Good News About Being a Christian #5

God Is For You!

by Tim Bondhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=44941&Sermon%20God%20Is%20For%20You!%20by%20Tim%20Bond

Have you ever just looked at a child you Have you ever just looked at a child you love and felt the emotion swell up love and felt the emotion swell up

inside you? You wanted in some way inside you? You wanted in some way to let them know how you felt, but to let them know how you felt, but

when you did it just seemed too mushy when you did it just seemed too mushy for words. for words.

When you try to tell them they just wind When you try to tell them they just wind up thinking you’re weird. Maybe some up thinking you’re weird. Maybe some

time back you’ve felt a little mushy. time back you’ve felt a little mushy. You called the child over and they You called the child over and they

refused to come. refused to come.

After coaxing, pleading, and finally After coaxing, pleading, and finally demanding they walk over to you and demanding they walk over to you and you give them a hug and tell them that you give them a hug and tell them that you love them. They roll their eyes and you love them. They roll their eyes and say, "Why in the world did you disturb say, "Why in the world did you disturb

me just for that?"me just for that?"

So how do you convey the depths of So how do you convey the depths of parental love to a 6 year old who parental love to a 6 year old who

hasn’t learned to tell the difference hasn’t learned to tell the difference between love for family and love for a between love for family and love for a

video game? video game?

Is it possible for a child to comprehend Is it possible for a child to comprehend the depth and breadth of their parent’s the depth and breadth of their parent’s

love? And even if they can’t love? And even if they can’t understand it, should that stop us from understand it, should that stop us from

expressing that love? expressing that love? Is our love any less just because they Is our love any less just because they

don’t get it?don’t get it?

Throughout the Bible, God expressed Throughout the Bible, God expressed His love for His children in a million His love for His children in a million

different ways. He created a luscious different ways. He created a luscious garden to live in, and He provided garden to live in, and He provided

manna and quail in the wilderness. He manna and quail in the wilderness. He gave a land to live in and He provided gave a land to live in and He provided

crops to sustain them. crops to sustain them.

And in an act that defies the And in an act that defies the comprehension of our feeble little comprehension of our feeble little

minds, He sent His Son to the world. A minds, He sent His Son to the world. A baby in a manger and a man on a baby in a manger and a man on a

cross are two images that can’t help cross are two images that can’t help but make us wonder. "What kind of but make us wonder. "What kind of love is this that God has for us?"love is this that God has for us?"

I stand up ever week and try to explain I stand up ever week and try to explain the depths of God’s love, and often I the depths of God’s love, and often I

feel like I did when I was a child feel like I did when I was a child hearing my parents tell me they love hearing my parents tell me they love

me. It’s bigger than I can comprehend. me. It’s bigger than I can comprehend.

That’s why Paul asked the questions that That’s why Paul asked the questions that close the close the 8th chapter of of Romans. Because . Because

when we hear about God’s love, there when we hear about God’s love, there really are some questions that come to really are some questions that come to

our minds. With a series of five questions, our minds. With a series of five questions, Paul challenges anybody and everybody, Paul challenges anybody and everybody,

in heaven, on earth, or even in hell itself to in heaven, on earth, or even in hell itself to deny the depths of God’s love. deny the depths of God’s love.

Romans 8:31 NET What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us,

who can be against us? 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he

not also, along with him, freely give us all things?

33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34

Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more

than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is

interceding for us.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or

persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.“ (Psalm 44:22)

37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor

powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to

separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Did you notice the questions? My guess Did you notice the questions? My guess is that you’ve probably asked them a is that you’ve probably asked them a time or two yourself. You see, Paul time or two yourself. You see, Paul could have made bold, far reaching could have made bold, far reaching

statements about the incredible statements about the incredible commitment of God to His children. commitment of God to His children. Instead, he wants the answers to Instead, he wants the answers to

these questions on our lips.these questions on our lips.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Now understand, Paul could have Now understand, Paul could have

asked the question asked the question "Who can be against us?" and the answers would and the answers would have been numerous. Every person have been numerous. Every person

who lives faces opposition. who lives faces opposition.

There is disease, disappointment, and There is disease, disappointment, and difficult circumstances which all serve difficult circumstances which all serve as opponents to our good pleasure. as opponents to our good pleasure.

But the truth of the matter is, that is not But the truth of the matter is, that is not the question Paul asked. His the question Paul asked. His

statement is statement is "If God is For us, who can be against us?" And that is a different And that is a different

question entirely.question entirely.

Now Paul has spent a long time explaining Now Paul has spent a long time explaining one fact, and by now he expects you to one fact, and by now he expects you to

realize it. realize it. God is for us!

If you have gotten to this point in If you have gotten to this point in Romans, , he expects you to realize that. Just in this he expects you to realize that. Just in this 8th chapter he has shown you how much he has shown you how much God is for you. He has told you that there God is for you. He has told you that there is no condemnation for those who are in is no condemnation for those who are in

Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus.

He has pointed out that God has given you He has pointed out that God has given you a part of Himself to walk with you every a part of Himself to walk with you every step of the way. He has highlighted the step of the way. He has highlighted the

fact that for Christians there is an fact that for Christians there is an overflowing abundance of hope. If we overflowing abundance of hope. If we

haven’t caught onto God’s love by now, haven’t caught onto God’s love by now, it’s not because Paul hasn’t explained it.it’s not because Paul hasn’t explained it.

God is for you!God is for you!

So tell me, with that in mind, who can be So tell me, with that in mind, who can be against you? When things pile up against you? When things pile up

against you, how do they stack up? against you, how do they stack up? Not how do they stack up to you! How Not how do they stack up to you! How

do they stack up to God? Are you do they stack up to God? Are you afraid that God can’t handle the afraid that God can’t handle the

difficulties in your life?difficulties in your life?

If you are, then you don’t understand If you are, then you don’t understand God. He is the one who called the God. He is the one who called the

universe into being. He created every universe into being. He created every star in the sky, and every speck of star in the sky, and every speck of dust that inhabits the space around dust that inhabits the space around

those stars. He created the whale and those stars. He created the whale and the elephant, and He created the the elephant, and He created the amoebae and the smallest gnat.amoebae and the smallest gnat.

He engineered the universe to operate He engineered the universe to operate in perfect synchronization. Are you in perfect synchronization. Are you

afraid that He can’t handle your afraid that He can’t handle your problems? Surely not when you really problems? Surely not when you really think about it. I suspect there might be think about it. I suspect there might be

another fear. another fear.

You see, maybe it’s not that we are You see, maybe it’s not that we are afraid God can’t handle the difficulties afraid God can’t handle the difficulties of our life. It’s just that sometimes we of our life. It’s just that sometimes we

wonder if God will handle them. I wonder if God will handle them. I mean you have to wonder if He’s got mean you have to wonder if He’s got

the time to deal with my little old the time to deal with my little old problems.problems.

That’s why Paul asks the next question. That’s why Paul asks the next question. "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?"

Suppose a man comes upon a child Suppose a man comes upon a child being beaten up by thugs. He jumps being beaten up by thugs. He jumps into the middle of the bunch, rescues into the middle of the bunch, rescues the boy and takes him to the hospital. the boy and takes him to the hospital.

The young boy is nursed back to The young boy is nursed back to health and the man pays the bill.health and the man pays the bill.

He learns that the child is an orphan, so He learns that the child is an orphan, so he adopts him as his own and gives he adopts him as his own and gives

the boy his name. And then, one night, the boy his name. And then, one night, months later, the father hears the son months later, the father hears the son sobbing into his pillow. He goes to him sobbing into his pillow. He goes to him

and asks what is wrong.and asks what is wrong.

Through his tears the boy says Through his tears the boy says "I’m "I’m worried, daddy. I’m worried about worried, daddy. I’m worried about

tomorrow. Where will I get food to eat? tomorrow. Where will I get food to eat? How will I get clothes to stay warm? How will I get clothes to stay warm?

Where will I sleep?"Where will I sleep?"

As you can imagine, the father is As you can imagine, the father is disturbed. disturbed. "Haven’t I shown you? Don’t "Haven’t I shown you? Don’t

you understand? I risked my life to you understand? I risked my life to save you. I gave my money to treat save you. I gave my money to treat you. I gave you my name and called you. I gave you my name and called you my son. Would I do all that and you my son. Would I do all that and

not meet all your needs?”not meet all your needs?”

That is exactly Paul’s question. Would That is exactly Paul’s question. Would God go to all the pain and trouble to God go to all the pain and trouble to send His Son to die for you and then send His Son to die for you and then just forget about you in your hour of just forget about you in your hour of

need? No way!need? No way!

Paul reminds us that God has way too Paul reminds us that God has way too much invested in us to forget about us much invested in us to forget about us now. What kind of father would forget now. What kind of father would forget

about His child? Certainly not the about His child? Certainly not the perfect one who created us!perfect one who created us!

But even if we realize that God’s love is But even if we realize that God’s love is such for us that He won’t forget about us, such for us that He won’t forget about us,

then we are confronted with another then we are confronted with another thought. If God never forgets about us, thought. If God never forgets about us, then He also doesn’t miss what we do. then He also doesn’t miss what we do.

And we realize that we have done some And we realize that we have done some things that must not have made God very things that must not have made God very

happy. So Paul brings up the next two happy. So Paul brings up the next two questions.questions.

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?" You’ve heard those You’ve heard those

words of condemnation just like I have. words of condemnation just like I have. "There’s no way God could love you, "There’s no way God could love you,

you are too dirty!"you are too dirty!"

"There is too much sin in your life for "There is too much sin in your life for God to ever love you."God to ever love you." And the guilt And the guilt

that should drive us back into the arms that should drive us back into the arms of our loving father, sometimes keeps of our loving father, sometimes keeps

us pushing away. Where do those us pushing away. Where do those words of condemnation come from?words of condemnation come from?

They cannot come from God. They cannot come from God. God says, God says,

"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Those words Those words come from one who doesn’t want us in come from one who doesn’t want us in

the the arms of our father.arms of our father.

Revelation 12:10 tells us that there is one tells us that there is one who stands before God day and night who stands before God day and night accusing Christians of sin. He is the accusing Christians of sin. He is the one whose name means one whose name means "accuser.""accuser."

We call him We call him Satan..

Revelation 12:10 NET Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our

God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of

our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our

God, has been thrown down.

Some time back I heard a story about a Some time back I heard a story about a little boy who got a new slingshot and little boy who got a new slingshot and

decided to try it out. While he was decided to try it out. While he was trying it out, he took aim on grandma’s trying it out, he took aim on grandma’s pet duck, and to his surprise he hit it pet duck, and to his surprise he hit it

and killed it.and killed it.

As you can imagine, the boy was As you can imagine, the boy was horrified, so he took the duck and hid it horrified, so he took the duck and hid it

in the woodpile. Just as he finished in the woodpile. Just as he finished covering it up, he noticed that his covering it up, he noticed that his

sister Sally was watching.sister Sally was watching.

After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. to help with the dishes.

Sally responded, Sally responded, "Johnny told me he "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. wanted to help in the kitchen today.

Didn’t you Johnny?"Didn’t you Johnny?" She leaned over and whispered She leaned over and whispered

"Remember the duck.""Remember the duck." So Johnny did the dishes.So Johnny did the dishes.

The next several weeks were Johnny’s The next several weeks were Johnny’s worst nightmare. It seemed like he worst nightmare. It seemed like he

was always at the sink, sometimes for was always at the sink, sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. his duty, sometimes for his sin. Whenever he would almost get Whenever he would almost get

completely fed up with it, Sally would completely fed up with it, Sally would remind him remind him "Remember the duck.""Remember the duck."

Finally, Johnny decided no punishment Finally, Johnny decided no punishment could be worse than a lifetime of could be worse than a lifetime of

washing dishes, so he confessed to washing dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck.killing the duck.

Grandma was understanding.Grandma was understanding.

"I know you killed the duck. I was standing "I know you killed the duck. I was standing at the window watching the whole thing. at the window watching the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I just Because I love you, I forgave you. I just wondered how long you would let Sally wondered how long you would let Sally

make a slave out of you."make a slave out of you." Johnny had been pardoned, but he Johnny had been pardoned, but he continued to feel guilty because he continued to feel guilty because he listened to the words of his accuser.listened to the words of his accuser.

How many times have we How many times have we listened to Satan’s accusations, listened to Satan’s accusations,

all the while forgetting that all the while forgetting that God knows our sin, God knows our sin,

and has pardoned us anyway. and has pardoned us anyway. Romans 8:33 NET Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God

who justifies.

34 Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more

than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is

interceding for us.

In In 1 John 2:1 NET (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin,

we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,

And in And in Hebrews 4 and here in and here in Romans 8, ,

the same image is pointed out. Jesus is the same image is pointed out. Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand right now, sitting at God’s right hand right now, and He is standing up for us. He is and He is standing up for us. He is

asking God to forgive us for our sin. asking God to forgive us for our sin.

And as the accusations fly, God looks to And as the accusations fly, God looks to His Son, and Jesus says, His Son, and Jesus says, "I will take "I will take

the penalty for that sin."the penalty for that sin." And the blood And the blood of Christ covers over your guilt if you of Christ covers over your guilt if you

are a member of His family.are a member of His family.

I want you to take a look at the last I want you to take a look at the last question. There is one more question, question. There is one more question, but it is in response to this one. And but it is in response to this one. And

believe me, this is the big one. Anyone believe me, this is the big one. Anyone who has been a Christian for very long who has been a Christian for very long

has asked this one.has asked this one.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

As a sort of answer to that question, As a sort of answer to that question, Jesus told a story in Jesus told a story in

Luke 15 about a father about a father who had 2 sons.who had 2 sons.

One asked his father for his inheritance One asked his father for his inheritance and headed off to live it up. But the and headed off to live it up. But the

boy found out that life wasn’t all it was boy found out that life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. It wasn’t long until cracked up to be. It wasn’t long until he was living off pig chow, and he he was living off pig chow, and he realized he could live better as his realized he could live better as his

father’s slave than on his own.father’s slave than on his own.

What questions do you think were on his What questions do you think were on his mind as he decided to go back to his mind as he decided to go back to his father? I’ll bet this one was at the top father? I’ll bet this one was at the top

of the list. of the list. He must have asked himself, He must have asked himself,

"What could separate me "What could separate me from the love of my father?"from the love of my father?"

But he wasn’t sure when he returned. But he wasn’t sure when he returned. He spent the entire return trip trying to He spent the entire return trip trying to figure out what to say to convince His figure out what to say to convince His

father to let him return home, father to let him return home, even as a slave.even as a slave.

An amazing thing happened. Jesus says An amazing thing happened. Jesus says that while the son was a long way off, that while the son was a long way off, the father saw him coming down the the father saw him coming down the road. Dad was watching for his lost road. Dad was watching for his lost son. And instead of waiting on the son. And instead of waiting on the

porch, Dad hiked up his robe and ran porch, Dad hiked up his robe and ran to meet and greet his boy.to meet and greet his boy.

He threw a party and he wouldn’t even He threw a party and he wouldn’t even let the boy finish the apology he had let the boy finish the apology he had

worked on so long. You see, what the worked on so long. You see, what the son failed to realize was that the only son failed to realize was that the only thing that could separate him from his thing that could separate him from his

father’s love was his own father’s love was his own choice to ignore it.choice to ignore it.

The same is true for you and me. The same is true for you and me. It is not any circumstances, It is not any circumstances,

or difficulty. No painful trial or sin will or difficulty. No painful trial or sin will ever keep us from experiencing the ever keep us from experiencing the

loving embrace of our Heavenly loving embrace of our Heavenly Father. The only thing that can keep Father. The only thing that can keep

us out of His waiting arms is if we push us out of His waiting arms is if we push away.away.

Romans 8:35 NET Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or

nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we

encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be

slaughtered." (Psalm 44:22)

37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor

powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to

separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For five weeks we have focused on the For five weeks we have focused on the good news about being a Christian. good news about being a Christian.

The love of God says that you can live The love of God says that you can live without condemnation. The love of without condemnation. The love of

God provides you with a companion to God provides you with a companion to be with you in the worst of times and be with you in the worst of times and

the best of times.the best of times.

The love of God gives you hope. The The love of God gives you hope. The love of God makes sure that you are love of God makes sure that you are plugged into His purpose for your life. plugged into His purpose for your life. And the love of God means that you And the love of God means that you can live without fear of ever being can live without fear of ever being

separated from His love. separated from His love.

But in the end you must choose. Will But in the end you must choose. Will you be a prodigal child or will you you be a prodigal child or will you

swallow your pride and come to your swallow your pride and come to your loving father who is watching for your loving father who is watching for your

return? return? You see, the only thing that can keep You see, the only thing that can keep you from experiencing the love of God you from experiencing the love of God

is you!is you!