The Text From My Sermon Tonight

Romas 8:18-39

Our Predicament
Vs 18- The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us. I cannot imagine what kind of joy would make today and 5.5 months ago seem like nothing. Even though I can’t imagine it. That is really good news.

Vs 19- 22 The creation waits with longing for redemption. Something is not right. Babies shouldn’t be born prematurely. People shouldn’t be thrown from their vehicles. Tornados shouldn’t wipe out towns. Tsunamis shouldn’t sweep away 250,000 people. The whole cosmos is broken and waiting for redemption.

Vs 23-25 Not only the creation but we as Christians who have the Spirit groan. Times like these really cause us to groan and look forward to our redemption. God will one day make everything right. We will also know why all of the things that happened have happened.

Our Promises
Vs 26-27 In all of this talk about pain and suffering and how the glories of heaven will be so much more than the present sufferings, the Bible doesn't minimize the real pain that we feel now. The Bible is a very honest book and that is refreshing. Another promise here is that the Spirit knows perfectly how to intercede for us. Even when we don't know what to pray, we can trust that the Spirit is interceding for us.

Vs 28-30 This is one of the best promises in all of the Bible. This is a firm foundation that we can rest on.

Our Provision
Vs 31- God is "for" us. Who can be against us. How? vs 32
Vs 32- He gave us Christ, how will He withhold any good thing from us.
Vs 33- We have been justified so who can bring any charge against us? We are aquitted- no double jeopardy! Any pain that we have is not punishment (see verse 1) but for our good.
Vs 35- Who shall separate us? Answer: no one, nothing.
Vs 36- Even though we are being killed all the day long
Vs 37- IN: tribulation (catastrophe), distress (abandonment and fear), persecution (people physically or psychologically harming you), famine (no food), nakedness (no clothes), danger (risk to your life), or sword (death by slaying). Paul says "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure 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." Paul does not say instead of all these things, as though Christians will escape physical harm. Neither does Paul equate the love of God with physical sustenance, but with Jesus Christ.

We are more than conquerors- literally we "super conquer." To super conquer means that not only do you defeat your enemy but you make it your slave. Therefore death is not only defeated but is made our slave.

CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?

I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death.

Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

I know that, Death. But that's not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is.

Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting?

Where is, my sin?

What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?

O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more.

Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.
Vs 38- Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Update:
I need to give credit on the hypothetical dialogue between Christian and Death above: This was done by John Piper in a Good Friday meditation. You can read the post here. I gave him credit in my sermon, just not in my notes. I'm normally more careful about giving credit. Plagiarism is one of my pet peeves.