The Blessed Assurance of the Believer

Romans 8:34-39 Lesson 13b3
Jesus Christ and His Work of Salvation:

Now, remember, these assurances are only for the true believer.

5) (8:34) Christ does not Condemn the believer:

This is the fifth assurance of deliverance.

Notice how direct and forceful the question is: "Who is he that condemneth?"

It is Christ; only Christ can condemn us for our sin and shame… However, the glorious news is that Christ does not condemn us…

On the contrary, the very opposite is true…

Christ has done & does four wonderful things for us…

1. Christ has died for us… Christ is our glorious Savior…
When we honestly come to Him, He does not condemn us for our sin and shame; He forgives us… He is able to forgive us because He died for us...

· Our sins are a shame, because sin is rebellion against God… Sin acts against God, fights and struggles against God…

· Sin goes against all that God stands for… Sin is insurrection against

God; it is the crime of high treason against God… Sin is the most terrible act that can be done against God…

Therefore, we deserve to be condemned by God and put to death for sin… But we do not have to face condemnation… (Romans 8:1)

Christ has already paid the penalty for sin…

Christ has already been condemned and executed for our transgression against God…

This is the glorious love of Christ… He has already died for us: in our place, in our stead, as our substitute… Therefore when we sincerely come to Christ, He does not condemn us; He loves us and forgives our sin and shame…

This is the very purpose of His death—to free us from sin, from its penalty and condemnation…

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

2. Christ has risen from the dead for us… Christ is our risen Savior… ~~His resurrection does two marvelous things for the believer...

A1) The resurrection of the Lord proves that God was perfectly satisfied with the death of Jesus Christ…

What Christ did—His dying for our sins—was acceptable to God; therefore, God has accepted Jesus' death for us.. God has approved His dying for us…

God's divine justice was perfectly satisfied with Christ dying for us...

This is clearly seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ:..

If God had not been satisfied, He would have left Jesus in the grave…

But thank God, God was satisfied, so He raised up Jesus to live forever as the Sovereign Savior of the world…

"And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4).

B2. The resurrection of the Lord gives the believer a new life, making the believer a new creature and a new man...

"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

"For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:10-11).

3. Christ has been Exalted for us… He is our exalted Lord…
He sits face to face with God at His right hand… This gives even more assurances to the believer…

a. The believer shall also be exalted into the presence of God… Just as Christ lives face to face with God, the believer shall also live face to face with God throughout all eternity…

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:5).

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him… For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God" (Romans 6:8-10).

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3).

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24).

b. The Lord Jesus Christ is exalted as the Sovereign and majestic Lord of the universe…

He is the Ruler who reigns and rules over all, who possesses all might and power and is full of all wisdom and truth… He is the One who is going to destroy and eliminate sin and evil in the world…

He is the One who is going to establish a kingdom of righteousness and justice, love and truth in the new heavens and earth…

"Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Ephes. 1:20-21).

Note: It is Jesus Christ (and not another) who rules and reigns over the universe...

This stirs enormous assurance in the hearts of genuine believers… Why?

Because Jesus Christ has demonstrated His glorious love and care for the world… He not only can, but He will look after us and work all things out for good until He returns (Romans 8:28)…

The control of evil in the world and our lives are under His care…

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31, 33).

"Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

"And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of" (Genesis 28:15).

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).

4. Christ makes intercession for us before the throne of God…
He is our great Intercessor, our Mediator and Advocate who stands between God and man… It is Christ Jesus who brings us to God and who makes redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins, possible (Ephes. 1:7)·

It is His advocacy, the advocacy of His death and resurrection for us, that forgives our sins…

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).

· It is His intercession, the intercession of His death and resurrection for us, that saves us…

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25)…

· It is His presence in heaven and His plea, the plea of His death and resurrection for us, that opens the door of heaven to us...

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

The point is this. The believer has the greatest assurance imaginable:.. He shall be delivered from the struggling and suffering of this world…

No matter the sin and shame of his life, if he truly comes to Christ, he is not condemned… He is not judged for sin, no matter how terrible or how far he has fallen… If he will only come to Christ, Christ will deliver him…
Christ will not leave him down and discouraged and defeated… Christ will not even scold or reproach him... Christ will receive His dear child with open arms…

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephes. 1:7).

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

6)(8:35-37):Christ Protects the believer from the severest circumstances.

This is the sixth assurance of deliverance.

This most wonderful assurance imaginable… "Who [or what] can separate us from the love of God?"

Too many people, even believers, feel that God does not love them, that He just could not love them…

They feel unworthy of His love, because they come too short, are too disobedient, and fail too often…

How could God possibly love them when they go against His will so much?

The results of such feelings are...
·A sense of unworthiness…·A downing of oneself…·A sense of discouragement… ·An accusing of oneself…·A low self-esteem…·A defeated life…

Note a crucial point: Such feelings totally contradict Scripture….

Look at the verse: "Who [or what] can separate us from the love of Christ?"

~~There is no circumstance, no situation, no event that can cause Christ to turn away from us…

~~No matter how terrible or severe the situation, it cannot separate the true believer from the love of Christ…

~~Christ loves the believer regardless of the circumstance, and He longs to be reconciled to the believer… No more severe circumstance can be imagined than the ones given:

· Tribulation: to undergo struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, or affliction…
· Distress: to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do…
· Persecution: to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked, or injured…
· Famine: to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food…
· Nakedness: to be stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away…
· Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one's body, mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones…
· Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom…

Just imagine a person experiencing all this… What would his thoughts be?

Would he feel that he had been forsaken by God? In the midst of so much dark trouble, would he believe that God loved him?

Scripture declares loudly and clearly that God does love him…

~~~There is absolutely nothing—no matter how dark and depressing, no matter how severe—that can separate the believer from the love of Christ...

Circumstances are not evidence that God does not love us… God loves us no matter what the circumstances may be…

But believers must always remember: They are going to suffer while they are in this world…

In fact, the world is going to count them as sheep for the slaughter, rejecting and persecuting them (Psalm 44:22)…

The world is going to persecute believers as long as believers continue to live for Christ… Their lives of godliness convict the world, and the world rejects godliness…

However, note what is said… No matter the circumstances, we are more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us (Romans 8:37)…

No matter the circumstances and their severity, Christ will carry us through all, strengthening and encouraging us…

We cannot lose, no matter the severity of the situation… Christ loves us and is going to look after and take care of us…

~~The believer can rest assured, Christ protects him from the severest circumstances:

· Christ meets all the material necessities of life…

"Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31, 33).

· Christ gives us rest…

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

· Christ gives us peace…

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

· Christ provides an escape from temptation...

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

· Christ comforts us through all trials…

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

· Christ supplies all our needs…

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).

· Christ delivers us through persecution…

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

· Christ cares for us no matter the situation…

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

· Christ enables us to overcome the world...

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).

· Christ shows Himself strong in our behalf…

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chron. 16:9).

· Christ delivers us from fear…

"Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10)…

· Christ sustains and supports the aged believer…

"And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4)…

7) (8:38-39): Christ protects believers from extreme experiences and forces…

This is the seventh assurance of deliverance.

There is nothing in the universe that can separate the believer from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…

The believer can be fully persuaded of this outstanding fact…
Just consider the experiences and forces mentioned by Scripture:

· Not death: confronting death and leaving this world cannot separate us from Christ and His love (John 5:24).
· Not life: no trial or pleasure or comfort of life, not any person nor any thing in this life can separate us from Christ and His love.
· Not angels, principalities, or powers: no heavenly or spiritual creature, no being from any other dimension can separate us from Christ and His love…
· Not any thing present or any thing to come: neither present events, beings or things, nor future events, beings, or things—absolutely nothing in existence or any thing in future existence—can cut us off from Christ and His love…
· Not height or depth: nothing from outer space or from the depths of the earth can separate us from Christ and His love…

Note the grand finale:

If there be any other creature than the ones named, that creature cannot separate us from "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)" (Ephes. 2:4-5).

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9).

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee" (Jeremiah 31:3).

Pastor Robert N. Graves, Sr.