The Triumph of God's Unfailing Love (Romans 8:31-39)
This sermon delves into the profound assurance found in Romans chapter 8, considering the steadfastness of God's love for His people. It carefully examines whether anything, from God's weariness to life's most intense trials, can truly sever a believer from divine affection.
This sermon explores Romans 8:31-39, affirming that neither God nor believers can ultimately reject each other. It argues that God's unwavering love, proven by Christ's sacrifice and intercession, sustains believers through all of life's challenges.
Overview
The sermon introduces Romans 8 by posing two fundamental hypothetical questions: Can God become weary of us and reject us, and can we, as believers, become so weary of God or life's difficulties that we reject Him? The preacher asserts that the answers to both questions reveal the triumph of the Savior's love and the certainty of eternal salvation.
Addressing the first question, the sermon highlights God's unwavering commitment. It emphasizes that God proved His love by not sparing His own Son, but delivering Him for us all. Furthermore, it explains that Satan's relentless accusations against believers are futile because God Himself is the one who justifies. Christ Jesus, who died, was raised, is at God's right hand, and continually intercedes for us, will never condemn those for whom He sacrificed Himself.
For the second question, the sermon explores whether life's extreme difficulties—such as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, peril, or even death—could cause a believer to abandon God. Drawing from Paul's personal experiences, the sermon states that in all these things, believers 'overwhelmingly conquer' not in their own strength, but through Christ's sustaining love. Trials, far from separating believers, actually work for their greater good, strengthening faith and increasing eternal glory.
The sermon concludes with the powerful assurance from Romans 8:38-39, proclaiming that nothing in all creation—neither life nor death, angels nor spiritual powers, things present nor things to come, nor any height or depth—can ever separate believers from the steadfast love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Key points
- The sermon addresses whether God can reject believers and whether believers can reject God.
- God's commitment is proven by His sacrifice of His Son, ensuring He will freely give all things to sustain our salvation.
- Satan's accusations against God's elect are futile because God is the one who justifies, having paid the condemnation through His Son.
- Christ Jesus will not condemn believers; He died for them, was raised, is at God's right hand, and intercedes for them.
- External difficulties like tribulation, persecution, and even death cannot separate believers from the love of Christ.
- In trials, believers 'overwhelmingly conquer' through Christ's love, as difficulties work for their greater good and eternal glory.
- Ultimately, Romans 8:38-39 declares that absolutely nothing in creation can separate believers from God's love in Christ Jesus.
In John MacArthur's words
“The greatest proof of God's promise to keep us is what he sacrificed to get us.”
“God will never condemn those whose condemnation was paid in full by His Son.”
“It's his love that holds on to us.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Triumph of Our Savior's Love
- II. Two Hypothetical Questions
- A. Can God Reject Us? (Romans 8:31-34)
- 1. God is for us (Romans 8:31)
- 2. Proof: He did not spare His own Son (Romans 8:32)
- 3. No one can bring a charge against God's elect (Romans 8:33)
- a. God is the one who justifies
- b. Satan's accusations are to no avail
- 4. Christ Jesus will not condemn us (Romans 8:34)
- a. He died for us
- b. He was raised
- c. He is at the right hand of God
- d. He intercedes for us (John 17)
- III. Addressing the Second Question: Can a Believer Reject God? (Romans 8:35-39)
- A. What will separate us from the love of Christ?
- 1. Tribulation (pressure, outward difficulty)
- 2. Distress (inward difficulty, narrow space)
- 3. Persecution (abuse)
- 4. Famine (deprivation)
- 5. Nakedness (associated with persecution)
- 6. Peril (danger, treachery)
- 7. Sword (death)
- B. In all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer (Romans 8:37)
- 1. Not in our own strength, but through Him who loved us
- 2. Trials work to our greater good (strengthening, hating sin, driving to God)
- 3. Trials work to our greater glory (2 Corinthians 4:7)
- C. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)
Scripture references
- Romans 8:31
- Romans 8:32
- Romans 8:33
- Romans 8:34
- Romans 4:25
- Isaiah 50:7
- Zechariah 3
- Revelation 12:10
- John 11:42
- John 17:13-24
- Psalm 44:36
- 2 Corinthians 4:7
- Isaiah 41:10-13
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Insights
God's past sacrifice for us guarantees His future care.
True love triumphs over every accusation and difficulty.
The Lord's love never fails, providing all benefits.
Questions & answers
What is the main question this sermon addresses?
This sermon addresses two core questions: Can God become weary of believers and reject them, and can believers become so disheartened by life's difficulties that they reject God? The sermon provides resounding 'no' answers to both.
How does the sermon prove God will not reject believers?
The sermon points to God's ultimate sacrifice of His own Son as proof of His unwavering commitment. It also emphasizes Christ's death, resurrection, exaltation, and ongoing intercession for believers at God's right hand.
What does the sermon say about Satan's accusations against believers?
Satan is portrayed as the relentless accuser of the brethren. However, the sermon assures that his charges are futile because God Himself justifies believers, having had their condemnation paid in full by His Son.
How does the sermon describe the believer's ability to endure suffering?
The sermon states that believers face various forms of suffering, yet in all these things, they 'overwhelmingly conquer.' This victory comes not from their own strength, but through the enduring love of Christ.
What are the benefits of trials for believers, according to this sermon?
Trials work to a believer's greater good by strengthening their faith, increasing their hatred of sin, and driving them closer to God. They also contribute to their greater eternal glory, as stated in 2 Corinthians 4:7.
What is the sermon's ultimate conclusion about separation from God's love?
The sermon concludes, based on Romans 8:38-39, that absolutely nothing—no earthly or spiritual force, no time or space—can separate believers from the unshakeable love of God found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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