Romans 8:31-39 #28 Romans Series Grace Baptist Church 8/31/14 “My New Fortress” Romans 8:31-39 #28 Romans Series Grace Baptist Church 8/31/14

Romans 8: New Living In Christ Through the Spirit. I Have a New Freedom Romans 8:1-11 I Have a New Father Romans 8:12-17 I Have a New Future Romans 8:18-25 I Have a New Facilitator Romans 8:26-30 “I Have a New Fortress” Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31-39 31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This section is Paul’s Hymn of Security. One of the basic doctrines of the entire Scriptures is the Security of the Believer. Paul begins this triumphant section with a question- What shall we say to these things? What should be our response to the fact that we know that all things work together for the good of believers because God predetermined to glorify them someday? What do we say about the teaching of the perseverance of the saints? What is our conclusion?

This Hymn of Security Paul knows that some will say “No, we are not secure. We can lose our salvation. Sins will make us fall away. God could leave us. Satan could sever our relationship. Christ might become upset. Demons, temptations, and even we could be responsible for the loss of our eternal life.” Paul deals with these thoughts. He divides them into two main categories People and Problems or circumstances.

I. People General statement Vs. 31- anyone who tries to ruin our salvation would have to go through God, and He is FOR US! Who could possibly succeed against God? Luke 22:31-32- Jesus and Peter John 10:27-30- Jesus, God, and their sheep Ps. 27:1-6, 14 Ps. 46:1-3, 10, 11

Specific instances Vs. 32- God will not take away our salvation. He did the greatest possible thing to save us (gave up His only Son). He will do anything else to keep us. Vs. 33- Satan cannot take away our salvation. No one can bring a legal charge against us. No one can go to God with a complaint against us that will nullify our salvation. Satan is our accuser- Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1, 2 Justification was pronounced on us- we cannot be condemned. If God declared us just, He cannot condemn us. The verdict is already rendered. The imputed (credited) righteousness of Christ has settled the score! Our security is in our election- not in our energy. I. PEOPLE

Vs. 34- Christ will not take away our salvation. I. PEOPLE Vs. 34- Christ will not take away our salvation. Since God justified us and cannot change His verdict, we are secure. Review vs. 28-30 and list the consecutive works of God in our salvation. Undisputable security! But Christ also died, rose, was exalted, and is interceding for us. His 4-fold work in our salvation is fruitless if we can lose our salvation. Can He undo His work for us? Isaiah 50:8, 9 It is absurd to think that you can lose your salvation!

II. Problems We already discovered that no person can make Christ stop His loving and saving. Now we will understand that no thing can make Christ withdraw His salvation. Tribulation- “to be squeezed” under extreme pressure Distress- “narrow space” to be hemmed in with no way out- temptation (I Cor. 10:13) Persecution- physical or mental suffering Famine- no food Nakedness- too poor to clothe ourselves Peril- exposure to treachery- plots against us. Sword- the assassin’s dagger

II. PROBLEMS Could the worst things that could happen to a Christian cause us to reject Christ’s love and doubt Him? Could we make God withdraw His love and salvation for us? Paul experienced all of these things. Yet he knew God was still his Savior.

Problems are normal for Christians II. PROBLEMS Vs. 36-37 Bad circumstances and Ultimate Victory – helpless sheep become mighty conquerors! Problems are normal for Christians II Cor 11:23-27; Heb. 11:36-38; Matt 10:37- 39; II Tim. 3:12 A true Christian never loses his salvation. If someone abandons Christianity, he was never saved. I Jn 2:19; Heb. 3:14 Difficulties STRENGTHEN us and REWARD us. Through Him

I am confident that… None of the following can separate us from salvation. Death – SHADOW of death. Dr. Barnhouse and kids. Life- anything in it. Only in life do we face these foes. Angels Demons Things present and future – everything we do or will face. Powers- miracles, mighty deeds of mighty people. Height or depth- astronomical terms- a star at its highest or lowest points – all of space? Any other creation – anything other than God.

Because God is all-powerful and loving... Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 56:3 Psalm 4:8 Deut. 33:27 Hebrews 6:19