Freedom from Struggling and Suffering--God's Assured Deliverance

Romans 8:28-39

We all struggle. We all have hardships. We all suffer. We all need deliverance. A lost person needs their soul delivered. A believer needs deliverance from the hardships/trials/tribulations they are promised to face. No matter who you are, we all need God and we all must get right with.

This, is broad stroke, is the message the book of Romans carries: (1) man needs to get right with God, and (2) this is accomplished through God’s Son Jesus Christ.

When it comes to the 8th chapter of Romans, many believe this to be one of, if not the, greatest chapters—not just in Romans, but in all of the Bible. Why? (John Piper) “The greatest chapter in Bible is Romans 8. Why? Because Romans 8 spells out all that God is for us in His Son, Jesus Christ.”

The message contained in Romans is a message of hope and deliverance--deliverance from struggling and suffering. We all struggle. We all have hardships. We all suffer. We all need deliverance. We all need to get right with God—someone for the first time (dealing with salvation)—someone may need it for the sin they are struggling with in salvation.

In fact, looking back at verses 18-27 in Romans 8, we can a glimpse of what we desperately struggle against:

Pressures and forces within ourselves and outside ourselves

The weight and discouragement of trials

The pollution and corruption of life

The relentless accusations and bombardment of our sinful nature, the enemy, and the law

The pain and decay of the body

The striking fear and hopelessness of an eternal judgment (we fear what God will say to us what day)

The unknown, the pain, hurt, sorrow, loneliness, alienation, aging, death, and hell

We know the solution; the way out of our problems is to get right with God. When a right relationship with God exists, received, though struggles and hardships persist, we discover there is a God who is for us and that nothing, no thing, or no one can stand against us. God’s Word has promised that He will give us “everything” (Romans 8:32) beginning with salvation—His Word says He is the “supplier of all our needs” (Philippians 4:19)

Without a right relationship with God, a person first lives under condemnation and wrath of God, and stand to be eternally separated from Him for eternity. Secondly, however, a person has only himself and the passing pleasures of this world to battle against the struggles/hardships of life

Being justified and declared righteous by God, being freed from the wages of sin, and being freed from bondage of following rules, laws, and good works—a person’s soul is awakened to see and know that God stands at the ready, willing and able to see you through the hardships and sufferings life is sure to bring.

So whatever it is you are holding onto tonight that is binding and bonding you to this world; whatever weight you are carrying tonight or have been carrying this week or these past months, that has been deceiving you, leading you further and further away from God and towards darkness, you need to know that God has settled and set His mind to free you, redeem you, restore you, and rescue you from those things that are weighing you down and wearing you out. For those that will choose to surrender, who will choose to confess that Jesus Christ is their Lord, for those that will surrender their lives to Jesus, He has determined and promised two supreme things

(READ ROMANS 8:28-39)

There are 7 assurances found in these verses:

I. (v.28) First Assurance of Deliverance: God works all things out for those who love Him—Scripture actually declares that in ALL things God works for the good for the believer.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

“All things”—

How much attention do we really give to this part of v.28? We are right to say God controls the events of the, but what about the events of your life? We look at the immensity of this world and we read that He holds it all together (Colossians), yet does He care enough to hold you together, work out ALL the things in your life—the struggles/the worries/the hardships/the decisions made? The short answer…yes!

He controls all the events and happenings that happen in the life of a believer. He works “all things” out for the good of the believer

He knows what’s best for you, He knows exactly what you need to sustain you, to grow you, strengthen you, and mold you. He works ALL things (good and bad) for his (believer’s) good

“Work”—means to create and eliminate; place and replace; connect and group; interrelate and intermingle, shape and forge, press and stretch, move and operate; control and guide, arrange and influence

It is a “present action”—means God is continually working all things

He doesn’t stop working He works daily, moment to moment arranging an re-arranging all things for the believer’s good “Good”—means for the “ultimate good.”

God sees the future—we cannot God sees the results of each and every event—we cannot God sees all the events of our lives (past, present, future) and works them

“…together for the good...” Whatever we are to endure in this life—God is sure to work them

For our good, and

For His glory

“…to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (***ALERT, ALERT***)

God works out for good ONLY to those who LOVE God and are CALLED according to His purpose

Greek Language lays this out emphatically:

“Of those who love Him,” is placed first in the sentence, so in the originally language is reads: “But we know that to those who love God all things work together for good.”

GOD ONLY LOOKS AFTER THE AFFAIRS OF THE PERSON WHO LOVES HIM

If you do not love God—if you do not place your life into His hands—how can God take care of you? If you turn you back on God, if you walk away from God, how can God look after and take care of you

So many of you walk around with this superficial love for God, for Jesus…but you won’t commit your lives to Him. Love is a choice of the heart, it’s a commitment of the heart.

“The gospel does not offer you what you want—it offers you what God wants, which is far better. But what keeps people from Christ: they want what they want, not what He wants.” (John MacArthur)

God cannot and will not force HIs care on you. He will not force you to live at His beck and call…it’s a decision you have to make. He wants love that flows from the heart, from the heart that chooses to love Him

We either turn our lives over to Him in love, or we continue to take our lives into our own hands

Note“called according to His purpose.”

The believer’s deliverance is purposed by God. God calls you (the believer) for the glorious purpose of being saved from the struggle and sufferings of life.

(v.29) Second Assurance: God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

This passage is often missed and misunderstood

It seems to say that God chooses some for heaven and others for hell…this is simply not the meaning of this verse. God wants believers to take heart (be encouraged, strengthened, live in His hope), that God has assured the believer’s salvation.

God knows the sufferings we go through, as believers. He knew that those who would choose to surrender, those that would respond to the message of the Gospel, respond to Jesus Christ, would suffer. No thing you encounter, no suffering or hard thing, no battle with your mind, your sinful nature, no attack of the enemy on your image, value, worth and identity; nothing surprises Him, shocks Him; He is aware of every single moment in your life, those that have happened, are happening and will happen.

This makes Him present in every circumstance in your life, even the ones you haven’t encountered yet. And if God is present in every circumstance, take courage that He stands ready to see you through it, to provide a way out, to provide you with an anchor to hold you fast to Himself…and the outcome He desires for you is to…

”…be conformed to the image of His Son.”

Conformed

Means the very same form or likeness as Christ.

Our nature, our being, our person—shall be made just like Christ As He is perfect and eternal—without disease and pain—so shall we be perfected just like Him We shall be transformed in His very likeness

Likeness

Means a derived or a given image

The image/likeness of Christ is not something we merit or work for His image/likeness does not come from our nature or character No one can produce or earn the perfection and eternal life possessed by Christ This is a gift of God

To be conformed to the likeness of Christ means:

To become a participant in the divine nature (EMPHASIZE DIVINE) To be adopted as a son of God To be holy and blameless in His sight (Colossians 3:1-4) To be changed (transformed) into the same likeness of the Lord What assures the believer’s deliverance from struggling and suffering

The foreknowledge of God (used three ways in Scripture)

To know something beforehand, ahead of time.

To know something intimately by loving, accepting, and approving it.

To elect and predetermine something The predestination of God

Predestination: means to destine or appoint before; to mark off or set off the boundaries of something.

We will suffer, we will trip and fall, we will be pruned and grown, we will experience victory and learn and grow from times of sin and missteps; we will experience the sanctification (setting apart) of our lives from this world and towards Christ. But His purpose, which He established before all was created was to conform those who would profess Jesus Christ, the genuine child of God, is that we will NOT BE DEFEATED, NO TOTALLY. Our suffering is but for a short time; we will arise and follow Christ again. God will not allow Christ to be disappointed by losing a believer. True and genuine believers will be conformed into His Son’s image. God will see to it that it happens.

So whatever you are enduring, whatever struggle you are being weighed down by, whatever you are walking through…it has a purpose, and an aim. And as soon as you see this as God sees it, the more you will rely, depend, trust, and deepen your commitment to trust Him

III. (v.30) Third Assurance: God has set the glorification of the believer, once-for-all.

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

(CONTEXT)—Remember who Paul is writing too; genuine believers

Genuine believers are those who not only

Sincerely believes and surrenders to Jesus Christ—as both Lord and Savior, but also as Pauls says in Romans 8:1,

“Do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

The genuine believer; this is the person who sincerely believes in and diligently follows Jesus Christ, not who falsely and deceitfully claims to believe in Christ with no desire for obedience.

To those who sincerely believe and diligently follow, God has done three wonderful things: As we talk about these, note how each of these are in the past tense—not something that is future or may happen, rather something God has already accomplished—something He already establishes for the believer..

God has called the believer

This simple means that some time ago, through the means of the Holy Spirit, the believer heard the Gospel and responded to the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ was presented the believer and that believer repented of their sin and confessed Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior

Revelation 22:17-“Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him TAKE the water of life freely”

God has justified the believer

If you’ve truly been called, if your salvation is genuine, then your delivery from struggling and suffering is assured; note what this means:

No matter how deeply you experience shortcomings and failures No matter your struggle with the sin and suffering of this world….You are a child of God….

Every time you come short or stumble and fall (and you will), you can get up and begin again There’s no need to become discouraged and defeated; self-accusing and incriminating; feel unworthy and undeserving, unwanted and rejected (this state of mind is one of the most used and successful strategies of the devil—a tactic in which he uses to defeat believers by the multitudes).

In God justifying you, as a believer, you are given the grace to rise up and begin again to diligently follow after Christ.

(Paul Tripp). “When Jesus died, all of our sins were future sins. That means Christ gave His life up for us knowing full well that we would still fail and sin. If Jesus covered our failure, we don’t need to worry about hiding it. When we come clean about who we are and where we struggle, we will have a better chance of reaching out for help.”

We also struggle in believing/knowing that He also died for the here and now…Don’t forget the enemy wants you on an island!

God has glorified the believer

In God’s mind, the believer’s glorification has already taken place and He sees you and counts you as glorified in His presence for eternity:

What is the glory of the believer?

Glory of righteousness that Christ gives to the believer by faith

Glory of the cross that gives both forgiveness of sins and the privilege of serving God Himself

Glory of the resurrection that gives the believer a new life in Christ

Glory of living eternally in the presence of God and being exalted to serve Him

These things God sees as already taking place in the believer: What encouragement and strength; what boldness and freedom exists here; what a place of awe and wonder

IV. (v.31-33) Fourth Assurance: God has acted for the believer—not against him (THE GREATEST TRUTH IN ALL THE WORLD)

Romans 8:31-33 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

The greatest truth in all of the world is that God acted for you, not against you

The greatest truth in all of the world is that no matter your condition, depth of sin, type of sin, level of shame/fear/or despair, God acted on your behalf, to intercede where you couldn’t intercede for yourself

The greatest truth in all the world says, that in God’s immeasurable love for you, His Son bore the cross, bore the wrath, bore the wages, and bore the separation for you, which you rightly deserved. Why? BECAUSE GOD IS FOR YOU!

How did God act for you?

God is our Savior

It was God who, “did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.”

Did not spare”—means that

God did not hold back or refrain from giving His Son (no second thoughts, no regrets, no guilt trips, no hesitation.

God weighed your eternal separation from Him against the sacrifice of His Son and He didn’t blink, He didn’t question, He didn’t barter or try and find a different way.

His choice was obvious and He made it without an iota of doubt or second-thought.

He loves you too much to see you separated from Him..so He deliberately made a choice to sacrifice His Son..He knew exactly what He was doing

God is our Provider

In giving us His Son, how can He not be bound to give us everything else

Nothing could have have cost God anything close the price He cost He counted in sending His Son..therefore..He shall give us (believers) everything else needed (Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”)

Spiritual/eternal gifts/material gifts

Spiritual

Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

Spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Eternal

Deliverance from struggling/suffering in this world

Deliverance into eternal life

Material

Necessities of life

Spiritual/eternal/material gifts

Freely given-man cannot earn/merit/maintain God’s provision

Salvation is not earned—you cannot enjoy what you have to earn

Salvation is assured—you cannot lose something you didn’t earn

God is our Justifier

What the enemy says about you: You’re

A failure

A detriment

A shame

A sinner born too lose

An embarrassment

Hopeless

Helpless

Defeated

Lost

Unusable

Unworthy

of no value

Too guilty for His cross

What God says:

You are created in His likeness and image (Genesis 1:26)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14)

You have the right to be called His son/daughter (John 1:12)

What the cross says:

The enemy is wrong:

His blood says you’re loved…every lie has to leave when there’s nothing you believe but the cross

The truth of the blood of Jesus Christ washes the lies of the enemy away

(v.34) Fifth Assurance of Deliverance: Christ does not condemn the believer

Romans 8:34 “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.”

(CONTEXT) “Who is he that condemns?” Only Christ can condemn us for sin. But the glorious truth is that Christ does NOT condemn us…it’s the very opposite (four things)

Christ died for us

Our sins are a shame; they are rebellion against God

Sin(s) act against God; Sin goes against all that God stands for and is

Sin is insurrection against God—treason—the most terrible act that can be done against God

All of this deserves our condemnation…but we do not have to face it. The penalty, the wage, the cost, HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR YOU!

The execution of the judgment of sin has already taken place and it took place on the cross, on the shoulders of Jesus Christ, with the nail-scarred hands and feet, with the whipping and flogging, the torture and torment, Jesus Christ bore what you and I should have and ought to.

This is the glorious love of God, of Jesus Christ. He died FOR US. He loves us, He forgives our insurrection, our rebellion, our treason…our sin.

But the reality is, the freedom of sin and its wages comes only to the beliver—the heart who surrenders all of who they are to all of who He is.

Christ has risen from the dead for us (two things for us)

The resurrection proves that God was perfectly satisfied with the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was acceptable to God to cleanse and redeem us of our sins

The resurrection of the Lord gives the believer a new life…we are a new creation…a new person

Christ has been exalted for us

We too shall be exalted into the presence of God, we will also live face to face with God for eternity

Christ intercedes for us before the throne of God

Christ Jesus brings us to God as His treasure and His redeemed.

Christ Jesus makes redemption and forgiveness of sins possible

He is our advocate—who fought the ultimate fight for us—and won, defeating death and sin forever

He is our intercessor—His death interceded for us…blocked and prevented death of the believer

His death and resurrection opens the door of heaven to us

(v.35-37) Sixth Assurance: Christ protects the believer from the severest circumstances

Romans 8:35-37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

“Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

So many people, even believers feel that God does not love them, that He could not love them. They feel unworthy of His love, for they come short—are too disobedient—and fail too much.

Listen to the verse again—“Who (or what) shall separate us from God?” This is not a question that has a list—it’s a rhetorical question, promising and assuring us that..

No trouble—to undergo struggle, trials, and temptations, sufferings, and affliction.

Hardship—to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony, not knowing which way to turn or go or what to do

Persecution—to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked

Famine—to have no food, to be starving and have way to secure food

Nakedness—to be stripped of all clothing and earthly comforts, to be bare, to have nothing

Danger—to be exposed to the most severe risks, to be confront with terrible dangers to one’s body, mind, etc.

Sword—to be killed—suffer martyrdom

Imagine someone experience all of some of these things. What would their thoughts be, what would your thoughts be? Would they feel forsaken, that God didn’t love them?

The Bible teaches and promises that God does love them (love you). There is ABSOLUTELY nothing that can separate the believer from the love of Jesus Christ. Circumstances are not evidence that God does not love us.

He loves us regardless of any circumstance, and He

Gives us rest

Provides escape from temptation

Comforts us through trials

Supplies all our needs

Delivers us through persecution

Delivers us into His presence, giving us eternal life

Cares for us no matter what

Enables us to overcome

Strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him

Sustains and supports the believer

(v.38-39) Seventh Assurance of Deliverance: Christ protects believers from the most extreme experiences and forces

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 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.”

Nothing in the universe can separate the believer from the love of God

Not death: confronting death does not separate (it’s how we meet Him)

Not life: No trial or pleasure or comfort of life, not any person

Not angels, nor demons

Not the present or future Not height, nor depth

(CLOSING)

“God has promised you something. He has promised to do whatever it takes to conform you into the image of Christ. There are times we will walk through and have to deal with awful things, and sometimes you won’t understand the reason God is permitting you to walk through it until you’ve walked it. Yet know this. God is committed to shaping you into the image of Jesus, and that’s for your good. He hasn’t forgotten you and He hasn’t forsaken you.”

All of these promises are assured for the believer alone. It’s not a promise for those who refuse Him, reject Him, or assume Him

Some of you may be feeling stirred to come forward, but are afraid of what you others might say say, won’t say, what your g/f or b/f might think, or what it might look like..

YOUR SALVATION ISN’T DEPENDENT UPON WHAT OTHERS THINK OR MIGHT SAY. YOUR SALVATION, YOUR HEART ISN’T IN THEIR HANDS

Some of you may be feeling like your sin is too deep, to ugly, or that your sin says your too guilty or the cross..

Ephesians 3:18-19 “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

You cannot expect the favor and working of all things to good, of God, if you refuse commitment to Him