I hope that the study of Romans has been encouraging to you.
I hope especially chapter 8.
! It's been such a joy for myself to sit and rest in this chapter.
We normally preach the Advent themes and just thought this year it would be great to press on through.
And today's Advent theme is the Advent theme of love.
And this text helps us fix our gaze on that very thing.
So I'm grateful for the way this is timed out as we approach Christmas Day tomorrow.
So let me just begin by reading the text.
Before I do, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us, written for his glory and our good.
And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
Romans 8, beginning in verse 31.
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the one who died.
More than that who was raised, who is at the right hand of God,
who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written,
For your sake we are being killed all the day long.
We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul begins this part of Romans 8 with a question.
What then shall we say to these things?
And what things is Paul referring to?
Well, he's referring directly to chapter 8 verses 28 through 30,
where Paul speaks of the unstoppable plan of God to pursue his people to the end.
In this text is contained a brief order of salvation,
the main point of which is that God acts, God accomplishes, and God maintains.
Oh, recall, beloved, that these three verses are meant to be comfort to the weary soul.
Since the end of chapter 7, Paul has expressed the challenge of living in our corrupted flesh
and living in a corrupted world.
And then he says, beginning in verse 28,
And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good
for those who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of a son,
in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined, he also called.
And those whom he called, he also justifies.
And those whom he justified, he also glorified.
And last week we considered these verses in terms of the confidence that is ours in this life.
Paul says, and we know.
And we considered it in three points.
First, our confidence in God's providence.
So providence is God's purposeful sovereignty.
It's him working in his power to accomplish purpose for us.
And if you are a Christian, then anything and everything that happens in your life
is being used of God for your good.
We saw, secondly, that we have a confidence in God's purpose.
What is that purpose?
What is it that he is working providentially to accomplish in our lives?
We saw that we would look more and more like Christ to the praise of Christ.
And we saw, thirdly, our confidence in God's plan.
If we are to have the confidence that Paul here states we are to have,
then we must be confident in God's plan.
You will not weather well the storms this life will assail you with
apart from an anchored confidence in all that God has guaranteed for you
in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
And verse 31 is an elaboration of the very point that Paul has been making
concerning our confidence.
So he asks a question,
What then shall we say to these things?
And he answers that question,
If God is for us, who can be against us?
This is an answer worth settling into.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
When life is full of trouble,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
When you feel like an outsider at work or with your family
because you're trying to live a holy life,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
When it seems that we live in an age that has abandoned all truth and reasonableness,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
When the American church appears to be crumbling down around us,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
When you or someone you love dearly receives a tragic diagnosis,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
When you struggle against your flesh and it falters and it fails,
if God is for us, who can be against us?
Let this answer framed as a question,
a response to God's providence and purpose and plan,
be emblazoned across your mind.
Have it be your ruling thought,
despite how desperate you may feel in any given moment,
if God is for us,
who can be against us?
No one and nothing.
Because we know that for those who love God,
all things work together for good.
Every bit of trouble in this life,
if God is for us,
we know that God is working it for the great good
that we would look like Christ for Christ.
So, who can be against us?
Paul then asks and answers four follow-up questions
that are meant to help us consider this reality
that if God is for us,
no one can be against us.
Before we look at those four questions and answers,
I want us to notice the qualifying factor
in all that Paul is saying.
He says,
if God is for us.
It is also possible that God is not for you,
and the basis of this being,
for or not for,
is whether or not you are in Christ.
Let's not neglect the context of Paul's phrase here.
Paul is speaking directly to Christians in this letter.
Those who are professing faith in Jesus Christ.
Remember in Romans chapter 8 and verse 1,
he says,
There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Every person, he has said,
Romans chapter 3,
has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
We deserve condemnation,
but for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8, 1 says,
there is no condemnation.
He goes on to say in chapter 8, verse 5,
Those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit
set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
So, there's two categories of people, right?
Those who are in Christ
and those who are not in Christ.
Those who have the Spirit
and therefore set their minds
on the things of the Spirit
and those who do not have the Spirit
and do not set their minds
on the things of the Spirit.
Those who for there is no condemnation
and those who there is condemnation.
Those that God is for
and those that God is not for.
Romans 8, 9 says,
You, however,
are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit,
if in fact the Spirit of God
dwells in you.
And so Paul expresses some concern here
that perhaps those who are professing
faith in Christ
are not actually in Christ
and therefore Christ is not in them
by the Spirit.
And then he says,
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
does not belong to Him.
And so we just must ask the question,
as Paul is making this case to us,
that if we are in Christ,
then Christ is in us by the Spirit
and we will be setting our minds
on the things of the Spirit,
namely His Word,
that we would be affectionate toward
and have the ruling thoughts in our life
be those things that are of God.
And so, what most occupies your mind?
What do you think about
when you seem to be thinking about nothing at all?
Is your general disposition bent Godward or not?
These are important things for us to consider
and to think about.
How do our affections for the things of God
stir us to the activity of God?
Elsewhere, Paul says,
this is Galatians 5, verse 22 and 23,
the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
God works things into us
that He works then out of us
by the power of the Spirit.
And if we are in Christ,
if God is for us,
then He is also in us
working on our behalf.
And so, consider carefully this morning,
is God for you?
Do you fit in this category
as an adopted Son of God?
And I do hope that you can join us
this morning in confidently saying,
and we know.
Because if you can then,
if God is for you,
no one can be against you.
If you are in Christ Jesus,
then this reality includes you.
You are safe because you are saved by God.
God is for you.
So, now that we've dealt with the qualifying factor,
let's look at Paul's follow-up questions and answers.
Number one, verse 32,
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?
God's commitment to us
is most readily seen at the cross.
He gave His very own Son
to ransom us from the clutches of our sin
and to bring us to Himself.
What clear picture do we need
of God's concern for us?
John 3, 16.
John writes,
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only Son
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
but have eternal life.
The prophet Isaiah records in Isaiah 53,
this is verses 4-6,
and then verse 10.
Surely, Christ has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows.
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God,
and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions.
He was crushed for our iniquities.
Upon Him was the chastisement
that brought us peace,
and with His wounds
we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray.
We have turned everyone to His own way.
And the Lord has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all.
Yet it was the will of the Lord
to crush Him.
He has put Him to grief.
When His soul makes an offering for guilt,
He shall see His offspring.
He shall prolong His days.
The will of the Lord
shall prosper in His hand.
God the Father
gave to us
God the Son
that we might
be brought back into relationship
with Him.
So Paul reasons
if God the Father
was willing to give up for us
God the Son,
how will He not also with Him
graciously give us
all things?
That is, how could it be possible
that having started
with the greatest of gifts,
will He not complete
His plan
of spiritual blessing
for us?
Again, don't forget the context.
Just a few verses ago,
Paul said in verse 16 and 17,
the Spirit Himself bears witness
with our spirit
that we are children of God.
and if children,
then heirs,
heirs of God
and fellow heirs
with Christ,
provided we suffer with Him
in order that we may also
be glorified
with Him.
So Paul goes on
to talk about how
the suffering of this world
isn't even worth comparing
to the glory
that's being revealed to us
and how the creation
and we
and the Spirit within us
all groan
for this future
glory.
So what is the
all things
that God has promised
to give to us?
It's all of the spiritual blessing
that He's mentioned
in verse 28
through 30
that culminates finally
in our glorification.
Right?
How could it be possible
that Him who gave us
His very Son
will not also give us
all things?
If God is for us,
who can be against us?
The second question
that He asks
we find in verse 33.
Who shall bring
any charge
against God's elect?
And He answers it,
it is God
who justifies.
God is the judge
and the justifier.
We have been declared
righteous
in His court.
We stand before God
guilty of our own accord
and we have
no
defense.
When entering our plea,
our plea can only be
guilty
when charged
with our crimes.
But another,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
just before our sentencing,
declares
mine.
Mine.
This one belongs
to me
and I have paid
the penalty
for his sin
and I have given him
my righteousness.
He accomplishes this
on our behalf
in the courtroom
of God.
John MacArthur
wrote of this text,
God conceived the law,
revealed the law,
interprets the law,
and applies the law.
And through the sacrifice
of His Son,
all the demands
of the law
have been met
for those
who trust
in Him.
Who shall bring
any charge
against God's elect?
It is God
who justifies,
declares
righteous.
Our punishment
taken from us,
eternal reward
given to us
because of Jesus'
perfect
law-keeping.
We find
another qualifier
in this
text.
Paul says,
who shall bring
any charge
against God's
elect?
And once again,
Paul is not
trying to pick
a theological
fight.
Not at all
what he is
doing here.
He's going to
launch into
some future
chapters of
working out
all of the
implications
of the glories
he states
at the end
of chapter 8.
He here
is just
teaching
Christians
that their
confidence
is not
in their
works,
but in
God's
working
on their
behalf.
This should
do nothing
but
comfort us.
This truth
is
complex,
I will
admit.
God's
sovereignty
in our
salvation
is complex.
The doctrine
of election
gives us
much to
think about,
but let
us not
miss
that it
is
good.
You
were loved
by God
long before
you did
anything,
good
or bad,
anything.
Paul says
in Ephesians
chapter 1
verse 3
and following,
Blessed be
the God
and Father
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ,
who has
blessed us
in Christ
with every
spiritual
blessing
in the
heavenly
places,
even as
he chose
us in
him before
the foundation
of the
world,
that we
should be
holy and
blameless
before him.
In love
he predestined
us for
adoption to
himself as
sons through
Jesus Christ
according to
the purpose
of his
will,
to the
praise of
his glorious
grace with
which he
has blessed
us in
the
beloved.
Beloved,
if you do
not like
the doctrine
of election,
then you
cannot love
the doctrine
of eternal
security.
They are
cause and
effect.
And this
doctrine is
always taught
to us for
this great
end, that
we would
know that
if we belong
to God,
that he
will keep
us to
the end.
Who shall
bring any
charge against
God's elect?
It is God
who justifies.
God is
for us.
Who can
be against
us?
The third
question he
asks,
verse 34,
who is
to condemn?
Similar to
the question
he asked
previously in
verse 33.
And he
answers it,
Christ Jesus
is the one
who died,
more than
that who
was raised,
who is at
the right
hand of
God,
who is
indeed
interceding
for us.
Jesus
Christ was
condemned in
our place
and paid
the penalty
for our
sin.
He bore
the eternal
wrath that
was justly
due to
us.
This is the
doctrine of
penal
substitutionary
atonement and
is central
to the good
news.
We deserved
a punishment
and he took
it on himself
in our
place.
He atoned
for the wrath
of God
that was
due us.
We will
celebrate
Christmas
tomorrow.
And while
as we think
about the
incarnation,
it is important
to reflect
upon the
humility
of the
second part
of the
Godhead
in the
form of
a baby
lying
in a
feed trough.
We ought
not forget
why,
though,
he was
incarnate.
It is good
to think
about him
humbly
coming
as a baby,
but he
came for
a purpose.
A baby
born as
a king
to rule
and to
reign.
Sometimes I
think our
focus gets a
little shifted
too heavily
in one
direction.
Remember
Jesus said
in Mark
10,
verse 45,
the Son
of Man
came not
to be
served,
but to
serve and
to give
his life
as a
ransom
for many.
Jesus'
focus was
fixed on
the purpose
for which
he came,
to die
in our
place.
Jesus Christ
is the
one who
died.
However,
his work
did not
end there.
He is
risen and
interceding
or praying
for us.
The text
says,
verse 34,
that Jesus
is at the
right hand
of God
and interceding
for us.
Hebrews 8,
1 states
that we
have such
a high
priest,
one who
is seated
at the
right hand
of the
throne
of the
majesty
in heaven.
So we
pick up
the detail
that not
only is
Jesus at
the right
hand of
the Father,
the place
of honor,
the place
of esteem,
but also
that he
is seated
there.
Jesus
declared in
his dying
breath,
it is
finished.
He has
no need
like the
earthly
priest to
continually
make
sacrifice
because
he
himself
was
that
sacrifice
and he
died
once
for all.
The work
is completed.
All that
he was sent
to accomplish
is guaranteed
by his
death
and
resurrection.
It is a
sure
thing
that all
that he
purchased
in his
death
will
come
to
believe
in him
and
will
persist
to the
end.
2 Corinthians
chapter 1
the first
part of
verse 20
says
for all
the promises
of God
find their
yes
in
Christ.
Finished
work.
Guaranteed
result.
And Paul
tells us
as we live
in this
age of
already
and not
yet
that
Jesus
is
praying
for
us.
This
is just
an
unfathomable
depth.
I don't
have much
to say
about it.
He's
told us
previously
in this
chapter
that the
Spirit
intercedes
for us
and now
that
Christ
Jesus
intercedes
for us.
What
glorious
truths
these are.
As we
walk in
this
difficult
life
and it
is
surely
difficult
we
should
be
comforted
that
the
Godhead
prays
for us
works
on our
behalf
for what
purpose
that our
holiness
would bring
about the
praise
of Christ.
He is
with us
and he
is for
us.
If God
is for
us
who
could
be
against
us?
The
fourth
and last
question
that he
asks
verse
35
who
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ?
Paul's
answer
to this
question
also
implies
or
what
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ?
And
his
emphatic
answer
is
nothing.
Nothing.
Shall
tribulation
or
distress
or
persecution
or
famine
or
nakedness
or
danger
or
sword?
As it
is
written,
for
your
sake
we
are
being
killed
all
the
day
long.
We
are
regarded
as
sheep
to be
slaughtered.
Shall
all of
the
trouble
that
this
world
can
throw
at
us
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ?
And
he
does
this
very
interesting
thing
in
verse
36.
He
cites
Psalm
44
and
verse
22.
And
it
feels
upon
first
reading
it
like
an
unnecessary
assertion.
It
feels
as if
Paul
under the
inspiration
of the
Spirit
feels
like
he
needs
to
prove
himself
from
the
Old
Testament
as we
often
do
in our
preaching.
We
draw on
text
to say
this
thing
I'm
saying
to
you
is
not
a
crazy
thing.
Look
here
it
is
in
the
Bible.
I
think
Paul
felt
the
need
to
do
that
to
prove
himself
from
the
Old
Testament
text.
So he
must be
doing
something
more
interesting
than that.
So join
me if
you will
in
Psalm
44.
While
you're
getting there
I'm just
going to
tell you
that in
verses
1-8
the
psalmist
recounts
the past
glories
of
Israel's
history.
The way
that
God
had
worked
on
behalf
of
Israel.
Verse
1 says
O
God we
have
heard
with
our
ears
our
fathers
have
told
us
what
deeds
you
performed
in
their
days
in
the
days
of
old.
He
reaches
back
the
psalmist
does
to the
history
of the
way
that
God
had
worked
amongst
his
people
but
then
beginning
in
verse
9
he
laments
Israel's
present
state
and
declares
that
Israel
God's
people
had
not
forgotten
God
or
turned
away
from
him.
And then
he says
in
verse
22
this is
what
Paul
cites
in
Romans
8
yet
for
your
sake
we
are
killed
all
the
day
long
we
are
regarded
as
sheep
to be
slaughtered.
we
have
been
faithful
to
you
and
yet
it
seems
that
you
have
forgotten
us
because
we
are
being
killed
like
sheep.
You
see
Paul
cites
this
verse
to
explain
the
present
state
of
the
faithful.
Those
who
were
familiar
with
Psalm
44
would
have
understood
the
lament
of
the
psalmist.
We
will
experience
tribulation
and
distress
and
persecution
and
possibly
famine
or
destitution
or
danger
or
sword.
But then
the
psalmist
in
Psalm
44
goes
on.
Awake!
Why are
you
sleeping,
O Lord?
Rouse
yourself.
Do not
reject us
forever.
Why do
you hide
your face?
Why do
you forget
our
affliction
and
oppression?
For
our soul
is bound
down to
the dust.
Our
belly
clings
to the
ground.
Rise
up.
Come
to our
help.
redeem
us
for the
sake
of
your
steadfast
love.
Now we
probably,
when we
read
Romans
chapter
8,
and Paul
cites
Psalm
44
verse 22,
don't have
our minds
drawn to
the context
the way
his original
readers were.
We've got to
do a little
more work,
and I'm
doing that
work for
you at
the moment
this
morning.
Do you
see what
Paul is
doing by
citing
Psalm
44
22.
Paul is
stating,
under the
inspiration of
the Spirit,
that God
has come
to our
help.
He has
redeemed us,
and he has
done so
because of
his steadfast
love.
See that
connection
there?
So you
find yourself
in a
moment in
your life
feeling as
the psalmist
of Psalm
44 feels.
Why are you
sleeping,
O Lord?
Where are
you?
Have you
rejected me?
What's
going on?
You feel
like you're
a sheep
to be
slaughtered.
You feel
like you've
been separated
from the
love of
God.
Paul
says,
no.
Our
circumstances
may not
be
temporally
pleasant,
but we
are
eternally
blessed.
Verse 37,
no,
in all
these things
we are
more than
conquerors
through
him
who
loved
us.
Despite
everything
going on
in the
already
and the
not
yet,
we are
more
than
conquerors.
It is a
guaranteed
thing.
That we
will
receive
the
blessing
that
awaits
us.
This
glory
that
we
groan
for
because
if
God
is
for
us,
who
can
be
against
us?
Verse
38,
for I
am
sure,
and I
just
love
these
sweeping
comments.
That's
what Paul
is doing
here.
He
is
just
trying
to
encapsulate
every
possible
thing
that
might
come
into
your
mind,
that
might
separate
you
from
the
love
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord.
He
says,
I
am
sure
that
neither
death
nor
life,
nor
angels
nor
rulers,
nor
things
present,
nor
things
to
come,
nor
powers,
nor
height,
nor
depth,
nor
anything
else
in
all
creation
will
be
able
to
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord.
So
good.
Charles
Spurgeon
once
said,
God's
children
are
God's
children
anywhere
and
everywhere
and
shall
be
even
unto
the
end.
Nothing
can
sever
that
sacred
tie
or
divide
us
from
his
heart.
If
God
is
for
us,
who
can
be
against
us?
Romans
8 is
such
a
precious
chapter
in
the
Bible.
Some
have
argued
the
book of
Romans is
the
most
important
book
of the
Bible.
That
it's
the
hinge
on which
all of
the
truths
of
Scripture
swing
and
that
Romans
chapter
8
is
the
spindle,
which
is
that
little
thing
that
goes
down
the
middle
of
a
hinge
that
holds
it
all
together.
I
hope
you
don't
underestimate
the
significance
of
Romans
chapter
8,
especially
what
Paul
is
arguing
from
verse
28
and to
the
end
of
the
chapter.
It's
core to
what he's
teaching us
in this
book and
we're going
to work on
unpacking it
further in
the next
year.
Before I
conclude today
and pray for
us, I
just want to
read the end
of the chapter
again.
It brings me
such joy
to read it.
I'm going to
start in
verse 28,
read to the
end,
and pray
on our
behalf.
And we
know
that for
those who
love God,
all things
work together
for good,
for those
who are
called
according to
his purpose.
For those
whom he
foreknew,
he also
predestined
to be
conformed
to the
image of
his son,
in order
that he
might be
the first
born among
many
brothers.
And those
whom he
predestined,
he also
called.
And those
whom he
called,
he also
justified.
And those
whom he
justified,
he also
glorified.
What then
shall we
say to
these
things?
If God
is for
us,
who can
be against
us?
He did not
spare his
own son,
but gave
him up
for us
all.
How will
we not
also with
him graciously
give us
all things?
Who shall
bring any
charge against
God's elect?
It is God
who justifies.
Who is to
condemn?
Christ Jesus
is the one
who died,
more than
that who
was raised,
who is at
the right
hand of
God,
who indeed
is interceding
for us?
Who shall
separate us
from the
love of
Christ?
Shall
tribulation
or distress
or persecution
or famine
or nakedness
or danger
or sword?
As it is
written,
for your
sake were you
being killed
all the day
long,
were you
regarded as
sheep to
be slaughtered?
No,
in all these
things we are
more than
conquerors through
him who
loved us.
For I am
sure that
neither death
nor life,
nor angels
nor rulers,
nor things
present nor
things to
come,
nor powers,
nor height,
nor depth,
nor anything
else in all
creation will
be able to
separate us
from the love
of God in
Christ Jesus,
our Lord.