More Than Conquerors!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We use the word “love” in many ways.
We use the word “love” in many ways.
I love coffee. I love fall. I love UK basketball.
I love my wife. I love my children. I love my students.
I love God. I love God’s Word. I love going to Church.
FCF: We use love so flippantly in our culture that we have a hard time understanding God’s love for us. But when life’s trials come, we need true confidence in the love of God for us. His love is our only way forward.
Main Point: God’s love is our confidence in the face of trials and tribulations.
Main Point: God’s love is our confidence in the face of trials and tribulations.
I. We are confident in God’s love for us—real, actual, proven love.
I. We are confident in God’s love for us—real, actual, proven love.
Agape Love – Love based on sincere appreciation or high regard.
Agape Love – Love based on sincere appreciation or high regard.
Often used to describe God’s love, as in the phrase “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
This is committed, faithful love that requires action, not just feelings.
Illustration: Agape love is like staying by someone’s side when things get tough. You don’t just say “I love you”—you show it during the tough times.
Paul asks: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”
Paul asks: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”
“The love of Christ” refers to Christ’s love for us, not our love for Him.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
This is a triune love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all pouring out love upon us.
There is also a relational element. Jesus not only showed His love at the cross, He continues to show His love by interceding for us and abiding with us through His Spirit.
Illustration: If someone said they love you, and only showed it once, you wouldn’t believe they loved you. But if someone continues to show up for you, even when you mess up or get needy, you know that’s true love. Christ shows His love continually, not just in one moment.
Gospel Call: Do you know the love of Christ? Have you trusted in the Savior’s love for you? The greatest display of God’s love was the cross!
Application: Keep connecting with God to experience His love.
Application: Keep connecting with God to experience His love.
This is called communion with God.
Communion is more than doing devotions or fulfilling duties—it is truly connecting with the Lord and enjoying Him.
What’s necessary for communion with God?
Genuine desire to connect with God in a real way.
Faith in Christ and trust that God will meet with us.
Repentance of sin, so we can stay close to God.
A mind set on God and His praises.
A pattern of self-denial—both internal and external.
Ways we walk in communion with God:
Prayer
Bible reading, sermons, and sound biblical books
Worship and singing the Psalms
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Fellowship and godly conversation
Transition: The question is: Who shall separate us? Answer: Nobody! But let’s see how far God’s love goes.
II. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
II. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
“More than conquerors” is one word in Greek: “super-conquerors,” or overwhelmingly victorious.
“More than conquerors” is one word in Greek: “super-conquerors,” or overwhelmingly victorious.
Illustration: Playing Madden football with Dad—he beats us badly, then switches controllers, plays with the losing team, and still wins! That’s victory through Jesus—not just winning, but domination.
What do Christians overcome?
What do Christians overcome?
We overcome sin and death.
We conquer the flesh by putting sinful deeds to death.
But Paul has more in mind: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, even the sword.
90k Christians are killed every year!
Even when we are treated like sheep to be slaughtered, we are still “more than conquerors” (Ps. 44:22).
How can we be super-conquerors, even in death?
How can we be super-conquerors, even in death?
We are “in Christ,” and He has conquered all His enemies. We know Satan, his kingdom, and his powers will never prevail.
Through Christ, being born again, we have God’s power to overcome the world by faith—we can say no to sin and yes to God (1 John 5:4–5).
We have resurrection life in us. Though the outer self fades, the inner self is renewed daily—we do not lose heart.
Application: Live as a conqueror.
Application: Live as a conqueror.
Wage spiritual war with spiritual armor (Eph. 6). Conquer flesh and enemies with God’s weapons.
Live with a conquering mindset. Stay alert, strong, and ready for battle. Neither good nor bad days are days to slack off.
Let the love of Christ empower your conquering lifestyle:
Be diligent in spiritual duties, because you’re secure in His love.
Confess and repent of sin, because you’re secure in His love.
Serve and use your gifts, because God’s love has shaped your heart for ministry.
The conquering life is saturated by the love of God! We will persevere when we are captivated and empowered by His steadfast, eternal love.
III. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
III. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Illustration: Imagine your child suddenly doing chores nonstop. When asked why, they reply: “I’m so worried you’ll turn your back on me, so I’m doing everything I can to keep your love.” That would break your heart. Yet that’s how many of us treat God—living as though we must earn His love.
Paul insists: Nothing can separate us from God’s love!
Paul insists: Nothing can separate us from God’s love!
Death? No—when we die, we meet Him face to face.
Life? No—tribulations and persecutions cannot.
Angels? No—fallen angels cannot possess or hinder God’s children.
Rulers? No—neither spiritual nor earthly rulers.
Things present? No. There’s nothing in our lives now that can separate us.
Things to come? No. There’s nothing that could come into our lives that would separate us!
Powers? No. There’s no spiritual or physical power that could separate us!
Height or depth? Nothing in heaven or beneath the earth. None at all!
Anything else in all creation? No—absolutely nothing!
We are united with God by His great love.
We are united with God by His great love.
His love is steadfast and eternal.
If He has poured it into our hearts by the Spirit, He will not withdraw it. This is freeing!
Conclusion: Remember that if you are a child of God, you are deeply and eternally loved—no matter what you face.
Conclusion: Remember that if you are a child of God, you are deeply and eternally loved—no matter what you face.
Believe that God’s love is this strong!
One of the hardest parts of the Christian life is seeing your own sin and believing God still loves you.
Don’t be afraid to embrace His love. He will never leave or forsake you.
Don’t fear that His love will lead to sin—God’s goodness leads to repentance; His grace trains us in godliness.
Wake up and walk in God’s love every day. You will grow, persevere, and live as more than a conqueror.
He will see you through to the end! Our greatest hope is that we will never be condemned by God because of God’s great love for us!
