Last week we began talking about fear. We have to admit that from time-to-time fear creeps in. If we're not really sure about something we might feel a little insecure or fearful about that situation. Over the years I have seen that kind of fear or anxiety at weddings that I perform. That bride and groom are making a huge decision which will affect the rest of their lives. So, on that wedding day, you can sense a little bit of insecurity.
I have seen at times a similar insecurity about God. When people are on the verge of becoming a child of God, they might question, “Is He going to choose me? Does he really love me?” Today we will be using Romans 8 and hopefully we will see that all of our insecurity can be set aside. God spared no expense to show His love for us through Jesus. Nothing will keep us from God or the work He wants to do in our lives. Prayer.
Is there anything that you might be insecure about in your relationship with God? Are you absolutely sure that you have accepted Christ? Are you absolutely sure you will go to heaven if you died right now? Are you walking down the narrow path that Christ spoke of? I am sure there are many more questions than these when it comes to our relationship with God. In all of these questions, we must admit that we are a little insecure in that relationship.
When we come to Romans 8, Paul turned his focus to the life-giving and freeing work of the Holy Spirit. When we give our life to Christ, we need to know that we are not left alone to live for Christ. His Spirit indwells every believer to empower us to live the righteous life God calls us to live. Even when we face life's difficulties, we have the Holy Spirit with us. In all of this, Paul pointed us to the hope and security we have because of the completed work of Jesus.
Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
I have heard many Christians quote this verse. It's a well-known and loved passage for many Christians because it reminds us that none of the setbacks or problems we face can thwart God's good purpose for our lives. In fact, if we look closely, we might realize that those very problems can be a part of God's way of bringing about His good purpose in us. Yes, trials make us stronger, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
That, in itself, should bring us encouragement and hope in how secure we are in our relationship to God. No matter what may come our way, no matter what curveball life is about to throw at us, God will use it for our good. This doesn't mean that every life circumstance will be good, but the Lord will bring good out of whatever situations we face.
I will never forget what my family deacon said to me years ago as I was going through many trials and tribulations in my life. He said, “Jerry, just know that whatever trial you are going through right now, God is allowing you to go through that trial because He wants you to be able to use it to help others down the road.” He was so right. And my advice to you would be the same. If you are going through a trial right now, maybe a medical condition, or a relationship problem, or a problem child, or whatever, God will use that situation to strengthen you because He plans to use you to help someone else in the future.
Verse 28 tells us this truth applies to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. The Greek verb in the original text means those who continually love God. As we continue to seek, follow, and love the one who saves us and calls us, God can - and will - work in all things for our good and for His glory.
Note that verse 28 does not say that all circumstances will be good. It says that through those circumstances they will all work together for the good of those who love God. That tells me that as we go through life, we need to look for how God is at work for our good both in the good circumstances and in the difficult. No matter what difficulty you may be going through right now, God is bigger than that.
Romans 8:29-30 – “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”
Can you see from this verse that God's purpose for us is to grow in our Christ-likeness? You may be thinking and wondering how God can bring good out of a bad situation. We tend to define good by what we want or what we think is best. But the good - the ultimate good - that God will work in our lives is tied to His purpose for us. So, what is God's plan and purpose that he wants to accomplish in our lives?
As much as we love to quote Romans 8:28, a lot of times we fail to read it along with verse 29 in mind: God's purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. God wants to use everything we experience to make us more and more like Jesus. Anything that brings us closer to Christ and Christ-likeness is beneficial.
Last week I mentioned that we are not to live only for today but to live for eternity. We are creatures of time, and many times we limit our perspective to that particular moment that we are in. But God's purpose and His plan for us spans eternity.
Versus 29 and 30 tell me that God foreknew us. He predestined us. He called us. And He justified us. One day He will glorify us. His plan for us to be like His Son was known from the very beginning, and in the future when we are glorified, we will be mature, complete, and totally conform to the image of Jesus. Look how John said it:
1 John 3:2 – “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.”
Maybe you didn't even realize that God is working on you right now to make you more Christ-like. What are your ambitions and goals that you have for yourself? Is growing in Christ-likeness on that list? We really need to thank God for His work in our life. He has our best in mind.
Romans 8:31-32 – “What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?”
You might be saying, “Well, I know God and I have asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. But am I living the life Jesus called me to live? Am I walking that narrow path toward him or do I stray from it from time to time? How can I feel secure in knowing that God truly forgives me and will protect me?”
Let me say that we can be confident that God is constantly at work in our lives. Paul has pretty much said that in our verses so far. But Paul doesn't stop there. In these verses that we just read and following, he explains that we can count on Jesus to be our defense. Paul showed us the kind of ironclad defense we have by asking a series of questions and as we look at these questions it should bring us to our only conclusion: as God's children, we are secure. Very secure.
A relationship with God is our source of security. Earlier in this same chapter Paul made clear several absolute realities about a Christian’s relationship with God. In Romans 8:15-16, Paul assured us that believers have been adopted into God's family and are His children. So much so, they can legitimately cry out, Abba, Father.
In verse 17 Paul tells us that we are coheirs with Christ. In verse 23 he tells us that we have received the Holy Spirit as the first fruits. That means that we are guaranteed that we are redeemed in what Christ did for us. In verse 26 Paul says that as a result, our prayers are lifted up by the Spirit to the Father. In verse 29 Paul tells us that we are foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. So, in verse 30, we are called, justified, and will one day be glorified. With all of these guarantees firmly in place, who can possibly be against us? The only possible answer to that is no one!
Let's look at these questions that Paul uses to assure us of how secure we are in our relationship with God. In verse 31:
Romans 8:31 – “. . . If God is for us, who is against us?”
No one is greater than God, and since God is on our side, we have no worries.
Romans 8:33 – “Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.”
Jesus took all our sin upon Himself on the cross. When we repent and ask God to forgive us, all our sins are forgiven and removed.
Romans 8:34 – “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
The only One who has the right to condemn us is Jesus Christ, yet He did just the opposite. He made it possible for all our condemnation to be removed.
Can you see that Jesus stands in our defense? God is so much in our corner that He gave His greatest treasure - His own Son, Jesus Christ - as a sacrifice for our sins. Now Satan can try to discredit us, but all of his accusations are unfounded. Why? Because God is the one who justifies. And Jesus died in our place, and he continues to stand for us. Verse 34 says that He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Whenever you pray, remember that Jesus is hearing those prayers and is interceding for you.
Do you want to feel secure in your relationship with God? Look at what Paul says next.
Romans 8:35-39 – “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
********37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from God's love. You can see that in these verses Paul lists a number of afflictions and disasters that we might encounter throughout our life. These are the things that might happen to you.
But what if it's something you do yourself? What about your own stupidity? Can you do something so utterly wrong that your failure simply becomes too gross for Jesus to hold on to you? The truth remains the same: nothing can separate you from Christ's love. Nothing is more powerful than Christ. Absolutely nothing. We can never be separated from Him and His love, and that love gives us the strength to endure whatever we might face.
I can remember back in kindergarten and maybe the first grade when we would do art projects with glue and construction paper. I could do a lot with just those two things. But if I made a mistake and glued two pieces of construction paper together it was a chore to get them apart. If I realized my mistake quickly enough, I might possibly rescue the project. The longer I waited, the harder it was to separate those two pieces of paper. Once the glue dries, separating those two pieces of construction paper is practically impossible. But separating us from the love of Christ is impossible. Think about it for a moment, what could possibly separate us from Christ and His love?
- Can persecution separate us? What if you were beaten and thrown in jail? Could the political powers put you in a place where even Jesus couldn't get to you? No!
- What about supernatural powers like angels and demons? Nope. Nothing or no one can pull you away from Jesus.
- What about death? No, not even death. Death has been seen many times as the great thief stealing our hope. But not even death can pull you away from Jesus.
After listening to what God has told us today, how can we be insecure in our relationship with God? I for one, feel even more secure as I walk with God each day. I hope this has helped you to realize the same.
Prayer Invitation
