NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US! - EASTER 25

Sermon Series: When In Romans Pt. 1

Text: Romans 8:31-39

Date: April 20, 2025

BILLY GRAHAM VIDEO

Well good morning! He is Risen!! Amen.

That was the voice of the late Reverand Billy Graham reminding us that the tomb is empty! That death couldn’t hold Jesus in the tomb! And that this book is trustworthy, and gives us hope today...and that’s what we’re here to celebrate, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about this morning.

So if you have a Bible go ahead and turn to Romans chapter 8. Romans is a book in the New Testament that our church has been working through for this whole year...and I’m so excited to look at the end of chapter 8 this morning.

While you’re turning there, let me say if we haven’t met, my name is Chase. I serve as the lead pastor here at The Corners. And I’m so glad you’re here.

And,....like we do every week...can we give a shout out for any first time guests this morning! We’re so glad you’re here. We hope you feel welcome...and more than anything...my hope is that however you came in here this morning...maybe you had to drag yourself here...maybe you were wondering if you were going to feel welcome or like you didn’t belong...I hope you feel welcome, but more than anything I hope you feel that you leave here believing the truths we’ve been singing about our not just true for some of us in this room...but are true for you.

Okay, and like I said we’re going to be talking about why this matters as seen in romans chapter 8, so let me pray for our time in the Word together and then we’ll dive in.

PRAY.

INTRODUCTION

Well, if you don’t know me...let me tell you one thing that you should know about me and that’s that I love to read. Of course, as a Pastor, I’m kind of obligated to say that my favorite book is the bible...and it is. And there’s many theological books I love, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, the list goes on, and I could spend hours talking about these books, but outside of the Bible, one of my favorite books...sometimes I think it might be my favorite book is not overtly Theological in Nature...and It’s only like 12 pages and has pictures.

Some of you are like now you’re talking my language...it is this book right here. Called Love You Forever.

Who grew up reading this book or having this book read to them? Okay a decent amount.

And it’s a great book...the basic premise is that there’s a mother who has a son, and all throughout his life in the different stage of his life, she’s singing this song to him that goes like this...”I love you forever, I iike you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”

And so she keeps singing it to him, and he grows up and then, it gets to the point that she can’t sing it anymore because she’s so old so he picks her up and sings it ot his mom...and you’re like ahhh who’s cutting onions, right...AND THEN...at the end the last page – spoiler alert, it gets to the end and now he’s an adult and he’s got a little daughter and he goes in her room and rocks hers her back and forth and back and forth and sings the song to her, and it’s awesome.

One quick thing about the book...my mom used to sing this to me when she would read it, and I sing it to Ada and Hezekiah using the same tune my mom sang...I just assumed that was the real tune...I won’t sing it now...but the whole time I thought that was the way the song went, I didn’t know my mom made up the tune. Until like just 5 or 6 years ago, I found a video on youtube where the actual author was reading the book and singing these words – and I was like wait that’s off...so I sent it to my mom and she’s like “O I just made up the tune.” But the best part was that every comment on the Youtube Video was was telling the author...you’re singing it wrong. (pause) So, I guess everyone’s parents made up their own tune...anyway!

It's a great book and a great little saying, right? Because what it’s getting at is the nature of unconditional love. (pause) The kid in the book is crazy...I mean he flushes his mom’s watch down the toilet, that’s my son’s favorite part. He’s got pizza all over the floor in his teenage years...he’s a normal crazy kid, right...but despite everything...his mom loves him forever.

About a week ago, I was singing the song to Hezekiah as he was going to sleep, and I was thinking about this story – and it struck me that...in many ways this little catchy song or poem here....it really is the core message of the 8th chapter of the book of Romans.

Like I mentioned earlier, our church has been working through the book of Romans this year in a series that we’ve titled When In Romans. And the reason we choose this book is because the book of Romans really is Christianity 101. It’s explaining the complex doctrines of the faith, but in a clear and systematic way because – Paul, the Apostle Paul, the author of the book...is writing to new Christian converts in Ancient Rome who didn’t have an organized church structure yet...some were Jews, some were Gentials... and he’s writing to just lay out to them hey here’s what it means to be a Christian.

And so, as a result, what we see as we study the book of Romans is that – and we’ve reminded ourselves of this each week in our study....The letter to the Romans is the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian beliefs in the whole Bible.

Now, if you’re new to the Bible.....this book actually consists of 66 books that are all telling the story of Jesus....but each book has a clear primay objective. Most of the Old Testament books are telling Narrative stories of Ancient Israel and how it came to be, and how God was forming a people to himself from which the savior of the world would one day come. Some books are poetry. Some books are prophesy. But the book of Romans is, again, laying out the basics of the faith.

And so Paul starts this wonderful book by introducing himself and then he dives right into the bad news that by nature all of us are against God. You say...wait you don’t know me, how can you say that...well Paul in a absolutely brilliant way begins the book of Romans by showing how because God is perfect and we are not, all of us by nature have a stain on us called sin...that seperates us from God.

We don’t like to talk about it....but Paul shows us that as a result there’s nothing we can do on our own to be made right with God....and so he spends basically the first three chapters building that argument until he comes to the end of chapter 3 and he’s like but there’s good news...God made a way for people to be saved and that’s by trusting in Jesus!

And then he spends the next couple chapters talking about that’s what Jesus’ death was all about. He wasn’t just setting a good example of how to be a good person. He wasn’t just a guy who had some ideas about peace and love and is meant to be role model for us...no, his death actually was the penalty all off us deserved to pay because of our imperfection...but he paid it for us and simply by placing our trust in him...by saying Jesus I want you to be the King of my life...I want you to change me and make me your follower....by that simple faith- we actually become a part of God’s family!!

Then in chapters 6 and 7 of Romans, Paul addresses the reality that there should be some change in us when we place our faith in Christ. We don’t just live the same way....but while we’re here on earth we’re still surrounded by the presence of sin and the temptation to sin, and so we won’t be perfect on this side of heaven.

And then we get to chapter 8. Which some have called the greatest chapter in the Bible. (pause) Because in this chapter, what Paul is doing is reminding us that despite the fact that we won’t be sinless on this side of heaven AND despite the fact that we’ll still face hardships...that being a Christian doesn’t make us exempt from suffering...God loves us...and that if we are his children, there’s nothing that can be done to change that!

His love is unconditional! (pause) He loves us forever... there’s nothing can happen that should cause us to ask does he like me right now...because as long as he’s living we are His children if we’re in Christ.

That’s the message of Romans 8!

And in this chapter, we’ve seen that the first 17 verses, Paul is reminding us of our identiy in Christ, we don’t have to fear condemnation....meaning we are eternally secure. Which means we know we’re going to heaven if we’re Christians...there’s nothing we can do to outsin God’s grace because we didn’t earn it in the first place. And Paul tells us we’re adopted into the family of God!! And we’re like that’s awesome....

But then from verses 18-30 we’re reminded that suffering is very much the reality of the believer...whether personally...or those we know and who are suffering and we’re suffering with them because of our love for them...it’s real, but in it – it causes us to hope for the day when God will make all things new and every tear will be wiped away and all pain will cease.

And last week we had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Benedito all the way from Mozambique, Africa....

- Expand (can we give it up for)

- IF you didn’t listen...

So in Romans 8, Paul starts off with our identity, then he talks about suffering and what that looks like and means for us, and how the Holy Spirit is with us in it and prays for us...again there’s so much we could continue to unpack there....

But then we come to the final 8 verses in this chapter...Romans 8:31-39. And

Pastor and Biblical Commentator John MacArthur calls this section a hymn of security. He says in his commentary on Romans, talking about these verses – quote – Although verses 31-39 continue his argument in defense of security, they also amount to an almost poetic declaration of thanksgiving for God’s grace, in which His children will live and rejoice throughout all eternity.

So, these verses I’m about to read...he’s saying – brothers and sisters if you’re a Christian...we will live and rejoice in these truths for all of eternity.

This great climactic section of this climactic chapter of the book of Romasns...this contains the truths that we need to understand...and not just understand in our minds, but these truths need to sink into our hearts.

So, here’s what I want to do for the rest of our time. I want to give you three truths from this amazing passage that are true for every believer in Jesus. Three eternal promises that Paul is declaring that, again, need to take root in our hearts.

And then three implications for every single one of us today. Three truths and three implications, if you’re a note taker, this is our outline for the rest of our time.

And the first promise is is this. NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY OUR ETERNAL HOPE IF WE ARE IN CHRIST. Let me say that again...

Look at verse 31.

31 What then shall we say to these things?

What things is he talking about, well again, I agree with MacArthur that Paul is continuing his argument for Eternal Security. He’s said in 8:1 there’s no condemnation for those in Christ...in other words we won’t have to face the wrath of God because Jesus bore it. He’s said in verse 15 we’re adopted into the family of God.

Verse 18...he said the sufferings of the present can’t be compared to the glory that awaits us in heaven! That’s an encouragement isn’t it? Again, he’s told us that when we’re suffering the Holy Spirit is not only with us, but praying for us!! And now he says “What can we say about all this!” It’s almost sounds like a rhetorical question like he’s just speechless...

But then he answers his question. What can we say...here’s what we can say... If God is for us, who can be against us?

NOW he’s using a rhetorical question. And he’s gonna do that several times. (pause) in asking this question he’s saying...in light of everything we’ve talked about up to this point in this chapter...this should be your conclusion...NO ONE can be against us!

But let me just ask you...you have anybody who doesn’t like you? Anybody who seems to make your life more difficult? A boss? An estranged family member?

Like...how can Paul say no one can be against us if God is for us...but clearly we have people who are against us. People who make our life more difficult whether on purpose or unintentionally, right? (pause) So what’s going on here.

Well, again his focus in this chapter and this section is ETERNAL security. So what he’s saying is that if God is on our side...if God has declared his love for us...than it doesn’t matter what anyone else in this world says or does because if we’re in Christ that matters more than anything else.

And he backs it up in the next verses...look t verse 32.

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?

Okay, this is amazing and this is what brings us to Easter this morning...what paul is doing is he’s making an argument from the greater to the lesser. He’s saying...look God did the most difficult thing in the history of the universe by allowing his son to die...for us....the sinful humans who can’t keep our eyes off the things of this world...like the creator died for us..and the Father allowed it to happen...he didn’t spare his son...if he did THAT...then Paul says how can he not graciously give us all things!

Does that make sense? He’s saying the harder thing in this scenario is to give his son...he did not...now of course he’ll give us all things!

And the all things here...it’s not talking about cars, and jobs, and all the earthly stuff we might want...no this is a tie back to verse 28 that “all things” will work together for the good of those who love God. (pause) He’s talking about the eternal hope we have that God is for us...that God will one day bring us into eternity with him!

And look at verse 33 - 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Again, is he saying no one can ever make crazy claims about us? No one can lie about us? No that’s not what he’s saying...but he’s saying God’s the one who justifies...so it doesn’t matter what other people say! (pause) – And then Verse 34 I love this.

34 Who is to condemn? Again, he’s not saying no one can try and say something about us in a condemning fashion...he’s sayjng it doesn’t matter...why because...rest of the verse 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.

I love how this reads in the New Living Translation..it says - 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.

Brothers and sisters do you see what this is saying. Do you feel the peace and the hope and the joy that should come with these verses! Because this is saying...whenever we go through difficulties in our relationships...any sort of adversarial trials that involve people....it doesn’t matter what they say about you...and it doesn’t matter what they think about you...because all that matters is what God thinks about you....and what Paul is saying is that you and I can know what God thinks about us....and we know what God thinks about us beause of the love that was on display for us on the cross!

That Jesus gave his life for you and for me...and now...this is crazy...it says that if we’re in Christ Jesus is pleading for us!

Brothers and sisters did you walk in here today with a burden on your sholders...Jesus is interceeding for you!

What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness Take it to the Lord in prayer

It doesn’t matter the mess people say about you when the King of Kings is interceding for you!

Let me put it like this. Who knows what building this is. Yell it out. The Supreme Court building, right? This is supposed to be the highest Court in the land. Okay, now imagine...you’re involved in a case that makes it to the Supreme Court...You’re the one being accused...you’re on trial..hopefully this never happens to any of us in this room...but the case makes it the Supreme Court...the highest Court in the land...and they declare that you are innocent. A unanimous verdict. You’re innocent.

So you’re happy you go home, you’re free...everyone knows you’re innocent now..but you get on social media...and see someone said....I think their guilty.

How much does that change your legal status? Not at all. That carries absolutely no weight!

Well this isn’t a prefect comparison because the US Supreme Court is made up of human individuals...but what Paul is saying in these verses is that the Creator God has declared us righteous if we’re in him....he told us in verses 29 and 30 that this means our eternal rewards are secure already...they’re guaranteed...and so it doesn’t matter what others say....and the worst that people can say about us or accuse us of means absolutely nothing compared to what God has delared to be true about us.

And let me just say that includes what we say about us. Have you ever heard someone say or maybe even felt yourself thinking I know God says he’s forgiven me but I can’t forgive myself.

Do you know when you’re saying that...you’re saying how I feel about my sin is more important that Jesus said is true about it.

No one can take away our eternal hope if we’re in Christ! (pause) But he doesn’t stop there....because our next promise is that NO CIRCUMSTANCE CAN TAKE AWAY OUR ETERNAL HOPE, IF WE ARE IN CHRIST either!

So, no one...and now no circumstance! Look at verse 35.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Okay, so it seems like hes gonna talk more about people. Again he’s making his argument by means of rhetorical questions. But then he doesn’t list people, he lists circumstances. (pause). Really, he lists a series of ways that a believer can suffer. And he’s asking can any of this separate us from God?

What’s on his list? tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, (and we don’t have to just think of the worst kinds of starvation in the word, but I think all kinds of financial difficuly can be included in here. – when you’re nervous about being able to provide food for your family... or nakedness again financial distress, or danger, or sword?

Again...and I don’t want to sound like a broken record...but he’s using this argumentative method of using rhetorical questions to emphasize his point that the answer is no! (pause) That for the believer...it doesn’t matter what happens in your life...why because what’s the absolute worst that can happen? You die? You go to heaven? You suffer? God brings purpose to that pain as a testimony to draw others to him!

That doesn’t make it fun in the moment. No pain is painful. It’s in the name. We shouldn’t glorify suffering. But we know that even our suffering won’t separate us from God!

And...also...and we see this through the Gospels too...sometimes in the midst of suffering the temptation is to think what did we do wrong., right? Like sometimes our suffering is the result of some sin or a situation that could be avoided...other times its not.

Do you remember the story in John chapter 9 of the man who was born blind? And the diciples were with Jesus and asked him...yo Jesus who sinned? Was it this man or his parents.

Can you imagine being that guy. I’m sure he heard them talking. But what did Jesus say? He said neither! He said he’s this way so God could be glorified in him! So God’s power could be seen through him.

We don’t always know why we suffer, but it’s important to know it’s not always rooted in something that was wrong. We have to get this is because its easy when trials come to start thinking okay I need to go to church more, I need to read my bible more, I need to join every group and discipleship community in the chuch just to show God I’m serious and as a result he’ll fix my problem...but that’s not how it words!

And Paul...in what seems like a random sidenote – here in chapter 8 he quotes from Psalm 44. We won’t turn there, I’ll leave that for you to explore on your own, but if you read Psalm 44 – specifically verses 18-22...you can make a note of that in your Bible...next to Romans 8:36, write Psalm 44:18-22...but in that section, the psalmist is declaring their innocence and noting that they’re still suffering...in this case being killed despite their devotion to God.

Brothers and sisters we shouldn’t seek out trials...we shouldn’t over glorify them as if they’re some sign of ultimate Christian maturity...but on the other hand we shouldn’t think that trails and suffering are the result of sin in our lives...but no look at verse 37.

What should our mindset towards these suffering filled circumstances be?

This is actually our Corners Kids theme for the Amour of God series they’re in right now...and it it’s here on the screen.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Now...we love this verse right? I love this verse. Who doesn’t want to be more than a conqueror, right? But there’s four words we often skip right over when we read this verse. IN ALL THESE THINGS.

What things? Trials...tribulations....famine...suffering...nakedness!!

In other words listen to me brothers and sisters...this isn’t saying that because we’re in Christ...our lives will be great...we won’t face any obstacle...we won’t face any hardship....this isn’t saying because the tomb is empty we’re gonna get the jobs we want...we’re gonna have the bank accoutns full like we want them...no this is saying that beause the tomb is empty...that’s the him who lovd us part...beause of what Jesus did for us...he loved us so much he died for us...now IN ALL THESE THINGS...in all the moments of pain...in all the bad reports from the doctor...in all the losses we face even when we lose a spouse or a child we can still stand boldly not because we don’t feel the pain but because the pain won’t defeat us!!

Becaue again...even If the worst thing imaginable happens to us it won’t separate us from God!

Which leads to our final truth. Paui’s already shown us that no one can take our o=hope away...then he showed us no circumstance can take our hope away...and he ends in these last two verses by just saying essentially...hey in case you didn’t get it or you’re still coming up with other hypothetical reasons for why you might be separated from God...why you might not get the rewards he promises...let me just put it this way....NOTHING CAN TAKE AWAY OUR ETERNAL HOPE, IF WE ARE IN CHRIST.

No one! No circumstance, and nothing at all! (pause) And look at how he says it – verse 39.

38 For I am sure There’s no hypotheticals now...this is truth...he’s sure...this is the confidence we heard from Billy Grahm at the start about his confidene in the Word!! Paul says 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.

This is what separate Christianity from every other religion in the world!! This isn’t just a hope that when we die we’ll go to heaven. This isn’t a wishful prayer that our good outweighs our bad...this the confident expectation of the reality that is to come not because of what we’ve done but because of who He is!!

Tht death can’t even even separate us because death couldn’t hold Him in the grave!

pause

So what does this mean for us? Well here are our implications. I’ve given you three truths for believers...what can we take away from this. Three implications.

1. These truths are only true if you are in Christ.

What does that mean to be in Christ? It simply means to say God, I know I’m a sinner. I know I need you. Because I know I can’t live the perfect life you require on my own. But I believe Jesus lived a perfect life and died – paying the penalty I should have paid, and I want to trust in his sacrifice to cover my sin.

That’s what it means to be a Christian. Not following a bunch of rules. No, we live a certain way because we’ve been changed not in order to get acceptance from God.

And let me just say, I’ve said this before and I can’t say it enough...in a room of this size, it would be foolish of me to think that every single one of us is a follower of Jesus.

Some of us maybe know we’re not. Maybe you came just to see what this whole Jesus thing is about thi morning and we’re glad you’re here and would love to talk with you. You can stop by the prayer table in the back or by the Outlet table in the lobby.

But others in here, maybe you think you are a Christian...but you haven’t fully surrended your life to Jesus. You’re still trying to live your way or enjoy the fruits of sin.

Let me just say, humbly yet directly...the other side of Paul’s argument that nothing not even death can separate us from God if we’re in Christ..is that if we’re not in Christ than we can be separated from Him. (pause) and if you were to die today...not trusting in Jesus, you would enter into an eternity of speration from him.

We have to understand the severity of the bad news and the urgency of the bad news for the good news to be good.

So I plead with you friends, don’t leave here today from this building without knowing that you are in Christ! Because these truth are only true for those who are.

2. Implication #2. These truths should cause us to keep our eyes towards heaven!

Paul wants his readers to long for heaven! Hardship causes us to long for heaven, but friends my prayer is that we won’t need the pains of suffering to get us to keep our eyes on Jesus above all else!

That’s my prayer for this church. That we would be a people not marked by our politics, not marked by our preferences, but marked by our gaze being set towards heaven so the things of this earth...it’s not that we don’t care about them. It’s not that we just burry our head in the sand and ignore the news...but so like the hymn writer says the things of this earth begin to grow dim...in the light of his glory and grace! Which leads to number 3.

3. Live to give God glory today.

If we know we’re in Christ...and we keep our eyes on heaven...and we have an eternal perspective and we’re always thinking about the hope that is to come....and our jobs are not our primary identity...even our families and the roles we play therein are not our primary identiy...but our primary identify is child of the King of Kings...how can we not live for him, and live to glorify him in everything we do!

When we realize how much he loves us...so much that he did not spare his son or us....how can we not live to give him glory and honor in everything we do...to declare that he is the King...that death could not hold him...that there is no one like him...how can we not live for him today.

CONCLUSION

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about the Wesley brothers. John and Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley was a hymn writer – wrote thousands of hymns in his life. John Wesley was the father of the Methodist church. But both brothers were not actually saved until after they were in ministry.

It started out for them as just a profession, but then God saved them and used them in absoutly amazing ways. Well, John Wesley wrote in his journal about an experience that deeply shaped him on his way to being converted, that highlights what Paul I getting at here. This assurance that not even death can separate us from God if we’re in Christ.

This was in January 1736, and Wesley was on a ship traveling across the Atlantic from England to Georgia and the ship ended up in a storm. Like a really bad one.

And John Wesley found himself some of the deepest fear he'd ever experienced in his life. Here he is. In his own words: “The winds roared about us. The ship not only rocked to and fro with the utmost violence, but shook and jarred with so unequal grating a motion that one could not but with great difficulty keep one's hold of anything, nor stand a moment without it. Every 10 minutes came a shock against the stern or the side of the ship, which one would think would dash the planks in pieces.”

So that’s not good, right? Well Wesley’s terrified, but there was another group on the ship...a group of German Christians. Their posture in the middle of the storm was quite different than Wesley's, and he was struck and changed by it. He writes about how he heard through the deafening thunder and the roaring wind, the sound of singing. Because These German Christians were singing hymns and psalms while the ship was being torn!

So, like, picture the scene. The ship is about to sink. Wesley’s crying in the vorner...But the Germans....They're having church. And here again is Wesley in his own words:

In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English.

Yet, the Germans calmly sang on. I asked one of them afterwards, was not you afraid? He answered, I thank God, no. I asked – and get this...this is hard right here...one of the most amazing sentences...Wesley asked... But were not your women and children afraid? The German replied mildly, no, our women and children are not afraid to die.

What kind of faith is that? What kind of faith can stare hardship, and pain, and trail, and suffering, and tribulation, and even death in the face and say what’s the worst you can do...because even if you do your best I’ll go be with my King! You kill me I’ll go to heaven. You persecute me...that becomes my testimony!! That’s the kind of faith Paul is describing which is the the kinf od faith that allows us to sing praises...to lift our hallelujahs...to sing Lord you are God and your mercy endureth forever even when our life doesn’t feel good! Why? Because we know Jesus has overcome the grave! We know the tomb is empty and death has been defeated and as a result No one...No circumstance...NOTHING can separate us from God’s love!!

It's unconditional! He’ll love us forever....the circumstances we’re in shouldn’t causes us to question if he likes us still....because as long as he’s living...which his and he always will be...if we’re his followers than we’re his sons and his daughters.

We’re going to sing two songs....