Amazing Benefits in Christ Romans 8:31-34
INTRODUCTION
What Then Shall We Say to these things? –
A. What can be said about what we have studied in Romans 8 thus far.
B. One commentator wrote “What can be added to them, they are a complete set of blessings, wanting nothing; nor can the greatness of them be fully expressed, or the freeness of God's grace displayed in them, sufficiently declared: what remains for us to do, but to be thankful for them, and glory in them? or what can be said "against" them? nothing at all, they cannot be contradicted or gainsaid; they are true and faithful sayings; they can never be made void, and of no effect, by hell or earth; nor ought our unbelieving hearts to have anything to say against interest in them:”
C. We might also take this question and apply it to the series of questions and answers that follow in verses 32-39.
D. Today’s Focus:
In Romans 8:31-34 we will eximine questions and answers that show three amazing benefits of the believers relationship with God.
I.
GOD’S
PROTECTION – 31 If God Be For Us
Who Can Be Against Us?
A.
If God be for
us –
1.
The word for us
is “huper” over us. God is over
us with his protection.
2.
Think of
God’s protection as over us as a huge shield.
B.
Who can be
Against Us?
1. The word against is “Katah” meaning down or against.
2.
No one can come
down on us if God is over us.
C.
We could
picture it as a little child at play but nearby hovering over him is dad.
Large and looming. He is
there as protection. Last week I
heard of a man who was who tried to steal a child by reaching over the back yard
fence. The father nearby ran him
off with a broom.
D.
There are
possible physical attacks and spiritual attacks against us.
E.
We are well
protected from the spiritual enemies that would attack us.
F.
Example of Job
Read Job 1:1-12
i.
Job’s life – blessed of the Lord.
1-5
ii.
God’s assessment of Job’s life 6-8
iii.
God’s hedge 9-12
iv.
From this example we assume that God has a hedge about us.
If
God did not have that hedge about us we would be in big trouble.
G.
If God be for
us who can be against us?
H.
The question
now is this – Is God “for” us? Is
he over us with His protection. The
answer to that question follows. It
has to do with our relationship with His Son.
II.
God’s
Provision – 32 He that did not spare His Own Son – Will he not freely give
us all things?
We see what God has done for us already. That speaks to what God will do for us in the future.
A.
What he already
did for us.
1.
1. He did not spare his own son – He did not protect him or treat him
with leniency. When Jesus was
judged for our sins he paid the full price.
All the judgment was on Him.
a.
Abraham is the illustration of this. Genesis
22:1-14
b.
God said
“…For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son,
your only son, from Me.”
(Genesis 22:12b)
2.
God did not
withhold His Son for us.
i.
He delivered Him up for us all – He surrendered His Son.
He surrendered His Son to the mob and to divine justice.
1.
Acts 2:22-24
2.
He was
delivered by God for the mob to take with lawless hands and crucify
Acts 2:23
ii.
God so loved the world – God so loved you.
iii.
This is the big gift. It was
accomplished when Jesus died on the cross.
i.
“…How shall He not with him also freely give us all things.”?
ii.
He will do whatever is necessary to keep us.
He will continue to provide for you after you trust Jesus.
He is there with everything you need because it is nothing compared to
what he has already given.
III.
GOD’S PARDON
33-34
A.
Who Will Bring
A Charge Against God’s Elect? 33
2.
This expression is taken from courts of law, and means, who shall accuse,
or condemn, or so charge with crime before the tribunal of God as to cause their
condemnation?
3.
God’s Elect – These are the saved.
4.
It is God that Justifies.
ii. When we are justified God declares us righteous. If he has justified us by faith, (Romans 5:1) then is he going to condemn us? If He won’t who well?
iii. Satan will perhaps try. Revelation 12:10 “…the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
iv. We have an advocate with the Father. 1 John 2:1-2
The one who paiod for our justification is our advocate.
B. Who will bring a charge? No one can.
1. Satan’s accusation will not stick
2. Anyone else’s accusation will not stick if Christ has justified us.
C. Who is He That Condemns? 34
a. Condemns –
i.
Who is he
that condemneth? - Who shall pass sentence of condemnation, and consign to perdition? The
function of passing sentence of condemnation on people shall pertain to Christ,
the judge of quick and dead, and the apostle proceeds to say that it was certain
that he would not condemn the elect of God. They were therefore secure.
ii.
All judgment
is given to Christ.
1.
John 5:25-29
2.
He is the one on the great white throne of judgment.
3.
He is the one who will judge believers at the Judgment seat of Christ.
iii. Instead of judging us here is what Christ has done.
b. It is Christ who died – The one on the judgment throne was the one on the cross.
c. Who is risen…The oen on the judgment throne was the one that rose again.
d. Who is at the right hand of God…
Who makes intercession for us. The one who will be on the judgment seal is the one at the right hand making intercession for us now.
CONCLUSION.