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Romans 8:37-39
BIG IDEA: There is no limit to the uncommon love of God.
INTRODUCTION
“Now, 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.”
(Romans 8:37-39)
EXPLANATION
Because of the Uncommon love of God, we must consider…
- The Sphere of our Victory (v. 37)
- Verse 37 says, “Now, in all these things…” What are the things? Look back to verse 35. “Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and the sword,” comprise all “these things.”
- We looked at these in turn last week, and if you missed the message, you can go to our Facebook page or our church website and view the entire service. So I won’t dwell on each of these things that make up all these things.
- Here’s the important thing: because of the Uncommon Love of God which He has lavished on you, there is nothing in this world that you cannot overcome. Whatever happens to you, you can still be the victor.
- The Uncommon Love of God is present even in the painful things of this world. What is the sphere of our victory? “All these things…” To each of these terrible tragedies that cause us to question whether or not God loves us, Paul gives a resounding answer.
- Will tribulation be victorious? No.
- Will distress be victorious? No.
- Will persecution be victorious? No.
- Will famine, nakedness, or danger be victorious? No.
- Will the sword be victorious? NO!
- Because of the Uncommon Love of God that is found in Christ Jesus, we are not going down. We will not be defeated. We will not be downcast. We will not be destroyed.
- So today, if you are saying, “I am struggling,” God replies, “You will survive.”
- Where you say, “I am pressed down,” God says, “You will prevail.”
- Where you say, “I am hurting, “God says, “You will be healed.”
- Where you say, “I am a victim,” God says, “You will be victorious.”
- In all these things, we are “more than conquerors.” The Greek word for “more than conquerors” literally means “super-overcomers.” It means, “super-conquerors.” You will not just overcome, you will be a super-overcomer. You will not just be a conqueror, you will be a super-conqueror. You will not just be a victor, you will be a super-victor.
- What is a “super-conqueror?” Even a conquering army will sustain catastrophic casualties. The military has created a planning parameter that calculates what an acceptable loss is in any conflict. Now, if you are not in the military, or even if you are a parent of a soldier, this can seem incredibly cold. But it is the harsh reality of the battlefield.
- In general terms, battle-planning anticipates a loss of one-third of all personnel and equipment. That is a 33% loss. The military seeks to have numbers in personnel and supplies that overwhelm the enemy, inflict devastating losses on them to neutralize their ability to conduct warfare, understanding that there will likely be a loss of one-third of our troops and equipment.
- Simply stated, if our losses are a fraction of the losses on the battlefield, we will be victorious. Again, I know this is harsh, but warcraft is an ugly business. And so every planner, every commander, every leader understands that to assure victory, we will sustain losses.
- But friends, God is the General of an Army that not only will never suffer defeat; we will never lose a single soldier. We are super-overcomers. We are super-victors. We are super-conquerors. Praise be to God.
- The Source of our Victory (v. 37)
- Having seen the sphere of our victory, let us consider the source of our victory. Verse 37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Christ is the source of our victory.
- He had no earthly kingdom to rule, yet He overcame the royal rule of Rome.
- He was proffered no justice, yet He overcame the jealous Jews.
- He authored no books, yet more books have been written about Him than any figure in history.
- He had no formal education, yet He confounds the foolish educators of secular society.
- He had no riches, yet He reigns over all the rulers of men.
- He had no home, yet He is building a house for you in heaven.
- He never sat on an earthly throne, yet He reigns on the throne of God.
- He was tried and tortured but His life could not be taken, He simply gave up the ghost.
- Nails could not hold Him, the stone could not stop Him, the grave could not keep Him, death could not destroy Him, Satan could not thwart Him, the demons could not distract Him.
- Christ came out of the stone-cold grave a conqueror, and in Christ, you too are a super-victor.
- Having seen the sphere of our victory, let us consider the source of our victory. Verse 37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Christ is the source of our victory.
- The Scope of our Victory (v. 38)
- How confident is Paul in the conquering power of Christ? Verse 38 says, “For I am sure (I am convinced!!!)” Paul was convinced by the conquering qualities of Christ. “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… shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.”
- There is nothing biological that can separate us from the love of God. (“life nor death”)
- There is nothing spiritual that can separate us from the love of God. (“angels nor rulers”)
- There is nothing chronological that can separate us from the love of God. (“things present nor to come”)
- There is nothing political that can separate us from the love of God. (“powers”)
- There is nothing geographical that can separate us from love of God. (“height nor depth”)
- This is a confidence in the comprehensive victory of Christ and the all-encompassing love of Father God.
- Paul did not waver. He did not question. He was not uncertain. “Of this, I am sure.”
- How confident is Paul in the conquering power of Christ? Verse 38 says, “For I am sure (I am convinced!!!)” Paul was convinced by the conquering qualities of Christ. “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… shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.”
- The Size of our Victory (v. 38)
- As if all of this isn’t enough, Paul adds, “nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
- That is the size of our victory. That is the scope of God’s love for you.
- There is nothing that can come against you that God cannot disarm, defeat, and destroy. There is nowhere you can go that the Uncommon Love of God cannot reach you.
APPLICATION
- Because of the Uncommon Love of God, you have been made victorious, but don’t take your eyes off the prize. The prize is not a place. The prize is not a possession. The prize is a person. Jesus is the prize.
- Because of the Uncommon Love of God, you have been made secure, but don’t let your security allow you to be satisfied in sin. “What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? Certainly not!” Let your security lead you into sanctification. Sanctification is your purpose.
- Because of the Uncommon love of God, you have been given a new destination, but don’t let this distract you from your destiny. You were not saved simply for the glories of heaven; you were saved to bring the glory of heaven here to earth. Live like a conquering Christian, tell others of what Christ has done for you, and live a life worthy of the high calling you have been given in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION
His love is solid no matter what life throws at us.
His love survives our death.
The most powerful of heavenly beings can’t crack this safe.
Nothing in the present.
Nothing in the future.
You can’t fall low enough or rise high enough to escape his love.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Not anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Hallelujah! Amen. (http://www.jesuswalk.com/christ-power/8_conquerors.htm)
(http://www.jesuswalk.com/christ-power/8_conquerors.htm)
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