The Great Eight - Pt 32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:31-37 ESV).

We will get more specific in the next few days; however, today I want to introduce you to the four things Christ does for you. You see, the design of this text is to make you courageous in your life. Whether in service or suffering we can be courageous. Listen again to the beginning of this detailed description: It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (v. 34). Jesus is “He who died," and he continues this focus on the person by the way he writes about each of the following three deeds. "Yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us." He did not have to use two substantival participles and two relative pronouns. He did it to keep our focus on the person: Jesus Christ died. Jesus Christ was raised. Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God. Jesus Christ intercedes for us. No death for us, no resurrection for us, no presence at God’s right hand for us, no intercession for us would do us any good if it were not Jesus Christ who died and rose and reigns and intercedes. So let’s keep our focus on him. Look to him. Know him. We are not talking about a mythological event or a random deed or a mere human happening. We are seeing the historical Jesus Christ in action. And the point is to know HIM as our security. Jesus himself is our No-condemnation. So, the first of these four things Jesus has done for us is to die for us. He is the One who gave his life for you. I say "gave his life for you" instead of "died for you" just to make plain that he chose to die. He planned to die. He embraced death for you. He didn’t stumble in front of the divine bullet meant for you; he stepped in front of it. Mark says it like this: "The Son of Man came . . . to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). So know him that way. This knowledge will lead you into the great depth of His love. That is where you will find real peace and power.