Sermon Tone Analysis

Let’s remember that is the inspirational highlight of this book.

In chapter 8 the Apostle Paul is swept along in a wave of spiritual exaltation that begins with

God’s provision of the Spirit for victory over the old nature,

breaks through the sufferings that mark our present existence, and

breaks through the sufferings that mark our present existence, and

peaks with a doxology that we’ll begin next week in vv35-39.

peaks with a doxology that we’ll begin next week in vv35-39.

We are not dealing here with mere theology.

As Paul wrote, his pen gave evidence that he was caught up in

an experience of profound worship and spiritual adoration.

Let’s read from v34-39.

Amen, this is God’s Word.

Our text is v34 which reads:

"Who is the one who condemns?

Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”

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We are going to look at two main points today:

1.

The PRONOUNCEMENT. “Who is the one who condemns?”

The word “condemns” means to pronounce guilty!

2. The PERFECTION. “Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”

Let’s look first at this Pronouncement: “Who is the one who condemns?”

The verb ‘who condemn’ that Paul uses here means to pronounce a sentence upon a person after determination of guilt.

This is the amazing privilege for the believer isn’t it?

Imagine if you could fall from grace?

Oh the security of the believer.

But what of the unbeliever?

What of those who aren’t born again.

Oh that dreadful sentence and may we let this drive us to speak to the lost!

41 "“Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” ()

They have the loss of God’ favor and saving presence and glory.

Oh to be made to depart from God, who made them at first after His image.

Depart from the Redeemer, whose grace was offered to them, but they slighted them.

To be forced away from the Holy Spirit who strove them to sanctify them, until they quenched all His activity.

Those disciples wept when Paul said, “You shall not see my face anymore” ().

But here the anguish will fill the hearts of the reprobate when God shall say to them,

You shall never see My face again, you are now cut off from all hope and the possibility of salvation for ever.

So having to depart away from the favorable presence of God and into where?

Into the “eternal fire prepared for the devil and His angels!”

Into fire.

Not into purifying fire like the Lord graciously takes us through.

But tormenting fire, because hell is a place of torment.

A state of torment and agony.

24 "‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’”

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25 "“ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.”

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27 "“ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28 "because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’”

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And the duration.

It’s an eternal flame!

It had a beginning, but will never have an end.

God’s essential misery

The glory that sinners refuse is an everlasting glory so the agony that they incur is an eternal fire.

And their companions in the everlasting agony is the devil and his angels.

This highlights the greatness of the misery of the wicked.

The devil and his minions will be their everlasting companions.

Those who went along with the devil and toyed with sin and temptation in their hearts shall then remain forever in His company and his community.

As Christ with His blessed angels and saints make

one kingdom or family,

living together in perpetual blessedness;

so the devil and his angels, and the wicked, make

one society,

living together in perpetual misery.

This is the sentence of condemnation—

And some of us, as believers, we have such a hard time getting rid of that fear don’t we?

It’s because in our natural estate, we all know that we deserve eternal punishment!

This fear is born out of the nature of God, knowing that He is holy and just.

Which is why and the chapters like it are so precious to us!

So the question in v34 is who is going to condemn?

The answer to the question is No one, and for this very important reason:

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.

So, if Christ be for us, then…how can we possibly be condemned?

Our hearts may condemn us:

20 "whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things.

21 "Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God” ()

Our hearts may condemn us but it’s Christ, not our hearts, that matters in the end.

How can this be?

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” ().

To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith.

Faith in Christ unites us to Christ so that His death becomes our death and His perfection becomes our perfection.

Christ becomes our punishment (which we don’t have to bear) and

our perfection (which we cannot perform).

It’s the resurrection of Jesus assures all His future work on behalf of His people:

His authority and rule over everything in the universe ();

His priestly intercession on our behalf ();

His advocacy with God the Father ();

His protecting, comforting presence with us to the end of the age (); and this...

7 "and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.

This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 "when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

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So, the Pronouncement comes: “Who is the one who condemns?”

And the Perfection of Christ is set forth:

“Christ Jesus is the one who died...”

His death removes the possibility of condemnation for those who are in Him.

“but even more...”

Notice that phrase.

It’s inserted in between Christ death and His resurrection.

but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”

To be sure, the death of Christ was the is the means by which the sins of His people were blotted out.

This fact becomes established beyond any possibility of successful contradiction by the resurrection from the dead.

“has been raised He also is at the right hand of God...”

The right hand of God, the place of honor, power, and authority given to Him as a reward for His fully accomplished work as mediator.

he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”