Rev. David Holwick ZA Romans series #11
First Baptist Church Very short sermon due to Communion
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 11, 2005
Romans 8:35-39
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I. If God is for us, who can be against us?
A. Paul's climatic question caps first half of book of Romans.
B. Answer - lots of things can be against us!
1) People - this is the anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attack.
2) Nature - Hurricane Katrina.
a) Listening to radio on ride home, storm seemed like
no big deal.
b) We couldn't see images of Superdome fiasco.
3) God? - Radio commentary Daniel Schorr says the hurricane
mocks the theory of an Intelligent Design for nature.
a) How could a good God allow this?
b) Why doesn't he fix it immediately?
II. God's proof that he is for us.
A. He sacrificed his Son for us. 8:32
1) An obvious allusion to Abraham and Isaac.
The words Paul uses of God are the very words God used of
Abraham when Abraham proved his utter loyalty by being
willing to sacrifice his son Isaac at God's command.
God said to Abraham: "You have not withheld your son,
your only son, from me" (Gen.22:12).
Paul seems to say: "Think of the greatest human example in
the world of a man's loyalty to God;
God's loyalty to you is like that."
Abraham was so loyal to God that he was prepared to
sacrifice his dearest possession.
God is so loyal to us that he is prepared to sacrifice his
only Son for us.
Surely we can trust a loyalty like that for anything.
[William Barclay]
B. He justifies us. 8:33
1) He vindicates us, though we do not deserve it.
C. He son is interceding for us. 8:34
1) Salvation is not just an event in the distant past, but
involves continuous oversight by God.
D. He loves us.
1) We may have many occasions to doubt it, but it is true.
III. Challenges to God's love.
A. Seven deadlies. 8:35
1) Verse 35 reflects Job's sufferings, and even better
reflects Paul's ordeals as a missionary. 2 Cor 11:23-28
a) It must have been hard for him to experience all that
suffering for trying to serve God.
b) Many of us come to faith hoping we will then AVOID
these experiences because God is now on our side.
c) This has never been true.
2) The sword reflects the ultimate danger - death itself.
a) Believers have faced it from beginning of time. Ps 44:22
B. None of these can conquer us. We conquer them!
1) More than conquerors - a single word in Greek, probably
invented by Paul himself.
2) Because of Christ's love, we can handle anything.
(potentially, of course)
IV. NOTHING can stop God's love for us.
A. Paul lists a wide range of contrasting obstacles.
1) Death and life.
Neil Anderson often asks people, "What is the worst thing
that could happen to you?"
They usually answer, "Well, I could die."
To which Neil responds, "Then you have nothing to fear,
since the Bible says death may be the best thing that
could happen to you!"
The ultimate value is not physical life but spiritual life.
If our life is hidden in Christ, then we won't suffer loss
when we physically die.
We can only gain.
We can say confidently with Paul,
"O death, where is your sting?"
The person who is free from the fear of death is free to
live today.
#26601
2) Angels and demons.
a) Supernatural forces, both good and evil.
b) God created them, so God is greater than them.
3) The present and the future.
a) We may be miserable in the present, and fear the future.
b) Both are fully known by God.
4) Many powers.
a) Probably another allusion to spiritual forces.
5) Height and depth.
a) I love the assurance found in Psalm 139:7-10:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
b) Wherever we are, God is there.
6) Anything else in the universe.
a) All the bases are covered.
I like the Living Bible's translation of these verses:
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can't, and life can't.
The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot
keep God's love away.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow,
or where we are
- high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean -
nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.
B. God's love must be found in Christ.
1) It shines even in hurricanes.
a) NBC News on Friday - atheist works with Salvation Army.
b) He finally sees evidence there is a God (and
Christians who care).
2) Are YOU convinced of God's conquering love?
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#26601 "Free From the Fear of Death," by Neil Anderson, "Daily In Christ"
newsletter, Freedom In Christ Ministries, May 6, 2004; submitted
by Rick Swenson, Hopatcong, New Jersey.
This and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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