Why Christians are More than Conquerors - Romans 8:31-39 (3.17.19) - Dr. Jordan N. Rogers

[Music] and Paul says Jesus died for you he was raised for you he was seated at the right hand of God and Jesus is leveraging all power and authority and access for you this morning here in Romans chapter 8 verse 31 down through verse 39 this morning I ought to speak with you about is why Christians are more than conquerors why Christians are more than conquerors it doesn't feel like that all the outset doesn't on the outside it doesn't feel like Christians are more than conquerors in fact in this role we do experience tribulation and distress and persecution and difficulty and famine and nakedness and sword and so on and so forth and we feel sometimes that we are oppressed on every side but we are more than conquerors through Jesus why can Paul say so emphatically in such a a an attitude celebration like and Paul say we are more than conquerors there are in this passage there are three foundational reasons why paltin said in fact that the Christian is more than a conqueror that's an interesting phrase isn't it more than a conquerer we have a man award it's on many people's shoes if you're wearing running shoes or something this morning if you're wearing a pair of Nikes that work Nike means Viktor it means conqueror Lord more than copper is who paired nakiya you more than a victor you more than a conqueror what does it mean to be more than a victory you see somebody who wins a championship their victorious aren't they so what compose mean by saying we are more we're more than people that just win something because that's what Paul's communicator he's not just saying we win in the end no that would be a victor he is saying we are more than victorious in fact what Paul is intending in these verses is this that because of the love of God through Christ Jesus ultimately the Christian is invincible see a conqueror just overcomes a person takes it blows and thinks his hip but he overcomes in the end someone who is more guess what there was never any chance for the opposition never shot never a chance and that's what Paul saying we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord if you miss everything in this sermon don't miss this next sentence you pick a pimp and write this down then summarize the entirety of the message because of what Jesus did for us God's favor makes us secure his approval of us is final and his love for us is everlasting his favor toward us makes us secure it guarantees us ultimate security values his approval of us that is his justification of us his declaration of righteousness over his elect his final it will never be withdrawn don't never take in another of an accusation against us and say well I declared you righteous but now I don't really feel that way because this person has brought something to my attention or the devil has brought something to my attention no Paul says God is the one who justifies who is there teaching them and ultimately God's love for us is everlasting it lasts and overcomes the most extreme circumstances you could ever face it lasts and overcomes the most extreme violent powerful forces you can ever face in all of creation in other words we have warmth upon us through Jesus Christ our Lord amen some three reasons here from Romans chapter 8 verse 31 through 39 of why Christians are more than conquerors Paul says here in verse 1 31 he says what then shall we say to these things anytime you see something indefinite like that you need to define what he's referring to what shall we say into these things what are these things that Paul was referring to I believe as well as most commentators believe that Paul is actually making a summary statement here at the end of chapter 8 he is summarizing the effect of everything that he has written in the book of Romans up until now so the first eight and even specifically chapter 3 the second part all the way through the end of chapter 8 you see Paul has told us already in chapter 6 and seven that we are free from sins domination in Chapter eight were free from sins condemnation sins obligation we've been filled with the spirit of adoption we've been fortified by hope and we are helped through our weakness but Saul says what shall we say to these things of cause lure us into being incidence as he just just told us there at the end of Romans chapter 8 verse 28 through 30 he's told us and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose so we know that for those who love God all things work together for good they work together that work for work together in the Greek is where we get our English word synergy synergy synergy refers to a number of different many parts that are all harmless together and the sum of all these parts working together becomes a force in and of itself moving in a singular direction you think about an engine and all the all the parts that are moving inside of that engine when you open the hood of the car if you were to take the case on the top of that engine and you were to see the Pistons firing and all these different mechanisms working together and you see that power come through the wheels where the rubber hits the road that's the idea of synergy the idea of synergy is where you have like I said last week all of these raindrops falling from the sky they seem to be little too small to take into account and yet those raindrops total up and turn into streams and lakes and rivers rivers that are essentially in these it's unstoppable forces that's the idea of synergy the claw has said is that God takes every single little instance in your life that he or they used to come about and every little tweak every little turn every little thing that happens every big thing that happens is not haphazard they're all actually working together for what for good to those who love God those who are called according to his purpose it isn't all starts to talked about now this is not just the the moment they not working together all things good this has been the plan from eternity past for those who means for as he knew them intimately before they were created before the foundation of the world he also predestined means God ordained that something happened to you he predestined them to be conformed to the image of his son so God from eternity past determined to work all things together in your life to bring you to ultimate Christ's likeness in glory my Paul concludes there in verse 13 of Romans 8 those whom he predestined he called those who he called justified and those whom he justified he glorified so from eternity past to present where you are to the future that is yet to come yet this certain God is working all these things together in synergy in unison to bring you to glory to Christ likeness of all set bang what shall we say to these things this is affirmation that God is for you so what shall we say to these things if God has for us verse 32 31 who can be against us verse 31 33 and 35 our flags as rhetorical questions that assumed and emphatically negative answer gods for us who can be against us mostly in fact response to that nobody right nobody can successfully mount an attack against God's people against God's elect why it's God's on their side has got the proven this from eternity past to present into our certain and secure future God has proven this the Paul gives a proof that surpasses all truths Paul gives the ultimate proof of God's love and favor towards his elect look at what he says verse 31 and 32 what shall we say to these things have God is for us who can be against us he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will he not also with them graciously give us all things so God did not spare you remember in Genesis chapter 22 when Abraham walks Isaac up Mount Moriah and Abraham is to sacrifice Isaac there on the mountain as a proof of his faith in God and as Abraham raises that knife to strike his son the text says multiple times his son his only son what does god says Abraham readies for the death blow he says stake your hand spare ball don't anything happened to him well the reality is is no one stayed the hand of God when it came to giving Jesus Abraham through his faith by his willingness to offer anything God treat his love by the action of giving the most valuable person in all the universe Jesus Christ the spotless Lamb of God now let me ask you the question Paul is asking you if God gave you the ultimate display of his love and favor by giving Jesus then dying the death of a cross if God gave Jesus up for you and everything that says less than that if God gave you the greater will God give you all the less certain doesn't that make sense in other words if your day said I'll give you $100 anytime you need it and you go to your daddy you say that $85 sure I promised you hundred dollars that maybe twenty dollars sure I gave you $20 I promised you $100 that at me $75 well sure I promised you up $1.00 any time that you need it well there's a breakdown of that analogy though isn't there because eventually you say what can I have 150 dollars well no I promise to give you 100 so you're asking too much what Paul does say is that God already gave an infinitely valuable gift for you anything you have anything else that you ask of them is a lesser value so what God gave you that - it's an argument of greater to lesser and notice the context that he's offering this if God is for us I asked my kids last night as we walked in this passage what does it mean for God to be for us they told him it means that God's on our team yeah vizac God is on our side God is on the side of the Christian God has permanently fixed his favor upon his chosen ones upon his Saints and Paul says if God is for us who can be against us he's already given you the greatest display of his affection of love let me give you everything else in other words God has and your disposal every gift of heaven anything that's at God disposal is now at your disposal and he thought that because in our dating the most expensive person he has so if God is for you who could legitimately be against you you know this does for us right on this first of three reasons why Paul can say we're more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our born reason number one because of what Jesus did for us God's favor makes us secure because of what Jesus did for us God's favor makes us secure because he'll graciously give all these things anything else we've got given this equal yes II would it's never too much to ask of God look at the second part here verse 33 and 34 the second reason he says verse 33 who shall bring any charge against God's elect who shall bring any charge against God's elect when Paul says God's elect like costs he says God's elect he is talking about the chosen people of God those who are chosen by God before the foundation of the world not my words Paul's words he is talking about the people of God that God has chosen as the objects of his affection and blessing and covenant promises to philosophize tchen who shall bring any charge against God's like what does it mean to bring a charge it means to bring an accusation to bring a legal activation to go to the court or to call police on somebody and say this is what they did against me you need to do something about well we have an abuser we have an accuser say the serpent he lives to bring accusations against God's elect against God's people day and night he makes accusations and he says God don't you remember no sir never what she did don't you remember what he did don't you see how unworthy he is she doesn't deserve to be your child she's doing the next she's done that you could never allow that person to be one of your show God you know it's true so we have been accused well sure we have we have human accusers we have we have human accusers that lay charges against us all the time it look like slander and maligned our name to call us out for false and for failures and it need do we fail we do we fail we have faults not just false we have glaring problems but Paul says who shall condemn who shall bring it in charge against God's elect Ducks chosen one listen to this it is God who justifies in other words it is God who declares someone righteous and what has Paul told us in Romans chapter 8 verse 1 he says there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus why because God has declared you no matter what you have done no matter what your faults tell are in the eyes of God you have ultimate and final binding approval so there's no condemnation no matter what the devil would like to bring up about your past no matter what your enemies would like to say about you your name through the blood you have God's ultimate and final approval so who is it that could actually bring a binding accusation against one of the children of God there's nobody there is nothing that anyone could say about you to God that will stick or that will change God's decision God has already made a final ruling and he's written it down in this book if he's written your name in the Lamb's Book of Life that was his final decision and if there's no writing in the book and then erasing it's permanent means that God might sin number two pencil it's a God's declaration there is final signed sealed delivered so it's not over term there's no way for it to be overturned so not only does God's favor make you secure right now this second of two reasons the Christian is more than a partner because of what Jesus did for us got the approval of us is finally his favor makes us secure his approval of us is final it cannot it will not be overturned listen alcohol explains this though he says who shall bring verse 33 who shall bring it in charge against and left it is God who declares righteous is God justifies who has to condemn Christ Jesus is the one who died see what he does there come to us to condemn if someone were to bring a charge against one of God's children say see they deserve hell they deserve to die they don't deserve to be in the kingdom of God the answer to that question is you're right I don't but who are you to condemn God has already condemned my sin Jesus Christ is the one who died he died for me he took my condemnation upon himself it says this in Galatians 3:13 it says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree that Jesus says the one who was condemned and God's not in the business of performing double jeopardy god doesn't charge Jesus with my crimes and then charge me again for my crimes he already paid my penalty there's no more food to the people to be paid God's approval of me is final but Jesus didn't just lay in the grave look at what he said it was Jesus who died more than that who was great was it mean for Jesus to happen raised up from the dead the Jesus was raised from the dead you know what God the Father was doing God the Father was vindicating the son that Jesus died a sacrificial death not a discerner death and so Jesus in obedience to the Father surrender himself to God is that I'll die for these people to procure for myself a people I'll surrender myself unto death Jesus lived a perfect life a sinless life and as vindication as proof of his sinlessness as proof of his righteousness as proof of the acceptance of Jesus astac rifice God raised him up from the dead he says who was raised that verb is a passive verb meaning Jesus didn't raise himself God did and when God raised Jesus up from the dead God was saying I approve of your sacrifice their condemnation is paid in full their approval in us finally it was Jesus who died more than that who was raised for some of this who is at the right hand of God good indeed is interceding for us Jesus the one who died for us was raised up and vindicated through the resurrection from the guaranteeing our forgiveness guaranteeing our resurrection from the dead it doesn't stop there Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God what does that mean symbolically in Scripture to be seated at the right hand of God God's right hand is the hand of the might it is the hand of power it is the hand of authority and so for Jesus to be seated at the right hand of God he is seated in a place of highest honor he is seated in a place of highest authority the only authority above them is the father meaning there's no go-between between Jesus and the father Jesus is at the right hand but not only that fikret practically with me if I were to have two chairs up here and I want to invite somebody my my right hand is not a hand in power by any means but for sake of an example here if I had two chairs up here and I said brother Eric would you come and sit at my right hand my hand has a certain length doesn't it so brother Eric was to sit in my right hand and he would have to be very wide it bet to be very close to me he'd have to be very close and over there to do if he was seated at my right hand within this distance brother Eric would have my ear always brother Eric could have permanent abiding fixed access to new since Jesus is the one who died well that who is right seated at the right hand of God so Jesus who is seated at the position of highest honor of highest of party and of permanent abiding fixed access to the Father what is Jesus doing with that power position look at what he says who in need is interceding for us [Music] have you ever felt like you know I just need help from somebody and although there's somebody who can help me as somebody with the strength to do that if you felt like you said you know what I'm not allowed in that meeting that meeting at work that's going on about you you talking about your future and sound not in the back but you know what I needed that meet what would be real nice is if somebody in that meeting stood up for me and said I know this man but I know this woman and I vouch for them that persons in the room that persons in the boardroom with a little bit of weight with a little bit of same what Paul is saying is this that Jesus is in the courtroom of heaven seated next to the chairman of the universe with constant favor with permanent access and what is he doing at the throne of God he is pleading your case he's interceding for us and then you know this is interceding that there was in the present tense it not just me that you just sent a prayer one time with Zach tonight or without in mind or Marcy in mind no he's saying Jesus been praying about you he still praying about you so I wish God but here my he's heard your prayers he's her Jesus's prayers for you he has permanent access and Paul says Jesus died for you he was raised for you he was seated at the right hand of God and Jesus is leveraging all power and authority and access for you what do you do with that I just say praise God amen that is amazing I need somebody forgot somebody Jesus is already went through hell and back for you to prove his love God accomplished those hardest things for you want even easier things for you you the seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness all these things to be added to you you just don't worry about it he says who he is interceding for us it says in Hebrews chapter 7 about Jesus as our high priest it says consequence he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them I love that one Elma before the throne of God above I have this strong and perfect plea a great High Priest whose name is love whomever lives and please for me my name is graven on his hand my mother heart ready when it's hard I know that while I'm heaven above no tongue can bid me instant light none Jesus ever lives to intercede and to plead for me so because of what Jesus did for us God's favor makes us secure number two his approval of us is final now listen to what Paul says in verse 35 and 39 he says who who shall separate us who shall divide us from the love of Christ is there anything so he says just imagine in your mind anything anyone that could come against you lets you let your mind wander to the most extreme and you ask yourself could that separate me from the love of Christ could this who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation that's that stress from the outside that's trouble from the outside tribulation that's time's brought about you shall tribulation or distress tribulation is is hard time from the outside distress is turmoil on the inside so what the hardest things that could be brought upon you what about the most deep anguish you can feel from within some tribulation or distress or persecution when somebody got violent against you for the name of Jesus or famine what if you have anything to eat or nakedness you've got nothing to wear or danger or sword as it is written he says look the sallman Psalm 44 22 the psalmist agrees that God's people go through hard times they go through terrible times tribulation and distress and persecution and famine and nakedness and danger and sword God's people go through hard times Paul is not saying that God's people don't go through hard times he's saying God's people are invincible through hard times he says as it is written Psalm 44 22 for your sake we are killed all the day long we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered and listen to the resounding response here no and all these things ones that no in reference to who shall separate us from the love of Christ no nothing nothing will separate you from the love of God Paul's about an ounce to you 10 nouns 10 nouns that the most extreme forces in all creation and he says any of those those extreme things you can ever imagine none of those could overcome the love of God for you through Christ Jesus he says knowing all of these things we're more than commerce without just win that victory was decided long ago we don't just win we are invincible you know in all these things we are more than conquerors through him through Jesus not your own power through him who loved us verse 38 for I am sure you know that verb there is a passive firm it took me a moment to think about that to figure out what does he means your eye into a riot convinced I am persuaded that sounds like something that we do to ourselves I convinced myself right if I were to convince myself that would be an active verb the Paul says for I am sure that's passive I am convinced he not being active on from the outside I am persuaded that was Paul being acted on from the outside what do you say is this when I look at everything that God has done have already all of these facts all of these truths weigh so heavily on my conscience that they smash and destroy any doubts any anxieties that I would ever have that God would separate me from on this ride sure I convinced persuaded that neither death nor life notice how Paul arranges these couplets as complimentary on both ends of the spectrum on both ends of the extremes Trion convinced that neither death nor life nor Angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is not at neither death nor life neither the beginning nor the end of my existence could separate me from the love of Christ neither Angels nor rulers wanna see angels here he's talking about fallen angels obviously those angels that are not following would not never desire to separate us from the love of Christ but he's saying this if Satan himself desired to separate you from the love of Christ he couldn't do it if the most powerful angel created me desire to separate lacrosse can do it no rulers now it's not talking about supernatural things now we've talking about presidents then we talking about teens and congresspeople he's talking about those who rule over us in this way saying they can't do it either not the highest beings in creation and supernatural world not the highest people in political world of the political realm those people can't separate you from the love of Christ he says nor things present nor things to come the things you're going through and the things you haven't imagined yet those will do it he says nor powers nor height nor depth you go as high as you want you go as below as you want David says I can not escape from your presence with over anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord how is that love of God given to us it is the love of God in Christ Jesus meaning this God doesn't just love us because of who we are God loves us because of what Jesus did for us said it again God doesn't love us just because of who they are God loves us because of Jesus a lot of people are worried about angels and rulers then I'm worrying about hi they're not worried about death they're worried about themselves oh not you are you strong enough to separate you from the love of Christ if you put your Jesus quit putting your faith in yourself just trust that Jesus has you in the palm of his hand and what God has put in the palm of Christ and no one can take out of the scene there's nothing that could separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus and notice how he modifies the phrase one more time the love of God in Christ Jesus our own our Lord not just the one we acknowledge with our lips but the one we live for with our lives that's what it means for Jesus Christ to be our own so because of what Jesus did for us God's favor for us secure Mesa secure got the preamble of us this final I got this third reason that we are more than conquerors because of what Jesus did for us God's love for us is everlasting it is ever lasting SWAT Paul could say look it's not just that God's people win the battle and it's not just that God's people win the war it's that there was never a chance for the opposition they're more than conquerors we those who are in Christ are more than conquerors nothing can separate you from the love of God if you are in Christ Jesus [Music] this is the incredible part of this truth the B and the love of God being able of God has nothing to do with who you are or what you look different being in the love of God is accomplished by putting your faith in Jesus Christ if your faith is in Jesus Christ God's love is everlasting his approval is final presence of faith makes you secure but if you are not in Christ you are condemned already the invitation for those of not trusted in Jesus is very simple take part in these trees that's God's declaration to all the way here take part in these truths put your faith in Jesus let God make a final ruling on your life today let God say I approve of this person not because of their deeds but because Jesus died for their sins I approve of this person not because of their deeds but because Jesus was raised from the dead I approve of this person and that ruling is final document that the life declaration over you today if you just asked you for it as soon as you ask it for it it is favor will be upon you permanently it make you security his ruling over you as righteous no matter what you've done no matter what you is ruling over you as justified will be final and ultimately his love for you is everlasting it will never fail no I want to go to you you just name the most extreme things you could ever go through and that's insufficient to separate you from the love of Christ the answer is we are more than conquerors through him who loves more than coppers so Jesus Christ would you pregnant [Music]

Channel: Dr. Jordan Neal Rogers

Views: 4,845

Rating: 4.3469386 out of 5

Keywords: preaching, teaching, preacher, teacher, preach, expository, exposition, exegetical, exegesis, Romans, Paul, Apostle, epistle, grace, overcome, conqueror, conquer, save, salvation, mercy, merciful, favor, eternity, eternal, Christ, Christian, Jesus, Christianity, Messiah, Messianic, Jew, soteriology, God, Father, Yahweh, Jehovah, Holy Spirit, Romans 8, Hillcrest, Baptist, Church, Nederland, Texas, Dr. Rogers, Jordan, Neal, Rogers, Jordan Rogers

Id: L2RNU7L-w-8

Length: 43min 49sec (2629 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 25 2019