Enduring Confidence and Eternal Security

20 Years Ago

Let me remind you of my 2 goals/desires/prayers in this study:

That those of us who are truly believers in Jesus will understand more fully the glorious reality of our salvation and identities in Christ Jesus. And that we would LIVE in these realities, embracing the freedom, joy, power, and hope they bring to our lives.

That those who have yet to come to faith in Jesus would be struck with the glorious goodness of our Lord and savior, will realize the hopelessness of their lives without Him, and will come to genuine faith in Jesus and RECEIVE the freedom, joy, power, and hope He brings to lives submitted to Him.

There was a high school reunion in my hometown this past Friday, the class of 2002, of which I was a part of.

I didn’t go to the reunion, but I saw some pictures online of my classmates and friends from 20 years ago.

I have been reflecting on my life 20 years ago, because in June of 2002 I was in some ways, the same guy I am today, but in many, many ways a very different person.

Who was I 20 years ago?

I was an 18 year old, brand new high school graduate, preparing to leave my small town and head 2 hours away to Western Kentucky University.

I had dreams, desires, hopes, and plans for what life would be once I got there, once I finished, and once I got to the next phase of life.

But my plans, my dreams, my desires, and my hopes paled in comparison to those God had for me.

Romans 8 is special to me because it tells the story of the last 20 years of my life.

I was condemned, lost, hopeless, helpless, empty, and restless.

And though I am by no means perfect, who I am in Christ is all together transformed.

And Romans 8 is the source of my confidence, and I pray it is yours as well.

Romans 8 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted 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 persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4 Question

In the same form as the questions of a cataclysm used in many Christian traditions, Paul ask 4 questions in verse 31-39.

If God is for us, who is against us?

If God didn’t spare His Son, what will He not give us?

What accusations can be made against us who are in Christ?

What can separate us from the love of God?

These questions are not seeking information, but are intended to prompt us to consider all that Paul has written to this point.

“What then shall we say about THESE THINGS?” is pointing back to the entirely of chapter 8 and even the chapters before.

Paul’s answer is in the next sentence.

Romans 8:31 (CSB)

31 If God is for us, who is against us?

GOD IS FOR US!!

This is the basis, the foundation of our confidence as believers in Jesus.

Paul’s argument is this: God is so evidently for us that nothing or no-one can successfully be against us.

There are plenty of opposing forces against us but nothing can successfully overthrow us.

To say that God is for us means that everything in God’s sovereign plan, his redemptive acts, and the situations in our lives have been and always will be in accordance with His love for us.

Whether the problem is our sin or the suffering in the world, there is nothing in our past, our present, or our future that is outside of God’s loving intentions for us.

God loves us.

He is for us.

Everything in Romans 8 was leading us here.

The rest of this passage, verses 32-39, are truly a summary and a restating of why we can be confident that verse 31 is TRUE.

And how all of Romans 8 shows us how we can KNOW, with confidence, that God is indeed FOR US.

And because He is FOR US, nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can prevail against us, even when it seems I might.

We know God is for us because:

1) He has given us HIS SON. (vv. 3, 32)

Romans 8:3 CSB

3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,

Romans 8:32 CSB

32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?

Paul’s first argument for our confidence: How could we ever question God's love for us if he did not hold back his own son!

There is a link here in language and situation that leads us back to Genesis 22 and the account of Abraham and Isaac on Mt Moriah.

God commanded Abraham to take his one, and only, son, whom he had waited so long for, to the top of the mountain and sacrifice him as a burnt offering to the Lord.

The faithful and obedience Abraham did as God had asked, packed up his son, marched up the mountain, tied Isaac to his handmade alter, and raised his knife to kill his son.

But at the very last moment, God stopped Abraham and saved Isaac.

Genesis 22:12 (CSB)

12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

Abraham's son was spared, but not God's son

Jesus asked to be spared, calling out to His Abba Father.

Mark 14:36 CSB

36 And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

but he was not spared.

Not only was He not spared, but Paul says he was “given over for us all”

God delivered Jesus over, turned His back on Him, abandoned Him… for us, in order that we might become the righteous sons and daughters of God.

That is the extent of God's love for us.

That is one way we can KNOW God is for us.

2) He has DEFEATED our SIN. (vv. 1-3, 33-34)

Romans 8:33–34 CSB

33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

Romans 8:1–3 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,

Remember the hopeless state of those who do not know the saving work of Christ.

Romans 7:24 CSB

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

And Paul’s wonderful declaration in verse 25 “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ!”

God has done what we could never have done on our own.

In Christ, He has defeated sin, once and for all.

So we who are IN Christ are free from the condemnation and shame of our sin.

We are justified, declared not guilty, BY God THROUGH Christ.

It isn’t because we did the right thing, said the right prayer, or followed the right path.

We are justified by God BECAUSE Christ died.

And our justification is not based on our ability to live up to it, but on Christ work to COMPLETELY obtain it.

We ARE JUSTIFIED, not WILL BE justified.

"Justification means that one is declared to be in the right by God as the divine judge. And the declaration as to who is acquitted and who is condemned will take place on the day of judgment, the final day. Paul considers the future judgment, and he is confident that believers will be vindicated and justified on the final day." — Tom Schreiner

We can know God is for us because He has completely dealt with our sin.

3) He has given us HIS SPIRIT. (vv. 9-10, 11-13, 14-16, 23-27)

Romans 8:34 CSB

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

The intercession in verse 34 points back to the work of the Spirit in us.

The work of the Spirit in the life of a believer is painted all over Romans 8--

He transforms our minds and changes our motives. (vv 9-10)

He empowers us to live new and changed lives (vv 11-13)

He confirms and affirms in us that we are God sons and daughters (vv 14-16)

He helps us in our weakness and sustains us in our suffering (vv 23-26)

Our confidence in God’s saving work in us is confirmed and displayed in the Spirit’s work in us.

He is working in us to lead us to follow Jesus and shape us more and more into His image.

We are confident in God being for us because He lives IN US.

4) He is SOVEREIGNTY working all things according to His GOOD PROVIDENCE. (vv. 28-30, 31-32)

Romans 8:28–30 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:31 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Don’t let the subheading fool you, verse 31 is not a new thought, but the logical conclusion of what Paul just said.

God is for us because He is working ALL things out in our lives and in the entire world in a way that is inevitably good for us in some way.

The hard things and the easy things. The struggles and the successes. The conflicts and the connections.

God is working in ALL these things for Good.

The good of those He foreknew, chose, called, justified, and glorified.

There is nothing in life that has the power to thwart God’s plan, deter His providence, or negate His promise in your life.

Why? Because God is for us.

We we ask the final question

Romans 8:35 (CSB)

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

5) He has GUARANTEED our ENTERAL SECURITY. (vv. 35-39)

Romans 8:35–39 CSB

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted 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 persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Can trouble or affliction, hunger or need, danger or death separate us?

NO, because God is working in all for Good.

Can angels or demons, fears or worries, or even hell itself separate us?

NO, because God is working in all for Good.

Romans 8:39 NLT

39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“The very point Paul makes here is that even the most terrifying experiences will not move one to forsake Christ. The reason for believers’ faithfulness does not lie in the strength of their will but in the love of Christ, which keeps them even through agonizing sufferings. The love of Christ is so compelling that believers are protected and kept by God, so that they are never separated from his love." — Tom Schreiner "Run to Win"

Nothing can separate us because he has overcome the THING that separated us.

Nothing can separate us because he has given us the spirit who overcomes our sinful self

Nothing can separate us because he has given us a new destiny that we long for with groaning too deep for words.

Nothing can separate us because all things work together for good to shape us and make us like Jesus.

Nothing can separate us because God has loved us, chosen us, called us, justified us, and glorified us (future history)

Nothing can separate us because we are, in Christ, more than conquerors! Because God is For Us!!

What he has started in us he will bring to completion.

Philippians 1:6 CSB

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

He will not lose even one of those God has given him.

John 6:39 CSB

39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.

So if we turn away, we were never really there.

1 John 2:19 CSB

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

Yes Christian, you will doubt, you will wander, you will fall and fail, but you will not walk away.

God's love is a preserving love and God's power is a keeping power.

We often consider our relationship with God is based on our ability to hold on to Him, but that makes God out to be weak and small, and us much more powerful than we could ever be.

If I am walking with my daughter through a crowded store or a busy parking lot

Though she is holding tightly to my hand, her strength isn’t enough to keep her connected to me.

My grip on her hand is what makes our connection secure.

God is our omnipotent father, holding tightly to our hand,

Supporting us through pain, carrying us through the weakness of our flesh

He is the one pulling us through our moments and seasons of temptations and our proneness to wander away from him.

In Christ their is eternal security that frees us from the constant worry of being good enough, but also calls us to hold tightly to the one who holds on to us.

To be in Christ is to be eternally loved by God.

To be in Christ Jesus means that no matter what happens in life or in death, God is always FOR you.

There is nothing that can be against you.

So if you are here today and not a follower of Jesus, I would urge to see the power of what coming to faith in Christ means.

That you would be struck with the glorious goodness of our Lord and savior, will realize the hopelessness of your life without Him, and you will RIGHT NOW, trust in Jesus and RECEIVE the freedom, joy, power, and hope He brings to lives submitted to Him.

And for those who are believers in Jesus:

May we understand more fully the glorious reality of our salvation and identities in Christ Jesus. And may we would LIVE in these realities, embracing the freedom, joy, power, and hope they bring to our lives.

If God is for us, NO ONE AND NO THING can be against us.