Are You Convinced?

Rom 8:31- 38 - 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This has been an eventful week. We now officially have a new president elect. Democracy and the American way has prevailed and in some cases, even under the threat of violence, the electoral college has honored the will of the people and cast their votes for the next president and vice president of the United States, Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris.

We now have two Corona virus vaccines which have received emergency approval by the FDA; one from Pfizer and one from Moderna. There are massive operations in effect to get them distributed to the people. It would seem there is hope on the horizon and things are beginning look up. But this is no time to let down our guards, this is not the time to take off our masks, this is not the time to gather again, this is not the time to begin to travel. Not yet, because people are still dying in record numbers every day, there are over 312,000 people here in the United States, who have died from the virus. So hold just a little while longer.

Yes we can celebrate a victory, but the fight is not over yet. In fact, this is the time to turn up our prayers, because the enemy has been dealt another defeat but he will not give up. Be assured he will regroup and return for yet another round and we who profess to know God must be ready when he comes.

These vaccines may seem like early Christmas presents, but in reality the best present was given to us over 2,000 years ago when God sent his only begotten Son to be an example for us. That gift is the blessed hope we need. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

So as we look at this section of Paul’s letter to the Romans, in it we see him giving the church doctrinal and practical instruction.

In this letter Paul is talking to the Christian and he is describing what their character should look like. When you profess you are part of a group, you should exhibit characteristics of that group. There should be something about you that causes people to wonder if or even say, you seem like a…you fill in the blank.

But for those who wear the title Christian, for those who profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior, for those who have said take my life Lord and use me as you will; for those people, there should be some sort of evidence. People should be able to tell, even if you don’t open your mouth, that you are a Christian.

So as a Christian we have the good news that we will not be condemned with the world. The world being those who have heard and chosen not to accept the free gift of Christ. Now while we are not condemned, the Bible doesn’t say we won’t suffer, it doesn’t say we won’t be chastened when we allow our flesh to rule us instead of our spirits. But what Paul does tell us, is when all is said and done and this life is over, it’s not the end, it’s only the beginning of life everlasting. While we don’t like to talk about it, we don’t even want to think about it, the fact of the matter is, our best life begins after death.

I know that sounds like a strange thing to say, first remember I’m talking about those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we have that blessed hope which is in Christ Jesus, so we don’t fear death.

I know this is not the traditional Christmas message we hear of little baby Jesus being born in a manger, but it is a message about the birth of Christ, it’s just that we are talking about the reason he came, not just him coming.

You see the birth of Christ wasn’t just some miraculous thing that happened, it happened for a purpose. He came to be an example to us, he came to show us we can live a sinless life, if we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, he came so when we do fall, and we will, when we repent, we are forgiven, he came so when we die, we will live again. There were reasons for Jesus’ coming and it wasn’t just to be a cute, feel good story we celebrate once a year.

Our focal text begins with a question, “What then are we to say about these things?” What things, well in this letter Paul has told all Christians

there is no condemnation for us

he’s told us what our character should be

that we are to be led by the Spirit and not by the flesh, because to be led by the flesh is sin and death, but to be led by the Spirit is life and peace

that a mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God and can’t please God

he told us we don’t live by the flesh, we live by the Spirit of God

he told us we have a big brother who came to save our lives, who gave his life for us so we wouldn’t have to suffer death and eternal damnation.

Paul told us we are heirs with Christ because we have been adopted into the family and are now children of God

he told us while we may suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with Christ.

So often we want the glory but we don’t want the suffering. We want the reward, but we don’t want to do the work. We want to lose the weight, but we don’t want to exercise or eat healthy. We want the pandemic to stop, but we don’t want to wear a mask, wash our hands and watch our distance.

But even though we may suffer here on this earth, Paul assures us this is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us, when we will no longer have to deal with sickness and pain and pandemics and suffering and grief and loss and death. It’s gonna get better, everything is going to be alright.

Even when we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with sighs and groans too deep for words.

We put our hope in Christ Jesus and we are never disappointed because we know he always has our best interest at heart. We know he only wants what’s best for us, and everything we experience, has a purpose; we may not know what it is at the time, we may not understand it, we may not even like it, but just know, everything you’ve experienced in your life is for a reason.

How can I be so sure? Because in the 28th verse of this chapter Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

And not only that, he knew you, he predestined you to be conformed to the image of his Son, he also called you, justified you and glorified you.

It’s those things Paul is asking about when he says What then are we to say about theses things? But then he says, “If God is for us, who is against us? There are times we give entirely too much power to people, people who seek to shatter our dreams, destroy our plans, crush our hopes and decimate our desires, but if God is for us, who can be against us? Don’t worry about that negative Nellie who never sees the bright side, who never has hope, who tells you they are just playing the devil’s advocate. Wait! What? Did you hear what they just said, they’re advocating for the devil? Get thee behind me Satan, I’m on the Lord’s side and whatsoever He does, it shall prosper.

To know and understand that God didn’t withhold his own Son, his one and only begotten Son, but gave him up for all of us, if God did that will he not with him also give us everything else? God gives us what we need and at times even what we want. When you live by the Spirit of God, you will always be blessed.

Then Paul says, 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. We receive that justification through our faith in God. 34 Who is to condemn? There will always be those who try to condemn you for your actions, but know this, “It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

So while we will certainly make mistakes, no we won’t be perfect,

we may get discouraged sometimes,

we may have to deal with depression and sickness sometimes,

we may have to suffer sometimes,

we may have to cry sometimes,

Even through all of that we can rejoice in the fact that Jesus is in heaven interceding on our behalf. Praying for us when we can’t pray for ourselves, covering our sins with his precious blood, being the blood washed filter through which God sees us instead of the sin stained beings we are.

And because he sees us through his Son’s sacrifice Paul has another question, 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? There are so many and so much that will attempt to separate us from God, including our own selves. But it just won’t work.

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” We are not the first to go through trials and we certainly will not be the last. But the good news is… 37 … in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Can you say with confidence that you are more than a conqueror? Do you know it in your soul? When it seems like the world is coming against you, can you stand your ground and proclaim victory in Christ?

In case there’s any confusion or doubt in your mind, when you are an heir to the kingdom of God you are more than a conqueror and you don’t have to fear any man.

Not only that be assured because Paul goes on to say, 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Don’t fret, don’t fear there is nothing in all of creation that will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. When Jesus is your Lord, when you’ve given your heart and life to him, nothing and no one can take that from you. Even if they take your life, Paul said to die is gain. Are you convinced? Are you fully persuaded.

Friends may walk away, family may turn their back on you but God… God will be there always and forever. I said it at the beginning, this message is a message to believers.

When my sons were teenagers and they were going somewhere I would tell them remember who you are and whose you. Who you are is a Richardson and whose you are is Christ.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold and when you profess Christianity you represent God. So how are you doing? Would your parents be proud of you, would anyone be surprised if they walked in the church and saw you?

When you choose Christ you have chosen life and peace and nothing and no one can take that from you. I invite you today, if you hear my voice and have not made that decision, there is no better day than today. My prayer is that you are convinced that Jesus is the answer for the world today, but more importantly, Jesus is the answer for you.

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died for my sins, please forgive my sin and come into my heart.

If that is your prayer today, congratulations you are convinced and now a child of God and an heir to the Kingdom of God. Please reach out and let us know of your great decision so we can pray with you. If you are in the Douglasville, GA area and would like to become a part of this ministry go to our website at www.lovechristianctr.org on click on the contact us tab.

Thank you to all of our ministry partners, be it joining us for the message, your prayers, financial support or sharing the message, we love and appreciate you and pray God’s abundant blessings on you.