Untitled Sermon (16)

Intro

I'll say bless the Lord if you say, "oh my soul."

Bless the Lord

"Oh my soul."

Oh bless His holy name.

My name is Eric Warren and I have the pleasure of serving on staff as your Student Pastor. To many of you I say welcome back.

Welcome back from your travels. Welcome back from your time with family. Welcome back to your church home here on this Lord's day.

I pray that you had a lovely time celebrating the holiday just a few short days ago.

You have those crazy folks who have their Christmas lights up the day after halloween, but I say there is far too much to overlook when talking about thanksgiving.

Football. Food. The best nap of the year... I mean cmon.

But many of you spent time going around tables, sharing what it is that you are most thankful for, and I hope here even a few days later you are reminded the more that the Lord has blessed you and that it gives you cause all over again to be thankful.

If you're a Michigan football fan... you're walking a little taller today. The boys in blue took down The Ohio State University a second year in a row. And though I find Big10 football painfully boring, I'll never complain about Ohio State dropping a game.

[PIC] Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of the University of Michigan, is a bit of a polarizing figure. He's kind of an austere fellow. He certainly has a couple of quirks about him.

If you ask my dad he'll quickly rattle off to you that he's the most overpaid coach in all of football. Paid millions upon millions, and yet has never quite won the big game. Can't say that I disagree. Not much of a Michigan fan, here. And certainly not a fan of Big 10 football.

But...

Being the sap that I am, I fall victim to the feel good stories of sports.

He had a long, long career as a QB in the NFL. His Father, Jack, coached in the college ranks, and his brother John currently serves as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

And Thanksgiving at their house sounds like it might be a bit competitive...

Say what you want about Jim Harbaugh. Like him, don't like him, whatever the case, he not only takes the win-loss column seriously, but it does seem that he is adamant about pouring into the lives of the young men that he's surrounded by on a daily basis.

He's a big ra-ra style coach. And he breaks down his locker room speeches the same way.

He'll huddle everyone up. Hands in the air. And shout, "who's got it better than us."

And in a fierce chorus you'll hear a room full of grown man scream at the top of their lungs... "nooooobody!"

Beloved that is exactly what we run into today with this exclamation mark in Romans chapter 8 as we wrap up our series today.

"The great 8" as John Piper calls it.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

But I've heard this chapter called Paul's magnum opus... His masterpiece.

And considering Paul being the greatest church planter in all of history as well as the greatest human biblical author in all of history... that's a bold claim.

We conclude this chapter today with it's final couple of verses and it will have you feeling like a football team running out of the tunnel and ready to run through a brick wall,

but this book hasn't always been like that

In fact, the first couple of chapters of this theological ocean are rife with despair and might have you asking the question... "how on earth can a man be saved?"

Paul saying things like...

Romans 3:10–11 (CSB)

10as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

11There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

or

Romans 3:20 (CSB)

20For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

When you sink down deep into the ramifications of the Gospel... that you, and me... who were once traitors unto God, have now been set free and much more we are brought into the loving embrace of a high and holy God, how on earth can you not shout it from the rooftops.

Consider this author if you want a definition of the gospel.

Paul, once the foremost persecutor of Christians, now captivated by Jesus and a champion of the faith.

I wasn't able to find the author to this quote, but it paints beautifully what a life with Jesus does to a person.

"The apostle Paul entered heaven to the cheers of those he martyred, because that's how the gospel works."

So Paul, a perfect example of this secured, bought and paid-for, love... once a great traitor, now a great saint,

And so too were we, beloved. At one point, if not frequently, you may have asked the question.

"How? God how? How can this be true?"

But I hope that over the course of ripping apart this chapter that you find yourself at the loud end of a megaphone shouting... exclaiming...

IF GOD IS FOR US... WHO CAN BE AGAINST US!

These are beautiful, beautiful doctrines, church family. Doctrines of assurance. Doctrines of eternal security.

They are meant to stoke the fires of our heart and our mind and lead us further into awe and wonder about what God has accomplished on our behalf.

Paul would say...

Romans 8:38–39 (CSB)

38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Beloved, out of these short two verses we see something wonderful. Namely that,

You can be assured of your salvation

You can be assured of your salvation. Today. Tomorrow. For all the the days to come.

Paul rattles off this list of hurdles that so easily ensnare God's people. It has shades of v.35 in here.

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

A rhetorical question no doubt because our obvious answer is what? ... No! That's right! We can all go home now.

But Paul presses deeper. Where v.35 lends itself to many worldly struggles, to persecution... Paul is saying here, no go deeper. Not even the unfathomable things can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ.

Not death. Nothing you're going through now. Nothing that you will go through. Not a single thing under the sun will loosen you from your Father's hand.

...

Mark mentioned last week a feeling that I believe that we can all sympathize with. He mentioned a time in his younger years where he dealt with a great deal of fear over whether or not he could lose his salvation.

And I bet that if you are honest with yourself you've battled similar thoughts in your own minds and in your own heart.

Beloved, hear now this beautiful exclamation mark as Paul maps out what I see here as the perseverance of the saints.

You and I hear that and we might begin to sweat... perseverance, any other time that I've had to have perseverance it's come with grit and effort

...and I'm not saying that those things are absent in the Christian life, but what I am saying is that your eternal security is not wrapped up in your perseverance.

Where do you see that in our text today? Nothing. Nothing. Not a darn thing will separate you from the love of God. It's not your perseverance but Christ who persevered for you.

Hebrews 12: 2 - Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

All of this predicated on the price that has been paid. Blood-bought and sealed.

When we talk about this love it is unlike any other thing that you and I know. It's a love that came at the steepest of costs. And because of that we know that this is a love that will carry us to the end.

...

Last week we unpacked v.32 where it says, He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?

Paul uses this trick a couple of times, where he argues from the greater... to the lesser...

It's a logic that goes like this...

Paul sets in front of us this great big thing... so all the smaller things underneath it must be true as well.

Or maybe this will help you understand it a bit better...

Illustration

Josiah is two and a half now.

And as any two red-blooded parents do... Becca and I have asked the question, when we going to Disney World?

So, we're in the process of taking out a 2nd mortgage, in preparation.

But say we get down to the park. We get rolling. We're getting autographs. We've ridden it's a small world for the 50th time. And it finally comes time to eat.

But as if you have not already died a little bit inside considering the travel costs, parking, fast passes, and so on and so forth, you then get to the concessions line for the final nail in the coffin.

How silly would I be if I then and there rolled it up, packed it up, and headed on home?

Nope... that's too much. We're gone.

How can Becca and Josiah know that they are going to have food in their bellies?

Because I've already paid the incalculable price. So they can rest assured that they are going to get those $50 chicken fingers.

Beloved, how can you and I walk with assurance that God will make good on His word? That He will not withhold from His people? That there is not a thing that will separate us from His love?

Look no further than the cross of calvary. We have this as the unwavering bedrock of our faith. That's what it means back in verse 32 when Paul says, He did not spare his own Son. So how will he not also with him, with Jesus, grant us everything?

He will carry us through to the end because he's already paid the incalculable price.

...

Beloved, if you could lose your salvation, you would.

If the integrity of your eternal reward was entrusted into your hands... you would fumble it.

And that's the trap isn't it? I know I speak for myself... how frequently I delve into self-talk that sounds like....

"You don't deserve it Eric. You're not good enough Eric... It's not true Eric."

But hear it now, more clearly than ever, beloved...

Who can bring these charges against God's elect? Noooooobody.

Tony Merida, a pastor in North Carolina would say this:

Jesus is more committed to you than you are to Him. He has you. When you stumble and fumble, remember that Christ is praying for you -- unceasingly, fervently, and successfully.

It's not up to you. J.D. Greear says this, The Gospel in four words is this, "Jesus in my place."

It's not Jesus and you tipped the cosmic scales in your favor.

It's not Jesus and you sweated it out long enough.

I hope that when you think on what it took to secure your standing before God that you don't think small.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Beloved, if you are in Christ. If your faith is in Him... then your eternal security has been bought and paid for with a currency beyond value.

Transition

It is a free love. It is a purchased love. And it is a profound love.

You cannot add or contribute anything to it. But to know this love for yourself is to be totally captivated by it.

Illustration

When I was younger. My family and I went to the beach every year. Same hotel. Same restaurants. We are the definitions of creatures of habit.

We'd head down to Destin. Not a place really that famous for big waves... but every so often the lifeguards would take down the green flag and up goes the yellow or the red flag.

Storms would roll in. Waves would get bigger.

I may be a little weird for this... but I loved walking out into the water... getting a little more than waist deep in the water. And just let the larger than normal waves crash over me.

It was a thrill! I felt like I was sent flying, somersaulting beneath the water. Totally swept up by something so infinitely larger than me.

So let these waves crash over you, beloved.

Tim Keller puts it like this, "we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

This is a freeing love. You are free, Christian. You are free to walk with God instead of rebelling against him.

Which is our second point.

You can now walk in a manner worthy

These words were spoken by Paul in Ephesians, "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called," - Eph 4:1

Which was his charge to God's people not to toe the line, or else. It's not a threat to behave or God will get ya.

But because God has secured this great gift for you, you have every freedom to walk in the light of His love.

Paul was confident in this love. Steadfast. Rock solid.

Did you catch it? When we opened up these two verses? In v.38 he says... For I am PERSUADED.

Underline it. Circle it. Highlight it.

PERSUADED.

So here's my question to you, Christian? What does it look like to live a life... persuaded?

...

Jesus had a way of laying out his truth so plainly... and yet you still had to mine the depths to receive it.

He taught with a parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field."

This is what it looks like to live a life persuaded.

Beloved I hope you see Jesus as your supreme treasure this morning.

Not status. Not money. Not things... But the eternal reward given to you through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is a treasure worth banking your whole life on.

That is a life persuaded.... pushing all your chips into the middle of the table and saying

"here I am God.

All I have is yours! All I am is yours!"

God is after your heart, beloved. Not your calendar.

God is after your soul. Not your reputation.

John Mark McMillan penned a lyric in a song that became quite famous and he said, "If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking."

Christian... you will spend the rest of your days plumbing the depths of this affection that God has for you and it will be remain a mystery in the best of ways... because its a love without end.

And how freeing is that? You are loved so profoundly. So perfectly. And nothing will separate you from this great love that God has for you and the cross proves it.

Again, it is a free love, but it prompts a response.

Easy-believism... cultural christianity, faith without teeth, has plenty of well-mannered people continuing on on their hell-bound race.

...

If you asked me about my marriage... and asked, Eric... how have the past 6 years of marriage changed you?

And I responded by saying... "not much, actually."

I hope that you'd raise an eyebrow.

If I told you... "marriage is great! I don't have to do anything!" You would look at me like I was a crazy person.

That's because love, in this case, the love that I have for Becca is not something I reap the benefit of, without laying myself down... constantly... continually...

Pointing to Tim Keller, once again, he describes what it means to love in his book The Meaning of Marriage. And that so often we mistakenly see love as this opportunity to receive all that we ever wanted, when in reality, he comments that love is the greatest sacrifice of personal autonomy.

And I'm afraid that that is a lesson that we so often miss in our faith. That when we talk about this love we have in God, through Christ... so often we are tempted to extract the benefit, but continue on in our selfishness.

Love makes me desire the joy of my wife.

Last week I got a text from Becca asking if we could watch a movie that night that had just come out on Netflix. Where the Crawdads Sing. And let's just say that it probably wouldn't have been my first choice. But I could tell that Becca really wanted to watch this movie. She was excited about it.

So I sat through this quintessential chick flick. I put my phone down. I watched. I engaged. I discussed the controversial ending with Becca. Because it made her smile.

A silly example I know, but I got excited about my wife getting excited. I found joy in my wife finding joy.

I think that's what it's like to live the persuaded life.

God is after your heart.

And you are free. You are free to walk a life with Him. Not out of obligation, not because you think God is going to put you under his thumb or roast you over the flame. But don't you see it?!?

The cross of calvary shouts victory still today, as evidence of His love for you.

God did not spare His own son... So why would he not then grant us everything.

The sovereign God of all things desires you. He loves you. And He will carry you through to the end...

Who's got it better than us? Nobody.

...

We are more sinful than we'd ever care to admit, but more loved than we ever dare imagine.

What do we do with this? What do we do with these beautiful promises? A point of application as we wrap up this morning.

Paul wrote Romans as a forerunner before he continued his mission to Spain. Embedded in that mission is our proper response to this beautiful doctrine of assurance and eternal security.

Once again quoting Merida,

Assurance should never lead us to apathy. Gospel assurance should lead to gospel advancement. Having the promises of Romans 8 should make us bold and courageous."

So where will you go, Christian?

Where will you go and share of a treasure laid up in heaven, where neither rust nor moth can touch?

My challenge to you this week, Glade church is two-fold.

Every one of you... have a pointed. Intentional. Gospel-driven conversation with someone.

And secondly, share that experience with a pastor, a small group leader, or a trusted brother/sister here amongst your church family.

Because we must be about our Father's business, and it's just too good to keep quiet.

Who's got it better than us, Glade church? Nobody.

Father in Heaven

How humbling it is to remember the great cost for our redemption. That this is not a cheap grace but when sin demanded that a price be paid, Father you sent us your Son. And in Him... neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from your love.

Father, I pray that this is a felt and known love. That when we think on how it is that you love us, that we would lift high the name of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.