ROMANS Conquerors Through Christ Romans 8 26 39

ROMANS Conquerors Through Christ Romans 8: 26 -39 Laying a solid foundation Paul J. Bucknell – OIF

Overview of Romans 8: 26 -39 ✴A. An. Righteousness Outline of the Book of Romans Revealed: Gospel (Rom 1: 1 -17) B. Righteousness Obsolete: 1: 18 -3: 20) Sin (Rom C. Righteousness Made: Justification (Rom 3: 21 -5: 21) Conquerors Through Christ D. Righteousness Attained: (Rom 6 -8) Sanctification E. Righteousness e. Nlarged: (Rom 9 -11) Worldwide F. Righteousness Spread: 12 -16) Service (Rom

A) Can I make it through? (Rom 8: 26– 27) Romans 8: 26 -39 Conquerors Through Christ * Strength: The Lord understands our needs and helps us pray through the Spirit (Rom 8: 26 -27) 8: 26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Problem of • “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (26). doubting your endurance • Limited prayer life: “Do not know how to pray” (26). Satan’s voice: “You can’t make • The Spirit sides with us (for us) and according to it!” God’s will intercedes for us (26). “He’s left you alone!” “ • We must not undermine the way the Spirit helps us You may as well pray. give up. ” We can always endure because of the way God deeply works in us through our prayers. But what if we don’t pray?

B) Is God really in control? (Rom 8: 28 -30) Romans 8: 26 -39 1) Confidence: The Lord works out everything for the good of His people (Rom 8: 28) 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. • “God causes” - The Lord is involved in our lives • “Works together” – His immaculate design • “For good” – His benificent purpose Personal ~ Powerful ~ Prepared ~ Purposeful Conquerors Through Christ What a comfort knowing nothing can go wrong! Problem of questioning God’s power. Satan’s voice: “God is not doing a very good job taking care of things is He? ” “He doesn’t involve Himself in such matters. ”

B) Is God really in control? (Rom 8: 28 -30) Romans 8: 26 -39 2) The Overall Design of Our Salvation (Rom 8: 29 -30) 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. • ‘Foreknew’ describes His love and choice of you before you were created! NS MA RO Whom He foreknew He also predestined These He also called • ‘Predestination’ describes God’s set T h e s e H e a l s o j u s t i f i e d plan to graciously incorporate many T h e s e H e a l s o g l o r i f i e d 9 8: 2 • ‘Called’ describes the special process God draws His people to Himself. • ‘Justified’ describes the merciful salvation plan in Christ by which God declared us righteous and restored us to Him. Conquerors Through Christ • ‘Glorified’ describes the assured awesome eternal o d ’ s p obelievers w e r i s i experience n c o r p o r a tin e d. God’s in His state. Ggenuine eternal plan to cover sin and restore us. presence. -30 into His wonderful redemptive plan.

C) Does God really love me? (Rom 8: 31 -3 1) Love: The Lord assurely states that nothing can separate us from His love in Christ (Rom 8: 31 -32). Romans 8: 26 -39 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? • “If God is for us, who is against us? ” (32) • God’s proof of love - showed commitment in giving His Son “for us” • Reminds us that Jesus, whom God loved, also greatly suffered – “Delivered up” • Our security – the past work of Christ. The Lord has proven His unwavering love to secure us to Him Conquerors Through Christ Problem of suspecting our assurance. Satan’s voice: “If He really loved you, He wouldn’t have you go through these things. ”

C) Does God really love me? (Rom 8: 31 -3 Romans 8: 26 -39 2) Security forever: First list (8: 33 -36) 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED. ” • 1. Who will bring a charge against us (33)? – God made us righteous in Christ! • 2. Who will condemn us (34)? – Christ was condemned for us, effectively freeing us. • 3. Who can separate us from Christ (3536)? s s u r a n c. No e cone, omes knowing –ANothing, Never! Conquerors Through Christ that nothing can separate us from His love FIRST LIST OF ENEMIES • TRIBULATION • DISTRESS • PERSECUTION • FAMINE • NAKEDNESS • PERIL • SWORD

C) Does God really love me? (Rom 8: 31 -3 Romans 8: 26 -39 3) Security forever: Second list (8: 37 -39) 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. • 1) Temporal threats (35 -36): tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. “A single word covers oceans of dangers and reveals to us all the evils which people encounter in life. ” –Chrysostom Conquerors Through Christ • (2) Intangible threats (37 -39): see chart. Nothing can or will separate ofc t i o n G o d ’ s us t h from o r o uthe g h love prote r e vwhich e a l s Hisi sind. Christ e e p l o. Jesus! ve for us. God Second list of enemies Death> <Life <Principalities Angels> Powers Things present> Height> <Things to come <Depth Any other created thing

Conquerors Through Christ ( Rom 8: 26 -39) Romans 8: 26 -39 Summary Allow the clear assurance of God’s love to powefully shape your perspectives when engaging life’s difficult experiences. God revealed His love for His people in His Son’s suffering (in the past) and becomes the promise of a greater plan to be forever with Him in His glory. Praise Him! Discussion questions Conquerors Through Christ 1. What perspective should we have when our experiences do not go as planned? 2. What is one lesson you learned from these verses that you could share with a friend who might be going through a very difficult time? 3. What are things that make you question God’s love? How does this passage help us resolve that conflict?

ROMANS Conquerors Through Christ Romans 8: 26 -39 Laying a solid foundation Paul J. Bucknell – OIF