We are Victorious

For the past several weeks we have talked about Spiritual Warfare. And while it is important for us to face the reality of spiritual forces and the ways that we face spiritual opposition, it’s equally important to remember that ultimately God is victorious on our behalf.

God is Victorious!

You can walk in victory and you can have the victory that you need to defeat the enemy. God is on your side. He is walking with you each and every step that you take.

Our passage of scripture talks about that today. If you have your bibles go with me to the book of Romans chapter 8.

We will begin reading at verse 31.

Romans 8:31–39 NIV

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered 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, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today, from the passage I have read to you I hope to answer these three questions.

Will opposition from people or Satan be too great.

Will we fail because of our tendency to sin?

Will we be overcome by difficult times?

1. Will opposition from people or Satan be Too Great?

Look at verses 31 and 32 again.

Romans 8:31–32 NIV

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Paul asked the greatest question that can be asked in verse 31. He said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Satan and his demons are against us, but in the end, God promises the victory. There are people in this world that are against you, but int he end, God promises us the victory.

And do you know how much God is for you. God loves you so much that he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all. That is what verse 32 tells us.

Can we be honest with each other for a moment? How many of us struggle when God doesn’t answer our prayers? I have my hand raised.

The truth is what upsets us is that he seldom answers in line with our plans or schedule. And it is at those times that we think God is withholding something from us. But God has already given us the greatest gift. God sacrificed his Son to save us; so, because he has done that do you think that he will refuse to help us? Of course not. God promises to give us everything that we need in order to bring us to the ultimate goal. What is our ultimate goal? That is is sanctification. God wants his people to be set apart as sacred.

So, my question was, will opposition from people or Satan be too great? The answer is no. If God is for you, who can be against you.

2. Will we Fail Because of Our Tendency to Sin?

If God did not withhold his Son, and if God will give us everything to make us complete, will God then accuse us?

Look at verses 33 and 34 again.

Romans 8:33–34 NIV

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.

Paul gives us a resounding no for our answer.

One of my favorite types of shows is courtroom dramas. I have watched several of them. I have also seen movies that took place in a courtroom. There is something to me about courtroom dramas that I just really enjoy. Imagine if you will, that God is a judge sitting behind the big judges desk. The prosecution has made their claim. They have brought all the charges against you. By all accounts you are guilty. You deserve punishment for what you done. That punishment is death. And as you are sitting there waiting the final verdict. Jesus walks through the door and pleads your case for you. He tells God the judge that He, Jesus, has already paid for your sins. He tells the judge that He went to the cross and took your sins upon his body. He says the price has already been paid. So, find this person not guilty. So, now imagine God picking up the gavel and slamming it down and declaring you not guilty.

You see, if God were to condemn you now then that would mean that Jesus’ death is of no value. And Jesus is not going to condemn those for whom he has died.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NIV

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Not only does Jesus intercede for us, but the Spirit intercedes for us as well.

Romans 8:27 NIV

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Again the question was will we fail because of our tendency to sin? To that question I ask another, how much more advocacy do we need? Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding on your behalf.

3. Will We Be Overcome by Difficult Times?

In verse 35, Paul list difficult times that we might think could separate us from the love of Christ? They are: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword.

Then in verse 37 He gives us the answer.

Romans 8:37 NIV

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Through Christ we have victory. However, this does not mean that we will be superheroes.

If you have ever watched any superhero movies you know that for the most part the superhero always wins and lives to tell about it.

Our victory though will be intensified by virtue of our union with Christ. With Christ we are secure. Our victory is solid. We will not be defeated.

I love how Paul sums up this chapter with verses 38 and 39. This is something for us to get excited about.

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love for us. In both death and the trials of life in this evil world, we will be in God’s presence. No spiritual forces, such as angels or demons, are powerful enough to undo what God has done for us. Nothing in the sphere of time itself can threaten us; nothing that can happen in the present and nothing that can happen in the future, such as persecution and hardship, would cause God to leave us. No powers that exist like Satan or any human governments are more powerful than God; they can have no effect on our relationship with him. Nothing in space, from high above or in the deepest ocean, can take us away from God’s love. Nothing in all creation can take us away from God’s love or stop his purposes for us.

So, to answer my third question, will we be overcome by difficult times? No. However, if anyone fails in his or her spiritual life, it will not be from a lack of God’s love and grace, nor will it be from any external force or overwhelming adversity. Rather, it will be from your own spiritual neglect and failure to remain faithful to Jesus. Only “in Christ Jesus” is God’s love fully revealed, and only through a personal relationship with him do we experience the fullness of his love. As we remain true to Christ as “our Lord”, we can be certain that we are never separated from God’s love.

We have the victory through Jesus. God is on our side. The Holy Spirit is guiding our steps. So, when you leave today, you can walk with your head held high and know that you are walking in victory.