Text: Romans 8:31-39
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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 is he that condemns? 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.
In all these things, we are supremely victorious…
I am writing this sermon at my father’s bedside in room 22 at Petaluma Valley Hospital. It’s Friday. Karen was just here all night. She is very tired. I don’t expect us to be here with dad much longer. Let me explain why. My father lies before me barely breathing. His last breath seems right around the corner.
My dad is dying before my eyes. Yet here come these words that seem anything but true at a time like this: Probably crazy to many in this world. In all these things, we are supremely victorious…
But this is exactly the kind of time when we need such words. When everything might seem lost, sad and hopeless. This is the time when we need our Lord to come and lift our sunken spirits with his Word.
Otherwise, we could end up believing what was painted on a wall by an American soldier in Afghanistan. His year in that boiling pot of fear, death and suffering drove this soldier to write in his bitterness:. God hates us all forever.
The devil wants us to believe that. He wants to get us alone, isolate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ, and drive us to despair. He wants to convince you that there is no way God could love you. There is no way God could care for you. There is no hope. Just look at your life.
This Word is like a Kevlar vest to guard our hearts when life gets tough. It’s like a warm shower for our souls when we’ve been shivering in life’s coldness. And that is this:
In Christ, God is for us.
I. Look what he gave up for you
II. Look what he says about you
III. Look what he has attached to you
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? What Paul writes to us here harks back to what he just said. A few weeks ago the vicar preached on these wonderful truths. That from eternity God chose to make you the object of his love. In your life, he acted on that choice by calling you to faith in Jesus. And someday he will bring you to the blessed goal, the hope he has promised us in Christ.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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… You learn a lot about a relationship by what someone is willing to give up for another. If our moms or dads were any kind of parents they gave up a lot for us. Their sacrifice said a lot about their love for you.
This morning we heard about Abraham and Isaac. We met a father who loved his son, his only son. Abraham also knew that God had promised that through this son would come a Savior for all nations and yes his Savior. But now God asked him to give up his son, to sacrifice him. We learn a lot about Abraham’s heart for the Lord when we see him make his way to Mt Moriah, gather the wood and raise his hand.
But what God did not permit Abraham to do, God did for you and me and all people. Think about it. Last week we heard God the Father say on that Mount of Transfiguration. This is my Son, whom I love. But follow Jesus and where does he go? To a cross where the Father would give him up to suffer and die. Why? You know. For our sin. For our lack of love. For the many times we have baptized our lives with guilt. Yet who dies. Who suffers? Yes in Christ, God is for us. Look what he gave up for you!
So when you find yourself in one of life’s pits and can’t seem to see over the top, answer Paul’s question: how will he not also, along with [Christ], graciously give us all things? In other words, look up dear Christian. Look up to Jesus’ cross. Look what he gave up for you. If God was willing to do even that for you, if his grace is that rich, do you think he’s going to hold back anything you really need?
Now Paul has us think of a courtroom. What do you usually find there? There is an accuser. There the one accused. And there is someone who then decides guilt or innocence.
God’s word tells us: it is appointed for a man once to die and then to face the judgment. So a courtroom awaits us. A verdict too. And our Maker is the judge. That prospect can frighten us. But this Word assures us. In Christ, God is for us. Look what he says about you.
In God’s court, it would be very easy for someone to bring charges against us. Think of what we owe to God and think of what we give him.
This past week as I’ve sat with my I dad, I couldn’t help but think. Sooner or later I too am going to die. I too am going to stand before a God who knows all. More than once my conscience pointed its accusing finger my way. To things in my life of which I am ashamed. To the grief I gave my Mom and Dad and thus to God, the sins of my youth. And the sins that leap up in my heart now just when I think I’m doing good. Yes, in God’s court, it would be very easy for someone to bring charges against me – and you.
But listen again to these words: 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? 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. We have a conscience that shakes its finger in our face and accuses us of guilt. The devil accuses us before God. But when all is said and done whose voice will be heard? Whose voice will count? God’s. And what do we know? In Christ, God is for us. Look what he says about you! He has justified you. He has declared you and me innocent.
How? Why? We know we are not innocent. Far from it. But Jesus was in every way. He gave that life for you and paid the price you owed. And then he was raised to assure you, it is finished. It’s a done deal. You are forgiven.
And here Paul puts this icing on the cake. There is someone else in that courtroom by your side. Jesus, your brother and God’s Son. And what is he doing? With all authority in heaven and earth, he speaks for you. What a friend you have in Jesus.
Yet we know how things can seem. There is a pastor in Iran under a death sentence. This husband and father can be put to death at any time and for what? For being born to a Muslim family and then believing in Christ. How might that seem?
How might it seem to us when life takes a turn that hurts. It might seem that God has cut you loose. It might seem he couldn’t care less. It sure could have seemed that way to Paul. If anyone knew tough times, it was he. He knew shipwreck and being without food. He suffered beatings and jail time and finally death for preaching the gospel of Jesus. If anyone had reason to feel abandoned by God it was the man who penned these words.. But here again he helps us to say: In Christ, God is for us. Look what God has attached to you.
You’ve seen it. Meant to be a joke. Sometimes a poor one. There’s a sign attached to the back of someone’s shirt. Well God has attached something to you. It’s no joke. It’s a priceless treasure. He attached it to you at your baptism when your sins were washed away. His love.
But then those things come that can make us wonder. The cancer, the broken heart, the depression. I don’t see anything that resembles God’s love there. So we assume it’s gone. But it’s not. It’s not. But don’t take my word for it, take God’s. It convinced Paul. 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.
So here I sit in at my father’s bedside. His time seems very near and I know my grief is not far behind. Here is the man who with my mother helped me learn how to walk. Thanks dad for that and so much more.
Well we need to learn how to walk as God’s people. To walk by faith in God’s Word and not by what we see and feel. I still am learning that. How about you? Let’s learn together. To walk on knowing that in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For in Christ, God is for us. Amen.