THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO
Text: Rom. 8:31-39
Introduction
1. George Matheson was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Instead of giving up, Matheson immediately continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to his graduation at age nineteen. But as he pursued graduate studies in theology for Christian ministry, he finally lost his sight. His sisters joined ranks beside him, learning Greek and Hebrew to assist him in his studies. He pressed faithfully on. But his spirit collapsed when his fiancée, unwilling to be married to a blind man, broke their engagement and returned his ring. He never married, and the pain of that rejection never totally left him. Years later, as a well-loved preacher in Scotland, his sister came to him announcing her engagement. He rejoiced with her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He consoled himself in thinking of God’s love which is never limited, never conditional, never withdrawn, and never uncertain. Out of this experience he wrote the hymn, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.
O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths it flow
May richer, fuller be.
Human love is very uncertain, and I am sure all of us here today have experienced rejection at some point in our lives. Like George Matheson we need to learn to lean on and trust God’s perfect love. His love is our hope and our goal. Being a Christian means that we learn to love like Jesus.
2. We have all at some time in our lives had love taken from us. Whether if it was by death or a hurtful decision, we have all lost love of one kind or another.
3. However, there is one love that will never be taken from you; that is the love of God in Christ Jesus.
4. In his life Paul faced about every kind of adversity known to man.
a. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, and it seemed the whole world was out to kill him.
b. But in all of this he knew that no one could take the love of Christ from him.
5. In our text today, Paul tells us about two things that no one can do to us, both centered on the love of God.
a. No Accusation
b. No Separation
6. Please stand with me, out of respect for the Word of God, as we read Rom. 8:31-39.
Proposition: No power in all the universe can take the love of God from you.
Transition: First, Paul talks about…
I. No Accusation (31-34).
A. Who Dares Accuse Us?
1. The 8th chapter of Romans is one of the most comforting chapters in all of Scripture.
a. Paul begins by telling there is no condemnation for us.
b. He then tells us that we have been adopted as full children of God.
c. Next, he tells us about the glory that awaits us.
2. Now, he tells us about our confidence we have in Christ. In v. 31 he says, “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
a. What shall we say introduces an important qualification, often introduces an important qualification to the argument, often introducing a section and concluding a logical argument as here.
b. In view of all that God has done for us as believers—sacrificing his own Son, forgiving our sins and making us right with himself, bringing us into his own family, giving us the gift of his Spirit, promising us eternal glory—we need have no fear or panic.
c. In Jesus Christ we are safe and secure in God’s care, and nothing in the whole world can change that (Mohrlang, Volume 14: Romans and Galatians, 143).
d. In light of this Paul declares if God is for us, who can ever be against us?
e. The idea of God literally "on our behalf" brings in the basic gospel message of the book; Christ has died on our behalf, and the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
f. God is faithful to his covenant people, and so those who are against us will come to nothing.
g. There is no one that we need to fear, and all their opposition is ultimately doomed.
h. Revelation 12:11 (NLT2)
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
i. The implications are enormous! Every time Satan tries to conquer God's people by killing them, they conquer him by being killed.
j. Their apparent defeat is their great victory.
k. Just as he thought he had defeated Christ on the cross, but yet it was Jesus' greatest victory and ours.
3. The absolute proof that God is for us is seen in the incredible truth "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?"
a. The main point is that this was a sovereign act of God on our behalf.
b. It was not something we could do for ourselves or that could be accomplished by the law.
c. Only God could have provided such a gift and produce so great a salvation.
d. This overwhelming love is beyond comprehension; God did not just allow the cross but deliberately "delivered" his Son to the cross for our sake.
e. Now, if God would do all that for us, won't he also give us everything else? The verb conveys the idea of a grace-gift and refers to the kingdom blessings awaiting God's people.
f. These blessings are both present and future in nature.
g. In the midst of the ruthless opposition of our enemies, God is actually giving us all things for our good.
4. In v. 33 Paul begins what appears to be a courtroom scene. He says, "Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself."
a. This means that all of those people that will seek to harm us in the near future will ultimately be frustrated in their attempts to hamper the plan of God with his people.
b. They are his Seggulah, his special treasured people, and he is watching over them.
c. The basis for this sense of safety is it's God who justifies us.
d. Isaiah 50:8-9 (NLT2)
8 He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
9 See, the Sovereign LORD is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
e. This more than just declaring us righteous, but rather it is the process of making us right through the Holy Spirit.
f. In God's court people will accuse us, but God the righteous judge will at all times declare us innocent.
5. Not only will people try to accuse us, but they will also try to condemn us. But Paul says in v. 34, "Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us."
a. All of the attempts to condemn the children of God fail because his death has covered their sins.
b. The fourfold list of Jesus' accomplishments moves upwards from his death, to his resurrection, to his exaltation at the right hand of God, to his interceding for us.
c. Paul's argument seems to get progressively more excited as he says, in effect, Christ Jesus...died but even more than that, he was raised to life.
d. At the same time, Jesus was not only raised but also exalted at the right hand of God, an allusion to Ps. 110:1:
e. Psalm 110:1 (NLT2)
1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
f. Finally, Christ's praying for us work in the climax of his work for us.
g. So not only is the Holy Spirit praying for us, as in v. 26, but also Jesus is praying for us.
h. Hebrews 7:25 (NLT2)
25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
B. Justice Against Every Courtroom Lie
1. Illustration: Keith Hartsell of Wheaton, Illinois, was driving around with a friend of his in California, when he noticed that his friend's cell phone was locked with an unusual password -- pro nobis. Keith asked him what pro nobis meant and why he chose that for a password. Keith's friend told him it was Latin and it meant "For Us," and then he suddenly started choking up. Keith thought, "Why would those two Latin words cause so much emotion?" Then his friend composed himself and explained that after walking through deep personal pain, true healing came when he learned that God is "for us" -- or the Latin phrase pro nobis. Keith's friend said that after his parents' divorce, he entered a season when he assumed that God didn't care or that God had given up on him. But he finally found hope through those two simple words -- pro nobis (for us). You see, when he decided to believe that God was pro nobis, that God had even sent Christ to die for him, he could then decide to lay down his life for others.
2. As a result of Christ’s victory on the cross for us, despite everything that we have done wrong, no one will be able to accuse us. We have already been declared “Not guilty!”
a. Isaiah 54:17 (NLT2)
17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!
b. Imagine, if you will, going into court for a crime you know you’re guilty of committing, and as the DA stands up to bring his case against you, the judge stops him and declares “this case is dismissed,” and tells you are free to go!
c. That is the situation we find ourselves in as believers in Jesus.
d. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or how many witnesses saw us do it.
e. It doesn’t matter what evidence the devil comes up with against us.
f. No, it doesn’t matter because it is all covered in the blood of Jesus.
g. Because Jesus has already paid the price for our sins and declared us as “not guilty.”
h. No one can condemn us, and no one can accuse us, because the Righteous Judge has already dismissed the case against us.
i. All because we belong to Jesus!
Transition: Next, Paul tells us there will be…
II. No Separation (35-39).
A. Can Anything Ever Separate Us From Christ’s Love?
1. Not only can no one accuse or condemn us, but also nothing can separate us for the love of Christ.
2. In vv. 35-36 Paul says, "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)"
a. That amazing love that was shown on the cross and poured out by the Holy Spirit will naturally prove unbreakable.
b. The idea of separation looks back to the accusation and condemnation of vv. 33-34, and the following list of troubles highlights these problems.
c. It is most likely that these were trials that Paul himself went through in his life.
d. In fact, tradition says that Paul was martyred by a sword. He wants them, and us, to understand that many will suffer similar difficulties of Christ, but they do not need to be afraid. The love of Christ is with them all the way.
e. These problems remind us that the load for God's people will not be an easy one, and suffering is to be expected, both because we live in a fallen world and because we are followers of Christ.
f. But we do not need to be afraid, for the God who is in charge is the one who loves us totally.
3. In contrast to the suffering, those who place their trust in Jesus are not defeated. On the contrary, Paul says in v. 37, "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
a. This is one of the most loved verse in all of Scripture because it promises that whenever there is trouble or hardship, we are overwhelming victors in Christ.
b. Not only can nothing separate us from the love of God, but as a result of that love, absolute victory over them is ours.
c. The way that his happens is spelled out clearly for us; through Christ who loved us.
d. Christ's love gives us the strength and produces the victory.
e. Once more we are reminded that we are inadequate, but Christ is more than adequate!
f. Whenever we center on our own strength we are completely defeated.
g. When we depend on Christ and the Holy Spirit we are always victorious
4. Paul brings his proclamation to a crescendo. In vv. 38-39 he declares, "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
a. Paul now turns from the love of Christ to the love of God, emphasizing the inseparability of that love as well.
b. I am convinced points to Paul's absolute certainty that nothing can come between him and the God who loves him.
c. He wants to give his readers a similar conviction in the face of difficulty. Neither death nor life reflects the same idea of Phil. 1:21
d. Philippians 1:21 (NLT2)
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
5. Here the contrast is between the two forces at work in the believer, although this probably focuses on physical life rather than spiritual.
a. Neither angels or demons takes us from daily life to the spiritual realm. The second term is literally "rulers," and while it can apply to any kind of angel or even political powers, here from passages where Paul talks about "principalities and power" to refer to fallen angels.
b. These powers have already been defeated by Christ on behalf of the church and cannot overpower the church only deceive them.
c. Neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow brings in the temporary nature of life.
d. Nothing can happen to us today or at any time in the future can separate us from God's love.
e. This was certainly true in Paul's life where he saw one crisis after another, and the future was even more difficult as many of his letters that we find in the NT were written from prison.
f. Not even the powers of hell was probably to sum up his reference to spiritual beings.
g. Spiritual warfare must have really been on his mind since he has already mentioned spiritual powers.
h. No power in the sky or in the earth below means that nothing in this world can separate us from God's love.
i. Nothing in all creation indicates that Paul wants to make absolutely certain he has left nothing out and makes it perfectly clear that nothing or no one can separate us from the love of God.
j. This inseparable love is ours through our faith in Jesus.
k. Jesus is the all-powerful Lord of all the universe, and this guarantees the love that God has for us.
B. No One Shall Snatch Them Away
1. Illustration: During World War II, a passenger ship set sail from Great Britain headed for port in New York City. The Captain of the ship being afraid of enemy vessels, sought the advice and guidance of the British Admiral. The Admiral calmly assured the captain that no matter what happens, he should be sure to sail his ship straight ahead. "Do not take any detours -- sail the ship straight ahead -- continue on-ward, heading straight towards the intended mark," he said. After several days of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean which was undeniably filled with submarines and enemy vessels of all kinds, the Captain spotted an enemy destroyer off his forward bow. Nervously he grasped the handset and called for assistance. The calm voice replied, "Keep on straight, do not detour, just sail the ship straight ahead. Everything will be just fine. Just keep on going - straight ahead." After a couple more days the ship pulled safely into the great harbor of New York City. Shortly after docking the great British battleship "Man-of-War" pulled into port behind the passenger vessel. The Captain realized that while he did not see the British Battleship, she was there, standing by ready to come to his defense should it prove necessary.
2. As followers of Jesus, we belong to Him, and no one, or any force in the universe, will ever be able to take us away from Him and His love.
a. John 10:28-29 (NLT2)
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.
b. No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand.
c. Not the devil nor all his demons.
d. Not any temptation that the world may throw at us.
e. Not any earthly force or evil power.
f. Not sickness or disease.
g. Not difficulty, trouble or hardship.
h. No power in all the universe.
i. We belong to the Father and no one can compare to him.
j. We are the children of the King of King’s and the Lord of Lord’s.
Conclusion
1. In our text today, Paul tells us about two things that no one can do to us, both centered on the love of God.
a. No Accusation
b. No Separation
2. TWO THINGS TO REMEMBER...
a. WHENEVER SOMEONE COMES AGAINST YOU, WHETHER IT’S THE DEVIL OR A HUMAN BEING, REMEMBER YOU HAVE BEEN DECLARED “NOT GUILTY.”
b. WHENEVER FEAR TRIES TO GET A HOLD OF YOU, DECLARE TO WHATEVER IS CAUSING YOU TO FEAR THAT YOU ARE A BLOOD BOUGHT CHILD OF THE KING.
