I Am Persuaded

[0:00] Romans 8, we were covering some of the I am's of the Apostle Paul. And I kind of just attempted to put you on the spot and see if you can say in order the ones we've covered thus far.

[0:15] Basically because I'm not sure if I could say them in order, so I was going to see if you know them. But I'll start, and we did an introduction to show that Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. He's our authority, and just as Jesus Christ said some I am's that we follow for salvation, the Apostle Paul has some I am's that we're to follow, be followers of me even as I also am of Christ.

[0:38] And the first one we saw was that he is a debtor in Romans 1, verse 14, I am debtor. Then he said, I am ready to preach the gospel in verse 15, and then I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

[0:49] But then last week we really shifted gears in Romans 7 where we read in verse 14 that Paul says that I am carnal, sold under sin. Later in that chapter, O wretched man that I am.

[1:01] And there were some reasons that we studied that Paul says he's such a carnal guy. And the first one was that he was comparing himself to something that is spiritual, something that is holy, the law, something that is just and good.

[1:13] And when we compare ourselves amongst ourselves, we compare ourselves to the world, we might look pretty good. But when we compare ourselves to the pure words of God, every single one of us falls short.

[1:24] As a matter of fact, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And so once you look into the book, it doesn't matter how long you've been saved and how much your heart desires the Lord, you have to admit it.

[1:36] You're carnal. You've got a flesh. And that's the second thing we saw that, or I guess the second thing we saw in that chapter was that the reason Paul said he was carnal is because sin dwelled in him.

[1:47] And he said, evil is present with me. And then the third thing was that his old man, that flesh, is still with him as well. And until you get rid of that flesh, you're going to be carnal.

[1:58] And one day, we kind of closed, and we'll catch some of this tonight in chapter 8. One day, we will be rid of that flesh, and we will be delivered from that wretched man that holds us back and wars against us on the inside.

[2:12] So I want to take you to the end of Romans 8 tonight. And notice the next I am that we study here is in verse 38. And you can see just the first few words, you'll see the I am.

[2:25] Romans 8, 38, Paul says, For I am persuaded. I am persuaded. And to be persuaded, he's convinced of something.

[2:36] And he's so convinced that nobody's going to change his mind. With the Apostle Paul, there's something that is fixed. It is absolutely settled. And you could complain. You could argue.

[2:46] It doesn't matter with Paul. He's persuaded. And looking to the Apostle Paul, understanding he had revelations, and he had knowledge and wisdom and truth from God. If he's persuaded about something, I think we can be persuaded about it too.

[3:01] So let's read these couple verses that lead up to that thought. And I'll start in verse number 35. So follow with me, Romans 8, 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

[3:13] Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long.

[3:24] We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. And the answer to that question is nay. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

[3:36] So nothing's going to separate us from the love of Christ. That was the question in verse 35. And we can conquer all of that through him that loved us. Verse 38 now. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[4:08] I am persuaded. Are you persuaded that there is nothing, no thing, no power, present or future, that can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord?

[4:29] Paul said, I am persuaded. Let's pray. Father, please minister these words to our heart and teach us these doctrines of the New Testament. Help us to stand on them, to understand our position in Christ.

[4:43] May it become very evident to each one here. And Lord, I pray that we'd follow the Apostle Paul in our persuasion and that we wouldn't doubt, that we wouldn't fear, and that we'd hold fast to the word of God in these times.

[4:56] And we pray this in Jesus' name. And amen. Now, before we get into the meat of this thought in the context here, I want to be sure that you understand that Paul is writing to an audience of believers.

[5:09] He's writing to what we call Christians or born-again Christians. And in the passage, we'll see this a little bit later, but he calls them, he says, we are the children of God.

[5:20] And as he gets into this chapter or this last section, he said, who shall be able to separate us, the children of God, from the love of Christ? And he said he's persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

[5:36] And it says, Christ Jesus, our Lord. So he's referring, he's writing to believers. That's his audience. And that's who this applies to and only whom this applies to. Notice something else, that at the very end of verse 39, he says, nothing or no near height or depth or any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

[5:55] And then the last phrase is important. The love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. It's important to know that the love of God is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

[6:07] And if you are not in Christ Jesus, then you are separated from Christ Jesus and you are separated from the love of God. Why? Because the love of God is in Christ Jesus.

[6:21] You don't get to just say, God loves me. Give me a Bible verse. Paul says the love of God is in Christ Jesus. If you're in Christ Jesus, the Father loveth the Son.

[6:33] And if you're in the Son, then you're in his love. And so God's love is reserved for his children. And it's very important that you understand certain doctrines that accompany salvation in the New Testament.

[6:46] One of the very important doctrines that accompanies salvation is what we call eternal security. People call it once saved, always saved. It's a doctrine. It's a teaching from the Bible that you need to believe and understand.

[7:00] There's some people that scoff at that doctrine. They contest that doctrine. Christians today, believers in Jesus Christ, contest the doctrine that you can be saved forever. That you can trust Christ in a moment and eternally stay saved.

[7:14] They think that you can lose your salvation. And there's two main reasons. I'll just be real brief here. One of them is that they're ignorant of the teaching from the Bible of what it means to be eternally secure.

[7:25] They're just, they're ignorant of it. They don't know what the Bible teaches. I'll explain. Here's a very common statement. Like the very first reaction. If you tell them that I'm saved and nothing can change that.

[7:36] I'm saved for eternity. I have the eternal life. They'll say, oh yeah, well what if you kill somebody? Hmm. That's a terrible thought, isn't it?

[7:48] What if I would, with these hands, shed innocent blood? Would I lose my eternal life? Would I lose my salvation? Well, that just seems like a horrible thing.

[8:00] But to answer the question, the answer is no. I would not lose my salvation even if these hands shed someone else's blood. And somebody, the scoffer says, well, I don't believe that.

[8:15] That's crazy. You think you could kill somebody and still go to heaven? I think that there's no sin that I can commit on this earth that can take away the salvation that Jesus Christ has earned for me and has freely given to me because I placed my faith in him and believed on him.

[8:33] So, if it's murder, I know that's the extreme one. Everybody's scared, you know. Why is murder any bigger than looking at something you shouldn't?

[8:44] Than saying something you shouldn't? Than thinking something you shouldn't? The Bible says the thought of foolishness is sin. Will you lose your salvation for that one? So, there's not an understanding of what the Bible teaches.

[8:58] There's just this kind of, this is how I feel and so I'll just reject that as an absurd doctrine because surely you can't kill somebody. That's horrible. And there's no Bible basis for not believing.

[9:08] Another reason is people are misinformed about, or maybe I should say they misunderstand how the Bible is laid out. Meaning, they don't know what applies to them and what doesn't apply to them.

[9:21] They didn't bring a goat before a priest and slit his throat and sacrifice blood on an altar, did they? Well, no, they understand some things we don't follow today. But they don't seem to have a concept that there's also instructions that are for the future.

[9:36] And they get in the book of Hebrews and see this verse about sinning willfully after you've received the knowledge of the truth. And there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. So, therefore, if I sin willfully, they teach this.

[9:49] If you sin willfully after you get saved, there's no sacrifice for that sin anymore. You know how stupid that is if you really think about it? You could sin for 50, 60 years solid and have it all washed away by the blood of Christ.

[10:05] And then slip up the next day willfully. And now you're lost. It's a stupid misconception and a misapplication of Scripture.

[10:16] I'm not going to go handle all of that stuff. But what I'm going to give you is what Paul gives you in Romans chapter 8. And show you why he's so persuaded. He displays a strong confidence, a real certainty about this.

[10:31] And he believes it. No, he's persuaded. And nobody's going to change his mind that nothing can separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

[10:42] Now, this statement that we read in verse 38, it comes at the very close of the chapter. And it's a big chapter. And it's a powerful chapter. It's a lot of believers' favorite chapter. And it's loaded for sure.

[10:55] So, in this chapter of Romans 8, Paul explains some things. And he expounds on several things. And he builds toward a logical and a reasonable conclusion.

[11:07] And I want to review this material tonight that Paul discusses that leads to this strong confidence statement. Because it will explain why he can confidently say such a thing.

[11:18] That he's persuaded. So, let's consider first of all, Paul is persuaded of this. That he is never going, I'll just insert the terms, that he's never going to lose his salvation.

[11:33] Paul's persuaded of this because, number one, because of what God has made us. Look back earlier in this chapter. Come back to verse number 9. All the way back to verse 9.

[11:47] He's persuaded because of what God, a work that God has done in believers. Paul is persuaded that he can't lose it. Look at verse 9. It says this, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.

[12:01] If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

[12:15] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh.

[12:29] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

[12:42] For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption. Now, earlier he called this Spirit the Spirit of God in verse 9.

[12:55] And the Spirit of Christ in verse 9. In verse 10 he said, If Christ be in you. Here he says, You've received the Spirit of adoption. Just remember that term. It will come up a little bit later.

[13:06] Whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We can call God our Father. Why? Because of verse 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

[13:22] Why is he so persuaded that nothing could change, nothing could take away, nothing could erase what he has in Christ? He can't be separated from the love of God, which is in Christ, because of what God has made us.

[13:37] A work that God has already done in us. He says, He says, We are the children of God. Verse 17. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God.

[13:49] And joint heirs with Christ. We are children of God. We are declared to be heirs. We are his heirs. His offspring.

[14:00] We're joint heirs with Christ. God brought us into his family. He birthed or he quickened us by his spirit. We were dead in our trespasses and sins.

[14:13] And yet he quickened us. And he made us alive in Christ by a new birth. He imparted eternal life to us. He says in the gospel of John chapter 5 that we've been passed from death unto life.

[14:25] And in Christ we're alive. Eternally alive in Jesus Christ. It's a work that God has done. And as a father, God loves his children.

[14:39] He loves his children. And nothing can separate us from the love of God. Why? Because of what he has done for us and already made us his children.

[14:50] He made you his child. He placed his Holy Spirit within you. Did he have to do that? Did he have to put his Holy Spirit?

[15:03] God is a spirit. Did he have to put his own being by his spirit inside of your body? Why did he do that then?

[15:15] Well, the Bible says he did it as a kind of a down payment. So that it's a promise. It's a pledge of something that he's going to do in the future. We'll get to that.

[15:27] Keep your place here. Let's look at some scripture. If you can handle this, let's go. 1 Corinthians chapter 6. And there's a load I'm talking about.

[15:37] I could put you to sleep tonight covering the scripture on these topics that we're going to cover. I'm just going to give you some ones that you probably are already familiar with. 1 Corinthians chapter 6.

[15:49] Paul's persuaded of this because of what God has made us. We are the children of God. Now look at a different angle how he talks about it. Remember he talked about that spirit being placed in us.

[16:02] 1 Corinthians 6. Just look at the beginning of verse 15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? That's a work that God did.

[16:15] He made your bodies a member of Christ. But he goes on to talk about how you should take care of it and how you shouldn't treat it and flee fornication. And getting to verse 19, he asked the question, Why?

[16:37] Because you're bought with a price. God bought you. When you trusted Christ and received his gift of eternal life, it was covered and paid for in full.

[16:50] He took you to himself as his own possession. You're his child, he calls you. He gave you his life. Now it's not been manifest yet what that's going to look like.

[17:03] And we'll get to that. Just hang on. But for now, understand that ye are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. He's already bought and claimed you for himself.

[17:18] Nothing's going to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, because you're his. Because he's already done this work. It's something that he started. Turn to chapter...

[17:29] Well, where'd it go here? I'm just going to read something here. Chapter 12 describes... I won't go through that. But chapter 12 describes how he placed you into the body of Christ.

[17:42] By one spirit are we all baptized into one body. And he places us into the body of Christ. And in verse 24 of chapter 12, For our comely parts have no need, for God hath tempered the body together.

[17:56] So he's already done this work by his spirit, placing you into the body of his son, Jesus Christ. You're in Christ. God tempered that body together. You know what that means?

[18:07] Tempered? Like, you ever work with metals or watch videos on that? And you see how they are heated and cooled and melted and they get joined together? And it's... Anyway, I don't know a whole lot about it.

[18:19] But I know that I'm in Christ. And I'm joined to that body. I've been joined to the Lord. I'm one spirit. I didn't read that. That's back in the previous place we just were.

[18:30] 1 Corinthians 6. One more passage I want to read just quickly. 2 Corinthians chapter 1. It says, Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God.

[18:46] God establisheth you and me together in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1 verse 21. Who hath also sealed us and giveth given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts.

[18:59] So, this is just getting just a drop of the bucket here. But this is what... This is a work that God has already began. He places his spirit inside of you. He places you spiritually, baptizes you into...

[19:13] He places you into the body of Christ. That's not a baptism of water. That's being placed into Jesus Christ. He establishes you in Christ.

[19:25] He tempers you into that body. You think something is going to separate you from the love? You think principalities are going to separate you? You think your sins in the flesh are going to separate you from something that God has already removed and joined to himself?

[19:41] So, Paul is persuaded. Absolutely persuaded. Keep looking to your right if you did move to Philippians chapter 1. He's persuaded because of what God has already made us.

[19:56] The work that we are in Christ. We're the children of God. We're heirs of God. We have the spirit of God. We're members of his body. And on and on. And now, Philippians chapter 1.

[20:09] When Paul talks about persuaded, he also uses this word, being confident. In verse 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it.

[20:24] Not you perform it. He that began this thing, God. God's the one that established you. God's the one that sealed you. He that began this good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

[20:35] Christ. It's because of what God has already done. What God has already made us in Christ. Paul's persuaded. Now come back to Romans chapter 8. And there's much more.

[20:47] That's just the beginning of why Paul would be persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God. which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. First, because of what God has made us.

[20:58] Secondly, because of what God has purposed for us. When he began a work, he intends to finish that work. And he promised that he would finish that work. And what work is that?

[21:10] Well, back in chapter 8 of Romans, this is the whole. I mean, he talks about it the whole way through. And we're just going to take our way through it. Just follow along.

[21:20] Let's read carefully and clearly this message from God through the Apostle Paul to us of why we are persuaded that we can't lose our salvation and be separated from the love of God.

[21:33] Verse number 15. I'll back up to that. We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption. Now it's called the spirit of adoption.

[21:45] We'll get to that. Whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joined heirs with Christ. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

[22:00] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with, notice this phrase, with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

[22:11] You mean there's going to be glory that is going to be revealed in us? When would that be? In verse 17 he ended it by saying that we may be also glorified together with Christ.

[22:26] We suffer with him. We'll be glorified with him. All right, let's keep reading. Verse 19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth.

[22:40] Now what is the creature? The creature is the new creature in Christ. Christ. He's that inward man that Paul talked about back in chapter 7 and verse 22. I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

[22:54] And that new creature, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. He calls him the new man. That new man has an expectation. He's waiting for something to take place.

[23:05] Back to chapter 8 and verse 19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

[23:19] The new man is stuck inside this body of flesh. The one that he was just given a big fuss over in chapter 7. How it's pulling him down and fighting and warring against him.

[23:33] And he wants to be delivered from that body. In verse number 24. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? He says, but that new man inside is waiting for the sons of God.

[23:49] For the manifestation. I'm a child of God right now in the new man. But it doesn't look like it. But that guy on the inside is just expecting.

[24:01] Earnestly expecting it. And waiting for it when it's manifest. When it's revealed. It goes on in verse 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity.

[24:12] That's this body of flesh. He's made subject to this thing. He's stuck in there for now. Not willingly. But by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.

[24:25] Meaning he gave you the promise. That he's going to change you. And he's going to get you out. Deliver you. Verse 21. Because the creature itself also.

[24:37] That's the new man. The creature itself also shall be delivered. From the bondage of corruption. There's your flesh. Into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

[24:50] When the son. When it's manifest that you're a child of God. When you look like what he's going to make you into. I'll show you that in a minute. Verse 22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth.

[25:02] And travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they but ourselves also. Which have the first fruits of the spirit. Notice it's the first fruits. It's just the earnest.

[25:15] Is a down payment word. It's a pledge. We have this. It's just the beginning. God giving us his spirit. It's just the beginning of what he's going to do with us. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves.

[25:26] Waiting for the adoption. Right now we have the spirit of adoption. That is the pledge of this becoming a reality. And in this verse he says.

[25:37] We're waiting for this to take place. To wit the redemption of our body. Our body. We want to be rid of this flesh and changed.

[25:48] Now take your Bibles and turn over to Philippians again. And look at chapter 3. And we're going to compare a few verses here. I'll tell you what. We're going to come back to Romans.

[26:00] But you can lose it if you need to for a second. Because I want you to get Ephesians chapter 1. And Philippians chapter 3. God started a work in you.

[26:11] But he did not complete it yet. Paul says I'm persuaded that nothing is going to separate us from the love of God. Which is in Christ Jesus. Because of what God has purposed for us.

[26:24] He's already made us his child. He's done a work in us. He promised and gave us his spirit. And he's pledged that he's going to complete this work in us. And fulfill that.

[26:34] He's not going to take his love away from us. He's not going to remove us from Christ. He's already started the process. And it is his will and his purpose to translate us.

[26:47] Or to conform us. Or fashion us. Into an eternal. Into an immortal. An incorruptible. And flawless.

[27:01] Glorified. Son of God. Look at Philippians chapter 3. Verse 20. And 21. For our conversation is in heaven.

[27:12] From whence also we look for the Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall change. Our vile body. That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.

[27:25] According to the working. Whereby he is able. Even to subdue all things unto himself. So he's going to change our bodies. He's going to fashion it like unto his glorious body.

[27:38] That's the word we read back in being glorified together. That's what it said in Romans 8. Now the last part of that verse 21 said. According to the working. Didn't we read that in chapter 1?

[27:52] He which hath begun a good work in you. Will perform it until the day of Christ. According to the working. Whereby he is able. Even to subdue all things unto himself.

[28:03] Now come to Ephesians. And watch how the words of God. Just relate and compare. And teach something. Ephesians chapter 1. And for time's sake.

[28:13] Got to be real brief here. Ephesians 1. And notice verse 5. Having predestinated us. Unto the adoption of children.

[28:24] By Jesus Christ to himself. According to the good pleasure of his will. Now people get it mixed up. And they say. Oh this teaches that God predestinated us to get saved.

[28:36] But no. It says that if you're saved and in Christ. Which kind of takes you back to verse number 4. According as he hath chosen us in him. And if you're in Christ.

[28:47] Then you're predestinated unto the adoption of children. Meaning now you have the spirit of adoption. But the fulfillment. We're waiting for the adoption. To wit the redemption of our body.

[28:58] In Romans 8.23. Here he says. He's predestinated us unto the adoption of children. When you get in Christ. When God tempers you into that body of Christ. You're made alive spiritually.

[29:10] And he predestinated you to something. He has fixed your eternal destiny. That he is going to one day fashion your vile body. Like unto his glorious body.

[29:21] That is the adoption of children. When it's manifest. That is when your body is redeemed. Continue. Let me skip down to verse 11. Ephesians 1 verse 11.

[29:34] In whom also. Speaking of being in Christ. In whom also. We have obtained an inheritance. Didn't we already read that we're heirs of God. And joint heirs with Christ.

[29:45] We have obtained an inheritance. Being predestinated. According to the purpose of him who worketh all things. After the counsel of his own will. That's what we just read in Philippians 3.

[29:57] According to the working. Whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. It's all related to this new body. Now one more thing I'll continue reading. In verse 12.

[30:08] That we should be to the praise of his glory. Who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted. After that ye heard the word of truth. The gospel of your salvation. In whom also after that ye believed.

[30:20] Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. That happened. Which is the earnest. Of our inheritance. The spirit of promise.

[30:31] Do you hear that promise? What's the promise? I'm going to change your body. I'm going to deliver you from this corruption. This bondage of corruption. And it's going to be into the glorious liberty.

[30:42] Of the children of God. You're going to be manifest. That you're a son of God. It's going to be plain and glorious. And so I've given you my Holy Spirit. I've sealed.

[30:53] You're not going to unseal it. Not something that God has sealed. He established us and sealed us. And it's until. Verse 14 says.

[31:04] Until the redemption of the purchased possession. We've already covered these verses. What was purchased? Your body and your spirit. Which are God's. Remember that? 1 Corinthians 6.

[31:15] The redemption of the purchased. It's said in Romans 8. The redemption of your body. Now all of that to say. It is God's will and purpose. To complete this work. That he's already begun in you.

[31:26] He promised to do it. So Paul says. I'm persuaded. I am persuaded. There is nothing that can separate me. From the love of God in Christ.

[31:37] Nothing at all. Because he understands. God has already. Made me his child. He's already spiritually made me alive in Christ.

[31:49] And he's placed his spirit in me. Which he said is. He sealed me with that spirit. And is a down payment or an earnest. Of what I'll inherit. And I'm going to inherit.

[32:01] A new body. One that God is going to make me look like his son. A glorious. A glorified body. Come back to Romans chapter 8. So. Paul has persuaded.

[32:13] Because of what God has made us. A work God already did. Making us his child. And all that came with that. Paul's persuaded. Because of what God has purposed for us. And then this one final thing.

[32:25] In chapter 8. Paul is persuaded. Because of what Christ. Has accomplished. For us. Now the first two things. To me. That's solid enough. That's good.

[32:35] But this one is just going to. Wipe the floor. With anybody's doctrine. Otherwise. We're going to look at these verses. And I'm. We're running out of time.

[32:46] But we're going to take some time. Because this is too good for you to miss. And to rush through. Romans 8. In verse 31. I want you to notice. The questions. In 31 through 35.

[33:00] He's going to ask some questions. Verse 31. What shall we say to these things? Two questions. If God be for us. Who can be against us? Verse 32. He ends with a question. How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

[33:12] Verse 33. Who shall lay anything to the gods elect? Verse 34. Who is he that condemneth? Verse 35. Who shall separate us from. He's asking questions. All right. We're going to come back through. But what.

[33:24] I want you to believe this. I want you to see this. Paul delivers one of the most powerful arguments. For this. For his case. In this. Persuasion.

[33:36] This is one of the strongest concepts. Of New Testament salvation. You're about to read this right here. And it's not. John 3. 16. It's not Romans 10.

[33:47] 13. Those are. You know the verses. They're popular. That's great. This is going to be one of the strong. What Paul is saying. If you get what he is saying. If you get this argument.

[33:58] And the things he's pointing out. This thing is strong. Like strong brother. Strong. If you get this. It is going to wipe the floor clean.

[34:08] Of all the false doctrine. About this concept. Of eternal security. Let's take a quick look at it. Verse 31. Paul says. What shall we say.

[34:19] To these things. This whole. I'm a child of God. God has promised. And he's. Going to make me like his son. And this is a fixed. Settled thing. So what shall we say.

[34:29] What do you want me to say. About it anymore. Watch verse 31. What shall we say. To these things. If God before us. As he obviously is. In what he covered already.

[34:41] Who can be. Against us. If God made us his children. Verse 16. We are the children of God.

[34:53] If God intends. To complete this work. That he began in us. Who can stop him from doing it. Who can be against us.

[35:05] Can the government stop it. Can the devil stop it. Can your sin stop it. That's the question.

[35:17] What God has begun. A work that he has begun. Is it dependent upon. Your performance. And your obedience. What God had promised you. In Christ Jesus.

[35:29] Let's continue reading. Verse 32. And be careful. Watch this thing. Wow. He. That spared not his own son. But delivered him up for us all.

[35:43] What does that mean. He delivered him up for us all. If you need a cross reference. Look at chapter 4. In verse 25. Romans 4.25. Speaking of Jesus Christ.

[35:57] Says. Who was delivered. For our. Offenses. And was raised again. For our justification. That means he was put to death.

[36:08] For our sins. Christ died for our sins. He was delivered for our offenses. Well we're reading in Romans 8. Verse 32. He that spared not his own son. But delivered him up for us all.

[36:20] Did he not do that? Did God not send his son. In the likeness of sinful flesh. To condemn sin in the flesh. Did he not live a pure and holy life. Did he not.

[36:31] Willingly lay down his life on the cross. To satisfy. The wrath of God. Against all of our sin. Was he not made a propitiation. For our sins. And not for ours only.

[36:41] But for the sins of the whole world. Is he not the lamb of God. Which taketh away the sin of the world. Therefore. If he spared not his own son.

[36:53] But he delivered him up for. You. You dirty sinner. You. God delivered his holy son.

[37:05] To pay for your sins. For our offenses. He did. He chose to do this. He designed. This is how I'll accomplish this.

[37:16] This is how I'll rid them of their sins. And iniquities. I'll give my son. And I'll have him suffer. The cruel treatment.

[37:27] And he'll take my wrath. And he'll take the sins in his body. On the tree. He that spared not his own son. But delivered him up for us all.

[37:39] The question Paul asks is. How shall he not with him. Also freely give us all things. If he gave his own son for us. There's. What greater thing could God give.

[37:51] To get us. To free us. To clean us. Of our sins. What greater thing could God have. Laid on the line. But his own life. If he didn't spare.

[38:02] His own son. Paul's asking a question. If he didn't hold back. What is he going to hold back.

[38:13] What's he going to hold against us then. He's not going to withhold anything from us. It's obvious from the fact. That he paid the ultimate price.

[38:24] For our sins. To redeem us. From all iniquity. And purify unto himself. A peculiar people. This is a strong case.

[38:34] Paul's making. If God. Did not spare his son. His own son. For us. But delivered him. To pay for our sins. On the cross.

[38:46] Then what is it. That he's going to hold against us. What is it. That he's not going to do for us. Of course. He's freely going to give us. Eternal life. Of course. He's freely going to give us. His righteousness.

[38:56] Of course. He's going to freely give us. An inheritance. And be conformed to the image of his son. He's not going to hold that back from us. Because he gave us. So much more than that.

[39:07] In giving us his son. Verse 33 and 34. Another question. Who shall lay anything. To the charge. Of God's elect. It is God that justifieth.

[39:23] Another question. Who is he that condemneth? Who? You? Me? A judge in a court? The devil? Angels?

[39:35] Principalities? Powers? Things present? Things to come? If God declares you righteous. In Christ Jesus. That's what justify means. It is God that justifies.

[39:48] Who could overturn God? Who can put down God's ruling? Our land has courts. Some low courts. Some high courts. Some supreme courts.

[40:00] And if the lower court. If the higher court doesn't agree with the Lord. They overturn it. They say it's not going to work. It's not going to fly. So God justified you in Jesus Christ.

[40:15] Who is he that condemneth? Good question. What's the answer? It's just a blank long stare. Because I can't think of anybody that can overrule what God said.

[40:30] The Bible says that speaks of a bunch of sinners that won't inherit the kingdom of God. God. And it's in 1 Corinthians.

[40:40] Maybe it's in chapter 6 where we just were. A little bit before that. And he says, And such were some of you. But ye are washed. But ye are sanctified.

[40:52] But ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. That's what you are now. God justified you. So who is he that condemneth? Great question, Paul.

[41:03] It is Christ that died in verse 34. Yea, rather that is risen again. So it's complete. It's finished. It's accomplished. Remember we just read it in chapter 4. He was raised again for our justification.

[41:15] Is risen again. Who is even at the right hand of God. He's alive. Who also maketh intercession for us. And then the final question. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

[41:31] And then he's going to start his list. Who's going to separate us? Logically, with that established of what God has done. What Christ has accomplished.

[41:44] There is nothing but God himself that could disannul or overturn. What he has already said about you. And yet he promised.

[41:56] And the Bible says in Titus chapter 1. In hope of eternal life. Which God that cannot lie. Promised. Before the world began. Can I lose my salvation?

[42:10] Are you kidding me? How could I lose it? I didn't earn it. I don't deserve it. Could I lose it?

[42:20] By doing what? By killing somebody? By doing some wicked, vile, blaspheming God shaking my hand in his face? In his face.

[42:31] I know what some people say. Well, if you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, you have never forgiveness. There you go again. You're in a place you don't understand. You're dealing with stuff you don't understand. Why don't you stick with something you can understand right here?

[42:44] God's work is untouchable. And as a result, if you've believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, so are you. So are you.

[42:55] So you are eternally secure in Christ. As Paul said in verse 38, I am persuaded. And I hope you are too tonight.

[43:06] He's persuaded because of what God has already done in making us his child. And he's already given to us eternal life. And this life is in his son. He's not going to separate us from Jesus Christ.

[43:20] He has, I lost the word in that 1 Corinthians 12. The metal word. I almost said tempered. Thank you. I almost said forged. He has tempered us together with Christ.

[43:33] He's made us heirs of God. He's predestinated us. If we could lose it, then we weren't predestinated to have it. If we could lose eternal life, then it wasn't eternal.

[43:48] And now you're in a paradox. And so all of this hinges upon whether what Christ did for us was enough. And whether God's word is enough.

[44:00] And that's where my hands are off. I'll believe the book. I'll believe the book. So if you believe the Bible here in Romans 8, then you can be persuaded like Paul is persuaded.

[44:11] It's a powerful thing that he just said here. And it's a lot of doctrine that we covered. And I'm telling you, we could have gone all night with the scripture on this thing about all these three points.

[44:24] And I hope this was sufficient. And there it was right there in the passage as he built up to this reasonable conclusion. Nothing can separate us. Praise the Lord for that. All right.

[44:35] Let's be dismissed with a word of prayer. Our God, thank you for what we've studied in this book. Thank you for your words, for the truth, for how reliable they are.

[44:47] We don't doubt or question any of them. We believe them. Thank you for making salvation a free gift. Thank you for taking it all upon yourself and for giving up or delivering up your son for us.

[45:03] God, we are unworthy. May we see the reality of this and fall in love with you and offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you.

[45:16] Please enjoy our lives as we live them for you. Get pleasure out of us. Help us to fight the desires and lusts of the wretched man in us and the sinner in us.

[45:29] Please deliver us soon and please give us the victory through Jesus Christ. Thank you for these promises. They are blessed and we hold them dearly. And we thank you for them in Jesus' name.

[45:41] Amen. Amen. You're dismissed.