Our Identity 19 More than Conquerors
Our Identity In Christ
Lesson 19
Review
A – We have ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS
We are ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW COVENANT AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
B- BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING
IN HEAVENLY PLACES
BELOVED OF GOD
C- We are COMFORTED OF GOD
CALLED
And CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
D – We are DEAD TO SIN, BUT ALIVE TO GOD
E – We are EPISTLES OF CHRIST
F – We are not only FORGIVEN, but also FREE from bondage
G - We are GIVEN A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND
H – We are HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD
We are HEIRS
Heirs of God
Fellow Heirs with Christ
Heirs of the Kingdom
Heirs of Promise
Heirs of Righteousness
Heirs of the Grace of Life
His workmanship (poiema)
created
I – In Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)
J – We are Justified
K- Kingdom of Priests
With the responsibility of proclaiming the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Our priestly offerings include: our bodies (lives), praise, possessions, good works, service to God.
Known by Him (Psalm 139)
L - Laborers together with God
Now let’s turn together to Romans Ch. 8
Today we will try to understand what God had in mind as He inspired Paul to write the words – We are More than conquerors through Him who loved us.
In Romans 8 Paul asks a series of questions to draw out the amazing privileges of belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice with me v. 31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
In order to understand this question better, we want to keep in mind that in Romans Ch. 7 Paul talked about his struggle to keep the law with this sinful flesh.
Then in 8:1-2 He gives us the solution to the problem he had been discussing.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (New Covenant) has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Old Covenant).
You might remember Adrian Roger’s illustration for this being that the law of aerodynamics can set a 350 ton aircraft free from the law of gravity.
These two laws are always at work but one can overpower the other.
God did not rescind the law of sin and death when Christ came to earth in fact He demonstrated it through the shedding of his own blood on the cross.
It was at that time He set a new law into effect…Those who would admit that they could not overcome the law by themselves could now be IN CHRIST JESUS and He would serve as their provision. (somewhat like getting on an airplane to overcome the law of gravity)
Paul continues with the details of that discussion throughout the whole chapter
· Our adoption in the family (joint heirs with Christ)
· The fact that those who suffer with Christ will also be glorified with Christ
· He explains how the Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray.
· Gives us a beautiful picture of God’s foreknowledge which the human mind can hardly understand.
Then the questions begin…
V. 31
If God has done all of this, then it must be true that the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the all-powerful, all-knowing,
ever-present God is for us.
And if He is for us then what does it matter who is against us?
Does anything or anyone intimidate our God?
So does anyone or anything have the right to intimidate us?
Is God for you when you are involved in a labor of love for His glory? Yes He is.
Is the God of all wisdom and the God of Peace for you when you give a devotion to a group of people that you don’t know? Yes He is.
Is El Shaddai (The All Sufficient One) for you when you are drained at the end of the day and still need to care for your aging relative? Yes He is
Is Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts) for you when you are trying to dig out of a pit of depression and you can feel the claws of the enemy pulling you down deeper by the day?
Absolutely He is.
Is El Roi (The God Who Sees) for you and for you and for your child when that one that you gave birth to is hundreds or thousands of miles away fighting a war? He is.
Is Jehovah Raah (The Shepherd) for you and for your child when that child is in the midst of rebellion? Yes, He is.
Is Jehovah Jireh (Our Provider) for us when we start a new job or move to a new town and have to start all over again? He is.
Is Jehovah Rapha (The God Who Heals) for you when you hear the word cancer? Without a doubt
v. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
v. 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
The lesser is included in the greater.
Girls, if a man thinks enough of you to give you a costly, brilliant, beautiful, flawless diamond, do you think he will object when you ask him for the box that goes with it? (Steadman)
If God was willing to give us the best, the greatest, the dearest, the most precious thing He has, would He deprive us of anything else we need? Of course not, He is prepared to give us all that we need to accomplish His purpose in our lives.
Let’s look at Paul’s next question:
v. 33a Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
Who is it that accuses us before the Father? Satan
Does he have a leg to stand on? No
What is Paul’s answer to this rhetorical question?
v. 33b God is the one who justifies.
Remember our justification tree.
Because of our justification what do we stand in? Grace
We are justified by His blood, we are justified by His grace. All we add to that is our faith. Remember all the ornaments that came along with our justification? We now have hope or confident expectation, peace with God because of reconciliation, the love of God poured out within our hearts, and the promise of eternal life.
So if God justifies then
v. 34 Who is the one who condemns?
When Satan brings a charge against God’s elect it is thrown out of court.
Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
The only one who has a right to condemn us or judge us, the only perfect man who ever lived, is interceding for us.
v.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Your enemy and your flesh may try to convince you that tribulation, distress, persecution, etc. will put a wall between you and God. But just the opposite is true.
Many believers will tell you that they have never seen His face more clearly, heard His voice more distinctly, or experienced His power more readily than in the midst of the storm.
God is not saying here that these things will not happen. All of these things happened to Paul (II Cor. 11:23-28).
He is saying that when they do happen, God will go with us, and lead us, He will be our rear guard, our right and left flank.
Notice that these things are stated in increasing intensity. They are part of the “all things” of Rom. 8:28 that God may use to conform us to Christ’s image.
v. 36 is a quote from Psalm 44:22
Just as it is written, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.
Satan has always had a plan do destroy God’s Ambassadors.
The persecutors of the early church looked at Christians as nothing more than animals to be butchered.
This is still happening today all over the world as God’s people continue to suffer persecution.
But….here’s our key verse.
v. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. kjv
Notice some key words in this verse.
IN all these things
We will find ourselves in some difficult situations
In ALL these things
There is not one situation through which God cannot cause us to be an overcomer.
In all these things WE…..
No one is going this alone, and no one in God’s family is exempt.
In all these things we ARE more than conquerors
Present tense verb. God is in the process of conquering while we are in the midst of the battle.
In all these things we are MORE than conquerors…
It is not God’s plan that we just make it through the battle all scarred up and worn out. We are to come out on the other side of the battle victorious having not only stood our ground but having
gained some ground.
In all these things we are more than CONQUERORS…
Kitty and I were discussing this verse this week and one of the things she pointed out is that those who conquer on the earth are most often taking over what belongs to someone else.
We on the other hand are taking back what is ours to begin with.
In all these things were are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM
Kitty also brought out the point that In the earthly realm the warriors fight the battle for the King.
In God’s economy, the king fights the battle for the warriors.
….HIM THAT LOVED US.
Why is the word love in the past tense here?
I think it takes us back to all that Christ did by emptying Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men, humbling Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
This seems like a strange way to conquer doesn’t it, but is was Christ’s way to conquer.
That’s how He triumphed over principalities and powers.
And that’s also how we will conquer most of the trials that face us… by emptying ourselves, becoming obedient, taking up our cross and following Him.
Conquering by faith, perseverance, and patience, may be more difficult than conquering by sword but it has often been God’s method.
Rev. 12:10-11
…The accuser of our brethren has been thrown down who accuses them before God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
How is the accuser of the brethren overcome? By the word of our testimony and the blood of the lamb and following Christ wherever that takes us.
What word of testimony can you use when the enemy comes against you?
I am an Ambassador….
I am more than a conqueror.
We will not conquer in our own strength.
We conquer in His victory.
And then Paul’s conclusion after all the questions have been answered:
vv. 38-39 convinced (No doubt)
Death: Absent from the body, present with the Lord
So death can’t separate us from God’s love.
Life: If to live is Christ; to die is gain then life can’t separate us from the love of Christ.
Angels: ministering spirits sent out to render service to those who inherit salvation
Principalities & Powers: Disarmed by Christ (Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:13&15) If they are under Christ’s feet can they separate us from Him?
Things Present: Cares of today… What does God tell us to do with our cares?
“Cast all your cares on Him for He careth for you.”
Things to Come: concerns of tomorrow
“Take no thought for tomorrow”
“Think on that which is…”
Height, nor depth:
“Where can we go from His spirit?” (Psalm 139)
Nor any other created thing:
God is the only uncreated thing in the universe.
John 16:33
In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.