VICTORY IN JESUS!
Romans 8
Good morning! I hope you’ve all had a great week and had a wonderful New Year’s Day! It’s great to see you all this morning — for our first Sunday of this new year!
Certain texts of the Bible are so familiar to us (as followers of Jesus) that they almost require no introduction. They are the texts we typically first learn or certainly hear about early on in our walk of faith. These are those texts that we know, and we love. And their words come to be etched on our hearts as well as in our minds. They are what we might call the “Great Texts” of the Bible.
- John 3:16 certainly falls into that category,
- As does Psalm 23 and Acts 1.
- But along with these would certainly be the text that I’ve chosen for us to look at today. Its found in Romans chapter 8.
But the message I want to share with you this morning is one that’s vital to our faith. Last week I told you that my heart for our church was to really get to know God in 2018. And this text helps us do just that.
It isn’t really as heavy as some texts mights be— but it is deeply spiritual and equally as encouraging. In fact, at it’s core, this text is what you might consider the very HEART OF GOD! Because, what I want to share with you this morning is rooted in GOD’S AMAZING GRACE!
Now, if you’ve got your Bible, would you turn there with me? Turn to Romans chapter 8.
When Lori and I first began in ministry, we lived in Pittsburgh, PA. Lori was born just north of Pittsburgh and raised across the state line in Youngstown, OH. She attended a great church and had a wonderful pastor named Pastor Jay Alford. I remember him preaching on this passage — and he referred to it as the “Victory Chapter”.
And that’s what this is — its a chapter all about our victory in Jesus!
Someone once asked General Douglas MacArthur what is the most important lesson a soldier fighting a war needs to learn? And MacArthur replied, ”He must learn quickly that there is no substitute for victory.”
It was the great French Emperor — Napoleon Bonaparte who said, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.”
And, both of these battle tested warriors were right. There is no substitute for victory, and victory belongs to the most persevering.
Yet, as believers in Jesus, we must understand that our victory isn’t found in our power or intellect or our strategic efforts — rather, our victory is found solely in power, presence, and promise of Jesus (and His work in us)!
In Romans 8, we read about this victory afforded to us through Jesus as Paul writes some of the most encouraging and empowering words ever penned.
Beginning in verse 1 — he writes,
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
Romans 8:1-11 (NIV)
The primary theme or big idea of this chapter is that it’s never too late — never too late to trust God, to find forgiveness, to move past your failures and your struggles. Paul tells us that its never too late to life for Christ or experience His grace and here’s why:
We find our victory in Jesus because —
1. THROUGH JESUS’ PARDON OUR PAST IS ERASED!
If we are honest with ourselves today — I’m sure there are things that we’ve thought, or said, or done that we would love to forget. There are certain to be things in each of our lives that when we think back on them, our minds are filled with shame and sadness.
- I’m sure there are things we’d like to forget.
- I’m sure there are things we’d like to have edited out of our stories.
- I’m sure there are things we’d like to bury and never have to think about again.
Well, I’ve got good news for you today! According to Romans, because of Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross (his sacrificial at of love) — if you’ve asked Christ to forgive you of your sin and enter into your life, then you have been completely forgiven. You’ve been pardoned of all sin. And the added benefit, according to Paul, is that your past has been ERASED. Some have wondered if it’s really possible for people to change — and the answer is yes!
Not only can we change — but through Christ we are changed!
Listen again to the words of verse 1. In reference to ever bad decision and sinful act you’ve ever committed, Paul says,
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 (NIV)
Let me talk for a moment about what it means to be pardoned.
The word PARDON comes from two words meaning “to be given much” — or “to give to again and again”. In reference to Paul’s writing in this chapter, he acknowledges that in Christ we are given grace by God…again and again.
Paul points out that God’s grace is endless — and so, He gives us His grace freely and without measure. Because of this, there is now no condemnation in our lives. There is not past attached to those of us in Christ. We have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing that should weigh us down.
Because we’ve been set free, and forgiven.
Because of Jesus’s pardon — our past has been erased!
Did you know . . .
— The number one cause of hopelessness is… (Guilt of our past)…
— And, the more guilt you carry, the more…(Hopeless)…you become.
But for those of us who have experience Christ’s salvation—we have been set free from such guilt and despair. And since our shame has been removed—2018 ought to bring us great hope!
Paul reassures us that in Christ we find TRUE victory because, through Christ’s pardon of our sin — our past is erased. We’ve been set free!
But he adds that it’s never too late, because . . .
2. THROUGH JESUS’ POWER OUR PRESENT IS IN HIS HANDS!
In this great chapter, Paul is reminding us that through the work and power of Jesus — our lives (especially our present moments) are in His hands.
He’s got you — and you can trust in His care.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:14-18 (NIV)
Listen again, Paul says —
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Paul is reminding us that even when things look big, bad, and overwhelming — even still, we can trust in God, because He has all things in His hands — especially you! So, no matter what comes your way in the year to come — God has you in His hands.
Many years ago J. B. Phillips wrote a classic book he titled, Your God Is Too Small. That was a case where the title told the whole story.
Many of us have a problem because our God is too small. But if you ever understand that God is sovereignly and divinely over all things — He’s over everything including your life, then you’ll never have a small God again.
— When you feel hopeless and life seems to be out of control — TRUST IN JESUS!
— When you feel hopeless and there are things you can’t fix or change — TRUST IN JESUS!
Paul would write in Colossians 1:16-17,
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
FOR HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS — including your PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. And in this case, you can trust Him to hold you and your present in the palm of His hands!
Paul’s interest in writing this chapter was to encourage the people of His day — as well as you and me that surely the Christ whose hands have shaped the universe and summoned the galaxy of stars into being is capable of holding us when times are uncertain and hardships befall us.
The writer of Hebrews would add in Hebrews 1:10,
“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.”
Hebrews 1:10
Paul reassures us that in Christ we find TRUE victory because, through Christ’s power — our present is in His hands! We can rest at peace in Him!
But he adds a third matter that reassures us of our victor in Christ, and it’s this . . .
3. THROUGH JESUS’ PROMISE OUR FUTURE IS SETTLED!
Look down a little farther in this chapter. As Paul is preparing to shift gears and move into a new section of thought, he first speaks to the promise of Christ regarding our future. And in reference to the victory that we have already begun to experience through our past being erased and our present being established in Christ’s great care, Paul now testifies to the fact that our future is settled!
We never have to wonder about Christ’s love, His care, or His interest in us in the days to come because, as Paul states in verses 38-39,
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
Now, every word of these verses is precious, but I want to call your attention to the first four words:
“For I am convinced.”
These four words speak of Paul’s personal conviction. And his own experience.
Here the heart of the great apostle is fully revealed. There are times in life when what is needed is logical argument … and other times when what is needed is personal testimony.
The word means to be “fully and absolutely persuaded on the basis of evidence that cannot be denied.” In the Greek he uses a perfect tense. That means something like “I was persuaded in the past and I am fully persuaded in the present.” “I used to believe this and I still believe it today.” Nothing has changed. “I have been convinced and I am still convinced today.” When Paul says he is persuaded, he speaks as a man who has staked his life upon certain unchanging realities.
“I was sure about this yesterday.” “I am totally convinced today.”
“By the grace of God I will be even more certain tomorrow.”
— Nothing will ever make God stop… (loving)… us.
— Nothing will ever make God… (Abandon)… us. (See I Timothy 1:12)
— Nothing will ever make God… (Forget)… His promises to us.
As Paul put it, “I am persuaded.”
He was completely convinced of God’s promise to never stop loving Him, to never leave Him, to never forget Him. He was convinced of this. And so am I. The question is — are you? Are you convinced of this?Because if you are it will affect the way you live in 2018. And if you aren’t then it will also affect the way you live in the year to come.
CONCLUSION
So, how should we respond to this message from Paul about our victory found in Jesus?
Well, we need to remember that things in this world are not always as they seem. Just as this passage reminds us — our past is erased, our present is in control, and our future is settled.
Sometimes, we fail to realize the fact that in Christ we possess the ultimate victory.
Recently I read again the historical account of one of the most important battles in England’s history. It took place in June of 1815. And it relates to the story of this chapter in Romans!
According to the story, on the evening of June 18, 1815 a man stood in the tower of England’s Winchester Cathedral gazing anxiously out to sea. At last he found what he was looking for – a ship sending a signal by use of lights. As he strained to see the message — all of England held its breath. Everyone wanted to know the outcome of the war between their military leader, the Duke of Wellington, and their enemy’s lead, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte, who had once ruled all of Europe except for England remained a great threat to the people. And at that time the decisive Battle of Waterloo was being fought.So, as this young man stood peering out of the tower of Winchester Cathedral — he waited to relay the news that would ultimately determine England’s future. Well, the signal arrived — just as a heavy fog was rolling in. It seemed that it just got through, but the news wasn’t good. The signal simply read: “Wellington defeated”.
The man reluctantly singled to other stations and the news quickly spread across the countryside. And with it, came great despair and sadness. But then — something unexpected happened, and as the fog lifted, the message was resent (this time in its completed form). This time the message read: “Wellington defeated the enemy”.
What initially was only a part of the story now came in full view. And with it, came utter joy, happiness, and hope restored. Wellington hadn’t lost — he had won! Victory was his!
Listen, on Good Friday it seemed the message was “Christ defeated”, but just three days later we discover that the message hadn’t been fully received.
Because the resurrection of Jesus reversed the despair — as it revived hope within us again.
This is what Paul is writing about in Romans 8. He is reminding us that Christ has defeated the enemy of our lives — so we too are partakers in His VICTORY!
My hope is that you will find hope in these words and these great promises, and that you will abandon the temptation to live in doubt and fear. And as you walk forward into this great year before you — that you will be free of your past, settled in your present, and hopeful in your future!
If you choose to live each day — grounded in hope, it will change your life and those around you! I’ve heard it said, “Hope is contagious!” And so it is! May you stand in faith trusting in CHRIST and may you experience courage in the promise of His victory each and every day in 2018! Amen? Amen!
As we close this morning, I want to pray for you. If you are fearful about what may lie before you in the year to come — take courage and don’t be afraid. Christ is with you and you have been assured to partake in His victory.
And if you’ve not yet surrendered your life to Jesus, I urge you to do so today?
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, today we close our time together by saying thanks! Thank you for erasing our past, assuring us of your care for our present, and for the promise of settling our future. While others may be wrapped up in guilt and hopelessness or fear and despair— this year we will proclaim your goodness and your grace! Thank you for your love and the victory you share with us as we walk in faith with you. Bless us this day and everyday in the year to come we pray. In Jesus name, amen!