Sermon: Since Christ is Resurrected…

Sometimes, when you are given a good gift, you don’t realize just how good that gift is:

• The first time someone gave us fresh eggs, I thought, “that’s nice…I like eggs…” And then I tasted them.  Wow…the difference was remarkable!
• When I transferred seminaries in the middle of my education (in order to get a better education), increasing my financial responsibilities significantly, I had no idea of the benefit I would receive by learning to be dependent on the Lord and the grace of seeing Him provide repeatedly for me/us.
• When I came to GBC as a pastor I was just thankful that I had been given a position. I had no concept how the Lord could knit together hearts in love for one another.  I had no category for staying as pastor in one place as long as I have or how loving that fellowship could be.
• When I had the opportunity to teach in Russia a few weeks ago, I had no idea the impact or privilege that would be. On the next to last night, during dinner with a group of pastors, one of them told us to thank our wives for allowing us to go to Russia to teach.  I then told him that Raye Jeanne strongly urged me to go, saying, “You don’t know how long the door of opportunity will remain open.”  He responded with sober and downcast eyes, “I don’t want to talk about that…” because that is a very real possibility for them.
• When Raye Jeanne walked down the aisle towards me on our wedding day almost 33 years ago, I had shaky knees, a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes from gratitude. But I had no idea the treasure I was receiving that day.

Sometimes, when you are given a good gift, you don’t realize just how good that gift is.  And nowhere is that more true than of our salvation through Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

To expose the greatness of that gift, I want to continue in our study of Romans 8.  As I have noted several times, Romans 8 has been called the greatest chapter in the greatest letter in the greatest book ever written.  In a book, the Bible, that stands above all other books, this chapter is particularly beloved and remarkable in its power and truth.

Near the end of this chapter, the apostle Paul explained the golden chain of salvation (vv. 29-30).  Having offered the assurance of that truth, Paul then embarks on a series of questions that relate to that salvation:

• What shall we say to these things? (v. 31a)
• If God is for us, who is against us? (v. 31b)
• How will He not freely also give us all things? (v. 32)
• Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? (v. 33)
• Who is the one who condemns? (v. 34)
• Who will separate us from the love of Christ? (v. 35)

Two of those questions particularly relate to Christ, His death and resurrection, and the benefit we derive by being saved by the grace of Christ’s resurrection power.  These two verses remind us of the power of God to save us and the power of the resurrection to secure us.

Since Christ is resurrected, the believer is not condemned.

1. Who Can Justly Accuse Us? (v. 33)
2. Who Can Condemn Us? (v. 34)

• Jesus Christ died
• Jesus Christ was resurrected
• Jesus Christ is at the Father’s right hand
• Jesus Christ is interceding for us

Download the rest of this sermon on Romans 8:33-34.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by tomorrow.