Temple Baptist Church - 12-3-2023
Romans 8:31-39
Introduction:
A. Romans, chapter 8, is a very personal and powerful chapter.
1. It sets forth our Position in Christ. “No condemnation”
2. It sets forth our Purpose in Christ. “We are debtors”
3. It sets forth our Promise in Christ. “The glory which shall be revealed in us”
4. It sets forth our Partner in Christ. “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities”
5. It sets forth our Predestination in Christ. “Conformed to the image of His Son”
B. In verses 31-35, we find a series of questions asked and answered. The answer to each of these questions is the Lord!
1. Verse 31. Question. “What shall we then say to these things?”
Answer. It is the Lord who is for us. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” “How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
2. Verse 33. Question. It is the Lord who justifies us. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?”
Answer. “It is the Lord that justifieth.”
3. Verse 34. Question. It is the Lord who intercedes for us. “Who is he that condemneth?”
Answer. It is the Lord who intercedes for us. “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
4. Verse 35. Question. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Answer. It is the Lord who keeps us. Verses 35-39
C. I will not answer all these questions this morning but want to zero in on the last question asked in verse 35. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
1. This portion of Scripture settles the question: “Can a saved person ever be lost?” Most people, including believers, use the phrases “eternal security” or “once saved, always saved.”
2. I personally use the phrase “eternal life” which can be found in your bible. Learn to use biblical terminology when explaining biblical concepts. Then, you can give them the exact words which are found in your bible.
D. The age-old argument – Is salvation eternal life or a probation period that may end in eternal life if the believer holds out and endures to the end. There are those who maintain that salvation is by grace through faith but can then later be lost through certain sins or failure to endure.
1. This heretical teaching denies the fullness of eternal salvation. When you get saved, you have eternal life – it is either eternal or it is not. Not sure what it is about eternal that people fail to understand. Eternal can have no end, either in time nor salvation.
2. This heretical teaching “colors” sin by teaching that some sin will cost you eternal life while others only bring about chastening.
a) Adam plunged the entire world into sin by simply eating the forbidden fruit. He did not kill, commit adultery, turn his back on God. He simply loved his wife and disobeyed God’s command.
b) The wages of sin (singular) is death. Sin is singular but wages is plural. Here we find the same principle found in Proverbs 16:25.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Every human can have a wrong way but the end of all wrong ways is still death.)
3. This heretical teaching of maintaining ones salvation glorifies man through his obedience to God instead of glorifying God. Man is saved by grace, but is now kept by his personal holiness, whereby he—through human merit—can claim that he is now fit for Heaven.
4. This heretical teaching denies such plain scriptures concerning sin as: Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10, etc. Man is sinful at his best and certainly not worthy of Heaven.
E. Salvation is both unmerited and eternal. The words “For I am persuaded” are found in verse 38. Persuaded means that someone or something has totally convinced someone else as to the absolute truthfulness of a subject.
F. God’s people sometimes feel like they are separated from the Lord by surrounding circumstances or personal failures. What does God say about it?
1. Things Of Earth Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 35-36
a. Troubles cannot separate us from the Love of God - Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (Troubles bring us closer to the Lord - Does Jesus care? I know He cares!)
b. Distress cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (The Lord gives peace in distress)
c. Persecution cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (Godliness brings persecution)
d. Famine cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (Necessities bring dependence)
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
e. Nakedness cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (It is not what you have or wear, but Who you know)
f. Peril cannot separate us from the Love of God - 2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, n perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. (It is then that we call upon the Lord)
g. Swords cannot separate us from the Love of God - Hebrews 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!
2. Death and Life Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38a
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
3. Things Unseen Cannot Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38b
Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
John 17:11, 15 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
4. Things Present Nor Things To Come Can Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 38c
Psalms 78:36-39 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
5. Nothing Else Can Separate Us From The Love Of God – vs 39
a. Past things are covered by His Blood.
b. Present things are covered by His Blood.
c. Future things are covered by His Blood.
How Secure Are We? Eternally Secure, Praise The Lord!
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