You Are Secure in Christ (A sermon based on Romans 8:31-39)

You Are Secure in Christ
A sermon based on Romans 8:31-39
Sunday, March 1, 2009 – Lent 1B

           The Peanuts character, Linus, always carried his blanket with him wherever he went. It provided some security for him. Many people trust that the government keeping us safe from terrorist attacks. That's where they find security. Still others trust their investments or their skills and intellect to secure them from poverty, danger, or disaster.

          Where do you find your security? Some people are born optimists. They always believe things will somehow work out. They seem to pay little attention to the facts, but persistently hold that everything will be fine. But the problem is that none of the places they put their trust offer real and lasting security.

But God does. Paul's optimism was based rather on some solid facts which had been validated in his previous experience. He found his security in the love that God has showed to him. And he knew that no matter what happened to him, his salvation was secure in Christ. He couldn't mess that up. He couldn't do anything to make Christ stop loving him.

Listen to the confidence Paul had in Jesus, that you and I can have, knowing that we too are secure in Christ, in the words Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-39… 

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ 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.

 

I.                 There is No Possible Accusation Against Us 

          It's been said that it's not what you know that matters, but who you know. Who's in your corner? Who are your allies helping you? For Christians the answer is God! The NIV reads "If God is for us..." but the Greek has no uncertainty. A better translation might be "[Since] God is for us..."  He's on our side.

          Do you like courtroom dramas... Law and Order or CSI? Here's the greatest courtroom drama there ever was or ever will be! The scene is God's courtroom. The judge is Jesus. The defendant is you. And the first witness to take the stand is the Law that testifies, "Judge, I think it's obvious that the defendant has done so many of the things that I clearly said one should not do. There's lust and greed and malcontent. And don't even get me started on the pride. Not only was the forbidden done, but the things I command were left undone. The defendant did none of what I said should be done—loving others, giving generously, gladly hearing your Word. There are literally millions of infractions. The defendant is clearly guilty." "Is this true?" the Judge asks your conscience, which must admit, "Yes. I plead guilty to all charges." Next Death steps up and takes the stand, "Judge, you know what the wage for sin is. You yourself have said that the soul that sins should die. The sentence is obvious." And quickly Satan hurries to his feet, "The defendant spent so much time following me, listening to me, and serving me that it's clear: This sinner belongs in my hell."

          The case appears air tight. All the evidence is clearly against you. Death and hell are your certain fate. But then… rather than pound the gavel down, the Judge gets up from behind his bench and walks around to your side. He will serve as your defense attorney! And he says, "Yes, my client has failed to live a perfect life of love, but I have done that in this sinner's place. Yes, my client has sinned, but I've paid for that sin with my life. My client may deserve hell, it's true. But I've already paid the penalty of hell that he deserves." He goes back behind the bench, pounds the gavel down and cries, "I find the defendant innocent of all charges! Case dismissed!"

               ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

          Now no one can bring any accusation against us! We are innocent before God! Heaven itself is our sure reward! And that brings us true and lasting security.

          The story is told of how the devil approached Martin Luther one day to accuse him. He presented the Reformer with a long list of sins of which he was guilty. When he had finished reading, Luther said to Satan, "Think a little harder; you must have forgotten some." The devil thought a little more and added even more sins to the list. When the devil was done listing all he could think of, Luther simply said, "That's fine. Now write across that list in red ink, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin..." There was nothing the devil could say to that.

          No one can accuse you either, dear friends. The devil has nothing on you. The law no longer holds you under it's boot. And your conscience itself, must shut up in the face of this rebuttal: "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin..." You are secure in Christ!

 

II.               There is No Possible Separation From Christ 

          Now some people think "Heaven is mine. That's good and all, but what does that have to do with my life right now?" They think Christianity is a religion for the hereafter with nothing to do with the here and now. But they couldn't be further from the truth. You are secure for eternity because there is no possible accusation against you, but you are also secure right now, because there is no possible separation from the love of Christ.

          Don't get me wrong. God does NOT promise that everything in this life will be pleasant and fun. Quite to the contrary, suffering is assumed when Paul asks, ^"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? And he quotes Psalm 44(:22) to show that these things should be expected: ^"As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."        

               But he answers his own rhetorical questions when he says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ 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."  

          Literally "We are Super-conquerors." We conquer and then some! Why? Not because of our strength or abilities, but through him who loved us—because nothing will ever "be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

          A feeling of panic swept over George as he realized his mistake. Now the superglue held his thumb and finger captive. How could something that looked so harmless have such power? He frantically read the label. "Superglue is an instant adhesive and has tensile strength up to 5,000 pounds per square inch. Excessive force may tear skin." How could he hope to ever free his fingers? He quickly called the emergency number on the package and a calming voice assured him that if he put his hand in water, eventually the glue would release its hold. And George was relieved to find that as strong as superglue holds some things, it could still lose its grip.

          How fortunate we are, dear friends, that unlike superglue, nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. No matter what type of personal tragedy strikes—sickness or disease, financial struggles or disasters, terrorists or crooks, our own stupid mistakes, no matter what!—nothing can dissolve the bond of love God has created with us. God is always right there with us, upholding us especially through those difficult times.

          This is real security! And it's absolutely certain. There is no question that we have it. That's why Paul didn't say "I think, maybe..." or "I sure hope that..." but "I know." "I am convinced..." And you can be certain too.

          Several years ago one of the astronauts who walked on the moon was interviewed and asked, "What did you think about as you stood on the moon and looked back at the earth?" The astronaut replied, "I remembered how the spacecraft was built by the lowest bidder." That didn't exactly give security or inspire confidence, but we as Christians can rejoice that the work of salvation did not go to the "lowest bidder" but was secured once and for all, remains secure right now, and always will remain secure by the omnipotent God who won it and keeps it for us. Our salvation is as sure as the architect, builder, and defender of that salvation, the Almighty God.

          And this security that we have every day, changes the way we live. We live in freedom, with the certain promise that he will never leave us. He will never forsake us. We can live with bold courage as we live for him.

          During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the project, however, a large net costing $100,000 was employed. At least 10 men fell into it and their lives were saved. But an interesting sidelight is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety! You're safe in Christ, dear friends. Now let's get to work, no longer serving him in fear but in joy because you are secure in Christ. Amen.