“confidence to carry on”
Our text, Romans chapter eight, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died, more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, for Your sake, we’re being killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Christ has risen. He has risen, indeed. Hallelujah.
Let me say it again, Paul says, “To those that love God, all things work together for good.” Do you really believe that? How does that strike you today? If you’re going through a period of suffering, dealing with the loss of a loved one, perhaps you’re struggling with troubles in your marriage or in your family.
Dear listeners: if you find yourself in the above category you might be shaking your head and saying: “This can’t be true. You might be saying: This isn’t true.”
Today we’re reminded again that God has chosen us. He’s called us through His word in Baptism to be His own and He has promise for us is that all things will indeed work together for our good. Yet it’s difficult sometimes to believe a promise like this when we witness personal hardship, difficulties, struggles, and baffling horrific events, even in our world. Our world has been filled with sin ever since the days of Adam and Eve. Even though Christians are saved by grace for an eternal life that will one day be free from it all, for now, we experience hardships and difficulties like everybody else.
REV. in our ministry, we noticed that the sharing of God’s gracious love is often met with opposition and contempt instead of faith and commitment and even thanksgiving… your comment!
Friends: Satan the devil and his agents of this world are doing all that they can to destroy God’s purpose for His children. In Job 1:9-11, Satan accused God on account of Job; the same way he and his agents are constantly finding ways to disgrace us by pointing our sins, our mistakes, our unfaithfulness, and doubts to God.
The apostle Paul quoted Psalm 44 “For Your sake, we’re being killed all day long. We’re regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
In the midst of all this Paul further says,…Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?… Here Paul points to satan that; God in His Son Jesus has already acquitted and discharges the people you are working hard to condemn.”
Paul assures you and me that we are vindicated because of what Jesus has done for us. The death of Jesus has covered our sins. They’re completely paid for, forgiven, forgotten. The life we now leave is not our, but we live for Jesus who bought us from the bondage of satan, sin and death.
Dear listener: If you believe in Jesus, Satan has nothing for which he can condemn you. He may bring charges against you, like he did to Job, but God simply reminds him, “My Son has paid for those sins. So case close.”
Be assured that the truth of God’s love for us in Jesus never stops… throughout our entire life, Jesus continues to be our defense attorney. The apostle Paul makes that clear when he says, “Who’s to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died, more than that, who was raised. He’s at the right of hand of God, indeed, interceding now for us.” Have you ever told a friend or a relative that you would pray for them and then you forgot to do it? You can be assured though that they are not forgotten.
They have prayers on their behalf constantly going before God the Father. Jesus is at the right hand of His Father pleading for you right now also. He’s making sure that any condemnation brought against us is acquitted, forgiven, forgotten, because He has already paid the price.
As we live your life in this world, we may not know why things are happening or why things are not happening. However, we know for sure that God is in control. We know that His ultimate plan for us will work together for our good.
God’s certain and eternal purpose in our lives and in the lives of those who love Him is to give all of us the ultimate victory in Jesus Christ.
There will always be unpleasant surprises for you and me as we live in this sinful world. When we think things are going smoothly; and we’re in control, suddenly things can change. Life can become more difficult.
When things change and we realize we are in trouble, we feel like there is no one there to guide you. The Bible says don’t be despaired.
Rev. will I be right to say, that some of those changes; include illness and bereavement, marital or financial problems. The list can go on and on.
You will realize that; life does not always operate according to our plans.
Things that go wrong try to separate us from our faith in Jesus. That’s why the apostle Paul cries out, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? No way, nothing can get in-between Jesus’ love for you and for me.” We do indeed face many challenges and difficulties. Mind you, sometimes the trials and hardships we face-are self-inflicted.
They come from our own doings. You know, whenever we rebel against God and try to do things our way, it doesn’t work out for our good. Sometimes bad things happen, too. All because we live in a fallen world, People do bad things. People get hurt. A byproduct of living in this fallen world means that we got to deal with the wrath of nature, which includes earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
Now, listen, I’m not saying that whatever happens to us is always a part of God’s plan to bring about something better. God hasn’t promised that everything will always work out in this life to make our life on earth better, but He promises that no matter what happens, He will never leave us; He will never forsake us.
God has always promised us that no matter what life or Satan himself throws our way, His good and eternal purposes can never be thwarted. A believer is God’s child and we will ultimately live with Him in heaven… Hallelujah
Just after Jesus’ resurrection, showed Thomas the nail marks in His hands and feet. He said, “Thomas, see these scars? Stop doubting and believe.” Those scars on Jesus are scars from a death He suffered for you and me. Those scars mean that the hell Jesus endured for the world because of our sin is the very hell we don’t have to encounter. Those scars mean that eternal death’s sting has already stung Him and He has closed the yawning gates of hell and instead open the gates of heaven unto all believers… hallelujah!.
Wow, that is goo and assuring to hear that Jesus has closed the gate of hell and instead open the gate of heaven…Rev. sometimes people accuse us that we make heaven so cheap…your comment please.
Judge not!, Jesus in Matt 6, told us that all who come to Him, He will not reject… He will accept them and raise them up on the last day…heaven is for all who will come to faith… faith is the assurance of things hoped for yet unseen… faith also comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of God… it is only God the righteous Judge who judges… you will be surprised the kind of people you will see in heaven…stand firm in your faith!
Now when you are afraid, Jesus comes saying: “Look at My hands. I have taken the sting out of death, the eternal fear out of life.” That doesn’t mean that we’re not going to have troubles or that we’re not going to be afraid at times. No! What it does mean is that we don’t have to fill threatened by those fears.
For that matter, we can confidently face the challenges of tomorrow knowing that the love of God in Christ is certain for us now. You can think of every terrifying thing this world can produce…. Not even almighty COVID-19 is able to separate you or any Christian from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Jesus is Lord over every terror, including death itself.”… Hallelujah
Amen!
That is because death is not the end for Christians. Death is only a step that brings us close to Jesus. Death is our gate to heaven. Be assured that there is nothing that happens to us while we’re living will separate us from the love of God. Like Paul says, “Neither good nor evil, angels, forces of evil in the spiritual realms, no rulers on earth has the power to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
Rev. you mean Whatever is happening, be it in space universe where scientists have discovered other solar systems which could support life, or anything in the depths of the sea where volcanic activity, such as poisonous gases, and unknown sea creatures and strange diseases cannot separate us from the love of God in Jesus.
Absolutely… no scientific discoveries will shake us; God will not overlook any wickedness to happen to His elect: Therefore, today, you and I, we’re reminded with certainty that as Christians who love our Lord Jesus Christ, we are yoked to Him and nothing can separate us from His love.
All our hope, our life is in Jesus Christ, and knowing and believing this we can face all things confident trusting that God has a plan for us. And His plan is always for our good.
Today, I pray that in the power of the faith that you have received in Jesus Christ, you can boldly proclaim with me, with confidence, that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amen!
Amen!
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and grant you peace
Amen!
Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!