Elements City Church
God Is For You - week 6 - Romans 8:31-34
Our identity has an enormous impact on our life. A positive identity can be a source of optimism and strength, while a negative identity can be an equally powerful force holding us back. The good news of this series is that our truest identity is gifted to us, not built by us. It is an identity found—and never lost—in Christ. Romans 8 is regarded by some as the greatest chapter in the Bible. Its 39 verses contain the practical truths and amazing assurance that are foundational to the Christian life. These messages will deepen our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ and how God truly sees us and wants to relate with us. We'll explore what it means to walk in our new life in Christ, free from condemnation and separation because of what Jesus accomplished for us. You're invited to live with an unshakable hope that GOD IS FOR YOU.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
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Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbMartin Luther (500 years ago) called Romans chapter 8 the greatest chapter in the entire Bible.
The apostle Paul is resounding some foundational truths from the beginning to the very end of this incredible chapter.
Romans 8 - begins with no condemnation
Romans 8 - ends with no separation
Review:
Romans 8:1
"There is now NO CONDEMNATION for those that are in Christ Jesus…"
In life we will face consequences but, thanks to Jesus, we do not have to live under condemnation.
Your past can humble you, but God doesn't want your past to haunt you…
We've been empowered by the Spirit of God.
The empowered life > the exhausted life
God has adopted you and brought you into His family. That changes everything!
God waits with you for all things to be made right, and our great hope lies in knowing Jesus will return to do so!
God works through our suffering in order that we may be (teleos) followers of Jesus. Whole hearted, single minded. God is AT WORK within you; forming you to more & more like His Son.
The apostle Paul is resounding some foundational truths from the beginning to the very end of this incredible chapter.
Romans 8 - begins with no condemnation
Romans 8 - ends with no separation
Review:
Romans 8:1
"There is now NO CONDEMNATION for those that are in Christ Jesus…"
In life we will face consequences but, thanks to Jesus, we do not have to live under condemnation.
Your past can humble you, but God doesn't want your past to haunt you…
We've been empowered by the Spirit of God.
The empowered life > the exhausted life
God has adopted you and brought you into His family. That changes everything!
God waits with you for all things to be made right, and our great hope lies in knowing Jesus will return to do so!
God works through our suffering in order that we may be (teleos) followers of Jesus. Whole hearted, single minded. God is AT WORK within you; forming you to more & more like His Son.
Sometimes we hear things and automatically think: 'there's no way'... that's impossible. But God seems to major in the impossible.
Making impossible, possible we've seen before. Just ask the Wright brothers.
Making impossible, possible we've seen before. Just ask the Wright brothers.
Søren Kierkegaard (Danish theologian):
“If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but the passionate sense of what can be.…Pleasure disappoints. Possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility.”
Romans 8:31 is where divine possibility is conceived
“If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but the passionate sense of what can be.…Pleasure disappoints. Possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility.”
Romans 8:31 is where divine possibility is conceived
The end of Romans 8
...for so many people that study the Bible, this is one of their favorite passages of Scripture because it communicates both the DEPTH and the WIDTH of God’s love for us.
...for so many people that study the Bible, this is one of their favorite passages of Scripture because it communicates both the DEPTH and the WIDTH of God’s love for us.
JESUS’ DEATH PROVES GOD IS FOR YOU – vs. 31-32
Jesus Christ died for YOU.
God is so FOR you that the text says he “gave him up.” That is an act of the will. The word “love” can best be described as a decision to self-sacrifice on behalf of someone else. That’s what God did for US when it says he did not spare his own son.
*harkens back to Genesis and Abraham who was willing to give up his only son Isaac - but God provided a lamb for the sacrifice. Jesus was provided for us - the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' *(see John 1:29)
God is so FOR you that the text says he “gave him up.” That is an act of the will. The word “love” can best be described as a decision to self-sacrifice on behalf of someone else. That’s what God did for US when it says he did not spare his own son.
*harkens back to Genesis and Abraham who was willing to give up his only son Isaac - but God provided a lamb for the sacrifice. Jesus was provided for us - the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' *(see John 1:29)
JESUS’ RESURRECTION OFFERS US A NEW STANDING – vs. 33-34
Justification means: “guilty but pardoned.”
And friends, that means that God’s love is an even GREATER act of mercy. Yes, I’m guilty. But despite my guilt, God moves me from CONDEMNED to PARDONED. And what’s a pardon? It’s an act of mercy granted to you by someone else.
And friends, that means that God’s love is an even GREATER act of mercy. Yes, I’m guilty. But despite my guilt, God moves me from CONDEMNED to PARDONED. And what’s a pardon? It’s an act of mercy granted to you by someone else.
Quote: Tim Keller
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
Jesus is interceding for you even now...along with the Holy Spirit. (v.34)
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
Jesus is interceding for you even now...along with the Holy Spirit. (v.34)
This reality painted by Apostle Paul in Romans 8:31 - this truth can guide us -- it is our new OS upgrade given us by Jesus, proven by his death and guaranteed by his resurrection!
*ultimate truth: GOD IS FOR YOU, REALLY.
*ultimate truth: GOD IS FOR YOU, REALLY.
We also see that JESUS’ LOVE GUARANTEES YOUR FUTURE – but more on that next week as we close out this series looking at the final verses (v. 35-39).
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http://elementscitychurch.org/giveThanks for worshipping with us tonight! We invite you back next week as we conclude our series going through Romans 8, showing us the truth that GOD IS FOR YOU.
Sunday June 11th - we launch into our Summer @ Elements series looking at some practices and rhythms of following Jesus.
Like the practices of:
-prayer
-gratitude
-community
-hospitality
-confession
-serving
-fasting & feasting
-worship
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday @ 5pm.
**Also this summer -- WEEKLY DEVO's -- we'll be launching a weekly devotional on our YouTube channel every Wednesday beginning next week - so tune in, hit pause, lean in and grow your faith for a few minutes during the week.
Sunday June 11th - we launch into our Summer @ Elements series looking at some practices and rhythms of following Jesus.
Like the practices of:
-prayer
-gratitude
-community
-hospitality
-confession
-serving
-fasting & feasting
-worship
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday @ 5pm.
**Also this summer -- WEEKLY DEVO's -- we'll be launching a weekly devotional on our YouTube channel every Wednesday beginning next week - so tune in, hit pause, lean in and grow your faith for a few minutes during the week.