Answer the Easy Questions First

intro

We wake up everyday with questions

I learned at an early age that when given a hard test, to answer the easy questions first.

get the points you can, pass the test first, then work on a A or B

This would sometimes unlock your memory

How do you feel about being a Christian

background

Romans is a book that God inspired the apostle Paul to write for us that explains and breaks down the gospel, the good news of Christ. It explains it to us and then shows us the implications of us believing the gospel.

Because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we have this . . . . we have that

Chapter 8 is where we see some of the benefits of believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and accepting him as the Lord of our lives.r attent. We will pick up in verse 31, where we will see some questions.

Romans 8:31–39 NLT

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31 NLT

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

What are these things? Well from verses 1- 30 . . .

because of Christ, we are not condemned

we are set free from sin and death

We have the Holy Spirit of God living in us

God has adopted us as children

We will be resurrected from the dead

we are fellow heirs with Christ

in just a matter of time, we will see that the rewards we receive will outweigh the suffering we’ve gone through,

While we are waiting, the Holy Spirit intercedes and prays for us

so we know that all things work together for good

and God set this up a long time ago

These are the things!

And the first question is basically, “What should we say about being saved?”

“How should we feel about being saved?”

“What type of daily attitude should we have, since we are saved?”

Because it would have been enough, if the only benefit was a glorious eternal life . . . but we get so much more!

The answer is, we should start the day with “I’m so glad I’m saved”

Our attitude each day should be, “Thank God I am a Christian”

We should say things like, “Salvaton is incredible!”

say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

say, “Our God is an awesome God!”

say, “Glory to God in the highest!”

say, “Hallelujah!”

say, “can’t nobody do me like Jesus”

Next easy question: “if God be for us, who can be against us?”

I’m pretty sure you know the answer, but there are some worry lines on you face

You say you know the answer but there are some tears in your eyes

It is supposed to be an easy question, but for some reason you had a hard time sleeping last night because of stress

So to be sure, let me reaffirm the answer to the qu estion, “if God be for us, who can be against us?” . . . nobody!

nobody can be against you.

Psalm 27:1 KJV 1900

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

If God be for us, who can be against us? Again, the answer is nobody!!!!

not the devil, not his demons

not our enemies, not our fake friends

not the democrats nor republicans

not the liars nor the haters

Just by answering the easy questions, we have already learned that we have reason to rejoice, and nobody can stand against us.

Next Easy Question . . . .this question comes with a hint

Romans 8:32 NLT

32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

The hint: God gave us Jesus, his own son.

Will God give me everything I need?

Easy questions, The hint just gives it away. If God gave me Jesus, he will definitely give me anything else I need.

so yes, God will giver me everything I need

That’s why the scriptures says, “ but my God shall supply all my need, according to his riches in glory”

If you need it, God will NEVER say, “no!”

so if you need it, ask for it

if you need it, believe God for it . . . because through Christ Jesus, God has established that He WILL give us what we need!

So, I am glad I am saved, no one can stand against me, God will give me everything I need.

Romans 8:33–34 NLT

33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Think of a courtroom . . . .

you are a Christian, but you sinned, you did wrong

you are a Christian, but you messed up, royally

you are a Christian, but you did some evil that you never thought you would do

you accepted Jesus Christ, but you sinned big time

something shameful, something that embarrassed your Lord

The question is: who can bring charges against you? Who can cause you to be condemned?

Who can say, “God you need to take away their salvation?”

The verse gives us several clues as to the answer

It calls us God’s elect

elect means the chosen ones

God justifies, means God makes us right, God declares us not guilty

God is the judge

Jesus, who died for us and was raised, is interceding for us

Jesus is our lawyer

we are chosen by God, God is the judge that said not guilty, Jesus is our lawyer

so again, I ask who can bring charges against us, who can condemn us?

if you try, if the devil tries . . . your opening statement would have to include

First of all . . .God, you made a mistake by choosing him

secondly, . . . you honor, you gave the wrong verdict when you said, “not guilty”

Thirdly, Jesus, your blood isn’t good enough nor strong enough to save him

come again??? you are going to come in my courtroom . .

That’s why the verse says, . . . “Who shall”, the NLT translates it as “Who dares”

Who dares to tell God that he made a mistake by choosing us?

Who dares tell the almighty judge that he gave the wrong verdict?

Who dare to tell Jesus that his death and resurrection were in vain?

The answer again is: nobody!!!!

If I repent of my sins . . . I don’t have to worry about what anybody says about my relationship with God

me and God are good. my number one relationship is set and good

sure, there might be consequences, I might have to work somethings out with you

there might be consequences, I might have to work somethings out with you

but me and God are good!

just like when I acted up as a child and got a good old fashioned spanking

spanking that would put you to sleep

spanked at 5pm, wake up an hour later with daddy saying, “Come on and eat dinner”

spanked me, corrected me, disciplined me . . . and provided dinner . . . cause I was still his child . . . . ” and If you finish that you can have some ice cream”

me and God are good! With God as the judge and Jesus as my lawyer, I can’t lose!

my salvation is sure!

the answer to the rhetorical question is: nobody can take away the assurance of my salvation!

One Final Rhetorical question:

Romans 8:35–36 NLT

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

to sum it all up: Is there anyway we could be separated from God’s love? Is there anyway that we can lose?

There will be trouble, problems, battles, and tough times . . . but is there anyway we can lose?

rhetorical questions!!!!

somethings will happen in life, that we won’t like

somethings will happen that we won’t understand

things can get rough serving the Lord . . . but is there anyway that we can lose? rhetorical questions!!

Children of God . . . .live like, act like, talk like you know the answer!!!

and just in case you don’t know the anwer, Paul answers for us . . . Nay!!! Nah!!! NO!!!! nothing can separate us from the love of God. There is no way that we can lose . . .

Romans 8:37–39 NLT

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

we are more than conquerors . . . completely victorious . . . by the power of God!

life can’t stop us

death can’t stop us

angles nor demons can’t stop us

the powers that be can’t stop us

nothing in the present, nothing in the future

height . . . good times depth . . . bad times

nor anything in all creation shall be able to separate us from the Love of God!!!

i love that old fashioned way of saying, “no” . . . Nay!

can anything defeat us? Nay!

can anything stop us? Nay!

overcome us?

overwhelm us?

take us down? I say unto thee, Nay!!!

those are rhetorical questions for God’s children!

Application

many of you are dealing with some doubts and questions

i’m here to remind you, that they are rhetorical

you already know the answer, so when these questions come to mind, just give the answer and go in peace

have I mess up too bad? Nay

Has God stopped loving me? Nay

Has God forgotten about me? Nay

Will God be too late? Nay

is this too hard for God? Nay

is this problem too small for God? Nay

will I have a break down? Nay

What shall we say to these things . . .