Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Some of the most glorious verses in Scripture
• These words speak into the situation of the world we live
• For the Christian - nothing whatever can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus
• These are not idle words
• Paul was writing to Christians that were and would be
  increasingly persecuted
• In the world of suffering, glory with follow (v17-18)
• All things work together for the good of those who love God (v28)
• As Christians we can have tremendous faith in God (v29)
• Can anybody stop the purposes of God?
• The golden chain (v30)
• Paul's Crescendo (v31)
• How then shall we respond?
• Rhetorical questions to answer their doubts
• Overview:
1. When facing extreme opposition is God enough? (v31)
2. How can I be sure that in all things God will help me? (v32)
3. What I fall into grievous sin? (v33-34)
4. Are there no situations in life where God's love is not present?
   (v35-39)
• These verses are a tremendous reassurance

When facing extreme opposition is God enough? (v31)

• "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (v31)
• God is for us
• v15 - Adoption: Abba, Father
• Very intimate
• We have been made His own little children
• v17 - Joint heirs with Jesus Christ
• v28 - Everything is planned for our God
• v30 - Called
• A general call (of God - which is rejected by many)
• An inward call (of the Holy Spirit)
• If God is for us, how can be against us?
• There are many who stand against Christians
• Examples: Jewish Synagogue, Catholic Church, Stephen, The Fiery Furnace, Moses, Nehemiah, Paul, David
• Men cannot undo Christianity
• Scripture of the Psalmist

How can I be sure that in all things God will help me? (v32)

• "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?" (v32)
• One of my favourite verses in the bible
• Malachi 3:17
• Consider how much human parents want to spare their children
• God wants to spare us
• God did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up
• Acts 2:23
• If God has done the greatest thing for us and shown such immense love as this:
• Will He not help us in the lesser matters of life?
• Will He not love us in all situations?
• Rom 5:10 - we are a friend of God
• There is always a grace and love in times of need
• These are wonderful promises that God has given us
• According to His will and in His good time

What I fall into grievous sin? (v33-34)

• "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (v33)
• Do not recoil against this verse
• Who will bring a charge?
• Satan will try and bring a charge
• Examples: Job, Peter
• Our family members
• Our own conscience
• It is God who justifies - once and for all
• Justification is not a process but a point in time
• Declared righteous for all eternity
• Once acquitted - you are forgiven (this is not a licence for sin)
• John 5:24
• 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." (v34)
• Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father
• There are none who can condemn us

Are there no situations in life where God's love is not present? (v35-39)

• "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (v35)
• Examples: Isaiah, those wandering in the wilderness, Paul (2 Cor 12:9-10)
• We are not a special case
• God's love will always be there in the worst of situations
• "As it is written: For your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for slaughter" (v36)
  • Examples: James, Paul
• "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (v37)
• Super language
• We are wonderfully, amazingly able to overcome
• v38-39
• Poetic language - contrasts (examples)
• Death - examples
• Life - examples
• Think of anything in the created universe - examples
• The Future
• Geographical location
• Created things
• Nothing shall separate us from the love of God

Conclusion and Closing Remarks