Romans 8:31-36

The whole point of Romans, chapter 8, is that our eternal destiny is secure in Christ Jesus.

Now, let me say there is much confusion here because we water down what it means to be a Christian. Let’s go back and read Romans 8:4-14. We are talking about here a person who has been GRIPPED BY GOD—new desires; gaining increasing victory over the old ways, giving proof that indeed there has been a NEW NATURE planted in the heart. I am talking about a KNOW-SO SALVATION, NO A HOPE-SO SALVATION. Not arrived at perfection – BUT THERE IS A KNOWING THAT BECAUSE OF JESUS’ PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE WORK, YOU WILL ARRIVE WITH HIM!

I. IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO IS AGAINST US?

In other words, who can stand against God?! It’s almost as if Paul is saying here, “c’mon world, flesh, and devil—bring all you got.” There has been a supernatural work wrought by Almighty God in the born again Christian’s life. And even now, the sanctifying power of the Word and the Spirit are still transforming. And Jesus Himself is holding us—keeping us. So now, devil, bring all you got, and line them up and ask this question: If God be for us, who is against us?

II. HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO GIVE US ALL THINGS?

1. If God already gave us Jesus—the greatest of all possible gifts—He can be counted on to give us the lesser gifts!

God has always loved us. He is truly “for” us – for our deliverance.

2. This is God’s action, not man’s.

3. The atonement involved God’s only Son.

4. God gave Him up and did not spare Him.

5. God delivered Him up for us!

This is a love that will not let go. But we must acknowledge our total depravity and yield to Christ.

III. WHO WILL BRING ANY CHARGE AGAINST GOD’S

ELECT?

This question addresses the fact of God’s acquittal (justification) of the born again believer. This is a looking forward to the judgment seat—God being THE judge.

1. Our greatest offense is against God, however great our offenses against other persons may be.

2. God knows the law perfectly. We need not fear a smart lawyer like Satan! “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

3. God has satisfied all possible claims against us. He has done this Himself through Jesus Christ.

No one can lay a claim against us if we are in Christ. God not only imputes my (our) sin to His Son, He takes the righteousness of the Son and imputes it to me (us).

4. The jurisdiction of the court is universal!

There is a day coming when we will all stand before God in judgment. List to what Martin Luther said in a couple of verses of a hymn about judgment:

. . . sinners, filled with guilty fears,

Behold his wrath prevailing;

For they shall rise and find their tears

And sighs are unavailing:

The day of grace is past and gone;

Trembling they stand before the throne,

All unprepared to meet him.

Great God, what do I see and hear!

The end of things created!

The judge of mankind doth appear,

On clouds of glory seated!

Beneath his cross I view the day

When heaven and earth shall pass away

And thus prepare to meet him.

IV. WHO IS HE THAT CONDEMNS?

He “makes intercession for us” – a present continuous act. The blood of Christ is being continually presented before the Father on our behalf!

Christ died for you

He arose

He is a the right hand of God

Quote from Donald Barnhouse:

You do not have a problem too great for the power of Christ. You do not have a problem too complicated for the wisdom of Christ. You do not have a problem to small for the love of Christ. You do not have a sin too deep for the atoning blood of Christ. One of the most wonderful phrases ever spoken about Jesus is that which is found on several occasions in the gospels. It is that “Jesus was moved with compassion.” He loved men and women. He loves you. [Do] you have a problem? He can meet it, it does not matter what it is. The moment that the problem comes to you in your life, he knows all about it. . . . If there is a fear in your heart, it is immediately known to him. If there is a sorrow in your heart, it is immediately a sorrow to his heart. If there is a grief in your heart, it is immediately a grief to his heart. If there is bereavement in our life or any other emotion that comes to any child of God, the same sorrow, grief or bereavement is immediately written on the heart of Christ. We find written in the Word of God, “In all their afflictions he was afflicted.” (Is 63:9)

V. WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF

CHRIST?

Conclusion

Quote from John McArthur (commentary on Romans):

Christ, the perfect Priest, offered a perfect sacrifice to make us perfect. To deny the security of the believer is therefore to deny the sufficiency of the work of Christ. To deny the security of the believer is to misunderstand the heart of God, to misunderstand the gift of Christ, to misunderstand the meaning of the cross, to misunderstand the biblical meaning of salvation.