The Limits of Grace 2024-10-06

Romans 2024  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  18:55
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The Love of a Dog

Do you have a pet?
Does your pet love you?
Nice.
I want to tell you a story about a dog’s love for his master, because it can teach us about God’s love for us.
In 1858, a man named John Gray was buried in old Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, Scotland.
His grave levelled by the hand of time, and unmarked by any stone, became scarcely discernible; but, although no human interest seemed to attach to it.
The sacred spot was not wholly disregarded and forgotten.
For fourteen years the dead man’s faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.
James Brown, the old curator of the burial ground, remembers Gray’s funeral, and the dog, a Skye terrier called "Bobby", was, he says, one of the most conspicuous of the mourners.
The grave was closed in as usual, and next morning "Bobby", was found, lying on the newly-made mound.
This was an innovation which old James could not permit, for there was an order at the gate stating in the most intelligible characters that dogs were not admitted.
"Bobby" was accordingly driven out; but next morning he was there again, and for the second time was discharged.
The third morning was cold and wet, and when the old man saw the faithful animal, in spite of all chastisement, still lying shivering on the grave, he took pity on him, and gave him some food.
This recognition of his devotion gave "Bobby" the right to make the churchyard his home; and from that time until his own death he never spent a night away from his master’s tomb.
Often in bad weather attempts were made to keep him within doors, but by dismal howls he succeeded in making it known that this interference was not agreeable to him, and he was always allowed to have his way.
At almost any time during the day he could be seen in or about the churchyard, and no matter how rough the night, nothing could induce him to forsake that hallowed spot, whose identity he so faithfully preserved.
Eventually a statue was made in honor of this faithful dog by Baroness Burdett Coutts.
That concludes the story of the life of Greyfriars’ Bobby. A life that was later commemorated by the erection of the statue and fountain by Baroness Burdett Coutts. The figure which was unveiled, without any ceremony, on November 15, 1873
From http://www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/story/story.html
Wow, not even death could keep the dog from expressing his love for his master.
And God’s love for us,
especially for those with Jesus in their hearts is even greater. It says
Romans 8:38–39 NIV
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God is going to love us, no matter what is happening to us in our lives.
The silly example of slipping in the mud.
If you get all muddy, don’t think
God will not want to see me like this!
Just come to church.
try not to make a mess but come to church.
God is more concerned with your heart, than your clothes.
Let’s Pray

If God be for Us

Let’s begin reading at verse 31 in Roman’s chapter 8

What then shall we say to these things?

What things? You might ask
All that was said last week about God
knowing who would receive him and
giving them spiritual helps to stay the course
He predestined them
He conforms them to the image of His son
(and that takes time, it’s not a once and done thing)
He Calls them
He Justifies them
He Glorifies them IN CHRIST.
So as a result of all these actions mentioned last week, Paul declares
Romans 8:31 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
That is a pretty bold statement.
but in case our mind is really thinking
about who could be against us
Paul deals with ideas we might have.

The Father

Could God the Father be against us
No, not according to Paul
Romans 8:32 NIV
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
God the Father, sent his Son to die for us, how could he be against those who have taken refuge in Christ!
He can’t!
He isn’t!
He goes on to say
Romans 8:33 NIV
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
God won’t bring charges when,
He is the one who got us out of trouble with Him.

The Son

Maybe your mind has moved on to Jesus
Will Jesus ask His Father to reject you
to turn you away?
Not according to Scriptures
Romans 8:34 NIV
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Jesus Christ isn’t before the Father accusing us!
He is there before the Father interceding for us.
that’s what it says.
He is right there beside the Father
interceding for us.
Who would you rather have as your lawyer in God’s Courts?
Perry Mason
Or Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Perry Masson and his detective friend were a good team, getting the innocent off and sometimes finding the real crook.
But All of us are guilty of sin.
let me say that again
We are all guilty of sin.
What good would Perry Mason do for you and me in God’s court.
not MUCH!
Paul begins the question again
Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? ,,,,
Then Paul switches from people to events
that would be very hard to take
Romans 8:35 NIV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Trouble could be persecution, affliction, distress
Hardship could be suffering, confinement in a tight space anguish
Persecution could be mistreatment for any number of pretext
Famine lack of food, going hungry a lot
Nakedness No resources for files necessities, or just life circumstances.
no community clothing closet around
illus
Through my birth father I had a great an and uncle in Oklahoma.
Twice in their lives there house was struct by a tornado and torn up while they were inside or below.
They survived the first terrifying tornado, waking up quite a distance from where the house used to be,
without a stich of clothing on.
Did their nakedness, mean,
GOD DIDN’T LOVE THEM ANY MORE?
NO
No of course not!
What else can’t separate us from the love of God
Danger danger can’t separate us from the love of God
running for your life, can’t separate you from the love of God
Sword as persecutions heat up in Rome, many of the Christians will face a lot of these things,
even pursued by men with swords. The sword named here was a Gladiator or single combat sword.
Facing any or all of these hardships, does that mean,
God doesn’t love you any more
Does it mean
You are not forgiven any more
No!
Romans 8:36 NIV
36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Paul is quoting from Psalm 44.22
but in Paul’s day, and in the days to come,
Christians were abused and
considered as sheep to be slaughtered
Yet did that mean, God was mad at them
We, to often think it means God is mad at us
God is separate from us
but Paul wants all believers to know
HE
STILL
Loves
US
Despite
our
Circumstances.
This is what Paul says
rom8.37
Romans 8:37 NIV
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
In how many things?
IN ALL THESE THINGS
WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
through Him who loved us.
Wow, isn’t that amazing?
but that is not the end of the story
Romans 8:38–39 NIV
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wow, let’s read that again
Romans 8:38–39 NIV
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So our life circumstances.
Even if we walk through the book of Revelation’s horrors
Nothing can separate us from the love God has for us
those who are in Christ.
Aren’t those interesting contrasts
Angels and demons,
can’t separate us from the love of God
Today, Tomorrow and I will add our past,
can’t separate us from the love of God
Powers, like floods and tornadoes
can’t separate us from the love of God
heights and depths
CAN’T SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
Nor anything else in all creations
CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
[wrap up
In that heavenly court scene, where Paul asked who is going to accuse, not God, not Jesus Christ.
Paul doesn’t even mention the devil
The accuser of the brethren from of old because,
This is not a trial for the non believers
This trial
this courtroom scene
is for those in Christ.
What are the limits of God’s grace to those in Christ?
Absolutely non on God’s side
so rejoice,
you are good enough
if your remain in God’s family.
Your obedience, if you obey Christ teaching does not come from fear of judgement but from thankful hearts
wanting to do what pleases the Father.
The only thing that jeopardizes your relationship
THE ONLY THING THAT JEOPARDIZES MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
IS MY HEART.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING separating you from
God’s peace right now, confess it to Him in your heart.
confess it at the alter if you like.
God, apparently does’t reject his children in life's circumstances
as long as they remain in Him
loving Him
believing in Him.
Are you at peace this morning?
Let’s pray.
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