Gospel Shaped Life: Romans 8:35-39

November 1, 2020 Gospel Centered Living Romans 8:35-39 Nik Ripken, a former International Board Missionary now working with persecuted believers across the world writes: "I rode in a van for 18 hours across China. Waking up from a long sleep, I found myself in a compound surrounded by approximately 150 leaders of a house church movement. Before I could even introduce myself, the gathered group said to me, 'Forty percent of our group has already been in prison for three years. That means 60 percent of our group has yet to go to prison. Will you teach us, Dr. Nik, how to prepare to go to prison?"* In just the last year*, there have been: * Over 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution * 2,983 Christians killed for their faith * 9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked * 3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned.* We are not facing the same kind of pressure other believers are facing across the world. We have yet to experience the same kind of challenges Paul wrote of in 2 Corinthians 11 where he lists the beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and other significant physical challenges. Some are predicting that the outcome of Tuesday's election may unleash a period of persecution here in the United States. I have no special insight into what may or may not happen after the presidential election is settled. Vs 35-36 It is interesting that Paul begins a list of words with the question, Who? . So, why would Paul phrase his question with 'Who?' There is a simple answer: we have an adversary who works tirelessly to detach us from the firm and unchangeable fact of God's love for us in Christ Jesus. The tools our adversary, the devil uses, are varied. Jesus reminded us that Satan is a liar and murderer. In the Old and New Testaments we see our adversary as a tempter, deceiver, one who throws believers into prison, and a tormentor. The words Paul uses in vs 35 are not meant to be an November 1, 2020 Gospel Centered Living Romans 8:35-39 Nik Ripken, a former International Board Missionary now working with persecuted believers across the world writes: "I rode in a van for 18 hours across China. Waking up from a long sleep, I found myself in a compound surrounded by approximately 150 leaders of a house church movement. Before I could even introduce myself, the gathered group said to me, 'Forty percent of our group has already been in prison for three years. That means 60 percent of our group has yet to go to prison. Will you teach us, Dr. Nik, how to prepare to go to prison?"* In just the last year*, there have been: * Over 260 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution * 2,983 Christians killed for their faith * 9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked * 3,711 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned.* We are not facing the same kind of pressure other believers are facing across the world. We have yet to experience the same kind of challenges Paul wrote of in 2 Corinthians 11 where he lists the beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and other significant physical challenges. Some are predicting that the outcome of Tuesday's election may unleash a period of persecution here in the United States. I have no special insight into what may or may not happen after the presidential election is settled. Vs 35-36 It is interesting that Paul begins a list of words with the question, Who? . So, why would Paul phrase his question with 'Who?' There is a simple answer: we have an adversary who works tirelessly to detach us from the firm and unchangeable fact of God's love for us in Christ Jesus. The tools our adversary, the devil uses, are varied. Jesus reminded us that Satan is a liar and murderer. In the Old and New Testaments we see our adversary as a tempter, deceiver, one who throws believers into prison, and a tormentor. The words Paul uses in vs 35 are not meant to be an exhaustive list. I believe Paul was describing the NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES for believers! In one of Nik Ripken's book he makes that rather startling claim: Ruth [his wife] and I have seldom encountered a mature believer who asked us to pray that their persecution would cease. Rather, believers in persecution ask us to pray that 'they would be faithful and obedient through their persecution and suffering.* Paul's emphasis has nothing to do with avoiding these conditions. Rather, his point, his emphasis is that EVEN IN THESE PLACES GOD'S LOVE as expressed in JESUS CHRIST WILL NOT FAIL! Matthew 5:11-12; Psalm 44 Vs 37-39 'More than conquerors.' How are we 'more than conquerors,' or as one reference suggests: 'prevail completely over' (Lidell & Scott's Greek-English Lexicon).? a) 'through Him who loved us' b). Circumstances cannot separate us from Him. Notice that these circumstances are comprehensive: physical life and death, spiritual realities, even anything that exists within God's creation - nothing can separate us from the love of God expressed toward us and actively operating in us through Jesus Christ. First, gospel centered living embraces persecution instead of fearing it. The real question is not how do we avoid persecution for our commitment to Jesus but rather, why are so few of us who are living for Jesus experiencing persecution. Luke 12:49-53 Second, prepare for persecution instead of providing ways of escape. Prepare by giving your life to reading, studying, and memorizing God's Word. Devote your life to staying in close, intimate fellowship with other believers. Disciple your family, those closest to you. Third, gospel-centered living is focused exclusively on demonstrating and displaying the glory of God. "For I didn't think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, HCSB) exhaustive list. I believe Paul was describing the NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES for believers! In one of Nik Ripken's book he makes that rather startling claim: Ruth [his wife] and I have seldom encountered a mature believer who asked us to pray that their persecution would cease. Rather, believers in persecution ask us to pray that 'they would be faithful and obedient through their persecution and suffering.* Paul's emphasis has nothing to do with avoiding these conditions. Rather, his point, his emphasis is that EVEN IN THESE PLACES GOD'S LOVE as expressed in JESUS CHRIST WILL NOT FAIL! Matthew 5:11-12; Psalm 44 Vs 37-39 'More than conquerors.' How are we 'more than conquerors,' or as one reference suggests: 'prevail completely over' (Lidell & Scott's Greek-English Lexicon).? a) 'through Him who loved us' b). Circumstances cannot separate us from Him. Notice that these circumstances are comprehensive: physical life and death, spiritual realities, even anything that exists within God's creation - nothing can separate us from the love of God expressed toward us and actively operating in us through Jesus Christ. First, gospel centered living embraces persecution instead of fearing it. The real question is not how do we avoid persecution for our commitment to Jesus but rather, why are so few of us who are living for Jesus experiencing persecution. Luke 12:49-53 Second, prepare for persecution instead of providing ways of escape. Prepare by giving your life to reading, studying, and memorizing God's Word. Devote your life to staying in close, intimate fellowship with other believers. Disciple your family, those closest to you. Third, gospel-centered living is focused exclusively on demonstrating and displaying the glory of God. "For I didn't think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, HCSB) * Nik Ripken, with Barry Stricker, The Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places (Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2014), xxix. * https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/, accessed on 10/29/20. * Nik Ripken, with Barry Stricker, The Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places (Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2014), xxix. * https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/, accessed on 10/29/20. * Nik Ripken with Gregg Lewis, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected (Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 306. * Nik Ripken with Gregg Lewis, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected (Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 306. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------