Ultimate Security in Christ

Introduction

One of my favorite hymns that the church sings is It Is Well With My Soul. I love this hymn because it states our security in Christ in all situations.

“When peace like a River attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

‘It is well, It is well with my soul.”

Whatever our lot is in life. Not just when peace attends to us and the skies of our lives are clear.

But when sorrows roll over us again and again like the breakers of the sea—the Christian because of what God has done for us on the cross can always proclaim…it is well with my soul.

Our passage this morning is Romans 8:31-39. If you have your Bible’s go ahead and turn there with us. Or you can follow along with us on the Bible app on your phone.

Our passage this morning is the capstone to the first section of Romans. In Chapters 1-8 Paul has been showing us that we are sinners in desperate need of salvation and then he has been showing us how it is that God saves His people. Chapter 9 will start a new focus on the transforming power of the gospel in the believers life..but before we get there Paul wants us to celebrate our security in Christ.

Security in life is something that all people crave—but in reality life is not very secure. We lose jobs. We lose loved ones. The sands of life are constantly shifting and while we want to believe that everything will always stay the same—the reality is that things rarely do.

But for the believer—for the redeemed of God we have a security in our lives and—in fact in our eternities that will never be moved. Let’s read the text.

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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 morning I want us to see church, that I. In Christ we are secure against our enemies, (II.) our accusers, and (III.) against separation.

I. In Christ We Are Secure Against Our Enemies (31-32)

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

As we dive into God’s Word this morning the first question we have as we read is what is Paul referring to as he references “these things”?

Most commentators agree that Paul has more than just chapter 8 in mind when he references “these things”. Chapter 8 is the end of a section of chapters 5-8—so at the very least Paul is talking about the last four chapters here as he summarizes here at the end of chapter 8.

But I’ll agree with Tony Merida and Douglas Moo who say that when Paul says, “What shall we say about these things?”

That the apostle Paul is referencing everything he has said up to this point. Because you really can’t understand what is going on in chapters 5-8 without his early argumentation in chapters 1-4.

So then Paul has everything he has said in mind here as he asks this question: What shall we say to these things?

And as a way of review what has Paul said? What are these things?

The promise of the gospel came from the OT through “his prophets in the holy scriptures”. (1:2)

The promise is for “thos who are called to belong to Jesus Christ—those who are loved by God and called to be saints.” (1:6-7)

Then in chapters 1-3 we see how sinful humanity is and wonder how could anyone be loved by God? How could anyone be called a saint?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrightouesness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (1:18)

Speaking of humanity God says “there is no fear of God before their eyes”. (3:18) And

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (3:23)

And then all through chapters 4-8 we see that it is the life changing good news of Jesus Christ that allows us to be saved. It is the blood of Christ by which God shows us his love and saves us.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (8:1)

Jesus has died on behalf of God’s people. His innocent blood was shed on the cross as as a substitute for us! We deserved the punishment he received. We deserved the wrath of God that was poured out on Him. But for all those who call on the name of Jesus they are forgiven of their sins, they are made new, they are justified before Holy God, redeemed, and reconciled into right relationship with God.

For all those who call on the name of Jesus they become children of God and God will never lose them or let them go.

Salvation in Jesus is sure and was finished on the cross.

This is the message so far in Romans and to all this Paul says,

“What shall we say to these things?” And his answer?

IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

And God’s word isn’t saying here that if you are a follower of Jesus then you will never have anyone come against you!

Friends, to be a follower of Jesus is to enter into a spiritual battle and in this battle there are many enemies who come against you. The world comes against you. Your own flesh comes against you. The devil comes against you. The consequences of living in a sinful and broken world come against you.

To be a follower of Jesus is not to live without calamity—or injury—in our eternity coming we will live without all of these things, the hymn writers call it the sweet by and by—but in the nasty “now and now” many of these things will come against you.

But friends they are inconsequential! No matter what comes against the Christian they are secure in Christ. No matter how fearsome the enemy they are no match for Almighty God who is our Father, who is our Lord, who is our redeemer.

God has us securely in his grasp and no enemy can come against us and steal what Jesus Christ has won for us on the cross of Calvary!!

An amen belongs right there!

And how do we know? Look at verse 32.

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

How can we be sure that God is for us? How can we remind ourselves of this truth when we doubt it?

God gave up his own Son for us!

How can we be sure? We don’t need to look any further than the cross!

To quote the hymn again,

“My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,

My sin, not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”

How can we be sure that God is for us? When times are hard? When pain is plenty? When we are in the valley and we feel far from God and our enemies whisper to us that God is not for us----how in these circumstances can we be sure?

Because God has given us what is most valuable already. He has given us Christ. And with Christ comes everything else.

Colossians 1 tells us that Christ is preeminent over all things. He is most valuable over everything else. Everything else compared to Christ—is lesser in value and worth.

And Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we are blessed “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

The argument Paul is making here is a greater to lesser argument. God has already given us the greatest gift in existence, His Son. By the death and resurrection of His Son he has given us the greatest gift that can be given. We are at peace with God and are children of God.

So how can we be sure that in all of life, when enemies come against us, that our God is for us?

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

If you are found in Jesus you have security against the enemies that come against you. Your God is for you! And nothing any enemy can do can remove you from His hand. Even if death were to come to you—in Christ you still win. That’s how secure you are in Christ.

II. In Christ We Are Secure Against our Accusers (33-34)

Romans 8:33 “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

Again, what is not being said here is, “If you are a follower of Jesus no one can rightly charge you with wrong doing.”

“Followers of Jesus don’t ever do anything wrong.”

The very gospel proves that wrong from the beginning. Jesus didn’t die for the godly, he died for the ungodly. It is because many charges can be brought against us—it’s because of this that we need a savior.

But what is being said, is that because of Jesus work for his people on the cross no charge brought against the elect has any power.

In Jesus God has already justified the elect person.

When Jesus died on the cross—when the wrath of God was poured out upon Him—it wasn’t because he was sinful but because we are. And when Jesus took our sins upon Himself—he took our sins past, present, and future.

When my sin was placed upon Jesus all the sins I’ve committed in the past were forgiven. Thank God!

But also—all the sins that I haven’t yet committed were also placed upon Christ.

God didn’t just forgive my sins up to salvation and then leave me to be perfectly obedient up to my point of death. If that were true the best thing a new convert could do would be to jump off a cliff.

But the problem there is that on the way to leap off the cliff you’d sin in some way before you could die upon the rocks.

“Our sin, not in part, but the whole” was forgiven on the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus took the punishment for all of my sins. And for every person who calls on Jesus to be saved, all of their sin is forgiven in Christ.

So when our accusers come and bring charges against us we can proclaim God has justified me! And if God says I am justified, that I am forgiven, you can’t bring anything up that will change his mind!

And I think in our lives we have 3 main accusers.

Other people. Sometimes in your Christian life you are going to have other people accuse you of wrong doing.

On some occasions they may be wrong, they may level accusations against you that are not true and in that case—know who you are in Jesus Christ. You are a beloved child of God. What they say about you doesn’t define you. What they believe about you isn’t your identity. You are who God says you are.

And on other ocassions they’re accusations against you may be correct. You did wrong. You sinned. You sinned against them. They’re accusation is true. —In that case, follower of Jesus repent with all humility. Apologize, make amends, suffer the consequences of your wrong doing. And as you do so take comfort in knowing that Jesus has died for this sin too and you have been forgiven of it as well.

Sometimes your accuser is your own flesh.

Your own sin—the sin that others don’t see—the secret sin of your heart accuses you. And you, yourself accuse you.

Why do I struggle with this? How can I sin like this? Surely, no other follower of Jesus sins like I do.

Friends, when you feel like this about your sin—rejoice. It is the conviction of God the Holy Spirit reminding you to take your sin seriously. And when this happens you should take it seriously.

You should repent of your sin. You should feel sorrow over your sin. Ephesians 5:13 says to bring your sin into the light so it can be dealt with.

But also, remind yourself of what Paul tells us here. God has justified you! And he doesn’t make mistakes. He didn’t miss one of your sins when he justified you.

Sometimes the accuser is The Acccuser.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Revelation 12:10 says that Satan accuses the saints and day and night to God.

The battle has already been decided. Our enemy the Devil has lost. He cannot win.

But this doesn’t stop him from hating God and accusing the children of God.

Satan is the father of lies and when our enemy speaks to you he lies and accuses and condemns.

And when our enemy attacks us our tactic should be the very same tactic that Christ employed.

We should quote and believe what God has said in His word.

And what has God said? I have justified you. The work is finished. It is complete.

Verse 34 goes with 33. Look at what God says to us.

Romans 8:34 “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

When other people, when our own flesh, when our enemy the devil comes against us and tries to condemn us we believe the the word of God.

Your accusations have no power to condemn me. God has justified me!

Yes, I’ve sinned and yes I mess up—but God doesn’t love me because of my perfection—he loves me because of Jesus perfection. And my perfect savior has died in my place—he took my condemnation from me.

And If I’ve sinned agains you, I’m sorry, I’ll make it right, I want to make it right, but it can’t condemn me!

Christ Jesus is the one who died in my place---more than that, he was raised up—death could not hold him, the grave could not keep him, when he died for me he rose for me too—and now my Lord is alive and rules with the Father at his right hand and he intercedes for me everyday.

Because Jesus died for me every square inch of my life is covered by his redeeming blood. I cannot be condemned because Jesus was already condemned in my place and because of that I am justified by Holy God now and forever!!

Amen?

If you don’t know Jesus—this is the good news of Jesus Christ!

Why do you need Jesus—becausee you can be accused and without him you will be condemned. But God who is rich in mercy and grace loves you and provided a way for you to be saved from the condemnation of your sin. Jesus lived his life perfectly like you and I are supposed and he died in our place so that we can be forgiven and judged by his perfect record.

What does it mean to come to Jesus? It means to know that you are a sinner in need of grace. To know that you need God to forgive you.

If that is you this morning—in this building or online—I beg you to trust Jesus this morning.

When you do that you’ll be forgiven of all your sin and you will be secure in Christ against your enemies, your accusers, and also...

III. In Christ We Are Secure Against Separation (35-39)

When the London Baptist Confession speaks about scripture listen to what it says,

“The testimony of the church of God may stir and persuade us to adopt a hight and reverent respect for the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the heavenliness of the contents, the power of the system of truth, the majest of the style, the harmony of all hte parts, the central focus on giving all glory to God, teh full revelation of the only way of salvation, and many other incomparable qualities and complete perfections, all provide abundant evidence that the Scriptures are the Word of God.”

I love that section of the confession. And here as we move into our last verses of our passage we can see what the confession calls the “majesty of the style”.

Hear God’s Word in Romans 8:35-39

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.

The word of God is beautiful! Friends, you would do well everyday before you get out of bed each morning to remind yourselves of these holy truths!!

Paint it on your ceiling if you have the talent. Print it and put it up there. Put it on the wall across from you. These words from God to us are such a gift!!

Not one of us knows as we begin the day what kind of day we will have. Will there be tribulation? Distress? Persecution?

Christians around the world everyday experience famine, nakedness, danger, and they experience the bite of the sword.

By the way—this is why Paul quotes the Psalms here—what seems out of place is a careful reminder--Paul constantly wants to remind God’s people that belonging to God does not mean that they will not experience these hardships in life.

Paul points to the Old Testament and says rememmer that it is likely you will experience these things in your life.

But when they come do not be deceived into believing that God is not for you. Remember, if God is for us who can be against us!

Nothing can separate the child of God from God.

A hard life can’t do it. Death can’t do it.

Powerful forces outside of ourselves like angels or rulers can’t do it.

Nothing in this present life can separate you from God. Nothing in your future can separate you from God!

There is no power in all of the universe that can come between you and your God!

No earthly limitations: no height makes him unreachable, no depth hides you from him.

There is nothing in all of God’s creation that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus!

When Jesus died for his people on the cross the work that was done there can never be undone.

Friends, this means that in every circumstance of your life—when you aren’t sure about anything else—you can say confidently and be sure that it is true—that if God is for you then nothing else can effectively stand against you.

There is no set back, no disappointment, no change of plans, no death, no tragedy, no unforeseen circumstance that can separate you from the love of God.

Jesus died for you. Your sins were forgiven. You were justified. You are being sanctified. And you will be glorified.

Your sovereign, loving, Father has a plan for you and He is working it and He will accomplish it!

Conclusion

When enemies come against you. Say it with me. God is for me.

When people accuse me. God is for me.

When my flesh accuses me. God is for me.

When my enemy the devil accuses me. God is for me.

When I’m lied to and I’m told that I stand condemned. I need to remember the truth that God is for me.

And when life—with all its complexity makes me feel like God is far away and that I’ve been separated from my God I need to remembear that God is for me.

There is nothing more secure in this universe than a person who has been forgiven by the work of Christ.

Another verse of the hymn says,

“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed his own blood for my soul.”

How can you be sure that God is for you? Because Christ has regarded your helpless estate and has shed his own blood for your soul.

Pray with me!