I have heard of non-Christian spouses who have belittled their Christian spouse, insulting them for the smallest mistake they make. Constantly, when they do whatever their non-Christian spouse deems “non-Christian” they are criticized, lambasted and mocked. It is humiliating and hurtful. One could expand that example to the world and the church. The church is always on the stage with the world as the audience. They watch the church people all the time from monitoring the Friday Youth Groups to the Sunday night music’s volume. They monitor Christian behaviour refusing to understand that although we Christians are saved and forgiven we still sin. They look for any opportunity to damn us Christians.
1) Does the world have the right to condemn and criticize God’s people?
Rom 8:33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? …
In other words, “Who has the right to judge the people God has chosen and adopted into His eternal family?” I might say this often but it is necessary to solidify it in our minds and hearts. All of the Bible is God’s Word, inspired, inerrant and authoritative. My purpose in saying this is because this is God speaking to you and me. Look how the passage continues:
Rom 8:33 … It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
(1) We have dealt with God justifying us … making us right with Him, acceptable to Him through Jesus’ salvific work.
(2) So who has the right to condemn? Who can be a charge against God’s own? Who is the real Judge? The Lord Jesus is Judge and we are given three reasons.
(a) Because of the Gospel. Because Jesus died and rose again He has the right to judge.
(b) Because Jesus is seated on the power seat in Glory. Remember that God is One and when the Bible refers to Jesus being at the right hand of God it is speaking about the Triune God. This means our Lord is the authority in heaven and has the right to Judge.
(c) Because Jesus intercedes for His people … calling upon Father to pardon, strengthen, protect, etc. He has the right to judge because He knows you inside out and pleads your case perfectly!
The point is that only the Lord Jesus Christ has the right to “condemn” (judge) … and He does not condemn His chosen blood washed people! He will condemn others but not His own.
Ro 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
2) What follows in the next few verses is the crux of the theme of the last few Daily Notes.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
(1) It almost seems as this is a rhetorical question … and the answer is absolutely no one! The “who” in the verse may puzzle you. These are those who cause the … trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? The spectrum of challenges are huge. Many people out there want to harm the Christian and they are all around us all the time. Psalm 44 is a prayer of lament after a huge military defeat. The psalmist is calling upon God for help and rescue. So when Paul quotes …
Ps 44:36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered”
… he is questioning whether Christians are defeated and people being lead to death (sheep to be slaughtered). The wonderful answer is a decided “NO”!
3) In Jesus we are the victors.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Because of Jesus and the benefits secured through His Work on the Cross we are victors. Notice that phrase “more than conquerors through him who loved us”. We are not a conqueror or victor in and because of ourselves. It’s only in Jesus that your eternity is secure. There is no defeat. The enemy was defeated at Calvary. Sin was conquered at Calvary. You were forgiven at Calvary. Being “more than a conqueror” entails two things …
(a) In Jesus you are a victor.
(b) In Jesus you are more than a victor!
You need to get this my friend … the more includes what happens after the victory … glory! Jesus’ victory over our enemy means eternal glory with Him in His Holy Place forever!
4) Real faith, real love and real commitment declares “I’m convinced”. When Paul says “for I am convinced” he implies this is the declaration of every true believer!
Ro 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What will never separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord?
(1) Notice two absolute states. Death and Life. This is phenomenal … whether you are dead or alive you can’t be separated from God’s love.
(2) Notice three spiritual forces. Nothing from the spiritual world will be able to separate you from God’s love … neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers.
(3) Notice two relative worlds … neither height nor depth. Whether on this earth or anywhere in the spiritual sphere can separate you from God’s love.
(4) And just in case someone might think something was overlooked, Paul adds nor anything else in all creation. Nothing, absolutely nothing will be able to dislodge, affect or “separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. As amazing and glorious as all this is … having assurance of heaven and being convinced that nothing can separate you from God’s love in Jesus … there is a greater purpose.
5) The ultimate purpose of God for you.
Ro 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
There is no greater comfort and joy to be experienced by a child of God than to know what your end product will be … predestined to be conformed to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You, Lord God, are the great comforter of souls. You in love have designed such a great salvation for Your blood washed people. Dear Lord, help us to appreciate Your wonderful love. Amen.