Week 36 - Free Weekend Program Weekend for Street & Vulnerable Children

Text : Romans 8:31-35

Theme: The Unwavering Love of God.

Verse 31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? “

What shall we say regarding our trials, afflictions, temptations etc since they all work for our good? Or what shall we say regarding our predestination, calling, justification and glorification? Since God is for us, since He is on our side, no one and nothing can successfully come against us.

Men will try, our parents may disown us, our friends may mock us, peer pressure, cultural pressures are all real, satan will try but none, nothing can succeed against God’s plan and purpose for us . Proverbs 19:21. God rules over the heavens and the earth, He knows the number of sand on the sea shore, He knows the number of hairs on your head, each strand is numbered . Luke 12:7. God is absolute in power, Supreme in position, He is Sovereign! He is God all by Himself.

There is a popular Nigerian song that is true, it says

“You are God,

from beginning to the end,

there is no place for argument,

You are God all by Yourself”

This is so true. so, since God is for us, no one and nothing can successfully come against His plan and purpose for us. What is His plan and purpose for us? We see it in Romans 8:29. God’s purpose is our glorification, to make us like Christ, so we can spend eternity with Him because He loved us before we were born and chose us to be His children. His love was fully expressed for us on the Cross and all things (good & bad) are working for our good as a result of His love.

We thank God for meals, for clothes, for school fees, for air conditioners, for cars, for a good marriage, for a good business, for children, for promotion at work, for ministry etc, these things are good, but we must look at the cross to truly see God’s love for us. 1 John 4:10. Be rest assured that on one and nothing can successfully come against you to thwart God’s plan and purpose for your life.

Not even God will change His mind regarding your gift of eternal salvation and your promised glorification. How do we know this for sure ? Let’s read the next verse

Verse 32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

It is God who made the plan for our salvation, His plan is to save us and bring us to Himself, eternal paradise of glory. Christ Jesus became the means, the necessary sacrifice for our salvation and the Holy Spirit is working to make it a reality in our lives - the experiential knowledge of our new identity, leading increasingly to our glorification. 2 Cor. 3:18

If God did this, gave up His son, what else will He not give to us? To give up His son, means to give Him up to death - judgement on our behalf. Christ suffered the penalty for our sin, He gave His life for us!

Think of it, if someone can send his only son to die for you, die for your sin, what else do they have that they can’t give you? If you can die for a person, let me know if there is anything you have that you can’t give that person. There is nothing else God will not graciously give us if it leads to our glorification, which is His purpose for us.

“All things” doesn’t mean only PROSPERITY though God can freely and graciously give that and He does Matthew 6:32, but unlike what they teach in false churches, all things may also include poverty, sickness and death, which is written clearly in verse 35. We will soon get to that verse. In essence, God will give EVERYTHING necessary to fulfill every inch of His plan and purpose for our lives, which is to bring us ultimately to eternal glory. 2 Peter 1:3.

Yes, we have responsibilities, to work diligently to make a living, study hard to pass exam and win a scholarship, eat well and stay healthy etc yet, we must not worry about the necessities of life; nothing in heaven and earth is of greater value than Christ, yet, He gave Him up and will graciously give you all things. Things necessary to fulfill His plan and purpose for your life in Christ.

Verse 33 “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”

No doubt satan will bring accusations against Christians, he brought accusation against job. Job 1:9-11, he brings accusations against believes but he will not succeed, he will be cast down. Rev 12:10. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8: 1 , But Everyone outside Christ is condemned already, John 3:18, some are foreordained for damnation and will experience eternal damnation on the last day.

Why is there no condemnation for Christians, for those in Christ Jesus? Because Christ has paid for our sins, every single one of them- past, present and future.

How do we know that our sin penalties and punishment have been fully PAID for? We know by faith as written in scripture Hebrews 10:14 and we believe. How do we know that Jesus paid it all? I mean, paid everything. We know because God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection is the proof, His resurrection is the receipt that shows it is paid. He rose for our justification.

For example, if a man is sentenced to 30yrs in prison, he will stay there, but after 30yrs, they will open the prison door for him to go out. This proves that he has completed his sentence, paid the full penalty for his offence. Christ rose from the dead to prove that justice is satisfied, guilt discharged regarding everyone in Christ. He took the full punishment for all our sin and God raised him from the dead.

Here is a good hymn

“Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow”

By Christ death, we are redeemed from sin and death, by His resurrection, we are justified forever before God. God justifies all who put their faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross; none can bring a charge against those God has justified. Think of the Supreme Court, once they rule, it is final, it is the highest court. In the same way, but in a much higher way, God is sovereign, He rules over all, God approves, justifies and no one, nothing can disapprove or condemn.

Verse 34 “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. “

The world may condemn us, satan may condemn us, we may condemn one another but it’s all to no avail, they mean nothing before God. Even if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything 1John 3:20. It means we are not cut off from God, but are led to repentance by the Holy Spirit, which produces obedience.

Who then can condemn us? No one. Will Christ condemn us? No! He died for us, made full atonement (sacrifice), which is payment for all our sin debt, He was also raised to life as prove that justice has been satisfied, our guilt fully discharged and we are free forever. More than that, He is right now at the Fathers’s right hand making intercession for us, praying for us. Seeing to it that the benefits of his death are applied to us.

Verse 35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, We are kept by the power of God through faith. God holds on to us, our hold is imperfect (weak), but it is there. Our faith wavers, but we never go back to unbelief by the grace of God . 1 Cor. 12:3. Remember Peter, he was so sure and confident, promised he will not fall away, but he did and the Lord restored him. Matthew 26:33.

No amount of trouble, hardship, persecution, hunger, poverty, nakedness, danger or sword can separate us from the love of Christ because He gives us the grace to persevere to the end; without Him, we can’t live by faith, we can’t endure for a minute. Not even death (sword) can separate us from the love of Christ, through death, we enter into glory; perfect union with Christ- Spirit, Soul and body . so, fear not! Dismiss the fear that you will loose Christ, your hold on Him may be weak, but you can trust His hold on you. Rest on His everlasting arms. Jude 1:24-25

This is a blessing!

If you are hearing me and you want this assurance of salvation, faith in Christ is all you need, don’t wait any minute, come to Christ! Believe in Him who was raise from the dead and God will do a new work in you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Feel free to ask me any question you may have.

May the Lord bless you with this gift of eternal salvation .