Lisa told me a story several years ago about the debilitating power of fear.
A family in her community had a break-in in their home.
Several personal items were stolen.
Well, from that time on, they lived in fear that it would happen again.
They dealt with their fear by never leaving their house unattended.
Either the husband or the wife would always stay at home, as they put it, to guard the house.
They took turns going wherever they did.
They took turns going to the store, going to church, even going to family gatherings.
Now, everyone who knew their situation made fun of them.
At family gatherings, someone would ask the one who was there,
Well, where's Mary? Or where's John?
Knowing the answer.
But the man or the woman, they would always respond very seriously.
He or she is at home, guarding the house.
Now, that man and that woman, they were prisoners of their own fears and insecurities.
They apparently had no concept of acting responsibly and trusting God with their lives, their possessions, their everything.
Now, some Christians have similar insecurities.
Do you?
If I gave you a piece of paper this morning and asked you to write down your honest feelings about your relationship with God,
what would you write?
Would it be more, if you're honest now, would it be more about your fears?
Or would it be more about the peace and joy you have because of your relationship with God?
If you were to be totally honest, would you write down more about your doubts or your trust and confidence in God?
Romans 8 is one of the most well-known and well-loved chapters in the Bible
because it gives us as Christians reasons why we should be joyful,
why we should have peace,
why we should be able to live in confidence because we're trusting God.
Now, many Christians consider that Romans 8, verses 31-39
contain the most convincing and comforting promises in all the Bible.
I want us to look at those verses this morning.
If you would, open your Bible to Romans 8, verses 31-39,
and I want us to see how God so powerfully assures us in these verses that He is for us.
You know, we are going through an unprecedented time of crisis in our country right now.
It's something that we can't get away from.
It's on our minds constantly.
It's something that every rational person knows it's real,
and we need to take it very seriously.
We as Christians, we have and will suffer loss during this crisis.
Not all Christians, but some of us, we will suffer maybe a loss of health, job, money.
Some may even lose their lives.
You and I, here even in Pickens County,
we may suffer some kind of real loss during this crisis.
But I want us to understand, neither this virus nor any form of evil
will defeat you or me if we are God's children.
God's Word is clear.
He is for us.
I want you to make that personal.
I want you to write your name in this line.
God is for, put your name there.
I am confident that God is for Fred Stone.
Romans chapter 8, verses 31 through 39,
explain why we can have such confidence that God is for us.
Look first in verses 32 and 33.
God will never allow anything to destroy us.
Let's read these verses.
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?
Now look at that first question.
What then shall we say to these things?
These things refers to what's been said in the previous verses.
For example, in verse 28, a verse that I have called attention to the last two Sundays.
It says,
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose.
Now think about it.
Paul introduces the promises of verses 31 through 39 that explain how God is for us
by reminding us that God works in all things for our good.
Now look at the second question.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Did you note, Paul does not ask who is against us?
Because the truth is, many things are against us.
Many things are against God and God's people.
The devil is against us every day.
And sometimes he stirs up some people to oppose us.
There are all kinds of sinful and evil forces that are against us, that we do battle with.
And what we're dealing with right now in our country, this crisis, it is against us.
Paul's point is that since God is for us, it does not matter who is against us.
It doesn't matter who or what opposes us.
Having God on our side really is all that we need.
But Paul doesn't stop here.
He points out the most convincing way that God has shown that He is for us
and that nothing can ever destroy us.
Look at 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 has already given us the greatest gift that He could give.
He gave His Son.
There's nothing more precious to God than His Son.
Now, if you are a parent, you understand that perfectly well.
Think about what Paul is saying.
If God has given His Son for us,
we can be confident that God will never withhold anything from us
that we need to serve His purpose.
For illustration's sake, this is not going to happen,
but let's just pretend.
Suppose the president of BMW contacts you tomorrow
and says that he has chosen you to receive a brand new BMW.
All you've got to do is come to the Spartanburg plant,
show your identification,
and you can drive it home.
It's yours.
Now, what if you go to the plant tomorrow?
You tell them your name.
You show them your ID.
They take you to where the car is parked.
You get in there.
You get ready to crank it up,
but it won't start.
It won't do anything.
Well, you get out,
and the people who are getting ready,
you know, who are helping you with this,
they pop the hood.
There's no battery there.
There's no battery in that brand new BMW.
Now, that's not going to prevent you from getting the car.
If the president of BMW has promised you that car,
he's going to make sure that whatever you need
to drive it home, you're going to get.
Think about it.
If God has already given his son for us,
we can rest assured that he will give us everything else that we need,
everything that we need to serve him,
to be who it is he's called us to be in this world,
in our families, in this community.
God will never let anything destroy us.
The next thing Paul tells us,
God will never allow anything to condemn us.
Look in verses 33 and 34.
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.
Now, look at that first question.
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
Or we could rephrase that,
who can accuse God's chosen people?
This question brings up the possibility
of a Christian being accused of wrongdoing.
Well, that does happen, doesn't it?
Sometimes our own conscience even accuses us.
Haven't you ever thought,
how can I expect God to forgive me
after doing something like that?
The devil also accuses us.
In fact, that's one of his main jobs.
He is the accuser.
He accuses us,
he condemns us,
and he tempts us to doubt
that God has really forgiven us,
even though we're trusting in Jesus
and him alone for our salvation.
But Paul wants us to understand
that if we are united to Christ by faith,
it doesn't matter who accuses us.
It doesn't matter if it comes from within or without.
God has, he tells us, justified us.
Look at the phrase,
it is God who justifies.
That means he has declared us to be righteous.
He has declared us to be right with him,
and it's all through our faith in Jesus.
Now, this does not mean,
Paul's not saying that Christians never sin.
We do, and we know that we do.
But God declares that we are right with him,
that we are not guilty before him,
because Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins.
He has taken our punishment
through his death on the cross.
If you have confessed your sins to God,
I want you to know that he has forgiven you,
and any lingering guilt that you have
is unhealthy guilt.
In fact, it's false guilt.
We can be confident
that whenever we sin against God,
if we confess our sin,
agree with God about it,
turn from it, repent,
God does forgive us.
He cleanses us,
and he restores us to fellowship with himself.
Look at this verse from 1 John chapter 1.
If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you've sinned against God,
but you're denying it,
you're trying to act like everything's okay,
if you've sinned against God,
but you refuse to come to him
in true, humble confession and repentance,
you should feel guilty.
That's real guilt.
Now, sin in the life of a Christian
does not destroy our relationship with God,
but it certainly does destroy
our close fellowship with him.
That's why it is so important
that we confess our sins
as soon as we're convicted,
as soon as we are aware
that we have sinned against God,
we have dishonored him,
we need to confess it.
We need to talk to God about it.
We need to repent of it.
Change our mind.
Turn from it.
Confession restores
our real fellowship
with our Heavenly Father.
And when we humbly,
brokenly
confess our sins to God,
we're demonstrating to him
our desire to please him,
our holy and loving Heavenly Father.
Now look with me at the next question.
Verse 34, the first part.
Who is to condemn?
Just like the previous question,
there are many sources of condemnation
in our lives.
Again, our conscience,
the devil,
our enemies.
But Paul ignores
all sources of condemnation
by assuring us
that our Lord Jesus Christ,
he is at the right hand
of our Father
interceding,
speaking up for us.
He's doing it right now.
Look at the last part of verse 34.
Christ Jesus,
the one who died,
more than that who was raised,
who is at the right hand of God,
who indeed is interceding for us.
Look at how Jesus is described
in that verse.
It says he died.
He died on the cross for our sins.
It says he was raised.
Jesus was brought back from the dead.
He was raised by the power of God.
And when God did that,
he was demonstrating
that he has accepted
Jesus' sacrifice for us.
The scripture verse says,
he is now at the right hand of God
interceding for us.
Think about Jesus
as our defense attorney.
He's sitting right beside
God the judge,
defending us,
speaking up for us,
letting the Father know,
he or she's with me.
I've paid the penalty
for their sins.
I've made them right with you.
And they're trusting me
and resting in me for that.
I can't imagine a more powerful way
to describe how safe and secure
we are
if we are trusting in,
resting in
the Lord Jesus
as our Savior and Lord.
You know,
right now,
there's much uncertainty
about what is happening
to us,
happening all around us
in terms of
physical health,
financial stability,
even
our family's
safety.
We really don't know
what God's will
is
about any of these things.
We don't know
God's will
in advance
about such things.
But let's just be honest.
The truth is,
the reality is,
everyone
eventually
dies.
You,
me,
our family members.
The truth is,
we will leave
everything we own
behind.
our money,
our material
possessions.
We're not going to
hold on to these
things forever.
They're just a part
of life in this world.
We're not going to
take anything with us
when we leave
this world.
You know,
what I'm describing
now,
this is just a part
of living in a
fallen,
sinful world.
It was true
before the
present
coronavirus crisis,
and it'll be true
after this passes.
But we,
as God's children,
we can have
confidence
that right now
in this world
and for all
eternity in heaven,
that God
is for us.
God is with us.
And God will
take care of us.
In Christ,
united Christ
by faith,
we are
eternally safe.
and eternally
secure.
Let's look at
this last
promise.
God will never
let anything
destroy us
or condemn us,
and God
will never
allow anything
to separate us
from His love
and the love
of Christ.
Look with me,
if you would,
at verse 35,
then verses
37 through 39.
Who shall
separate us
from the love
of Christ?
Shall
tribulation
or distress
or persecution
or famine
or nakedness
or danger
or sword?
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.
A powerful
statement,
isn't it?
Paul does
his best
to describe
how nothing
in all creation
can ever
separate us
from His love
and the love
of the Lord Jesus.
In his book,
In the Grip
of Grace,
Brian Chappell
tells a true story
that's one of the
best illustrations
of the love
of God
and the love
of Christ
that I have
ever read.
Listen to this.
On a Sunday,
August the 16th,
1987,
Northwest Airlines
Flight 225
crashed
just after taking off
from the Detroit
Airport.
155 people
were killed.
One survived.
A four-year-old girl
from Tempe,
Arizona
named Cecilia.
News accounts
say that when
rescuers found
Cecilia,
they did not believe
she had been
on the plane.
The crash
was so devastating
it did not seem
possible that anyone
could have survived.
Investigators
first thought
that Cecilia
had been a passenger
in one of the cars
on the highway
where the airliner
crashed.
But then they
checked the flight's
register,
passenger register,
and there was
Cecilia's name.
As the crash
investigators
meticulously
pieced together
the details
of the crash
along with
Cecilia's
personal account,
the mystery
of her survival
disappeared
in the story
of her mother's
heroic efforts.
The experts
explain that the
reason Cecilia
survived
is that
as the plane
was falling
out of the air,
Cecilia's mother,
Paula,
unbuckled her
own seatbelt,
got down on her
knees in front
of her daughter,
wrapped her arms
and body
around Cecilia,
and would not
let her go.
Nothing could
separate
that child
from her mother
and her mother's
love.
Not tragedy
or disaster,
not falling
from the sky
or the flames
that followed
on the ground,
not life
or death.
That is the love
that the Lord
has for us.
That is the kind
of love
that He
has
for us
today.
Think about it.
Jesus
covered us
with the sacrifice
of His own
body
in order
to save us.
He will never
let us go.
He will never
let you
or me
go.
He
He has
taken care
of us.
He will
take care
of us.
Nothing
can ever
separate us
from His
love.
Not sin,
not circumstances,
not even
the demons
of hell.
I want
to encourage
you.
Read these
verses,
Romans 8
verses 31
through 39
again today
and even
this week
leading up
to Easter.
Keep in
mind that
this is
the Word
of God
to His
children.
God is
for you.
That's what
this chapter,
that's what
this passage
is telling
us,
promising
us in
great detail.
God is
for you.
He will
not allow
anything
to destroy
you,
to condemn
you,
or to
separate
you from
His love
and the
love of
Jesus Christ.
If you
are not
a child
of God,
I want to
encourage you
to come
to Him
now.
There is
no better
time than
right now.
And the
scripture makes
the way
clear.
Listen to
this verse,
for God
so loved
the world
that He
gave His
only Son,
that whoever
believes in
Him should
not perish,
but have
eternal life.
Listen to
this promise,
but to all
who did
receive Him,
who believed
in His
name,
He gave
the right
to become
children
of God.
That's
describing you.
If you'll
admit your
sin,
repent,
put your
trust in
Jesus and
call upon
Him to
save you,
He will.
You can
become a
child of
God now
through faith
in Jesus.
I want to
close with
some familiar
words that
come from a
song that
most of us
learned as
children.
But these
words,
they're not
just a
children's
song.
These words
can provide
comfort and
assurance
to us at
any age,
at any
time,
and especially
during this
time of
crisis.
Listen,
Jesus loves
me.
This I
know,
for the
Bible tells
me so.
Let's pray
together.
Father,
Father, we
are so
grateful for
such promises
of how you
are for us,
you are with
us, and
that you
will now
never allow
anything to
destroy us,
to condemn
us, or to
separate us from
your love.
Father, I
pray right
now for
Christians,
members of
our church
family, who
are struggling
with doubt,
who lack
assurance, and
the circumstances
of this
crisis have
made those
doubts
increase.
Lord, I
pray that you
will assure
them that if
they are trusting
in Jesus and
him alone for
their salvation,
they are your
children.
You will
never leave
them nor
forsake them.
Help them,
Father, to
rest in the
promises of
your word.
I pray,
Father, that you
will replace
their doubt
with confidence
today.
I pray,
Father, that you
will help
them to look
to you, the
objective truth,
promises of
your word.
And,
Father, I pray
also that you
will work
inwardly through
your spirit to
assure them that
you love them,
that you have
chosen them,
that through
faith in
Jesus,
they are and
will be
eternally
secure.
In Jesus'
name we pray.
Amen.