[absolutely zero condemnation] for those who are in Christ Jesus. [not for everybody, but for those in Christ Jesus] ² For the law of the Spirit of life [the new life we have in Christ] has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death [the law that previously condemned us].

What Paul is saying is that God’s condemning wrath toward sin and his awesome, unlimited power to punish it has been replaced. His righteous, condemning wrath has been replaced by almighty mercy. AND… His limitless power is no longer directed at judging our sins but now it is directed at protecting us as sons and daughters. The cross created a RADICAL shift in God’s relationship toward those who are saved.

His relationship toward His children is not mixed. It’s not condemnation one day and acceptance the next. He isn’t for you on Monday and against you on Tuesday. The awesome truth of the gospel is spelled out in Romans 8:31 when it asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” verse 32, “³² 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?”

• It wasn’t Jesus’ perfect teaching that brought us salvation.
• It wasn’t Jesus’ perfect life that delivered us from sin’s condemnation.
• We were saved when Jesus took our sin upon himself on the cross and died on our place.

Please turn with me to John 19. That terrible (and glorious) afternoon on the Hill called Golgotha, Jesus not only took on the full measure of my sin and yours, but he also took the full measure of God’s wrath towards that sin.

John 19 describes Jesus’ final moments on the cross. John writes these words:

“²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Just before he gave up his spirit and willingly died on our behalf, he cried out, “It is finished.” The Greek word (translated “it is finished”) is tetelestai. SHOW IMAGE Tetelestai was a common term that was often used in the marketplace in ancient Israel.

When a business arrangement had been made and the price was paid in full SHOW IMAGE, the word tetelestai would be written on the business receipt indicating that the price was PAID IN FULL. When Jesus cried out “TETELESTAI” he was communicating that the most profound exchange that had ever been made in the history of the universe had just been completed. God had exchanged his own son as the ransom for our sin. No further price would EVER have to be paid!

Spurgeon wrote these words about this awesome moment in history:

…an ocean of meaning in a drop of language, a mere drop. It would need all the other words that ever were spoken, or ever can be spoken, to explain this one word. It is altogether immeasurable. It is high; I cannot attain to it. It is deep; I cannot fathom it. IT IS FINISHED is the most charming note in all of Calvary’s music. The fire has passed upon the Lamb. He has borne the whole of the wrath that was due to His people.

When Paul says there is “no condemnation” for those who are “in Christ Jesus,” he is pointing to this complete exchange. The verdict that our sin demanded, was completely covered. There was nothing left to pay.

At the Cross, God’s wrath was entirely replaced by His mercy. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, God is always for those who are “in Christ.”. ALWAYS! He’s NEVER against them. If God is for somebody, think of what that means.

• The God whose power is unlimited stands behind them.
• He protects them.
• His all-knowing and all-loving eye is always on them.

Paul goes on to say that not only is God watching his people, but the Holy Spirit is dwelling within them. The Spirit is at work in their lives bringing about a whole new spiritual mentality.

• He is growing each believer in a hatred of soul-destroying sin and giving us a new appetite for God’s holiness
• The Spirit takes people who may have been hostile towards God before and He turns them into people who love God and have a deep-seated desire to please Him.
• Paul says that God’s people will come into an inheritance. This inheritance is far greater than anything we’ve ever imagined. It is much more than just being saved from Hell. We receive a full measure of Jesus’ reward as we are welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom as brothers and sister of Christ’s.
• When this happens, the Bible says that all of creation itself will rejoice and be released from its sinful curse.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “Everything in the universe is good to the degree it conforms to the nature of God and evil as it fails to do so.”In the present time, God is actively working to this good end: He is conforming His people into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of that process (although it may be difficult at times) He promises to bring us into a season of never-ending glory. That’s what the Bible means when it says in Romans 8 verse 30, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

.So at this point, Paul just can’t restrain himself any longer. The news is all too good to be true. The question “What then shall we say to these things?” erupts from his heart. Over the next few verses, Paul asks one difficult question after another that are all easily answered by looking at them through the lens of God’s love.

Only the gospel stands up to the tests of real life. I don’t have to check my faith at the door when I begin to encounter difficulties in this life. Just the opposite. The gospel is the one thing I can really count on when everything else starts to fall apart.

God is for His People

Paul starts out by asking this powerful question, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Be careful when you answer this question. Is the answer “nothing”? Is it true that “nothing” can be against us? I can think of plenty of things that are absolutely against me. Let me just name a few:

• To begin with, how about the catalog of hardships listed in verse 35? Paul wrote in Romans 8:35 about the tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword that the Romans Christians were facing. Then he says in verse 36 “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” That’s talking about Christians! It sound like something is against them!
• Then there is our own indwelling sin. Paul spoke about the sin that still remained in his own life back in Romans 7 when he cried out “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
• And… what about death itself. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Death might be defeated in the end, but it is not yet destroyed in this present age.
• Finally there are principalities and powers that all seek to harm, divert and discourage those who are trying to follow hard after Jesus.

It sounds like we have plenty of things against us, so when Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer isn’t “nothing.” He’s not saying “nothing is against us.” He IS SAYING that nothing is against us that is bigger than our God! (He is far above all we know and all we hope. He has done great things! – Quoting God is Able again)

God is never defeated by evil

God is not slowed down by the evil forces of this fallen world, and He is actively using everything (painful and pleasurable) for the good of His people. Our God is never out-witted, out-maneuvered, confused, perplexed or surprised. Everything He is allowing into your life right now is part of His plan to conform you to the image of Jesus.

• We might be confused.
• We might feel defeated.
• We may trip and stumble back into sin.

BUT… our great God is never slowed down. He is always at work. He is always for the best interest of his people. I think it is appropriate to place ourselves in this text. In your notes, you can put your name in the blank:

 If God is for ___YOUR NAME___, who can be against [you]? The answer “Nobody is against you who is bigger than our Great God!

If God is for us and if His Spirit is in us, then He would have to be defeated in order for you to be defeated. Who is big enough to even be a challenge to our almighty God? No ONE!

OR… He would have to abandon you and withdraw His Holy Spirit from you in order for you to be defeated.. Does He ever do that? The Bible says emphatically that He would NEVER leave us nor forsake us! In fact, the Bible describes an extravagant love that God has for us that is without equal and that defies our measurement.

God loves His people extravagantly

Paul’s next question in Romans verse 32 is, “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?” There is nothing in the whole universe that is more valuable to God than His son, Jesus. So Paul is asking, if God gave us the most generous gift at the cross, how could he possibly keep any good gift away from us?

If there is any helpful gift or tool or resource or trial that will effectively conform us to the image of Jesus, grow us in holiness and prepare us for heaven, then God will gladly lavish that gift upon us. He gave the most valuable thing in the whole universe for your salvation and mine. Is He going to nickel and dime us now? Is there any limit to God’s love for us? Is there anything He would with-hold for our good and His glory?

God gave us the most extravagant gift in the universe when He sent His Son

Our God, who is rich in mercy, was willing to do anything to extend to us the offer of salvation. God is a big spender! So let me take a few minutes and explain why God had to send Jesus and what was accomplished in the cross.

The Bible says that without a Redeemer, we were ALL slaves to sin. Sin controlled us and ruled over us. We were without the power or the authority to shake its grip. Worse of all, sin invited God’s wrath into our lives. God is against those who are stained with sin. Sin was constantly tightening its grip and leading its captives to a final and everlasting spiritual death.

Jesus came to buy us back from the slave-master of sin. (Matthew 20:28, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”) Here’s how He bought our freedom and paid our ransom:

• Jesus took on the guilt of our sins when He went to the cross.
• Instead of God pouring out His wrath on you and me for our wrongdoings, God chose to instead pour out His wrath on His own Son, Jesus.
• In doing so, Jesus paid the ransom required for our sins.
• To all who receive the offer, Jesus extends payment in full (tetelestai) and spiritual freedom to all who ask.

Jesus secured our freedom from sin and delivered us from the condemnation of the law, but there’s more. Jesus didn’t just come to rescue us from sin’s slavery. God’s ultimate goal at the cross was to turn slaves into sons and daughters. It was to take the very people who He was against (because of their sin), adopt them into His family and lavish His love upon them. God is for His children!

Life Application

Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior have received the greatest gift of love that God ever offered to anybody or anything in all of creation. I’d like to give you the opportunity to receive that gift from God this morning

God isn’t for everybody. Not everyone can say “there is no condemnation” over their life. There are many people who are still enslaved to sin and remain without Christ. Without Jesus, they are the object of God’s wrath. It is very clear from the text that the only people who are free from condemnation are those who are “in Christ.” There are some who are “in Christ” and some who are not. Jesus himself said these words, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

• So where are you?
• Are you in Christ or are you outside of Christ?
• Are you free from condemnation or are you under condemnation?

The good news is that there is always room for one more believer in the family of God. His grace knows no limit. Jesus’ word to every sinner is “Come! Put your trust in Me! Enter into my rest! Let me be your righteousness!”

If it is your heart’s desire to follow that call of Christ and enter into a new relationship with Him,  several men will be by the cross after service. They would love to help you express to the Lord in prayer what is happening in your heart. I would ask that you would come and receive the Lord’s forgiveness and begin a new life in Christ.

For those of you who are already walking with Christ, you may be asking, “So what?! What difference does it make that God is for me when I am faced with so many difficult trials in my life right now?”

Let me suggest to you this truth:

• If you have been diagnosed with incurable cancer, having God for you is a million times more valuable than having a cure for that cancer
• If you have a financial burden that you could never repay, having God for you is a million times more valuable than having a 100 million dollars in the bank
• If you have just lost your spouse, having to God for you is a million times more valuable than having that spouse back

Here’s how I can dare to say such things: You and I might face terrible trials for 70 or 80 or 90 years in this world, but then it’s over. Those who have no condemnation in Christ look ahead to a never-ending age in perfect fellowship with Christ.

• An age where there is no sickness or disease.
• An age where finances are never an issue.
• An age where every relationship will be pure and without sin.
• An age where we will enjoy perfect fellowship with Jesus forever!

I can confidently face any trial this fallen world might throw at me knowing that God is for me! God is for His children and He guarantees that they will have a heavenly inheritance that is beyond their wildest imagination. 1 Cor 2:9 says

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”

Are you “in Christ?” Is God for you? Don’t stay outside the realm of God’s limitless love. There is always room in Christ. There is always room for one more at the cross. Come.

 

Teaching Outline

God is for His People – Romans 7:24, 8:31, 8:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:26

God is never defeated by evil – Romans 8:31, 35-37

 If God is for ___YOUR NAME___, who can be against [you]? The answer “Nobody I against you who is bigger than our Great God!

God loves His people extravagantly – Romans 8:32

God gave us the most extravagant gift in the universe when He sent His son – Romans 8:32, Matthew 20:28

Application

God is for His children and He guarantees that they will have a heavenly inheritance that is beyond their wildest imagination. – 1 Corinthians 2:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] AW Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, Page 87