Romans 8 –Because of His death - Reflecting on the impact His death has on us

AFTER SPECIAL Pastor ascends to the pulpit

This morning I would like for us to reflect on Christ’s death and its impact on our lives.

May the deacons come forward

Deacons come forward remove the sheet and stand at the front

Pastor: “As a body, the assembled church is to remember this death of Christ One way that we do this is through the Lord’s Supper. We do this by taking bread and juice as they did on that night before His crucifixion.

(NKJV) Matthew 26 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The bread broken – a symbol of Christ’s broken body as He died for us

The juice – a symbol of Christ’s blood poured out as a sacrifice and payment so that our sins might be forgiven / covered over. Through His blood we have a new relationship established based on a new covenant – centered in the death and resurrection of Christ.

So now We reflect on Christ’s death in our place

We examine ourselves in light of His work in our lives

We respond to Him as He speaks to us

We worship Christ because of His sacrifice and because of the impact His salvation has on our lives.

His salvation is so profound – it is free – but it does not come cheap – It came only because He died.

We invite every Christian that is seeking to live for Christ to partake with us.

You don’t have to be a member of this local church, but must be a Christian and be seeking for Christ to be honored in your life.

The deacons will serve you a double cup – Bread in one / Juice in one

Please hold the bread and juice until all have been served – then we will pray and eat and drink together.

Spend the next few moments reflecting on Christ and what He has done for you.

SPECIAL MUSIC How Great the Father’s Love for Us.

Pastor descends

The pastor gives the deacons the plates of bread/ juice

Deacons serve the congregation

Return and place the plates on the table

Stand at the front The pastor will serve the deacons the bread / juice

The Chairman of the deacons will serve the pastor

Pastor places the plates back on the table.

Pastor: “Please stand with us”

XX pray and give thanks for the broken body of Jesus

XX pray and give thanks for the Jesus’ blood

Pastor: “Let us take the bread and juice together”

You may be seated.

Deacons return to their seats.

Pastor ascends to the pulpit

Let’s continue to reflect on Christ’s death.

If you have trusted Christ as your personal Savior, because of His death your lives are changed forever.

Let’s reflect on the impact Christ has had on our lives. Let this reflection cause us to worship and glory Christ.

And may this reflection compell us to share this message with others.

Romans 8 –Because of His death

Reflecting on the impact His death has on us

I. Because of Christ’s death: Salvation is available

A. God’s power to save Romans 1:16

(ESV) Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1. Nothing else replaces the power of the spoken gospel

2. Only it will bring salvation

3. So be unashamed to share

Can’t legislate against it

Are you willing to share regardless of the cost?

B. Freed from the law’s demands Romans 8:1-2

(ESV) Romans 8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you freein Christ Jesus from the law of sinand death.

1. Law demanded obedience or suffer the penalty

2. Christ fulfilled it / paid the penalty

3. No more a threat to bring condemnation

4. Still may give us direction as to what pleases God – No more will it condemn us when we don’t

C. Given life and peace Romans 8:6-8

(ESV) Romans 8 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

1. No longer an enemy of God

2. No long unable to please God

3. Please Him in Christ – empowered to please Him in life / now at peace

II. Because of Christ’s death: Life changes

A. Made children of God Romans 8:15-16

(ESV) Romans 8 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

1. Adopted – chosen

2. Intimate “Abba”

B. Given hope in sufferings Romans 8:18

(ESV) Romans 8 18 For I consider that the sufferingsof this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

1. Sufferings about – don’t be surprised

2. Sufferings have purpose

3. Sufferings are not to be compared to what they will produce – glory in us

C. Prayed for by the Spirit Romans 8:26-27

(ESV) Romans 8 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for uswith groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1. Help of the Spirit

2. Prays on our behalf God to God

3. Get the prayer right

D. God at work in all things to make us like Christ Romans 8:28

(ESV) Romans 8 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, …

1. Everything God uses for good

2. The good is that we are made more like Christ – His goal in everything

III. Because of Christ’s death: Security in Christ

A. God stands for us Romans 8:31-32

(ESV) Romans 8 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 gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

1. No one or thing can successfully oppose us

2. Only makes sense that He will provide what We need since He died for us already

B. The verdict is in – Declared righteous! Romans 8:33

(ESV) Romans 8 33 Who shall bring any chargeagainst God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

1. No one can lay an accusation against us

2. He has already taken care of it

3. Penalty paid / righteousness granted

C. No one can condemn us Romans 8:34

(ESV) Romans 8 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

1. Unable to declare us guilty

2. The one who paid our penalty is talking to the judge on our behalf

3. No double jeopardy

IV. Because of Christ’s death: No one can separate us from His love

A. Trouble does not separate us Romans 8:35

(ESV) Romans 8 35 Who shall separate usfrom the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

1. Not pressure – trouble

2. Not lack of options - hardship

3. Not opposition - persecution

4. Not when events strip us of our prosperity - famine

5. Not times when we have nothing left - nakedness

B. No one can separate us Romans 8:38

(ESV) Romans 8 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Not pursuit by others or even death

2. People around us

3. Authority

4. Time

5. Spiritual powers

6. Not even ourselves

7. No past/current/future event

a. Baggage / previous sins

b. Current struggles

c. Nothing that we fear or are anxious over

C. Certain victory in everything Romans 8:37

(ESV) Romans 8 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

1. He is greater than these things

2. We can have victory in the midst of these things