Sermon #1058 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: The Glorious Eighth Chapter of Romans

Text: Romans 8:1-39

Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Subject: The Believer’s Security in Christ

Date: Thursday Evening – December 3, 1992

Tape #

Introduction:
Like you, I get a lot of mail. Like you, I throw a lot of mail in the trashcan. If I open a letter that does not have my name on it, addressed, "Box Holder", "Resident", or "Occupant", I never bother reading it. I presume it is unimportant. I pay it no attention. If I get a letter that begins, "Dear Friend," I will usually look to see who signed it. If I do not know the person, it goes into that round file setting on the floor beside my desk. But, when I get a letter that begins, "Dear Don," that gets my attention. It is addressed to me. It was written to me. It concerns me. It is important to me. When I read those words, "Dear Don," I know that someone has taken the time to write to me, personally.

Tonight, I have a message to deliver to you that is addressed to you who believe, to you who are in Christ. I want to preach to you tonight from The Glorious Eighth Chapter of Romans.

If you are here without Christ, I want you to listen carefully. What I have to say may be just the thing God will use to reveal his son in you and give you life and faith in Christ. But everything that is written in this chapter is addressed to believers. This is manna from heaven, sent by God to feed his Israel in this wilderness where no other bread can be found for your souls.

Keep your Bibles open on your lap. Everything I have to say tonight will come directly from Romans 8. This chapter begins with no condemnation (v. 1) and ends with no separation (vv. 35-39); and everything in between is grace, grace, grace! Romans chapter 8 is glorious in its description of…

    1. The believer’s freedom from condemnation in Christ.

    2. Our privileges as Christ’s brethren and as children of God the Father with him.

    3. Our everlasting security from all possibility of harm, or separation from our Redeemer, or from his great love.


Proposition:

Romans 8 is a glorious declaration of grace to believing sinners in this sin-cursed world of woe.

I. Our chapter begins by declaring the believer’s complete freedom from the curse, bondage, and condemnation of the law (vv. 1-4).

II. In verses 5-14 Paul describes the believer’s life in the Spirit.

There is no condemnation to them "that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." What is it to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh? Paul tells us in verses 5-14.

Note: V. 9 – We live in the Spirit!

III. Then the Apostle describes the blessed witness of the Spirit (vv. 15-16).

This is the source of our assurance!

V. 16 – How? By convincing us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. By showing us Christ. By giving us faith in him.

Illustration: Mark 10:49-52. Cf. Mark 8:22-26.

1 John 5:8-15 – The Spirit – The Water (Word) – The Blood.

IV. The believer, the person who is born of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, the one who lives in the Spirit, lives in the hope of eternal life, described in verses 17-25.

A. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (17-18).

B. We have the earnest of the Spirit (19).

C. We are waiting for a better day (20-21).

D. Here we groan within ourselves – (Sin) (22-23).

E. But we live in hope! (24-25).

V. In verses 26 and 27 Paul assures of God’s persistent grace, describing the Spirit of grace and intercession.

A. In verse 25, He describes the Spirit’s intercession within us.

"We know not what we should pray for as we ought."

Illustration: Job, Jonah, The Sons of Zebedee, Paul.

B. Verse 27 describes the intercession of Christ for us in heaven.

1. He searches the heart!

2. He knows the mind of the Spirit!

3. He maketh intercession for the saints.

Though he makes intercession for transgressors, he never calls us transgressors!

Illustration: John 17:7 – "The people Thou gavest me."

4. His intercession is "according to the will of God."

VI. Then, in the last part of the chapter, the Apostle declares the absolute security of God’s elect in Christ (28-39).

Five bold challenges of faith (29-31).

A. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (31). What shall we say?

God is for us in…

1. His sovereign providence (v. 28).

2. His saving purpose (vv. 28-30).

3. His substitutionary provision (v. 32).

4. His securing promises (vv. 35-39).

B. "How shall he not with him freely give us all things?" (32).

C. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?" (3).

D. "Who is he that condemneth? (34).

E. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (35-39).

    1. No earthly trouble!

    2. No spiritual trouble!

    3. Nothing in heaven!

    4. Nothing in earth!

    5. Nothing in us!

    6. Nothing in time!

    7. Nothing in eternity!

1. The purpose of God must stand!

2. The blood of Christ shall never lose its power!

3. The seal of the Spirit cannot be broken!

4. The promise of God cannot fail!

Application: Can I claim these promises? Yes, I can!

    1. I am in Christ by faith!
    2. I walk in the Spirit!
    3. The Spirit of God is my witness!
    4. I live in hope! If the firstfruits of grace are mine, the full harvest of glory shall be mine too!
    5. I have an intercessor in heaven! (1 John 2:1-2).
    6. I believe God!
Don Fortner