[Sermon Summary] March 26, 2023 The Incredible Love of God (Part 2) Romans 8: 31-39

Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary:  

We had part two of a message series titled, “The Invincible Love of God,” from Romans 8:31-39. We covered how Paul asks a series of questions in addressing how one should respond to all the truth of Romans leading up to these verses. We heard three of the five responses last week which were God is for me and He is invincible, God gave me Jesus and He will give me everything, and God chose me and He will protect me. The fourth response to the truth from Romans is found in verse 34, and it is that Jesus died for me and He is interceding for me.

Read the text Romans 8:31-39.

We see Paul asking the question about who can condemn you if you are in Christ, and the response we are to have is that Christ is the one who died and was raised and who is indeed interceding for us. We heard there are two aspects to this truth. One is what Jesus did when He died and was raised. The second is what He is actively doing now which is interceding for us.

·         Look at Romans 3:21-26; 4:25; Galatians 3:13; Romans 5:6-10. What do these passages tell you about what Christ did through His death? What does it mean that He was raised?

·         Discuss how Jesus’ death accomplished salvation for you. How can you confidently say there is none to condemn you because of Christ?

·         Look at John 17:4-5; John 19:28-30. What does it mean that it is finished? If Jesus fully took the punishment and wrath of God for your sin, and the proof of this is God raising Him from the dead, how secure is your salvation in Him?

o   How should this affect your worship and your life lived to the Lord?

·         Discuss the temptation we all encounter to entertain thoughts of condemnation before the Lord. Look at 1 John 3:20. What does this mean that God is greater than your own heart? How much care and thought has God given to you in and through Christ His Son?

o   How should you respond to this truth of God’s love and care for you?

o   How should you treat each other in the church and in your family relationships?

o   How much should you be for each other’s good and want to help each other glorify God more fully?

§  What does this look like lived out in the various relationships you have? What Scripture informs you how to live out loving each other the way God sees you and cares for you in Christ?

·         The second part to our response of no condemnation in Christ is that He is actively interceding for you.

o   Look at Luke 22:31-34. What does this passage tell you about Jesus’ intercession? How important is it that Jesus also is interceding for you?

o   Look at the following verses and discuss what they say about Jesus and His work on your behalf.

§  Hebrews 7:23-25; 8:1-2; 9:11-15; 24-28; 10:19-23; 32-39.

·         How do these truths give you encouragement in the Lord? How should you live in response to these truths? What does it look like to grasp the love God has given you and promised you in your life lived to Him and others?

·         We heard how we have to repeat these truths to ourselves so that we remember how much God truly cares for us.

o   Read Ephesians 3:14-19. How much does God love you and how much does He want you to know it? How should this lead to change in your life?

[Sermon Summary] March 19, 2023 The Invincible Love of God (Part 1) Romans 8:31-39

Elder Greg Cox's sermon summary: 

The message this week was “The Invincible Love of God,” from Romans 8:31-39. We heard how Paul asks a question to his audience based on all of Romans up to this point, “What then shall we say to these things?”. We heard the first three of five responses to the truths of the gospel and your changed life through God’s power, to the praise and glory of God, who are established forever as recipients of God’s grace.

The first response you should have to the truth of the power of God in the gospel for you is God is for you and He is invincible (v.31).

·        We heard how God is either fully for you or fully against you. See Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 7:11-13; Romans 5:6-10; John 3:16-21; John 3:36.

o   Discuss what these passages say about God being against you or for you. What makes the difference?

o   Based on the lessons over the last few weeks on God’s unbreakable chain of grace, how is the response of God being for you and Him being invincible help encourage you?

o   What does it mean that God is for you? What does this mean with regards to anything else that would try to be against you?

·        We heard how many Christians struggle to understand how much God is for them in the Gospel. Look at the following passages. What do they say about God’s love for you and His commitment to you in Christ?

o   John 6:37-40; 10:28-30; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 145:18-20; Psalm 147:11

o   How do these truths help you in enduring trials and suffering?

The second response you should have to these truths of the power of God in the gospel for you is God gave you Jesus, and He will give you everything v.32. God gave us the greatest need, how will He not also provide everything else for us too.

·         Discuss how God giving you Jesus was your greatest need answered. How valuable is Jesus to God and to you who believe (see 1 John 4:10).

·         Look at Matthew 13:44-46. Do you see the value of Jesus as the greatest treasure worth having?

·         Look again at Romans 5:6-10. What did it cost God to reconcile you and bring peace between you and Him? What promises does God graciously give you (see Psalm 84:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Revelation 21:5-7)?

The third response you should have to these truths of the power of God in the gospel is God chose you and He will protect you from everyone v.33-34.

·         Discuss the kind of charges that can come against you from Satan, others, and yourself.

o   What does the Scripture say about any charge against you if you are in Christ?

·         How does God justify you and declare you innocent and no charge can be levied against you any longer (see Romans 3:21-26)?

·         How does God’s authority and justice met in the gospel bring true freedom from any accusation or charge against you?

o   How does this truth increase your gratitude and worship of Jesus and His work done on your behalf?

o   See Isaiah 50:8-9, what do these verses say about God and you if you are in Him?

·         Look at 1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:6-14; James 1:17-18. What do these verses tell you about God’s care for you and His forgiveness of you in and through Christ?