The Certainty of God’s Grace (Father's Day)
Grace Sermon Series, Part 4
Romans 8:31
Introduction
- The word translated "grace" in the New Testament comes from the Greek:
-- It is the word “charis”, which means “favor, blessing, or kindness”
- When grace is used in connection with God, it takes on powerful meaning
-- Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sin deserves
-- When we realize what we’ve been given, we can all extend grace to others
-- IMP: We do NOT want what we deserve … the penalty for sin is DEATH!
--- Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Bottom line: Grace is His benevolence to the undeserving (you and me)
- Read Romans 8:28-32
- Paul’s words show us how he has staked everything on his faith
-- Romans 8:31 is a question, a rhetorical question for us to consider today
-- For Paul, this is not a gamble type of question – but one of certainty!
- On Father’s Day, what greater certainty could we have than to love our Father?
-- This is what we will explore today, and how we see how to honor Him always
- Pray
∆ Point 1 – The words suggest a conflict
- Paul was definitely convinced that evil existed in this world
-- Ephesians 2:1-2, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air.”
- Paul was also convinced in their power to hurt and destroy
-- Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
- Paul’s words in just one verse force us to consider the depth of the supernatural
-- If God is for us … there must be something or someone against us
-- It’s a statement of faith, but a reminder that we are not alone in life
- Humans today express conflicting opinion/views quite often
-- Obviously we know about countries at war; but even internally we struggle
-- We know that we should not sin, but yet we rebel and turn away from God
- Challenge: Sometimes our attitudes can ruin our hope of a better life
-- What a difference your day can make when you choose to have a good attitude
- Most often, things we cannot control can definitely ruin our day
-- The unexpected phone call, the text message, the news of a catastrophe
-- All of these things can definitely take our focus and our hope off God’s hope
- Additionally, some people try to rationalize it as “just the luck of the draw”
-- FACT: The explanation can be made however you want to … but …
-- There are forces fighting against us that wage war and seek to destroy us
- Now, against all those challenges, add those things which we have no control:
-- Nature, life, death, the unknown things that ALL seek to ruin our focus
-- All of us face the struggle of admitting one thing: “We are not in control”!
- Paul forces us to take note of this and admit that we’re not the center of life!
-- It really is a masterful way that he puts these words together for us to consider
-- He asks, “… If God is for us, WHO can be against us?”
- TRANS: Reluctantly, you and I have to admit that we are in a conflict
∆ Point 2 – The words show us a challenge
- Paul’s statement is, even in its description, a challenge for all of us to consider
-- If God is for us, there are NO MORE challenges that exist in the world
-- If God is for us, there are NO MORE elements for us to be worried about
-- If God is for us, there are NO MORE enemies for us to fear in our lives
- Paul issues us a challenge, based on loyalty, to understand who God is
-- If we serve a risen Lord, a God that cannot be defeated, why do we worry?
-- Why is it our life’s mission to ensure we become the center of attention?
- God has allowed me to have cancer … but is it life ruining? NO!
-- I don’t know how it all ends, but He does!
-- I don’t know the effects later in life, but He does!
-- I don’t know how it may drastically change my life, but He does!
- For many people, this is challenge that simply cannot be rationalized!
-- APP: My hope rests in the One who I serve; not in my own abilities
- What Paul drives at here so life changing I pray I’m explaining it well …
-- The very forces and entities that plague so many of us must no longer do so
-- The very forces that work in opposition to God will one day bow down to Him
- Challenge: The forces that are terrifying for us should force us to serve Him
-- Consider this: If nothing can separate you, then you must run to Him fully
- The Kingdom of God is a place of service to Him; and all will serve Him
-- If nothing can be defeated over God’s power, why do we seek other things?
- All of our unbelief, our despair, our carelessness comes to be challenged here
- TRANS: He asks, “… If God is for us, WHO can be against us?”
∆ Point 3 – God’s fellowship is certain
- God’s conditions are not hard; they are not impossible to meet, obey, and follow
-- It is God who made the conditions that we submit to Him in everything we do
- God’s direction is that all should come to Him and desire to serve Him
-- Why? Because He is God, and He is worthy to be praised!
-- Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”
- God’s calling in this verse is that all of our worry would be placed on Him
-- Our surrendered mind, consecrated spirit, and surrendered will drive us there
-- But more than that, Christ has shown us how to live fully for the Father
-- John 15:20, “Remember the words I spoke to you, no servant is greater than his master.”
- What is unique for us to understand is there is no “IF” in God’s fellowship
-- It is either certain, or it is not – because God does not rule in ambiguity
- God has determined that all should be drawn to Him (2 Pet 3:9)
-- He has confirmed and consecrated that we be conformed to His son (Rom 8:29)
-- He has called us to be transformed and renewed by being justified (Rom 8:30)
- Yet, we spend our lives in worry and fret over what God has control of
- Consider: God is the inventor of time (Gen 1 … he defined the length of day)
-- Therefore, God is outside of time; our approval of events in time is not needed
- This is why we can fully submit to God and receive from Him a fullness of grace
-- Grace that renews; Grace that transforms; Grace that reveals our need for Him!
- TRANS: Why can we have so much assurance in God’s peace and grace?
∆ Big Ideas
- Read Romans 8:32-35
• God did not spare His own Son … which was done to bring us closer to Him
• God has already called us as His chosen, who can bring charges against us?
• God’s son has already died and resurrected, how can be condemned?
• God has already determined that those who are His shall be saved forever
- So, why do we worry about the things God has already defined and promised?
- If His grace means anything to us; can we really separate it and His promises?
- What a chance we have to honor our Heavenly Father by submitting to Him
- Can I ask, what is keeping you from experiencing more of His grace?
-- If you’d come to Him, His grace would cover that shame/guilt forever
- Father’s Day is about honoring our Dad’s; but will you honored God?
- Pray
