The Five Unanswerable Questions: Roman Series #8

You will never read any more thrilling, up-lifting, or exciting verses in the entire Bible than these verses. These are great verses. They summarize for us what has previously been said from chapter 1 all the way into chapter 8.

If you have followed with them in Romans, we started off with the great theme of sin and man’s need of a Savior. Then we moved on to God’s provision of salvation in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we moved in our journey we came to Romans 8 which has to be the most important chapter in all of the Bible about the Christian life and how to live it successfully.

As you read Romans you will find so many essential ingredients of the victorious Christian life. We learn, for instance, about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That we do not have to live the Christian life in our own strength. But God, in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells within and we claim His power and His victory for our daily lives.

We’ve also learned about the ministry of prayer – the opportunity we have to pray. Then, this chapter has taken us all the way from eternity past to eternity future in this great scope of our salvation. We have seen in these chapter how God has taken us all the way from guilt by grace through glory. He has brought us to the wonderful truth that God foreknew us and predestinated us in eternity past and has glorified us as good as if it had already been done in eternity future.

Now we come to the summary: what shall we say then to these things? Romans 8 begins with the theme — no condemnation. It concludes with the theme – no separation.

I. We Have No Destruction

In Romans 8:31, we read, “what shall we say them to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

There is no intimidation for the Believer. Is the devil’s embasarries on your trail? There is no reason to fear your fore or worry about the warfare you face. We need to remember Isaiah 41:10-14, where we are instructed not to fear or to spend all of our time looking around for things to go wrong and or people to do wrong.

Centuries ago, Napoleon was marching with one-half million men to Moscow. Someone said to Napoleon, “You better to God about this march? Napoleon responded, “God is on the side of the heaviest battalions?

Napoleon left France to go and conqueror Moscow and then to conqueror the world. While marching to Moscow a snowflake kissed his cheek, but he marched on. Then, a handful of snowflakes fell; then bunches of snowflakes fell; then baskets of snowflakes fell; and then billions of snowflakes fell. Finally, Napoleon’s army laid frozen on the battlefield and he failed to conqueror Moscow. Napoleon was correct that God is on the side of the heaviest battalions, but they are the angels in the sky. God stopped him his tracks and it was there he was defeated.

II. We Have No Deprivation

In Romans 8:32, we read, ‘If God spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us, how shall he (father) not with him (Jesus) also freely give us all things?”

Paul is saying that if God gave the gift of His Son, then God will not withhold from us anything. God will with Jesus freely give us all things. He is saying if God gave the greatest then God would not hesitate to give the least. It is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ. That’s why it troubles me when I hear people say – it’s fine to be saved but you didn’t get it all. When you got Jesus Christ, the Bible says all of the fullness of God dwelleth in Him. It’s all wrapped up in Him.

If someone gave you a beautiful diamond ring and you open it up and say, Oh, my what a beautiful ring this is.” Then you look at the inexpensive case it came it. You say, “Could I please have the case too?” If he gives you the big gift then the little things come along with it.

Along with Christ comes all of these other things. It’s like some just gave you a mansion. It’s valued at 6 million dollars. If they give you the mansion do you think it will bother them to give you the tablecloths that go on the tables in the mansion. The lesser is included in the greater.

I read a story out of Roman history about a Roman noble who had a son who had disgraced him and has a slave, Marcellus, who had pleased him greatly. When He came to lay before his family his inheritance he said, Son you have disgraced me. I want you to know that my slave, Marcellus, is going to get everything I have. He’s going to inherit all of my land, all of my wealth. Everything I have I’m going to give it to my slave, Marcellus.

But because you are my son I’m going to give you just one thing. You can pick one thing in all of my inheritance. The son was very smart and in an instant he said to his father, “I’ll take Marcellus.” When he got the slave, he got it all because it had all been given to Marcellus.

If God was willing to give His Son, the Lord Jesus, then He will not withhold from us anything less than His Son Jesus. If God gave us the greatest gift while we were sinners, what would he hold from us, since we are his sons. If God gave us his Son when were his foe, what would he hold from us since ware his friend? The Father brings no accusation against us. There is only one other in the universe then who can bring an accusation against us.

III. We Have No Denunciation

In Romans 8:33, we read, “Who is ever qualified to accuse you of anything?

Bible says we have been justified. We have been declared not guilty. As if we had never sinned. But is there some accuser that can bring up an accusation that has not been considered before. Is there new evidence? Is there some new accusation that can be placed against us that will bring our salvation down?

We know that the devil accuses. The Bible says sin Revelation 12:10 that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. His accusations are illegitimate. They won’t stand in court. In fact, there are only two personalities in all of the universe that could bring accusation against our soul. That’s the Heavenly Father and His Son the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Will the Father accuse us? God knows more about us than anybody else. Your wife knows a lot about you but God knows more than even your wife does. The people who work with you know a lot about you, but they don’t know the things God knows about you and me. Will the Father bring an accusation?

In verse 34, we read, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? God who justifies?

God will not bring an accusation! To the contrary we are told in verse 31 that he brings no accusation but rather he is for us. He is on our side. “If God be for us.” The word, “if,” is not to suggest any doubt whatsoever. You can substitute the word, “since.” Since God is for us. It’s not raising a question about it. It is the affirmation of fact that the eternal God of the universe is for us. Isn’t that good news? God is for you and me. Salvation has brought about a change in our relationship to the eternal God.

The change was not in God; the change was in us. It is we who fought God. It is we who were hostile to God. It is we who were enemies to God. We are the ones who rejected God. We’re the ones who ignored God. There was never a change in His relationship. God was for us all along.

Did you realize that before this world came into existence God was for you. Before you were born God was for you. Before your heart was stirred and you felt the need of a Savior God was for you. When this old world passes away, God will still be for you. When you and I are out there in eternity, God will be for us. That’s Good News for Us!

When Jesus was born the Bible says in Matthew 1:23 that His name would be called Emmanuel which means God with us. That’s the incarnation. Now as result of God sending His son the Lord Jesus it is now God for us manifested at the cross of Calvary. The great proof that God brings no accusation, that God is on our side, is what He did when He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross. Verse 32 states “he that spared not His own Son.” God didn’t’ hold back the dearest thing in all the universe to Him. God spared not His own son but delivered him up for us all. It’s glorious to know that God gave His son and His son was delivered up on the cross for us all.

There is no accusation from the Heavenly Father. There is none that can bring a charge. If God the Father who gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, has eternally committed Himself to be for us then He brings no accusation against us.

IV. We Have No Disapprobation

We read in Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemns? Christ died, is risen again, who makes intercession for us.”

Will Christ bring accusation against us? He’s the one who knows how desperate our sins are. He’s the one who knows how despicable our sins are. He’s the one who knows how filthy our sins are. Because He bore them on Calvary’s cross. Will He accuse us?

Christ is not going to bring an accusation. Christ died on that cross and paid in full for all of your sins. Think about what a death Jesus died. Think about what a price Jesus paid on that old cross. That’s not all – He is risen again. Everyday for the Christian is Easter!

Even though Jesus rose again from the dead 2000 years ago He is just as alive today as He was in the day when He walked the dusty roads of Galilee. He is risen again.

Yet, it gets better. He is at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us. When Jesus rose again He went back into heaven. In the Old Testament when the priest ministered in the holy things of the tabernacle and the temple there were different articles of furniture. But there was never a provision made for a seat or a chair where the priest would sit down. It’s because his work was never finished. The sacrifices he made in the Old Testament pointed to the one perfect sacrifice the Lord Jesus.

The High Priest never sat down. The payment was never fully paid. It was all in anticipation of the blood of Jesus. But when Jesus died on that old cross, when He rose again from that tomb the Bible says he ascended into heaven itself. His blood was laid on the holy place in heaven, on the mercy seat in heaven. Then the Bible says he sat down, having made one sacrifice for ever.

Jesus is laying in a tomb, Jesus is sitting on a throne in heaven. He is in heaven at the right hand of God and he’s praying for you and for me. He’s not bringing any accusations. Every time we sin the old devil rushes into accuse us. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. So, when the heavenly Father hears the charge brought against you by the devil and I can just imagine that the Lord Jesus Christ looks at the Father and says, “Yes, Father, that’s one of your children and he really has blown it. He’s really messed up again, but Lord, I knew he would do that and Lord, when I died on that cross I paid for that sin and on the basis of my shed blood I’m interceding for him.” There is no condemnation!

V. We Have No Disconnection

Sometimes circumstances come our way and life can become desperate. We may wonder, “Is this going to separate us from the Lord?” We read in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Then in verses 35-37 Paul gives you a list of circumstances that are formidable indeed. These are the kinds of things that have caused God’s children through the ages to wonder about their relationship with the Lord.

We Can Overcome The Problems In Life

We are promised here that there is no disconnection. Look at these circumstances. “Shall tribulation.” That’s the word, pressure. Any of you live under pressure? These are days of tremendous pressure. People are working today under more pressure than they have ever experienced before. Some of you are working hours for less return than you have experienced in all of your career. The pressure people are under and the desperation that it brings into people’s life!

If you are a child of Cod, I don’t know what pressure you may be going through. I don’t know what hard times on the job or what difficulties you are facing at school or what pressures you may have in your family. But none of that can separate you from the love of Jesus Christ. When you get under the pressure, just take a cool dip in the cool river of the love Jesus Christ for your soul.

What about distress? The word, distress, is where we get our word, stenographer. It really means to be hemmed in. It means to be in a restricted place, a tight spot. I think it’s referring sometimes to those circumstances in life where we feel very restrictive. Life has a way of making us feel restrictive. We find ourselves in an environment or circumstances that are not what we thought they would be.

There doesn’t have to be any desperation because the Bible says none of that can separate us from the love of Christ. When you came to Jesus Christ He gave your life a totally new perspective. You have a brand-new center of reference in your life.

In the very first chapter of the book of Romans Paul made an interesting statement. He said that he was separated unto the Gospel of God. The word, separated there is our English word, horizon. It’s a word that had a little preposition in front of that means off horizon or to give someone a new horizon. That’s exactly what coming to Jesus does. It gives your life a new horizon. You see things with a bigger perspective than you have ever seen them before.

What about Persecution? Some Christians going through persecution right now. Persecution against Christians in America is getting bolder and more blatant and it’s going to get more and more. But it doesn’t matter how you are persecuted for your faith in Jesus that can’t separate you from the love of Christ.

We Can Overcome The Provisions Of Life

What about Famine? Most of us don’t have that problem. Yet, there are Christians around the world who don’t have enough to eat. If we didn’t have enough food to eat that’s not going to separate your soul from Jesus forever.

Nakedness? You may not have enough clothes. Most of have enough clothes and more to wear. We have to decide what we are going to wear from day to day. But that won’t affect your eternal relationship with the Lord.

Peril? That means exposed to dangers. Sword? That means exposed to death. Paul experienced all of these things in his own ministry. He’s not talking about something academically. He’s talking about things that he has already experienced himself. While Paul goes through this list and in verse 36 he says, ”We are like sheep carried to the slaughter.”

Yet, here comes the crescendo. Paul shouts,  “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” It took five English words to translate one word right there. The word used there is the word that Paul evidently coined himself. The Holy Spirit evidently revealed this word to Paul. It literally means we are super conquerors. It means we experience overwhelming victory in all these things. Do you know what it means to be a super conqueror? It means that you not only conquer, but it means that in addition to your conquest you show total superiority.

All of these things, and all of these difficulties, and all of these trying circumstances that come, not only can you be a conqueror but you can show through these experiences the power of God and the abiding love of Jesus Christ in your life. In Christ, you are a super conqueror!

We Can Overcome The Powers In Life

In Romans 8:38, we read, “For I am persuaded. . .“ The tense of the verb means he’s thought it over. He has given a careful analysis of this situation. He’s looked at it thoroughly and he has now come to the settled confidence. He is saying I am completely convinced. I am firmly satisfied, completely assured then he begins to name these things that might isolate us from the wonderful love of God. He says not even the things that trouble us can separate us.

He says, “neither death nor life.” Sometimes death is something that troubles God’s people. Somehow the thought of death will sometimes frighten the people of God. But if you are God’s child you don’t have to allow death to cause you to be frightened. Death is not going to separate you from God, it’s going to bring you into the presence of God.

What about life? Sometimes it’s harder to face life than it is to face death.

What about the problems of life and the bitterness of life and the burdens of life? Neither death nor life can isolate you from the love of God.

Now Paul brings angels, principalities, and powers. Here he is talking about the spirit world. The word, “Angels,” I believe he is talking about the good angels. When he uses, “principalities and powers,” these are the fallen angels. He is saying there is nothing out there in the spirit world that can defeat us. There is no isolation from God because of anything in the spirit world.

We Can Overcome The Prospects Of Life

We read, “Nor things present, nor things to come, nor things in the future. Nothing that happens to you right now is going to separate you from the love of God.

There is nothing in the future that can disconnect you from the love of God.

What’s the future going to bring? No idea. I have good news for you. We may not know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. My times are in God’s hands. He has the future well in hand. Nothing that’s in the future for you has escaped the knowledge of the eternal God.

Paul is not leaving one stone unturned. He continues to birth, build and broaden. He says, “nor height, nor depth. He is talking about, astrological terms. In Paul’s day the word height was to refer to a star at its zenith when supposedly its influence was the greatest. The depth was when the star was at its lowest point and its influence was the least. There is nothing to astrology.

There’s nothing to astrology. Who ever thought that the movement of the stars would have anything to do with the destiny of your life. Your life is not destined by the stars. Your life is destined by God. Your life is in the hands of God. He is saying whatever is out in space, how big space may be, none of it can separate you from the love of God.

In the farthest corners of this universe the blood of Jesus Christ prevails. He says neither height nor depth and then as if to say maybe Paul left out something so he says, “nor any other creature.” The word “other” is the Greek word, from which we get heterosexual — homosexual means those who love the same sex. Heterosex means a man and a woman. “Other” means another of a different kind. Paul is saying maybe there’s something I haven’t thought of. Maybe there is some form of creation that is totally different from anything we know. Paul is saying if there is anything out there that is totally beyond what we understand, it cannot disconnect us from the wonderful love of God. We have no destruction, no deprivation, no denunciation, no disapprobation and no disconnection.

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