When God created man, Adam and Eve, and put him on the earth, he was created to reflect God’s image. If suffering was God’s will for His sinless, beloved Son, is it not also His will for His sons, the sons of God? Let him draw near to Me. Christ died to save those whom He chose. The Son willingly endured the agony of the cross in order to do the will of His Father and to bring glory to Him. Through Thee we will push back our adversaries; Through Thy name we will trample down those who rise up against us. Thou with Thine own hand didst drive out the nations; Then Thou didst plant them; Thou didst afflict the peoples, Then Thou didst spread them abroad. I believe Paul does not mention the past because the cross of Christ has dealt with our past. Based upon the premise that God is “for us,” Paul presses us to consider the implications. It is not doubt, nor fear, nor guilt which should motivate our service, but a confidence in God mixed with deep and abiding gratitude. Since He is the “author and finisher of our faith,” we must “fix our eyes on Him” (Hebrews 12:1-2). When such love and power meet, we, as sons of God, have every reason to be confident. In Deuteronomy 28, God tells Israel that the very things Paul has named are those which God has promised to bring upon His people, if they do not obey His Word: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you (Deuteronomy 28:47-48). If God gave up His beloved Son, His precious Son, then it is not difficult to believe that He will “freely” give us “all things.” The “all things” must, however, be limited to all those things which are essential to bring about the “good” He has purposed for us. God is not “for us” in some nebulous, undefined way. The “if” here is a first class condition indicating certainty. Confidence can be a very good thing. It is not biblical truth. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life when she knelt before her Lord and cried, “Rabboni”. Imagine the heart of the Father as He heard the plea of His Son in the Garden of Gethsemene. The Bible does not promise to make “copers” of us, but conquerors. Fourth, the Scriptures never raise any doubt that God will finish what He started at salvation (see Philippians 1:6). The accused sinner has no defense. It was this God who chose some for salvation. Take A Sneak Peak At The Movies Coming Out This Week (8/12) Jeff Bezos stepping down is good news. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? Let us beware of seeking that which God’s Word condemns. In verses 31-34, the emphasis is on “no condemnation.” In verses 35-39, Paul stresses “no separation” from the love of Christ our Lord. Even to speak against God’s people impeaches the Judge and is contempt of court—Heaven’s court.” James M. Stifler, The Epistle to the Romans (Chicago: Moody Press, 1960), p. 150. God has not delivered His people as expected (verses 4-8). For He knows the secrets of the heart. If we trust in ourselves, this would be folly, because we will fail. How does one overwhelmingly conquer? The solution to the psalmist’s agony is to be found in the words “for Thy sake.” Suffering is not always for sin’s sake (discipline). With the giant grizzly as its protection, who was this mere mountain lion? We are worthy because Christ died for us. But when He comes again, He comes to judge the earth and to condemn all who have rejected God’s salvation through His shed blood. At the front of the courtroom, the judge is seated. It can also be a mill stone around one’s neck. God’s sovereignty is the basis for our diligence and obedience. Christ Jesus—who died, or rather was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who actually is interceding on our behalf?220. God’s Word is not information to be filed away. Verses 38 and 39 list some of the dimensions of created things which will not overcome us. These final words of chapter 8 are thus the conclusion, not only to chapter 8 but to the first 8 chapters. Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Here is the account of how this beautiful hymn was written from the hymn writer, C. Austin Miles, himself, “One day in April 1912, I was seated in the dark room where I kept my photographic equipment, and also my organ. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. It is an argument based on the greater and the lesser: if God did not hesitate to give us the greatest gift of all, certainly He can be counted on to freely give us lesser gifts. God uses the suffering of His saints to make them conquerors—more than conquerors. It is not enough to muddle through life merely enduring our adversity. Satan would be included in this category.222. “If God is for us [as He most certainly is], who is against us?” Paul is not suggesting that we have no opposition. That is what I believe Paul means when he says “we overwhelmingly conquer.”. I rested my hands on the open Bible, as I stared at the light blue wall. Having gone this far, allow me to question another popular, but erroneous, theme in contemporary Christian thinking. For the Son, it meant the rejection of the nation Israel, the physical agony of the cross, and the ultimate pain, the separation from His Father which was the penalty He paid for our sins. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Our Lord’s death at Calvary seemed to be a defeat, but in God’s wisdom it was the defeat of Satan, sin, and death. Not only will we safely endure and grow in the midst of any opposition or suffering which part of this fallen creation imposes on us, we will eventually overcome it and have a part in ruling over it, with Christ. I don’t know if this was by chance or by the work of the Holy Spirit. The “if” here is not “iffy.”218 It could just as well be translated “since.” The New Jerusalem Bible renders Paul’s question this way: “With God on our side, who can be against us?”. I am presently inclined to understand Paul’s words as Barrett does when he renders Paul’s words here, For I am confident that neither death nor life, neither angels nor their princes, neither things present nor things to come, nor spiritual powers, whether above or below the level of the earth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.224. Well-founded confidence is proper and good. Some would abuse the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and the believer’s security. Man was originally to reflect the image of God by subduing the earth and ruling over it, in God’s name. They offer hope and confidence in the midst of a fallen world. Our security is rooted in God, in His sovereignty, and in His unfailing love. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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 (Romans 8:33-39). O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us, The work that Thou didst in their days, In the days of old. Contemporary theology, using the term loosely, tries to make the cross of Christ the measure of our worth to God: “We were worth so much to God that He sent His Son to die for us.” This misses the point altogether. Neither “death” nor “life” shall overcome us.221 For some, death is the dreaded enemy. 220 C. K. Barrett, The Epistle to the Romans (New York: Harper and Row, 1957), p. 171. That is what Paul wants us to see here. The life of the little cub seems to be in great danger as the mountain lion moves in for the kill. Behold, the Lord God helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Satan, I believe, is a publicity-seeker. It is not given to us as an academic exercise. The courtroom scene becomes vastly different. Did you notice that every fear, every dread, in this text is the result of sin? Amazingly, the mountain lion shrinks back! She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched, and looking into His face cried, “Rabboni”. (5) The confidence and assurance is for Christians, for those who are in Christ. Paul speaks of a confidence and assurance based in God. In the final analysis, this angel who wanted to take God’s place is left unnamed, lumped in with all other created beings. No wonder we must continually go back to the cross. Gospel Songs - Lyrics With Chords - for guitar, banjo etc, 1200+ songs, inc. PDF. Outside of faith in Jesus Christ, every man is a guilty sinner. It is sung today as it was written in 1912.”, Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning The next category of created things is that of “angels and principalities.” If Paul is following the pattern he established above with death and life, then he is attempting to encompass the entire spectrum of celestial beings. The cross is not the evidence of our worth but the source of our worth. For by their own sword they did not possess the land; And their own arm did not save them; But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy presence, For Thou didst favor them. I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the lyrics exactly as it is sung today. It was though I was in a trance, as I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. It is a purpose designed to produce our good, just as Romans 8:28 says. We overwhelmingly conquer “in all these things”; we conquer through these things. Blessed Assurance That is not so here. The list is intended to be all-inclusive, and so it is. We are victorious when we suffer the calamities of life, in faith, trusting in God, knowing that He is accomplishing His purposes through our affliction. Christ came to deliver us from the “fear of death” which holds men in bondage (Hebrews 2:15). The lyrics of a popular “Christian” song say something like: “I have determined … to be invincible …” This song writer has far too much confidence—in himself. We will conquer in that God’s purposes will be achieved through us and others will see the grace of God at work in our lives. Paul is writing to Christians concerning the confidence they have in Christ. If Israel had sinned, then these calamities would be understandable. (1) This passage is a conclusion. There are some who like their religion “cafeteria style.” They would like to pass up the meat, Jesus Christ, and take those blessings of God which fulfill their desires. are a French post-hardcore band formed in 2007 in Paris.The band consists of vocalist Bertrand Poncet, guitarists Éric Poncet, and Paul Wilson and bassist Mathias Rigal, with founding drummer Jonathan Donnaes leaving in 2014 to be replaced by Bastien Lafaye. That God would raise Jesus from the dead is the measure of His power. To the right of the judge sits the defendant—the one who is to be accused. The camera then slowly draws back to reveal just behind the cub a massive grizzly, reared on his hind legs, delivering a fierce warning to the mountain lion. I personally believe Paul is referring primarily to the sovereignty of God in our salvation which he has just taught in Romans 8:28-30. Old things have passed away, and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The experience of our Lord was not an exception, but rather a pattern, an example: Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. But salvation changes all this. His Eye is On the Sparrow Ponder this courtroom scene for a moment. Third, our security is never an excuse for sloppiness. We will conquer in that we will become more like Christ due to our sufferings. Let us savor our security, and let us stand fast, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. What I lack is ability.”. This difficulty is easily explained in the light of our Lord’s two comings. In spite of their trust in God, the psalmist described their condition: But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered (Psalm 44:22). In Him, and Him alone, is our confidence. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. But in the protective shadow of the great grizzly, that mountain lion was nothing. We cannot be assured of His love apart from faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. (6) Those things which are dreaded, and from which the Christian is delivered, are all the consequences of sin. We will then look at the text a question at a time, exploring each question, along with Paul’s answer and the implications of his answer. (Romans 8:32). We lead by serving others. Abide with Me When He came the first time, He came to save. The important thing to notice in this passage is that the One who is the “disciple” is none other than Israel’s Messiah. Our confidence must not end when the going gets tough. The Father’s beloved Son, who would have been our prosecutor, has taken our place and has paid the penalty for our sin. Who, then, can condemn us? The only One who could have condemned us as a righteous Judge has brought about our salvation. God also created death as the consequence of sin. All rights reserved. Before considering the courtroom scene Paul describes here, we must first be reminded of a fundamental truth without which Paul’s words fail to make their point. But Israel had not rebelled, for once. “We” and “us” refer to Christians. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (1 Peter 2:18-21). Ill-founded confidence is deadly. Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment The expression “overwhelmingly conquer” needs to be pondered. He is the sole expression of God’s love with regard to salvation. The psalmist’s great problem is now laid before God in verses 17-22. The question, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?” (verse 33), gives great comfort because there is no answer. Thou dost make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. “If we get no more fiscal — if nothing gets through — it's late 2023 before we get back to full employment.” Read more: Here's what to do if you haven't gotten your stimulus check If Biden’s full plan is adapted by March, 10 million jobs will be added by the fall of 2022, filling a 9.8 million jobs gap to get to pre-pandemic levels. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge, the One whom the sinner has scorned and rejected. In the more immediate context of Romans 8, we could include the promise of no condemnation (8:1), the provision of the Holy Spirit (8:4-27), and the sovereignty of God in salvation (8:28-30). Is it medically safe to engage in ten days of total fasting monthly taking only water. Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them. Nearer My God to Thee Our text thus offers the Christian assurance that he is delivered from the consequences of sin. Second, our security and confidence in God is the basis for our service. Awake, do not reject us forever. And this love of God is manifested only in and through Jesus Christ. And so it is that these things cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ. Christians want to think of victory in terms of winning. We pray, that “the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant us to be of the same mind with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one accord we may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 16: 5-6). God is the Creator. It also conveys a very important inference: REVELATION REQUIRES MAN’S RESPONSE. Christ did not die to save an unknown group of people. But there I also read that while we were worse than lukewarm, the King of kings died for us (Romans 5:8). He is our refuge and strength. His confidence in God is the basis for His boldness in enduring the rejection of men. Thou dost cause us to turn back from the adversary; And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. The Bible calls for humility, not pride; for dependence on God, not self-sufficiency. Here is God’s means of redemption. Nothing happens but that which He has ordained to bring about His purpose. Paul does not ask, “Shall we say something?” Instead, he asks, “What shall we say …?” In Paul’s mind, it is necessary for us to say something in response to what God has revealed through him. Instead, Israel has been defeated and oppressed. This would be folly. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? More than this, having been raised from the dead, the prosecutor has left His seat and has seated Himself beside us, committed to our defense and pleading with the Father on our behalf. No, Captain Chunk! When the reality of Romans 7:24 settles in on the believer, self-confidence is seen to be both foolish and sinful. Paul’s question is designed to point out the puniness of any opponent in light of the fact that God is our proponent. The cross imputes worth to sinners who receive the gift of salvation. But we do not just conquer; Paul says that we will “overwhelmingly” conquer. To everyone who is in Christ by faith, they are words of comfort and reassurance. Imagine that we are in the courtroom as we attempt to grasp the message Paul conveys in these verses. in 1971. Those who reject Him as Savior most certainly will be condemned by Him as their Judge. Other Christians have great confidence but in the wrong thing. Thus, in light of Romans 8:28, we must say that the events we presently face, along with those we shall face in the future, have been created by God for our good. The Lord Jesus is also the prosecutor. Prophecy is based upon this fact. Just as God has ordained that there is no other Savior than Jesus Christ, so there is no other Judge than Jesus Christ. We know from Romans 8:28-30 and other biblical texts that it was a sovereign God who purposed to save men. A woman in white, with head, bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. I drew my Bible toward me and it opened at my favorite book and chapter, John chapter twenty. Thus, Paul writes here in verse 32 that God “delivered Him up for us all.” He died to save “all” those whom He purposed to save. But they are. It was true for the Messiah. We all know that the Christian will have many adversaries. With God on His side, the Messiah was both willing and able to face a world that would reject and persecute Him. Even in Christian circles we are being told how we can raise our children so that they feel good about themselves, are self-assured, and confident. He was the band director for a local high school.He left behind a 2 yr old daughter and his wife expecting their 2 nd child and He was born in July. He was raised from the dead, and He now is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Copyright © 2021, GodTube.com. Let us ponder these closing words of Romans 8, especially in contrast to the agonizing cry at the end of chapter 7. The questions are personal, “Who?” rather than impersonal, “What?” The confidence and comfort Paul wishes his Christian reader to experience results from the fact that there is no answer. Here is where it was finished. Paul now tells us that no created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ (8:30). This is that for which all of creation eagerly awaits (8:20-23). Here is the account of how this beautiful hymn was written from the hymn writer, C. Austin Miles, himself, “One day in April 1912, I was seated in the dark room where I kept my photographic equipment, and also my organ. Paul’s words in verse 37 of our text spell out the principle which underlies Psalm 44: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”. The first part of the question is therefore the premise. Along with Christ’s provision, God supplies every other need, “all things.” This He does freely. It is consistent with the way God works. And these things are freely given “with Him.”. Paul has written in verse 29 that we are predestined to become conformed to the image of Christ. The Lord is either one’s Savior or one’s Judge. This is sentimental foolishness! Related Topics: Regeneration, Justification, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. We do not have the promise that God will deal with us in any way that we ask or desire. “And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. This confidence, which sustained our Lord, is that same confidence which is also able to sustain every saint. What a Friend We Have in Jesus No one can rightfully condemn us. Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way, Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. And at the side of the accused is seated the counsel for the defense, whose job it is to argue on behalf of the accused in his defense. If He is your Savior, He will not be your Judge, who will pronounce God’s condemnation upon you. Our “good” includes our present process of sanctification and our ultimate destiny in our adoption as sons of God. And He walks with me, and He talks with me. We, as the sons of God, with Christ, will have a part in the conquest and restoration of the earth. Agonizing their way through life, they hope no sin has gone unnoticed and unconfessed; if so, they fear they will not get to heaven. Paul simply underscores a principle which has always governed God’s work: God uses apparent defeat to produce ultimate victory. But when we trust in God, we know that we ultimately cannot fail and that our efforts are not in vain. First, the sovereignty of God is the basis for our security. How many times have you heard someone say something like: “If I were the only one in the world to believe in Him, Christ would have died for me.” This is man-centered thinking. God is for us. As she came unto the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in and ran away. We should never grow weary of going back to the cross. Who condemns us? The picture is something like this. Amazing Grace, A Prayer to Stand Firm in Spiritual Battle - Your Daily Prayer - February 13. God—who justifies us? In verses 4-8, the psalmist expresses confidence in God to do the same in his own time. He is at work, causing all things to work together for our good. Christ did not die for us because we were worthy. We dare not doubt that we shall be more than conquerors. It is a paradox, but it is true. But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing there, so did I. I knew it was He. This is true also of his other questions.217. (8) Paul uses a question and answer format. It was God who brought Israel into the land, drove out their enemies, and planted His people in their place. Discover free sermon help to preach biblical messages for your church. We must, as our Lord said, seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, in Christ, and then all these things will be added (see Matthew 6:33). He must suffer much at the hands of His people in order to make an atonement for sin. I think I have a small grasp of what this means. Chunk! Suddenly, the baby bear rears up on its hind legs letting out the fiercest growl it can muster. Selah. Then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John. These verses are the final verses of Paul’s argument in Romans 5-8 dealing with the present and future outworkings of justification by faith. What things is Paul referring to by the expression, “these things”? Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness. The force of Paul’s argument now begins to emerge. Israel was trusting in God and obeying His law. Because God is on His side, he does not fear ill-treatment from men. Did no one condemn you?” And she said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go your way; from now on sin no more” (John 8:10-11). Privacy Policy   Terms of Use   California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information   California - CCPA Notice. The lyrics of a popular “Christian” song say something like: “I have determined … to be invincible …” This song writer has far too much confidence—in himself. God is “for us” in a way that produces the “good” He has purposed and prepared for us in eternity past. We lost our oldest son Sean ,24 yrs old on January 7 th this year. They have all lived with my husband and me since January 7th. These Christians desperately need the confidence of which Paul speaks in Romans 8:31-39. The fall greatly marred this image of God in man. Jesus is the evidence of God’s love. You pay for the meat, as it were, and the rest is given freely. Our dreaded foe, viewed from the perspective of the unbeliever, has now become our beloved Defender. In The Garden lyrics free online! Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Other Christians have great confidence but in the wrong thing. This, I believe, is implied in the New Testament as well: Is anyone among you sick? 222 It is noteworthy that Satan is not mentioned by name. Nothing in all creation falls outside of His control, and thus we can be assured that His purposes will be achieved. And did you notice as well that every cure goes back to the cross of Calvary? He was only about a mile from work. One of my favorite movies, “The Bear,” has in the final scenes a little grizzly cub being attacked by a mountain lion. Whether you order fish, pork chops, or a T-bone steak certain foods come with it. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.) We will be victorious in the sense that we will grow in our faith, hope and love. When judgment day comes, he must sit in the defendant’s seat, the seat of the accused. The question raised in Scripture is not, “Will the saints endure to the end?” The question is rather, “Are we sure that we are in Christ?” The security of the believer is never brought into question in the Scriptures. Often as we have already seen, the words precede the music in the writing of Christmas carols, but in this case the lyrics are very much more recent than the tune. As they departed, Mary reappeared leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Romans 8:31-39 is the bottom line of the doctrines taught thus far. That is the way it is with the blessings of God. The only One who could have accused us has resigned His post. The One who was our Judge has become our Justifier. Stifler expresses the more common view: “It is God that justifieth His own elect; can wicked men or lost spirits or Satan himself call again to account those whose case has been favorably decided in the highest place of judicature? The security of the believer in the sovereign love of God should produce humility, gratitude, dependence, confidence, and praise. Satan, the glory-seeker, must not like this at all. This would be to deny His Word and to distrust God. In the context, the “us” must mean, “those of us who are in Christ.” God is “for” His children. He will be the one who hears the testimony, views the evidence, and pronounces the verdict.219 To the left of the judge, the prosecution is seated. Verses 31-35 all contain one or more questions. “And He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:27). The psalmist’s experience has not been that of his forefathers as described in verses 1-3. It is a constructive purpose. For others, life is the dreaded enemy, and death seems to be a door of escape. Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? All day long my dishonor is before me, And my humiliation has overwhelmed me, Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger. Because we are secure in Christ, we may serve. 219 I am assuming that this is not a trial by jury, since God’s judgment will not be such. Note the similarity in thought of these words, found in the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah: The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. Yet Thou hast rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And dost not go out with our armies. Here’s why. At first it seems that our Lord’s words are contradictory. Mortal minds will never fathom the sacrifice which the Father made to bring about the redemption of His chosen ones. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. It is reflected in his translation of these verses: Who can bring a charge against God’s elect? And the very One who is giving us the victory is the one “who loved us,” who loved us through the suffering and death of His Son. Creation will not overcome us, Paul is saying; we shall overcome it. Thou dost make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the peoples. In a cafeteria, you may take any item of food you like and pay for each one. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I shall not be ashamed. Paul’s quotation from Psalm 44 in verse 36 emphasizes the role of the suffering of the righteous in the accomplishment of God’s purposes. God has not only purposed adversity for correction but also for the advancement of the gospel. Since verses 31-39 serve as the conclusion to all of chapters 1-8, we could rightly think of “these things” as Paul’s teaching on the sinfulness of man, the salvation of God, and the hope of the Christian. The very lack of any answer is the basis for great comfort and confidence for every Christian. Our confidence is in God and in the cross of Christ.

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