It’s All Good

Romans 8:31-39

Introduction: Last Sunday we gathered around this altar as we called on Immanuel.

8:31, ‘What can we say about such wonderful things as these?

• What conclusion should we draw from the above premises?
  
  
• From all that was already laid down in the preceding chapters, but especially in the preceding verses, Rom 8:28-30.
  
  
• As if he had said: What comfort may we derive from these doctrines? God has called us all to holiness, and to love to Him, which is the principle of holiness.
• We are persecuted and despised, it is true, and we may be more so;

1. All things work together for good to them that love Him (8:28)

God works all things together for good—both His good and our good. As God is glorified, His people benefit.

In Romans 8, Paul contrasts a life lived in selfish pursuits (the flesh) and one lived in league with, or in accordance with, God (the Spirit). He impresses upon readers that our sovereign God is all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful.

Those who love God can trust His goodness, His power, and His will to work out all things for our good. We journey together with Him.

• The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, taken by themselves, are good. Some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good. He sees the big picture; He has a master plan.
  
  
• Neither does the promise that God works all things together for good mean we will acquire all that we want or desire. Romans 8:28 is about God’s goodness and our confidence that His plan will work out as He sees fit. Since His plan is always good, Christians can take confidence that, no matter our circumstances or environments, God is active and will conclude things according to His good and wise design. With this knowledge we can learn to be content (see Philippians 4:11).
  
  

https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-work-together-for-good.html

II. God is For Us

God is “for” us in the sense that He is on our side; He is working on our behalf and for our good. He has proved His benevolence in that He has adopted us (Romans 8:15), He has given us His Spirit (verses 16–17, 26–27), and He has determined to save us (verses 29–30).

The follow-up question, “who can be against us?” is rhetorical. It’s another way of saying, “There is no one who could possibly be more powerful than God” or “No one can destroy us.” The idea is not that we will never face opposition; it’s simply that our opposition is doomed to failure. They may be against us, but not successfully against us. Since God is on our side, we have nothing to worry about.

Application: I think about the many battles in the OT with the People of Israel. When they were outmanned, outnumbered and at major disadvantages:

• Elijah when surrounded by enemies but Elijah prays that Elisha’s eye to be open.
• When there were too many to feed with just a few loaves of bread and fishes.
• When a man was filled with so many demons that they were called ‘legion’.
• In that final conflict where God and Magog come against Israel.

God is on our side!

III. Who Can Condemn Us

Give judgement, to judge worthy of punishment

The whole chapter began with the statement in verse 1, ‘So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus’. (NLT)

        Katakrima = damnatory sentence

Rev. 12:10, ‘Satan is the accuser of the brethren’.

IV. Overwhelming Victory

• Tribulation – a pressing together, pressure
• Distress – narrowness of space
• Persecution –
• Famin – scarcity of harvest
• Nakedness – destitute
• Peril – danger
• Sword – small (dagger) or large (sword) danger. (Trap)

From Psalm 44, ‘Yet for your sake we face death all day long’

‘But despise these things…’

‘More than conquerors’ – ‘Overwhelming victory’

We gain a surpassing victory.

‘With Jesus it’s always a blowout’

Transition:

V. Nothing able to Separate Us from His love

‘I am convinced’ = persuaded

• Death
• Life
• Angels
• Demons
• Fears of today
• Worries about tomorrow
• Not even the powers of hell

Conclusion: So, Immanuel God with us, causes all things to work together for the good, He breaks any rules of condemnation againt us, He gives us overwhelming Victory and He usures us that nothing can separate us from His Love!