these questions, your life will never be the same.
• These questions and their answers will have a profound impact on you because maybe for the first time, you will no longer wonder if God loves you!
• Let us turn to Romans 8:31-39 in our Bibles this morning as we look at Five Life-Changing Questions! We will begin with verse 31.
• SLIDE #3
• Romans 8:31 (ESV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
Life-Changing Question #1
I. IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? (V31)
• We find this question and answer in verse 31.
• This is an important question for us to answer because so many times in life we will be faced with opposition.
• There will be times when we need to do the right thing, but we will be pressured from many directions to do the wrong thing.
• We will face times where people will get mad at us for trying to do the right thing.
• Have you ever faced this in your life? The pressure can drag us right down the wrong path.
• Sometimes the people around you can be poisoning you without you ever realizing it.
• When you are faced with opposition from seemingly all sides there are a couple of things we need to remember. First.
• What power is there that is stronger than God!
• This question in the original text should read, “Since” God is for us, who is against us?
• The word “if” is not a statement of uncertainty, but it is a presupposition.
• When you think about it, who is more powerful than God? The answer is NO ONE.
• God created everything from nothing.
• This verse does not imply that we will never face opposition if we belong to God; it means that none of the opposition can stand up to the power of God’s power.
• SLIDE #5
• Psalm 27:1 (ESV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
• The second issue we need to grasp concerning God being for us is…
• When it seems the whole world is against you, remember who is on your side!
• We used to play football in the neighborhood when I was a kid. All the neighborhood kids would get together and we would have two captains who would take turns choosing players.
• There was usually one player that if you could get him, you know you would win because he was so good.
• When you belong to God, He is on your team and with Him on your team, you cannot lose!
• God is for you, He is with you, and no one can defeat our God!
• When it seems like the whole world is against you, remember who is on your side!
• Let’s look at Romans 8:32 for Life Changing Question #2.
• SLIDE #6
• Romans 8:32 (ESV) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
• SLIDE #7
II. WON’T GOD, WHO GAVE US CHRIST, ALSO GIVE US ALL THINGS? (V32)
• When this verse says He did not spare His Son, it refers to the fact that God allowed Jesus to absorb the full punishment for sin.
• God did not allow any of the punishment for sin to be withheld from Jesus.
• This leads to this thought.
• Would God save our souls and then leave us to fend for ourselves? Would He take care of our eternal needs, but ignore our earthly ones?
• Would God save you and then let you live a miserable life? This does not mean that we will get every material thing that we desire; it means that God will take care of our needs.
• This verse shows us the great lengths to which God was willing to go to help ensure our ultimate victory and presence in heaven! SO with that thought in mind…
• Think about this for a second, if God gave us His greatest gift, why would He deny us lesser gifts?
• Verse 32 tells us He will give us all things. We will have all things that we need to have a great relationship with God.
• We are also told in Romans 8:28 that all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
• So even when we are being attacked, it will eventually have some good come from it!
• God’s grace is why He gives us His gifts.
• The word for translated “graciously give” suggests that God gives His gifts to us because of His grace. We do not deserve God’s blessing, He gives it because of His grace!
• His grace and unconditional love for you leads Him to give to you abundantly!
• Let’s look at verse 33 for Life-Changing Question #3
• SLIDE #8
• Romans 8:33 (ESV) Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
• SLIDE #9
Life-Changing Question #3
III. WHO DARES TO ACCUSE US WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN? (V33)
• As we look at verse 33 we see that this verse uses courtroom terms to further show us that God is in our corner, and that His love for us is deeper that we can imagine!
• WE have a picture of a courtroom with a defendant (which is us), an accuser (most likely Satan), and a judge (who is God)
• When the accusers hurl charges us against us, their charges hold no weight with the judge because He justifies us!
• To “justify” means to “declare innocent or that no penalty or condemnation will fall upon the accused.
• Here are three things we need to grasp.
• Once God accepts you, what other opinion matters?
• Think about this one. You have been accepted by the creator of heaven and earth, and that creator loves you and accepts you. When you are His, you are accepted and it does not matter what anyone else says!
• Those who would try to destroy your faith when you stumble, those who accuse you of being a fake because you stumble have no standing before God!
• Who died for you? Jesus! Who sent Him to die for you? The Father! Who dwells within you as a child of God? The Holy Spirit! No one else matters!
• Satan accuses us day and night. Revelation 12:10
• The accuser is defeated! What he thinks does not matter!
• SLIDE #10
• Revelation 12:10 (ESV) And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
• The other thing you need to realize is…
• God’s acceptance trumps earthly rejection.
• I know this is hard when people you SEE reject you; however, God accepts you, He loves you!
• Let’s examine verse 34 for Life-Changing question #4
• SLIDE #11
• Romans 8:34 (ESV) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
• SLIDE #12
Life-Changing Question #4
IV. WHO WILL CONDEMN US? (V34)
• When I painted the courtroom scene earlier, I left someone out whom you would usually see in a courtroom.
• That is our defense attorney!
• Our divine defense attorney mutes the voices of the accusers.
• Look who is sitting next to the Father defending us! Talk about a stacked deck against the accusers.
• There are four reasons why we cannot be condemned.
• Jesus died for us.
• Since Jesus died for us, when we are His, we cannot be condemned because God sees us through Him as perfect!
• Jesus was raised for us.
• If Jesus would have just stayed dead in the grave, He would be no use to us. Staying dead gives us no hope.
• Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
• This symbolizes His authority. He is sitting next to the Father listening for accusations!
• Jesus intercedes for us.
• Jesus does not sit there doing nothing. To intercede means to “beg or ask on behalf of another.”
• Jesus does not have to beg the Father, He is there for us. When you are being accused, Jesus tells the Father that you are one of His and therefore are declared innocent before God.
• All this is done for us because of His great love for us!
• Let’s finish with verses 35-39 for Life-Changing Question #5
• SLIDE #13
• Romans 8:35–39 (ESV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• SLIDE #14
V. CAN ANYTHING SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE? (V35-39)
• Can you name one element of life that signals the end of God’s love and devotion?
• These passages make it very clear that God loves you no matter what.
• If you belong to Him, He loves you and that will not change, there are times of disappointment, but God loves you and that will not change!
CONCLUSION
• You do not have to let the guilt of the past of present keep you from God. God loves you and He forgives you, don’t you think it is time for you to forgive yourself!
• Paul was convinced concerning God’s love for you. Are you?
• Are you convinced that you have never lived a loveless day? Not one.
• Those times you deserted Jesus? He loves you.
• You hid from Him; He came looking for you. He never let you go. You never leave His mind, escape His sight, flee His thoughts.
• He loves you with an everlasting love!
• Are you thirsty, come to the WELL and drink deeply! God has some wonderful refreshment waiting for you! Come and taste of what God has for you!
