IF GOD IS FOR US...
Rom. 8:28-39
It's nice to know when someone's got your back. It's comforting to know that someone will be by your side. And it helps to know that someone is there for us. In Romans 8, Paul talks about God this way. In today's passage, we'll see what it means to know that God is for us.
1) Then he will work all things out for the good (28-30).
"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. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
"All things". Obviously this can't mean tragic things. Paul can't be talking about hardships, persecutions, diseases, abuse or a loved one's death. Surely he must mean all other things God works for the good, right? No. All things means all things.
How can God bring something good out of a disastrous situation? Paul gives the answer in what follows. God's purpose for us is that we would be conformed to the image of Jesus. Okay, but how can dealing with a tragic situation cause me to be more like Jesus? Paul answered that back in chap. five.
Rom. 5:3-4, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Part of the good God works out in us is developing our character, solidifying our hope and strengthening our perseverance. We don't like the idea that suffering produces these things in us but we can accept it nonetheless.
We look at the character Jesus had and how his hope was always in the Father and how he persevered through to the end. But how would we have seen these characteristics in Jesus if he had never dealt with suffering?
We know how strong something is when it's tested. So when we get through the difficult things in our lives we carry with us a testimony of strength, character and hope for others to see.
But it's also for us to see too. We think we have a certain level of faith and trust but when these are tested beyond what we considered our limitations to be we see where we're really at. When we persevere we come to the other side amazed that we were able to get through it. We didn't know we had it in us; but we did because we are God's child and have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to do the amazing.
Becoming more like Christ is a good thing God works out, the testimony we have is a good thing and the confidence we gain from it is a good thing that we take with us into the next hurdle we face. All things are not good and not everything turns out good but since God is for us, he will bring something good out of everything for those who love him and desire his purpose to be accomplished.
2) Then he will graciously give us all things (31-32).
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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?"
What shall we say in response to what? In response to knowing that God works for the good of those that love him and have been called by him, declared righteous by him and declared positionally holy and pure through Christ by him. What shall we say in response to the God who has done all this for us? If God has redeemed us and set our feet on the solid rock of Jesus Christ then what are we worried about?
When Paul uses the word if here, he's not asking a question, he's stating a fact. Thus, it could say, 'since God is for us...' If God went so far as to release his beloved son to our world so we would have the ability to be saved then what more could be done to prove that he loved us?
[Abraham sacrificing Isaac-he was commanded to. But God willingly gave his son. Jesus willingly gave his life-'no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord-John 10:18.]
And not only that, on top of the biggest thing God could ever do, on top of the greatest blessing God could ever give, eternal life, why would we think he would withhold any other blessing, all of which would be lesser in comparison? All of what we learn about God doing for us should cause us to realize that the Creator of the universe is there for me. He takes time and effort to make and mold me into the image of Jesus.
And when we understand that the all powerful, all knowing, ever present God is for us then every other grossly inferior power will be ineffective against us. The powers of evil are stronger than our natural selves. We are no match for Satan apart from Christ. But with Christ, with God being for our benefit, then no amount of evil can prevail against us unless we allow it to. Do you see the power behind that reality? Not that we say that arrogantly, but we can say that confidently.
Like my sermon last week about David walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Why was he without fear? Because God was with him. If he was by himself David would've been toast. But, David knew that the power of evil that was against him was no match for the power of God, who was for him. Personalize this with me: 'the power of evil that is against me is no match for the power of God, who is for me'.
God's power is part of the 'all things' God so graciously gives us. We might tend to think of this in a materialistic way. Although the storehouse of God is limitless, the greater application of this is in how God will graciously give us spiritual blessings.
God doesn't want to hold back on us. Part of him wanting to make us into the image of Jesus is so we'll be prepared to receive more. The more we partner with God in developing the character of Christ the more spiritual bounty he will bestow, because we will be more humble, mature and wise to properly use what he gives us.
If weren't humble or wise we would act like the swine who trampled the pearls. However, when we are seasoned we will receive such blessings and responsibilities with respect and admiration. Things like discipling and teaching, growing in wisdom and having discernment, being a good steward of our time and money, these spiritual gifts and abilities are the gracious things God wants to give those who are prepared for them.
God is the only one who can provide such gifts as wisdom, love, joy, insight, discernment. And these come with already having received the greatest gift of all-the salvation of our souls. Since God is for us he will graciously give us all the great and wonderful things he has to offer.
3) Then he will intercede for us (33-34).
"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 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."
We know who tries to bring a charge against us-Satan. He's called the accuser. He was in God's presence, accusing Job of being someone who would curse God if certain things happened to him. But that didn't happen. Zechariah had a vision where he saw Joshua standing in the Lord's presence with Satan hurling accusations against him. The Lord rebuked him and defended Joshua. In Rev. 12 it says that Satan accuses the brothers night and day before God. But he was cast out and hurled down.
Have you ever pictured Satan standing in the presence of God hurling his accusations about you. "Isn't he one of yours? Look what he just did. He doesn't love you." What does the accuser whisper in your ear? 'You're no good', 'God doesn't love you', 'you're not a real Christian'. Whenever Satan spews that poison we need to hear Jesus' voice drowning Satan's out as he says to the Father, 'he's been redeemed; I paid his debt in full'.
1st John 2:1, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
Some versions say, 'we have an Advocate'. Jesus backs us up and defends our justified position. Isn't this wonderful? It should empower us to know that Jesus silences the voice of the enemy. The accuser wants to torment us with his lies. He accuses us before God and he accuses God before us. He did that with Eve. "God doesn't want you to be like him, that's why he told you not to eat this fruit."
Think about the messenger of Satan that tormented Paul.
2 Cor. 12:7-10, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I can picture this tormentor saying to Paul, "you think you're so spiritual? Apostle to the gentiles? Yeah, right. Your real title is Christian killer. You haven't really changed. And why should you? Look what being a servant of Christ has gotten you? Hardship, imprisonment; how many times have you nearly been killed for this so-called faith of yours? Hardly worth it, don't you think? You're such a fool. He doesn't love you. After what you've done do you really think he's forgiven you?"
Paul pleaded with Jesus three separate times for it to be taken away. And notice that Jesus didn't respond until after the third time. Think of the opportunity that gave the tormentor. "You're pleading but he's not responding. He likes to see you suffer. You still want to serve a God who treats you like this?"
And when Jesus did respond, his request was denied. "See, he doesn't care about you."
But Paul didn't see it like that. Why? Because Jesus said, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. When Paul realized the magnitude of grace, and that it took being in a vulnerable position to see it, he was able to see his weakness as a strength. That was when he saw Christ's power in a whole new light. He would go on to boast about his weaknesses because it was then that he realized, with the power of Christ, that he was actually strong.
Now you might think, 'Derrick, you're supposed to be talking about how Jesus intercedes for us. How is Jesus interceding here? It looks more like he is siding with the enemy'. Jesus' intercession is seen in him squelching the tormentor's whispers with the reality of the magnitude of grace. Paul's understanding of the depth of God's grace would be enough to silence the effect of any torment.
Jesus may not have removed the tormentor but he did remove the effect that the tormentor had on Paul. Therefore, Jesus did intercede to give Paul a realization of how much power and strength was at his disposal. That proved to be a better intercession. In knowing and understanding the amazing grace that was shown to us, the God who is for us silences the demonic whispers of the god who is against us.
4) Then we are more than conquerors (35-39).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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."
The Romans were going through some suffering. Romans was written around 57 AD. This would be during the reign of Nero, who was bad news for Christians. He would have garden parties and use Christians as torches to light up the area. Going through such suffering could cause them to wonder if God really loved them. Did they do something wrong so that God left them or stopped loving them and that's why they were suffering?
Paul provides the encouragement they needed to hear. Back in vs. 18 he said, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Paul could speak from experience. He went through the things he mentions in this list. Paul was convinced that God hadn't abandoned him; he was assured of God's continual love for him. He wants to encourage the Romans of the same thing.
Although you're suffering right now, I want you to know you still have hope for the future. God hasn't abandoned you, he's preparing a place in heaven for you. The suffering you're going through now is painful but that pain will be replaced with elation when you see the glory of heaven.
A woman goes through labor pains but when the child is born her pain is replaced with joy. You may be going through pain and suffering today. The loss of a loved one, sickness, financial struggles, loneliness, depression, etc. You may be wondering if the bad things that have happened to you are signs that God has stopped loving you or that he's had enough of you and walked away.
Maybe you're dealing with persecution because of your faith. You may feel like giving up, feeling like it's not worth it. These verses here in Romans show us that's not the case. God hasn't left you and it is all worth it. Paul answers the rhetorical question in verse 35 with verses 38-39. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? No one. What can separate us? Nothing.
Paul was convinced of these things Why? Because God so loved the world he gave his only son. Did we love God first? No. 1st John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
God has loved us from the very beginning. We did nothing for him to love us and his love was not reciprocal. God loved us when we didn't care about him. God loved us while we were in our sin. Therefore, nothing could ever separate us from his love because his love has always been there for us and it always will be. We never need to wonder if God will ever stop loving us because he has loved us from the beginning and that won't change.
"More than conquerors". I would think conquering something would be complete so how can we do more than conquer? The Greek word is hypernikao: to thoroughly conquer, go beyond conquest. We’re not just defeating we're going beyond that. We're annihilating; we're destroying. We’re not just conquering; we are crushing-eliminating.
The NASB says, “but in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved us.” We don’t just narrowly defeat our enemy; we convincingly, overwhelmingly defeat him. We don’t just win on points, we knock him out.
Another way we are more than conquerors has to do with not just getting through the things that try to take us down, but coming through it being better for it. We don't just win the battle; we're better for the battle. We may get beat-up but we become up-beat. We may have some battle scars, but we walk away with a deeper relationship with Christ, a better understanding of his power, provision and protection and we'll be able to grasp his deep love for us.
Knowing that God will never stop loving us can empower us to make sure we never stop loving him. As nothing can separate God's love from us, we need to make sure nothing causes our love to separate from him. We need to keep our love vibrant and strong; especially during times when we are tempted to see God in a negative light. Since God is for us we need to stay committed to being for God.
Since God is for us, he will work all things out for the good, he will graciously give us all things, he will intercede for us and we are more than conquerors. Since God is for us it makes no difference who's against us.
