WEBVTT 00:00:00.740 --> 00:00:06.160 Good morning. I'm Dan. I'm Dan Bielman. I'm an associate pastor here at Church of the Advent. 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:12.439 Also with us this morning is Jeff Simpson. He is our pastoral intern. He's a pastor too here at 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:18.699 Church of the Advent. Next week we welcome the return after a much-deserved rest, our senior 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:28.719 pastor, Tommy Hinson. Hey, Tommy. And this morning we have Dr. Anwar Otley who led us in worship. We're 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:34.320 so glad you're here with us, Anwar. Can you welcome Anwar and thank him for leading us in worship? 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:45.420 So this morning we're going to look at the passage that Ellen read from Romans chapter 8. And if you've 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:51.960 been a Christian for a long time, you've probably recognized a few of those phrases or a few of those 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:59.259 verses. Perhaps you even have one of them memorized. And when we put all of those phrases and verses 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:06.519 together from Romans chapter 8, a few things stand out. The first, I don't know if you noticed, the first 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:15.900 is you hear all three persons of the Trinity invoked. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another thing that 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:23.060 stands out in that passage is the tone. This passage in Romans 8 is thick with relationship. 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:35.600 I like the very simple expression in verse 31 of God being for us. God is for us. I'd like to start there. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:48.259 And I'd like to ask you, what is it like for you when you know somebody is for you? When somebody is 100% 00:01:48.259 --> 00:01:57.079 for you, no matter what, no matter how many mistakes you make, no matter how fouled up or insecure you come 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:07.679 across, this person is for you. Perhaps you couldn't name anybody. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:17.159 You're not alone in this room, but I would like for you to imagine what that could be like. Would you 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:22.439 want that? Would you want somebody to be 100% for you? 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:33.780 Now for all of us, whether we have somebody like that in our lives or we can only imagine it, 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:40.840 let's consider now the king and maker of the universe in control of all things, 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:48.020 perfectly loving and good, being completely without reservation for you. 00:02:48.020 --> 00:02:54.600 Some of you may not believe that to be true. I'm asking you to imagine it's true. 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:59.240 What would that be like? Let's pray. 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:12.460 And as we pray, just take one more minute in quiet to consider the God of the universe is for us. 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:36.600 God, if you are for us, who can be against us? 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:44.620 We definitely delight in this part of your word. We delight in it more than riches. Thank you for 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:55.180 being for us. And now open our hearts to your word and open your word to our hearts. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:55.280 Amen. 00:03:57.620 --> 00:04:06.700 All right. So we have a passage where all three persons of the Trinity are invoked, and it's thick with relationship language. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:16.019 One commentator in looking at this passage observes that believers are caught up in the inner life of God. 00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:25.620 Christians, by virtue of being united to Jesus, are caught up in the inner life of God. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:30.620 We're going to use that as our lens to read through this passage. 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:33.120 But before we do, I'd like to address the children. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:38.120 Now, children, hopefully you have paper with you, a pencil or a pen. 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:40.740 I'd like you to draw a scene. Are you ready? 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:49.720 Here are your instructions. I'd like you to draw a scene of yourself in a situation where you felt you completely belonged. 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:55.800 Among people where you felt completely belonged. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:03.040 It could be, for instance, at a dinner table with your family, or it could be with your friends. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:11.120 It could be in a classroom where you felt completely belonged because the teacher was very welcoming and affirmed you. 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:17.320 It could be on your birthday, or at Christmas. 00:05:18.140 --> 00:05:20.920 So draw the scene with all of the parts. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.240 All right? If it's a meal, draw all the food. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.860 If it's a Christmas, draw all the gifts. 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:27.300 All right, you got some work to do. 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:29.340 We'll come back to this scene in a minute. 00:05:29.640 --> 00:05:29.960 All right? 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.879 But that's where you're going to start. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:33.759 Now, let's turn to the adults. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:38.620 I'd like to consider this phrase, the inner life of God. 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.519 What is the inner life of God? 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:45.480 What is it like on the inside of the Trinity? 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:47.480 Kind of hard to fathom and imagine. 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:56.459 And as many of you are probably aware, theologians have wrestled with the idea of the Trinity since the earliest days of the church. 00:05:56.459 --> 00:06:00.839 Deliberation over the nature of the Trinity in particular. 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:09.839 The second person, how these three interrelate, have been at the center of the early creeds, councils of the church. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:19.079 The church has known it is a matter that is not fully knowable by the finite minds of finite creatures. 00:06:19.719 --> 00:06:27.419 The best we can do is to say what is true based on what has been revealed to us in Scripture. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:33.819 The danger has always been going too far in what we say. 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:39.400 Now, Tommy preached a very good sermon about the Trinity on Trinity Sunday back on June 3rd. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.879 I highly recommend going back and listening to it. 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:49.779 For now, I will just summarize here that we can say that the Trinity is one in essence and three in person. 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.159 One in essence, three in person. 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:57.759 In the Trinity, there is both unity and distinction. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:02.180 The unity is without confusion of the three persons. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:08.659 And the distinction of the three is such that the three subsist within one divine nature. 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:14.920 And just to get a little academic, I'd like to read from the writings of the 8th century theologian, John of Damascus. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.020 He writes this. 00:07:19.140 --> 00:07:27.280 The abiding and resting of the persons in one another is not in such a manner that they coalesce or become confused, 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:31.160 but rather so that they adhere to one another. 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:43.620 I just want you to key in on those two words, mutual indwelling. 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:44.620 We'll come back to that. 00:07:45.020 --> 00:07:47.280 For the Son is the Father and the Spirit. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:48.379 I'm sorry. 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:49.280 Whoa, that's heresy. 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.980 Strike that from the recording. 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:56.400 For the Son is in the Father and the Spirit. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.420 And the Spirit is in the Father and the Son. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:03.180 And the Father is in the Son and the Spirit. 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:07.100 And there is no merging or blending or confusion like I did earlier. 00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:11.140 And there is one search and one movement of the three persons. 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:15.780 It is impossible for this to be found in any created nature. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:17.879 Okay. 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:18.960 There's a lot there. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.959 But I'd like to focus on the term mutual indwelling. 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:28.459 It is a translation of the Greek word perichoresis. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:31.180 It's a helpful word. 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:36.360 It gives us a glimpse into that inner life of the Trinity that I referred to earlier. 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.439 It comes from two different words. 00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:41.019 The first being para. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:44.019 And you might recognize that word from the word periscope, right? 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:44.740 It means around. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:48.740 And the word choresis shares the same root as the word choreography. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:51.659 And it refers to movement. 00:08:52.220 --> 00:08:53.840 Like dance. 00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:57.960 It does not mean literally to dance around. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:02.740 Just as the English word understand doesn't mean literally to stand under. 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:03.560 Under. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:11.740 However, dancing around could serve as a metaphor to help us fully grasp the meaning of the word perichoresis. 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:18.740 Perichoresis or mutual indwelling involves intimacy and relationship. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:20.580 Unity. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:21.840 Movement. 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:23.000 Dynamism. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:31.659 This mutual indwelling has existed from eternity past and extends into eternity. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:41.720 And a person is so epped up into this perichoresis, this mutual indwelling, when he or she becomes a Christian. 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:54.960 And this is because when we put our faith and trust in Jesus and are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we become united with Jesus. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:04.080 Paul presents our salvation, our status as Christians, primarily in terms of union with Christ. 00:10:04.180 --> 00:10:08.100 And it's really easy to miss as you read through his writings. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:12.100 Because it pops up all the time with little phrases like, in Christ Jesus. 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:15.540 So, for instance, in Romans 8, chapter 1, he writes, 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:19.299 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are what? 00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:20.120 Together? 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.120 In Christ Jesus. 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:29.699 This little phrase, in Christ, easily overlooked, appears all over the book of Romans, and especially chapter 8. 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.719 And it has profound implications. 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:37.259 If we are in union with the Son, we participate in the life of the Trinity. 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:43.819 And in Romans chapter 8, Paul highlights some of the benefits of this heavenly participation. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.840 We're going to look at three benefits. 00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:48.180 Prayer, mission, and hope. 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:48.940 So, this is my goal. 00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:49.379 All right? 00:10:49.760 --> 00:10:58.340 That when we read a passage like Romans 8, we can view this through the lens of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:03.740 Before we do, I'm going to ask the kids to add something to their drawing. 00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:04.120 Are you ready? 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.300 There wasn't much time. 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:06.400 All right? 00:11:06.660 --> 00:11:07.740 But can you add something else? 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:12.900 What I want you to do is, just on the outside of the scene, I want you to draw one more person. 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:14.260 Okay? 00:11:15.160 --> 00:11:19.020 And they feel outside of your sphere of belonging. 00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:19.680 Okay? 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:20.420 They feel alone. 00:11:22.040 --> 00:11:23.080 They're not on the inside. 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:24.100 They're on the outs. 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.379 And then I need you to write. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:29.840 Now, some of you, I think, can write and spell and write words. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.900 I want you to write words all around this person about how this person feels. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:33.260 Okay? 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.540 I'll get you started. 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:41.079 This person is probably sad and lonely, etc. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:44.579 You can ask your parents, if you're next to them, for help for more words. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:48.059 Okay. 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:53.519 While you're doing that, the adults are going to move on to Romans 8 with perichoresis in mind. 00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:57.360 How does this help us understand, for instance, prayer? 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:59.379 Well, we read in verse 26, 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:03.340 Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:06.560 For we do not know what to pray for as we ought. 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:11.500 But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:15.659 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit. 00:12:16.180 --> 00:12:20.200 Because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:30.379 And later, in verse 34, Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:41.800 So here we find prayer to be participation in a conversation among the persons of the Trinity. 00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:46.640 God the Spirit groans for us. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.899 God the Son intercedes before God the Father for us. 00:12:53.699 --> 00:12:59.360 This means that prayer, in a sense, is God praying to who? 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.279 God prays to God. 00:13:04.819 --> 00:13:06.319 That's comforting, isn't it? 00:13:07.299 --> 00:13:08.860 One philosopher put it this way. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:14.960 You cannot pray without God himself praying with you. 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:22.940 Who will refuse you if the one who grants is the same as the one who asks? 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:23.860 Isn't that beautiful? 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:33.340 Who will refuse you if the one who grants is the same as the one who asks? 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:39.340 Who will refuse you, Church of the Advent, if the one who prays is the one who grants? 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:46.720 Who will refuse you, brother, sister, if the one who prays is the same as the one who grants? 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.320 Who will refuse you, kids? 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:56.740 The one who prays is the same as the one who asks. 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:59.480 Excuse me, the one who grants is the same as the one who asks. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.960 So do you see how we're brought into the inner life of God when we pray? 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:14.180 Prayer gives us a glimpse of that perichoresis, that mutual indwelling of the Trinity. 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:18.380 Now does this mean that God gives us whatever we want? 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.659 It's a good question. 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.799 No, it does not mean that. 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.519 But he does answer every prayer. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:25.899 Now think about it this way. 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.939 We all have inner conversations, right? 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:33.559 So I think, all right, I'm going to do this one thing. 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:37.960 And then I think to myself, eh, no, no, no, no, wait, maybe that's not a good idea. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:42.799 Why don't you, self, weigh the pros and the cons of this idea? 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:47.220 Okay, I think the cons outweigh the pros, so I'm not going to do that. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:51.279 Now I imagine this is what it's like in prayer, right? 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:56.980 Sometimes my prayer doesn't always align with what is best for me, what God wants for me. 00:14:57.060 --> 00:15:01.560 It doesn't align according to his will, so the answer is going to be no, right? 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.120 But when my will aligns with God's will, yes. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.279 The answer is yes. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:17.000 As we participate in God, we are slowly transformed to ask the things that God wants. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.559 What does God want? 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:24.480 That brings us to the second benefit of being united with Jesus. 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:28.559 We participate in God's mission to the world. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:37.119 We participate through our union with Christ in the life of the Trinity and God's mission to the world. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:45.119 Earlier in Romans 8, we read that creation is groaning, waiting for the healing and redemption of the world. 00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:49.739 And then we read the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings. 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.859 One commentator puts it this way. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:54.320 He puts these two together and writes, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:16:03.639 The point Paul is making is that the Spirit's own very self intercedes within the Christian precisely at the point where he or she, 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:06.940 faced with the ruin and misery of the world, 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:11.560 finds that there are no words left to express in God's presence, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:15.759 the sense of futility and the longing for redemption. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:24.840 In other words, over time, we are transformed into the image of Christ. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.720 We become Christ-shaped. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:34.299 And that means we share Christ's determination to see the world transformed. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:36.460 We see what looks like futility. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:40.679 We see injustice, suffering, poverty, and war. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.819 And our prayers become transformed. 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:55.620 And both our words and our actions become intercessions on behalf of the world that Jesus is determined to heal and renew. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:03.600 As we participate in that mission, we don't despair. 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:06.320 We don't despair for ourselves. 00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:10.960 This is the third way that we participate in the life of the Trinity. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.440 According to these verses. 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.100 There's other ways. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:18.840 But Paul writes in verse 28, and many of you might know this one by heart. 00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:23.460 We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:27.900 For those who are called according to his purpose. 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:35.940 The whole letter of Romans is about God's unshakable and sovereign love. 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:39.279 God's purposes for us. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.120 His love for us. 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:48.400 Is grounded in his eternal will and his eternal decree from eternity past. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:59.779 If we're united to Jesus and we participate in his life, how could it be otherwise that not only has he known us from eternity past, but he has chosen us. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:03.180 Paul writes this. 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:18.559 Those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:24.099 Our union with Christ did not come as a surprise to God. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:30.779 It's not like the Trinity was a whale swimming in the wibbly, wobbly waters of space-time. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.700 And then we, like a sucker fish, bam, latched on to the Trinity. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.119 Whoa! 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.279 What just happened there? 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.519 Oh, I'm so glad you're along. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.079 For the ride. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.319 Let's take you somewhere you need to go. 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:39.720 No. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:42.660 That's not like that. 00:18:44.339 --> 00:19:00.799 If the three persons of the Trinity are co-eternal, existing in perichoresis since eternity past, then our union with Christ has been a part of that eternal conversation since before the foundations of the world. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:07.059 Perhaps some of you are wondering, what about free will? 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:18.879 And to that, all I have to say is it's a misconception that God's sovereignty and free will are opposed and exclusive of one another. 00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:34.119 This misconception is based on, I would suggest, a rather two-dimensional, rather than a three-dimensional understanding of how God's actions and human actions relate to one another. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.500 Okay? 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:40.460 That misconception sees if God is doing one thing, that means humans aren't. 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:43.220 Or if humans are doing one thing, that means God isn't. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.240 Those aren't opposed to each other. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:56.680 As Charles Spurgeon said, when asked if he could reconcile God's sovereignty with man's responsibility, he said, I wouldn't try to reconcile the two. 00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.700 Because the two are friends. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:00.599 I never reconcile friends. 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:23.519 And the point that Paul is making here is that the fruit of justification, that is the fruit of being found in Jesus, of being seen as fully righteous, as being welcomed as God's sons and daughters, the fruit is rooted in eternity past. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.519 That's what Paul wants us to see. 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.180 That's what Paul wants us to see. 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:30.259 He wants to bring comfort to a congregation that's going to face the violence of Rome. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:40.980 You are known and chosen from eternity past. 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:46.640 From eternity past to eternity future, you are on his heart. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:53.380 To drive this point home, Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.480 So kids, I need you to put your paper away. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.540 I need your help with this. 00:20:57.020 --> 00:20:57.920 I'm going to have you stand up. 00:20:58.300 --> 00:21:02.500 If you're a kid, elementary school age or younger, stand up. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:06.640 Kids, do you know what a rhetorical question is? 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:12.779 Rhetorical question, when somebody's making an argument, they ask a question and assume you know the answer. 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:13.980 All right? 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:18.720 But some of us actually don't know the answers to these questions. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.079 So we need you to answer the question for us. 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:27.380 I'm going to ask the same questions that Paul asks, and you are going to yell out, nobody! 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.319 Let's practice. 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.160 Ready? 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:32.740 Question, question, question. 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.840 Question mark, go! 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.840 Yes! 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:36.420 Thank you. 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.480 Thank you. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.759 All right. 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.360 Starting in verse 31. 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.279 Ready, kids? 00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:47.660 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.480 That's right. 00:21:50.040 --> 00:21:52.640 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.480 That's right. 00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.100 Who is to condemn? 00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:59.960 Who can accuse us? 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:03.400 Can anybody separate us from the love of God? 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:05.340 No. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.200 Who can separate us from the love of God? 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.539 Nobody. 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.660 Thank you. 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.200 Thank you. 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.220 Why don't you have a seat? 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.200 Let's all answer that question together. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.460 Ready? 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.079 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.480 Together? 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.799 Nobody. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:22.940 Well, let's put this all together, starting in verse 31. 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:29.980 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:33.740 That's right. 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:41.620 He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:44.759 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.900 It is God. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.440 Thank you. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.120 It is God who justifies. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.180 Who is to condemn? 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:56.620 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.019 More than that, who was raised. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.360 Who is at the right hand of God. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.320 Who indeed is interceding for us. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:09.179 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:16.279 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:18.720 No. 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:21.759 In all these things we are more than what? 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.559 Conquerors. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:25.500 Through him who loved us. 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:33.419 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:39.880 neither height, nor depth, nor anything in all creation, could separate us from the love of God. 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:42.220 That is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:46.440 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.440 Amen. 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.019 Let's pray. 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.519 Thank you. 00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:02.800 Thank you, Father, for loving us. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:09.100 Jesus, thank you for saving us. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:16.120 Holy Spirit, thank you for renewing us. 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.800 Amen.