God is For You

Romans 8:31-39

Introduction

We started today with a ‘sunrise’ celebration, hot cross buns and games

Why? Today is a day of joy & celebration

We need to be known as a people of joy

We have a deep reason for such joy

Part of what gives us such joy on Resurrection Sunday is that today is a celebration of certainty

I don’t want you to leave today just having had an enjoyable & joyful morning

I want you to leave today with a deep reason for that joy

I want you to go away today certain that God is for you

Today’s text is one we’ve spent time memorising over the last month

READ Romans 8:31-39

I want you to leave today certain that God is for you

Some of you know this already

I want you to know this with same confidence Paul did

Some of you don’t know or think he’s against you

I want you to know where you stand with God

My desire is you will leave knowing God is on your side

I want you to know the God is for you not in some ideological way

Because of Christ’s death & resurrection God is working in you & for you every day

I want you to know that God is completely, actively, lovingly & powerfully for you

God is Completely For You

Romans 8:31-33

God IS for You

Those who are in Christ

Beginning in Rom. 8:31 we need to answer ‘who’ is God for

To whom do all of these promises belong?

Who can gain confidence from these verses?

Answer: Rom. 8:1 – those who are in Christ

Rom. 8:9 – those in whom Spirit dwells

For those who’ve been saved from their sin

These promises are for God’s chosen people

Ephesians 1:4 “4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,”

Resurrection reveals to us how deeply, passionately, purposefully God is for us

See the depth of God’s love for you

See extent He has gone & will go for you

Those who are not His

Truth is God isn’t for everyone

Not everyone can draw encouragement here

Rom. 8:6-9

Carnally = not to be spiritual, in Christ (& cannot please God)

Some may say, God doesn’t seem to be for me

Then real Q becomes, are you for God?

Many will answer yes, but truth says differently

You’re for God in as much as you think He is for you

That is, you are for God in regards to what you want Him to do for you

Basically, “I’m for me and I’m for God as long as I think He is for me”

You will have set of standards, live certain way, etc that keeps you inside a certain moral code

Believing that if you meet a minimum standard God is obliged to be for you

Not what God says

In fact, truth is you aren’t really for God

By your own will you are His enemy

Your half-hearted attempts to please Him amount to nothing (Rom. 8:8)

For things to change God must come to you

This is the message of Easter, resurrection, Gospel

You can leave today absolutely certain God is for you

God is Always for you (Rom. 8:28-30)

For those that are God’s He is always for you

God’s love for His people is no whim

Not weak, flighty or easily manipulated

What you don’t know before you’re saved is that God was indeed for you – though you weren’t

He chose, called, predestined

He conforms you to Christ & guarantees your eternal destiny

Not one moment of your life that God isn’t for you as His child

He has planned to care for you every step of the way

God Gave His Son for You

In love

Easter tells you how deeply God is committed

Only way of salvation is most costly price you could possibly imagine

To sacrifice your son for someone who loves you is hard enough

God gave His Son for people who don’t love Him

Willingly

God isn’t for you because He has to be

He is for you because He has chosen to be for you

It is His pleasure & joy to save from sin & give abundant life

Even though the cost is immense He wants to do it

God Withholds Nothing Good from You

Life

He gives you life, eternal, abundant life

Gives everything you need to live that abundant life

1 Peter 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Freedom

Freedom from the bondage of sin, freedom from slavery to selfishness

Freedom from condemnation of sin

Freedom to live for God & enjoy God

Spirit

Much of Rom. 8 is about Spirit’s work in life of believer

Spirit is our assurance of Salvation

He helps us live for God, grow & enjoy the new life we’ve been given

God is Actively For You

Romans 8:34

He Paid the Ultimate Price

Christ died for our sin

He’s not passively for you

Not just a fan or a spectator

e.g. Not like me: half-hearted fan of Eagles

He is actively working for your good

Didn’t show you a way to make your salvation

He’s not standing on sideline cheering us on, hoping we’ll make it

He accomplished it on your behalf

Our sin is what condemns us

Jesus takes care of what condemns us

He died in your place, taking your sin & guilt

Sacrificed Himself for you

No condemnation

Rom. 6:23 – wages of sin is death

For those who believe Jesus that debt is paid

There is no condemnation for them

Acts 16:31 – believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved

Rom. 6:23 – gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

Jesus Reigns

He rose

His death is only part of it

He didn’t stay dead, if He did it’s all empty

Christ is risen from the dead & become first firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20)

Having risen from the dead He made it possible for our resurrection from dead

He reigns

Philippians 2:9 “9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,”

He rose in power, as conqueror, Saviour & King

Sits now in heaven in place of power

Jesus Intercedes

Satan accuses you

Rom. 8:33-34 – who can bring a charge against us? Who can condemn us?

Satan tries – He is great accuser, tempter

Jesus defends you

Jesus intercedes for His people

He knows the price He has paid, knows what Salvation He has provided

Knows you believe & though you fall He is there to defend you

1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

God is Lovingly For You

Romans 8:35-37

No-one can Take You from God’s Love

Satan will try

He will try to get you to doubt God’s love

He will use your sin & guilt against you

God will never let go

Doesn’t matter how you feel or whether you think God can’t love you

If you have truly believed Jesus as Saviour He will never let you go

He will hold you fast

John 10:28–30 “28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.””

No Circumstance Can Take You from God’s Love

Circumstances may shake your faith

We can’t see their purpose, confused by them

Circumstances may even seem to hide God from view

God will never let go

God is Powerfully For You

Romans 8:37-38

He Makes Us Conquerors

Rom. 8:37

He is victorious

We can overcome sin because Jesus conquered it

We can live joyfully, confidently, full of hope

Jesus is alive and reigns victorious

We are victorious

Because He lives we live also

Because He reigns we have confidence

No matter what the picture looks like now – the end is beautiful

Be Fully Convinced God is For You

Rom. 8:38 - persuaded

Nothing can separate you from God’s love

Be persuaded, convinced, assured

As a child of God – you are His forever!

God loves you

You are His in love

This is a grand & glorious truth

Not just a slogan or nice thought

Conclusion

My aim today is simple – go away today with confidence that God is for you

He is completely, actively, lovingly, powerfully for you

2 ways that you can leave with that confidence today

Believer: trust the God who saved you to keep you

Be persuaded, absolutely convinced that God’s love for you is so powerful nothing can separate you

Unbeliever: Right now you can have no assurance in these words – you are against God & in judgment

That can dramatically change today

Believe that God (perfect & sinless) willingly sent Jesus (perfect & sinless) to die in your place to pay for your sin

Believe Jesus rose from the dead conquering power of sin & death & making eternal life available

Confess your sin, follow Jesus

As one of God’s people you have access to every resource of God

God is for you!

Benediction

2 Corinthians 13:14 “14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”