The Proof of Your Love
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Take your Bibles and turn the Romans chapter 8.
Romans chapter 8 verses 31 through 39. If you don't have a Bible, please take one from the Pew in front of you. There's actually some gift Bibles there. If you don't have a Bible at all take one of those Bibles home with you. We want to equip you with the word of God. Also, if you received a bulletin and saw that bulletin, there's an insert and there are notes that you can fill in the blanks to fill in as we go along with the sermon this morning. I would encourage you feel those blanks in I've been keep that insert with you so you can better retain today's message. Carrie Easter long with you. I've been when you study the book of Romans, you'll have those notes. Also if you have a smartphone and you've downloaded the Bible app by YouVersion YouVersion Bible app, you can go to the more tab top events buy milk, Baptist church and they are under that event title. You'll find all the scripture references today all the notes the quotes and the references you can say that on your phone and you can use that for later use as well.
Romans chapter 8 verses 31 through 39
I want to preach to you a message. I've been titled the Proof of Your Love. the proof of Your Love you may have come in this Easter morning. hating yourself you feel depressed. lonely waves of anxiety or crashing on your soul you fear tomorrow's uncertainties? People have bullied you betrayed you and turns you down. Your marriage is on the rocks. Your children are in Rebellion. Layoffs are happening at your work. Your business is going under. Your home is being foreclosed. Your car is being repossessed.
You received the life-threatening diagnosis. Or maybe you're reeling. For the loss of a loved one. Whether you acknowledge it or not. Deep in your soul. There is an ulcer. a stinging nagging question God do you really love me? God do you really love me? Today, we're studying a passage from the Apostle Paul. For Christ's Paul was whipped. Bob Tom's and was beating three Tom's on missionary Journeys. He was Shipwrecked three times. He worked three sleepless nights without food and in the cold without closing and now Paul States what he is discovered about God's love. Let's read Romans chapter 8 verse 31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us who is against us. Paul was convinced despite his circumstances that God was for him. And that God loved Paul he had proved his love for Paul once and for all. My question to you, this Easter morning is do you know how God proves his love for you? Do you know how God has proved his love for you? I want to draw your attention as Paul dispersed to the first part 2 answering that question of how we know God loves us and the first part that Paul draws our attention to is to the past work of Christ the past work of Christ. Look at what it says in verse 32 here. He's in reference to God the Father God the Father did not even spare his own son in reference to Jesus, but noticed this but offered him up for us all. How will he God not also with Christ grant us everything the first piece of the puzzle to the past work of Christ that helps us understand how much God loves us. Is this God gave his own son for us. Let that sink deep into your soul God the Father gave His only begotten son for you. I need you to know this morning. Whatever your past has been and wherever you are presently whether you're at the worst of times or the best of God has already given his absolute best by giving you his son Jesus Christ. And if God would not hold back his only begotten son then how will he refuse you to give you everything you need to change your life and receive eternal life and the answer is this he won't refuse you. Call them has to ask another question. He wants to tease it out a little bit more. Look at verse 33 who can bring an accusation against God's elect God is the one who justifies what Paul is saying here is on Judgement Day who's going to a come and accuse Believers of sin on Judgement Day and Paul's and found it answer is there will be no one to accuse Believers on Judgement Day number one. God shows us ladies and gentlemen. Chose you before you even chose him.
But then the other part notice what happened it says God is the one who justifies us that were justify is jam-packed. It means when we're in the Devon Court House on Judgement Day God slams that double down with our simple record and declares us not guilty. How were the power we free from Sid how we free from all the things that God hates and that we participated with them in our mods our hearts our mouths and our lives. How can you do that? Because he just a thought I said here's what happens the faithful Obedience of Jesus Christ his one and only son his perfect record by Shear Grace as a gift. God damn sent to all who believe you become the righteousness of Christ in God. And so it says this God Made You right with God he justifies you dare bring to accusation against you on Judgement Day When God has made your right. Pause not finished yet this look at verse 34. Who is the one who can dim? The here's what he's asking about condemned who own judgement day would punish Believers for their sins for eternity. Who would condemn them and listen to his answer? Cuz it gets us part 2 about this puzzle Christ. Jesus is the one who died. The second piece to this part about how God loves us is that Christ died for us? I'll let that sink in Christ died for us catch what I just said Jesus Christ was given he came to this earth lived a sinless perfectly obedient life to God and he did not hold that back to himself. But instead this is what he did. He went to Calvary to thousand years ago and died on a bloody cross. Why would he do that? If he was not guilty? Why would he do that? If he was innocent? Why would he do that? If he was perfect because here's what was happening history tells you that Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross what the Bible tells us is the significance of it. Jesus Christ was dying for your sins on the cross. Jesus took your sin from off your shoulders and placed it on him. He took your condemnation. He took your sentence that should be passed. You should be eternally separated from God and Jesus Christ the son of God hung on the Booked up into the heavens and said my God my God. Why have you forsaken me Jesus was forsaken so that you can be forgiven. Jesus was condemned to die so that we can be accepted by God and receive eternal life. And we all I want you to know when he got done. Jesus says it is finished. He died for you than anybody punished you on Judgement Day. Jesus has already taking your punishment.
But there's more.
What the rest of us 31st and 434 says but even more can we just say that even more? God has raised him. Jesus also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Please get this if Jesus died 2000 years ago on a cross and three days later. There is no Resurrection. Please understand this. He's just a mere mortal. He's just a man. He's just a sinner like you and I but even more if he really is the Son of God if he really did appease the wrath of God if he took your sins and he took the punishment for your sin and God's justice was satisfied and God raised him from the dead then everything that happened is true. It's true. Ladies and gentlemen, it's all true Christ Resurrection is the evidence that in Christ. God loves you and he's forgiven you. Christ's death paid our sin debt in full and the resurrection is proof of our purchase for eternity.
But there's more. He's not only been raised it said this where is he now? Where is it's a look at the text? He's at the right hand of God. Another right hand of God is God strong hand. It doesn't look like my arm, by the way. But it's just wrong saving administrative authoritative hand if you want to get to God you got to go through Jesus and if God wants to get through you he goes through Jesus. Jesus alone has sole authority to forgive sin and give eternal life. He's at the right hand of God the Father.
Y'all guess what there's more.
It says and he is interceding for us.
Can you hear it? Oh, I can hear it this morning. Jesus is praying for me by name. Jesus praying for you by name you spray for Mount Carmel By name and the churches everywhere and lost people Eric. He stands at the right hand of God as our mediator coming on our behalf the gods and gods behind the US. I need you to see part 3 to this puzzle is Christ was raised position and is praying for us price was raised for us because position for us we preach forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus name only if you'll despise and turn from your sin and Trust Christ only you can be saved and know right now. I love this whole idea. Is that God would pray for you. Jesus would pray for you by name and you make never have even heard his name.
ladies and gentlemen Our God is for us.
But you know what? Pause not done yet. So he looks up the past work of Christ. And that's 1/2 to the answer to the question of how do we know God loves us, but there's another half. The second thing that he wants us to do as he wants us to look to the present love of Christ. The present Love Of Christ look at what it says in verse 35. He asked that Soul ulcer question who can separate us from the love of Christ? There's been times in my life. And I know there's have been times in your life. Will you scratch your head ago God do you really love me? God have I done something to offend you is there's this huge distance or gap between me and you do not care for me anymore. Have you abandoned me how you forsaken me? And Paul right here gets a seven things that he personally has experience and I just want to get my Sanctified imagination want to think about that maybe as Paul experience these things. He probably looked up and wet is he really still for me? But you really still love me. Look at the list. The very first thing is can Affliction separate us from the love of Christ Affliction has to do with external adversity. These are outside pressures pushing in. Somebody right now you are under immense pressure at your job in your marriage with your children. It's all those things I listed at the beginning of the sermon you feel the pressure on the outside pushing down on you. If all goes I wonder if that's any indication the God in Christ doesn't love me anymore. The second one is distress can distress. Prove that there's distance between me and Christ distressed. Is it pressure from the outside its pressure from the inside. It's anxiety worry stress and I've been through those things where some of you right now everything around just going great circumstances are good. But on the inside you're in a narrow place you feel like there's nowhere to turn. And you wonder does God love me the other one persecution can persecution maybe Paul fault this here. I am spending my life standing up for you Jesus and your people ignore me. They insult me and they injure me. Maybe you've turned your back on me. Maybe I've been too good to you and you haven't paid it in con. the kingsman for maybe famine you going without food living paycheck-to-paycheck trying to put food on the table for your family. Is that a sign or indication that God in Christ doesn't love you naked. You don't have the clothes. You should wear. Are you been an immense heat ornaments code? Eagle I need something better than what I got on. Is this a song or an indication that God in Christ doesn't love you. He says danger. This is a being exposed to severe risk. This is the times when Paula said I've been Shipwrecked 3 Tom what is a gentleman think about it yet shipwreck once right. Like I may be an accident Get Shipwrecked twice. Maybe I don't need to use that boat anymore. ShopRite three times your question in the love of God
Adesa sword
to put it in our binoculars to have a gun pointed in your face. To be killed awesomely Paul's in reference to martyrdom. To have his head severed for the cause of Christ. How could God let this go on Paul gives us a little bit of an explanation. How could a Believer who knows that God loves him experience these 7 things look at what it says in verse 36 as it is written. He's got a quote from the Old Testament Psalm 44:22. He says because of you God we are being put to death all day long. We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. Here's what's happening. Let me get some of you I'm going to pull back the curtain and explain just a little bit of wine. God may be allowing certain things to happen in your life. God is patient towards Sinners get to repent of your sins and trust him as as as as their savior. But here's what's interesting is in the meantime those Sinners can abused God's patience and afflict Christian people who are God's people until some of the things that go on their life some of the suffering that happens. God permits it to the it can be a witness to those who have not yet come to him. We can you think about that for a minute and some ways let's just accept it for a minute it an amazing that God will use us who love them the Reach people who don't love him. It is for your sake will be led to the slaughter these people don't love you God. I knew you would do this to those who do love you.
So what's pole dancer? Are any of the things that you're going through a sign or indication? The Christ doesn't love you as much as he once did. Look at burst 37. So that first war with me no. No pulse has no nothing disproves the love of God in Christ. Write it down. Nothing disprove God's love for us. Nothing in all these things in all these things in all these things. We are more than conquerors through him who saved us that were bad to read that real quick. And we interpret that verse to say this. Here's what happens. We're more than conquerors. Literally we are super cool cars are super Victor. And here's what God does here's how I know. God loves me. He turns my troubles and he makes me awesome. It takes my anxiety and completely remove it and I'll become Carefree. I'll never know what it's like to live paycheck-to-paycheck. I'll always wear the best suits in the best clothing. I'll never have to step out in faith or take a risk. I'll never experience persecution or modern Olympic should have had this kind of Victor mentality that he'll one day be Emperor while cuz he's a super conqueror. That's not what the book says. Please notice that she says in the middle of them. In the Middle where you're going through what are you feeling or not while you're going through them and you may not see the victory Brandon on your chest. You are a super Victor in Christ. You are in the problem. Is this we lift we let our gaze get to low. What Paul tells us we need a lift our days up a little bit cheap. We put too many hopes and Ambitions in this earth. And we need to have eternal hopes and Ambitions about this statement is changed. My perspective. God wants what we want if we knew what he knew.
God won't swap. We won't if we knew what he knew.
John chrysostom he was a great preacher from the early church was brought before the Roman Emperor. The emperor threatened him with banishment if he remained a Christian chrysostom reply. You cannot banish me. This Is My Father's World I'll kill you said the emperor. No, you cannot my life is hid with Christ in God. I'll take away your Treasures. No, you cannot my treasure is in heaven in my heart's they're all so I'll drive you away from man and you'll have no friend. Well, no, you cannot rather friend in Heaven from whom you cannot separate. Me and Chris often said the fire for is there is nothing that you can do to hurt me.
When we trust in Christ love for us, we become super Victors and what's a super Victor? It means this no matter what, we realize that we have already overcome. No matter what comes we realize we have already overcome. Let's look at Paul's final conclusion in verse 38. He says for I am persuaded I become convinced of one thing that a bunch has all of it together. He's going to talk about the totality of life and the universe. He says neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created theme will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ. Jesus our lord. Let's take those pairs as it goes down noticed this. Death or life. I want you to think about what Paul saying this contact he's saying this I don't have to live to know that God loves me.
Think about that. If I dream my last breath today, I can know God loves me. He says angels are rulers rulers is Paul's ways of talking about demons demonic forces think of it think of it this way if you had a triple hedge of protection from many guardian angels, Or fall of Hills force is where it gets. You. Neither one would be an indication of God's love for you. That's not the sign. He talks about present or future. If you're experiencing Misfortune now and Misfortune later, not a sign of God's love if you're experiencing success now and success later not a sign of God's love if you're experiencing success now and Misfortune later not a sign of God's love if you're experiencing success now or Miss Fortune or Misfortune or success not a sign of God's love not things present or things future. Those are not indicative. The weather God loves you. He says Powers again. He's emphasizing the Demonic the satanic sometimes in your Christian walk. It'll feel like Satan put your name up on the game board game board circled and made you target number one. And he goes that's not an indication of whether God loves me or not. He says height nor depth. Modern debate over this astrological signs that determine somebody's fate. Is it the heights of heaven or the pits of Hell a minimum means this whether you're in the Mountaintop of health and wealth Splendor and recognition or if you're in the low valley of poverty sickness ridicule and embarrassment. Neither one is an indication of God's love for you and then Paul finally puts it all in its totality says not a single created thing. Not a single creative thing proves whether or not. Unless me. Think about this. Can you catch this? There's only one being that sun created in all that's in existence. Who is that? Say it. God God has no beginning. He has no end. He's always existed and always will I want to see this? I can see this Paul draws a Line in the Sand and on one side. There's everything there is in the physical and spiritual universe and he says if all of that turned against me. And the god of the universe was on my side. nothing else matters Nothing Else Matters nothing this proves God's love for you. So let's put these two together. Please catch it put it together. The past work of Christ is coming his death his resurrection his exalted position him interceding and praying for you that demonstrates the love of God. But even this the present Love Of Christ even in the midst of the worst circumstances are no indication of God's love and here's what we can take together. Is that the past work of Christ proves the present Love Of Christ. Let me put it in even more simply. Do you want me to tell you how you can know that God loves you? The proof of God's love is a bloody cross and an mp2.
That's all you need to know no matter what's going on in your life. We harken back two thousand years and you ask yourself. Two questions 1 did Christ die for you. Yes. Did he get up at third day, then he loves you. He is not holding anything back from you. And when you come to believe that it will change your life and it will change your Eternal destination. Brennan Manning, the author of the Ragamuffin gospel said this he was utterly convinced that on Judgment Day. God would ask each of us just one and only one question.
Did you believe that I loved you? Did you believe that I love you know, please understand this week. We like to think there's two kinds of belief one being mental assent like duh. God loves everybody. That's not what Manning saying here. That's not what the Bible asked us to believe think about it back in that day and age everybody believed in some kind of God. What are you asking for a generic belief in God's love we're saying this because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and Rose from the grave. Do you trust in your heart that he loves you you actually go. We said this before his death and Resurrection is history when you believe that it was for you. It becomes salvation. Do you trust in your heart I'm asking you do you trust in your heart this morning that the god of the universe in Christ prove once and for all he loves you. He is wild about you.
Manning would go on to say this. God knows your whole life story. He knows every skeleton in your closet. He knows every moment of sin shame dishonesty and degraded love that is dark in your path. Right now he knows you're shallow Faith. He knows you're I believe but help my unbelief. He knows your feeble prayer life that you only pray to him when times are bad. He knows you're inconsistent discipleship whether you're in or whether you're out and here's what he does. He dares you God dares you to trust that he loves you just as you are and not as you should be why because none of us will ever be as we should be did you catch that. None of us will ever fill never come a day when we present ourselves before God go. I'm good at. Because you know what? I do. Love you. Know when we pay his love is not based on your performance in your past whether good or bad. God is good. And God is love and he's already proven it. And your circumstances no matter what you're going through is no indication. Whether Christ loves you or not.
Get this deep in your soul this Easter morning. The proof of God's love is a bloody cross and an empty tomb. my question to you is this Did you try that he loves you? I want to challenge you right now to tell him that you trust that he loves you. I'm going to ask you every head down every aisle closed. This is not a time to sleep. This is the most serious somber moment as we reflect our spiritual lives and what may echo through eternity because of what we decide to do right now. Prayer is the voice of trust. Prayer give sound to what we believe in our heart. And here's what I want to challenge you today. If you've never turned from your seeing if you've never acknowledged that you're a sinner that let me say this without Christ you are accused of sin without Christ. You will stand in judgment and be punished for eternity for your sins. But the day you see God loves you. He gave his only son he died for you was raised for you is praying for you right now. Here's our faults in Whispers. And if you're ready to trust that God loves you, I'm going to lead you in a prayer that expresses that belief the police catch this. Sincere belief happens in the heart if you just repeat this prayer because I'm repeating it you might as well repeat your favorite movie line to God, it would make no difference. But if you today have come to believe in your heart and trust that God loves you in Christ with every head bowed every I close silently to Jesus. Will you pray Dear God? I am a sinner. and all deserve judgement but I believe you love me. That you gave your only son. Jesus Christ for me But he shed his blood. MDOT for my sins I believe that you raised him from the dead. And you hear my prayer now? Please forgive me. Come into my life and give me eternal life.
I give my life to you. With every head bowed and every eye closed. Thanks for listening to Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest, Georgia, please join us this Sunday at 11 a.m. To go to Mt. Carmel Demorest. Com.
