More Than Conquerors
(Read Romans 8:37)
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose.
Not some things, or most things, or just the good things- but ALL THINGS work together for our good. And we notice that they work together- like a great puzzle, with all the pieces interlocking to create the whole picture of our life. Every piece, however gray and dark because of sin and sorrow and suffering; or however bright and colorful from the wonderful moments of God’s grace and blessings upon us, they all are contrasted together to create a beautiful picture, ordered and assembled by the Master of assemblies.
We can not always see all things working together for our good. Much of the time we can’t see things in our lives working together in any kind of ordered fashion or unity; let alone for our good- but by faith we understand and know that they are.
When God calls a person by the Gospel unto faith in Jesus Christ and Salvation through Him, He knows what He is doing.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
He calls each one to salvation for His own purpose in grace. He makes no mistakes; there are no accidents with God. He does all things on purpose and for a purpose. If you are saved, then you were called of God according to His purpose. I don’t believe that God every called anyone that He won’t give the final victory.
Verse 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
To foreknow means to know intimately as a man knows his wife. It means to know with intension to bless. To know in His sovereign unmerited favor; that is, in His grace. We are more than conquerors because He foreknow us, even in eternity past, and set His affections on us, and determined that in time He would save us from our sins.
Predestinate means to mark out in advance; to choose ahead of time- not because of any good in us, but according to His own purpose in grace- "According to the good pleasure of His will, and to the glory of His grace”. We are more than conquerors because God from the beginning has chosen us to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth; whereunto He called us by the Gospel. (2 Thessalonians. 2:13-14).
Verse 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified…
Justified means “just as if we’ve never sinned”. It means to be declared just and righteous by the virtues of Jesus blood, which He shed on Calvary’s cross for the sins of His people. By faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection we are justified in the eyes of God and forgiven of all of our sins; past, present, and future. God no longer sees us in our sins, but He sees us in Christ, forgiven and cleansed of all our sins. He sees us perfect and blameless, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ His Son.
Verse 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Two thoughts. First, we are glorified in the present. That is, when the Lord saves us He beautifies our life with His blessings. He crowns us with His grace, and adorns our lives with His tender mercies and loving favor. He washes us of our sins and takes away our bent to sinning. He clothes us with a life of righteous and good works. You think I am ugly now, you should have seen me before Jesus saved me. He has beautified you and I in salvation. First in the inward appearance of the heart and soul, and then in the outward appearance of our lives.
Secondly, we are glorified in the future sense of the final glorification of our bodies in the resurrection. Our glorification is so sure, that God can say that He has glorified us, just as if it has already happened. Now, if our glorification is not accomplished, then God’s purposes have failed and His promises to His people are meaningless. But our God never fails. What He has promised, the same shall He do. He is all-powerful, and He is faithful and true to keep His promises to His people.
Verse 31 What shall we then say to these things? If
God be for us, who can be against us?
God is for us! He is on our part. He loves us, and saved us, and will keep us eternally secure by His grace.
Who can be against us? Who is more powerful than God? Who can overcome Him and cause Him to turn against one of His people. Or who can have power over one of God’s children. Who is able to bind God and steal one of His children away from Him? Who can fight against God and win? The answer is none. Therefore we are more than conquerors because the all-mighty is for us.
On the other hand, we might re-word verse 31 to say “if God be against us, who can be for us?” Isn’t this equally true? If God is against you, and if you are the enemy of His people He is against you, then who can be for you. What hope does a person have who is the enemy of God??? If you are His enemy, then we warn you to throw down your guns and surrender!!! Repent of your rebellion and plead for his mercy and forgiveness. By faith believe in Jesus Who died on the cross for enemies such as you. This is absolutely your only hope us escaping the judgment of God.
Verse 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
God sent His Son Jesus to become the ultimate sacrifice, and to pay the sin debt His people. Are we to believe that God would purpose His own beloved Son’s punishment and death on the cross for our sins, and then fail to accomplish His end purpose of saving His people? This is scandalous and outrageous. Did the cross of Christ fail to accomplish all of its purpose? NO; in NO WISE, as Paul would say. The very fact that God delivered up Jesus for the sins of His people, guarantees our eternal inheritance in heaven with Him. Our greatest encouragement and insurance of final victory, beloved, is the fact that God delivered up Jesus for us. There is nothing or no one that can thwart the power and the purpose of the cross of Calvary!!!
Verse. 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who can enter the presence of God and accuse one of God’s children of our sins? Will God hear them. Will God agree with the enemies of His people and change their judgment from justified to guilty? Will He then cast out one of His children for whom Christ died?
It is God that Justifieth! God already knows about our sins and our failures- even before we commit them. No one is going to tell God anything about us that He doesn’t already know. He knew all about us, and that is why He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins; to take our guilt and our judgment upon Himself; to pay the penalty for our sins that we could not pay.
Verse 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who is it that condemns one of God’s children? Let them take the matter up with Christ. It is He Who died, was buried, and was raised again for their sins; and it is He Who is even now at the right hand of God making intersession for His people! It is Christ Who sprinkled His blood on the mercy seat in Heaven; and it is Christ Who now pleads His blood for the daily cleansing of our sins.
We are more than conquerors because Christ is our advocate and mediator. He sits continually in the presence of God making intercession for us. Jesus, our advocate, has never lost a case. His perfect plea for His children is His own blood, which He shed for them. And there is no sin or accusation of men or the devil, that the blood of Jesus cannot wash as white as snow.
Verses 35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we
are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing or no one can separate us from the love of Christ. The love of Christ is great for His people. There is no power in all the universe greater than the power of Jesus’ love. Don’t think for even an instant that Christ would ever let one of His sheep for Whom He shed Hid blood, get out of His hand.
John 10:14 I am the good
shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
Conclusion:
Yes, we are more than conquerors through Christ that loved us.
Is Christ your Savior this morning? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Did He die for your sins? Was He buried, and did He raise from the dead the third day for you? Believe this Gospel message this morning, and you too will be more than a conqueror through Christ Who loved you!