[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, November 3, 2024 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Assurance of God’s love (Romans 8:31-39)
2024. 11. 3. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 22
본문: 로마서 8:31-39
제목: 하나님의 사랑에 대한 확신
설교자: 손진국 목사
Today is the first anniversary of our Hope of Heaven Baptist Church. We have been sharing the word of Romans every Sunday, and last week we discussed up to Romans 8:30. Today, we will share Romans 8:31-39, which seems very meaningful. The reason is that many faithful predecessors have lived on this earth, doing the Lord’s work, and have been discouraged and fallen due to people, circumstances, or problems, but through this word, they have regained strength and stood up again, being restored in faith. As we celebrate our first anniversary, if any of our congregation members are feeling discouraged, disappointed, or exhausted to the point of collapse, believe that God will restore you and give you hope through this word today.
Today, God will come among us and work to grant us great grace. The word of truth will warm each of our hearts and change what needs to be transformed, renewing us. Amen.
When the Golden Gate Bridge was built in San Francisco, it took four years to complete. In the first year, 23 workers fell and died during the construction. So, the construction company set up a huge safety net to protect them. After that, the number of accidents decreased significantly. However, this safety net had an unintended effect; the construction progressed 20% faster. The reason was that the workers felt they would not die if they fell, which made them work more quickly and efficiently. While fear had pressured them and reduced their efficiency, the assurance of safety allowed them to work without worry.
In this way, when people have assurance, they can live confidently and focus on their goals. However, without assurance, falling into fear and anxiety shakes everything, making it impossible to act confidently. To succeed in life, we must live with clear assurance.
The question is, whom will we believe in and what will we trust? The reason we still feel anxious and afraid in life is that we have had many experiences of relying on something we believed was safe and then failing and being disappointed. The equipment we trusted to keep us safe may fail us completely. The safety net designed to catch us when we fall can tear or break, as it is made by humans and may not withstand the forces of a fall. Moreover, we may also be betrayed and disappointed by those we trusted completely. Therefore, it is important not just to have blind assurance, but to believe in something trustworthy.
In today’s passage, Apostle Paul says, [Romans 8:38] “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers.” He expresses that he has a firm conviction. He believes in something definite. What is it that he is convinced of? That no one in this world can bring us down. What is the basis for Apostle Paul’s assurance? It lies in the unchanging love of God. [Romans 8:35] “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Because he has this clear assurance, he traveled to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, enduring many persecutions and hardships, yet remained unwavering in proclaiming the gospel until the end.
Today’s word begins like this: [Romans 8:31a] “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?” What things? That God has saved us and works all things together for the good to bring us to the glory of heaven. So what more is there to say about this? It is because God, who saved us by the grace of the cross of Jesus Christ, will surely lead us to the glory of heaven that there is nothing more to say.
If any power or situation tries to hinder our salvation and separate God from us, there is no need to worry at all. Why? [Romans 8:31b] “If God is for us, who can be against us?” It is truly moving. If God is on our side, what is there to worry about? No matter how strong the forces of the world may oppose us, if the Creator God is on our side, why should we be concerned? There is nothing to worry about.
I hope that this assurance of Apostle Paul becomes our own assurance. Not only Apostle Paul but also everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and has received forgiveness for their sins and become a child of God should live with such assurance. God has given the same promise to all children of God who believe in Jesus. I want to share through the passage what God’s love specifically means for us and what assurance we should have regarding God’s love.
1. It is the assurance that God gives us everything we need as a gift.
[Romans 8:32] “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?” This refers to the issues of our daily needs. In other words, God will provide everything we need for our lives. Here, “all things” means food, drink, and clothing. [Matthew 6:31-33] “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save us from sin, and He bore our sins and died on the cross. He gave His Son’s life to save me. This is the greatest love because He has given everything.
To give one’s life for someone is the greatest love in this world. [John 15:13] “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” However, God gave His only Son’s life for me. [Romans 5:6] “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
To lay down one’s life is equivalent to giving everything. To give one’s life means to give all. It is because giving what is most precious is the ultimate act of giving. Therefore, the fact that God has given His Son’s life to us means that He has given us everything. How does God view me to the point of giving His Son’s life? Precious. (For example, a child trapped under rubble for two weeks after an earthquake was rescued while the mother died. The mother kept giving her blood to save the child, because her child was more precious than her own life. Or there is a story of a son who fell into debt while running a business, and when he became hunted, his parents sold their house and all their possessions to give to their son. Why? Because the son was more valuable and precious than all the possessions they had.) God killed His only Son to save me. Why? Because He loves me and regards me as precious. What will God not do for me? What will He not give me?
We must firmly believe this fact. Believe in God’s love with certainty. Especially when we pray to God, we must pray with the clear assurance that God will surely give us what we ask. We should confidently ask our Father God as His sons and daughters. [Matthew 7:7-11] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
What does God ask us to do to receive what we need in our lives? To ask, seek, and knock. What does this mean? It means to pray to God and ask. It means that we will receive what we ask if we believe in God’s promise of love.
[James 4:2-3] “You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
There are two reasons given here for not receiving from God. One is not asking, and the other is asking with wrong motives. Which of these two do you think is a bigger reason? Is it more common to not receive because of asking with wrong motives, or because of not asking at all?
I think the reason for not receiving is much more often because we do not ask. These days, the amount of prayer in churches has decreased significantly. There are many churches that do not hold early morning prayer, and fewer congregants come out even when they do. I know it is not easy for everyone to attend prayer meetings because they are busy with work and study. Therefore, I plan to hold special early morning prayer meetings during holidays and breaks. Next year, I plan to hold a special early morning prayer meeting for one week from Monday to Saturday as we start the new year (from January 6 to 11, 2025).
When we experience the grace of God’s answers to our prayers, the joy of being a believer in Jesus will overflow within us. What did Jesus say? [John 16:23-24] In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
God gave His only Son, Jesus, for us. He gave us His most precious gift and gave us everything. Therefore, believe that He knows all that we need in our lives today and will give it freely as a gift. Even if we ask incorrectly, as we pray, God will change our prayers into the ones He desires and work wonders. So, I pray that all believers experience the abundant grace that God gives daily in the name of the Lord.
[Application] Am I believing in God's love and asking for it, or am I not asking because I fear asking incorrectly? Is the reason I don't ask because I do not know God's love for me?
2. It is the assurance that no one can condemn us.
[Romans 8:33-34] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.
To accuse or condemn is a matter of sin and righteousness. In other words, I can be accused and condemned because I am an unrighteous sinner. However, in today’s passage, Paul says that no one can accuse or condemn us. To accuse means to inform us that we have sinned, and to condemn means to declare that we have sinned and to pronounce a guilty verdict. Yet Paul says that no one can accuse or condemn us before God. Why? Because we are “those chosen by God.” Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, and God has declared us righteous. [Romans 8:1-2] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Therefore, no one can condemn us believers in Christ as sinners.
But what is the reality? Are there people who accuse and condemn us as sinners? Is there such an existence? Yes. The devil directly does this and also uses people to do it. Nevertheless, the assurance that we are not condemned comes from what Jesus did as mentioned in verse 34.
[Romans 8:34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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. Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died on the cross. And He rose again on the third day. He has overcome sin, death, and the power of Satan, and He ascended to heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, interceding for us. Therefore, even if someone accuses and condemns us before God, we are not condemned because our Lord who died for us protects us.
While preparing this sermon, I thought about my deceased parents. I don't think I was a good child to them. Even when I worked in Korea, it was difficult to live with my parents, so I volunteered to go to the Ulsan factory laboratory. Four years later, I was transferred back to the headquarters, and instead of returning home, I secretly obtained permanent residency in New Zealand, saying I would go for just a year to study in early 1995, but I have lived here ever since. Once, my mother called me and said, “I miss you, why don’t you come?” But it turned out she was hospitalized at that time. When the IMF crisis hit Korea, and many people lost their jobs and the economy was very difficult, my father called me and asked, “Can you live there?” When I said yes, he told me to stay there. He wanted to see me but held back for my sake. I hurt my parents and was unfilial, yet they thought of me.
This made me remember my childhood. We lived in Ahyeon-dong, Seoul, and once a neighborhood uncle came to our house and scolded me. I don’t remember why, but at that time, my mother apologized for me. When that uncle continued to say bad things to me, my mother suddenly raised her voice and said, “Who do you think you are... I will pay for everything, just go. What did this child do so wrong? Kids can make mistakes while playing. What is wrong with my child? Why do you talk like that? Who are you?” She defended me, and I remember that she spoke up against that uncle. My mother is usually a very gentle person, so I think he was surprised to see her angry and left.
A parent’s love for their child does not depend on qualifications. I was unqualified, lacking, and did not treat my parents well, but they loved me. How much more does God, who gave His only Son for me, love me? We have received God’s love, and that is why we are saved, believe in Jesus, and are sitting here now. Therefore, do not boast about a little righteousness or run away in fear for making a small mistake. Whether you do good or bad, God still loves us. He has already saved us and declared us righteous. Even if we make mistakes, we are still beloved children of God. Receive this love from God. Faith is not believing in something else but believing in God’s love. Since God loves me this much, I must also love myself.
Therefore, we must not condemn ourselves and also must not be condemned. There are three types of condemnation. First is the condemnation of my own conscience. Second is the condemnation of the law. And the third is the condemnation of the devil. Whenever these three condemn me, respond, “If God declares me righteous, who can condemn me?” If God is on my side and Jesus is praying for me, who dares to call me a sinner? No matter what others say, I am a child loved by God. No matter what others say, I am no longer a sinner. I am a child of God who has received forgiveness for my sins and has been declared righteous by Him. May all believers live with clear confidence believing in this love and forgiveness of God.
[Application] Have you recently heard any voices that condemn you? Do you believe that God's love, which sacrificed His only Son to save me, protects me from all condemnation?
3. It is the assurance that He gives us the victory in all things.
[Romans 8:37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. The phrase “in all these things” refers to the tribulations we will face in the future, including “trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword” mentioned in verse 35. Even though we are God’s beloved children, as we live our lives in faith, we will experience many difficulties. Life is a continuous series of hardships anyway. The world is evil, and I am weak. Moreover, the forces of Satan and the sinful world will not leave us alone to live by faith. The more we try to distance ourselves from sin and injustice and live according to God’s will, the more tribulations, persecutions, and attacks we will face.
So, [Romans 8:36] as it is written: “For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” This statement quotes from Psalm 44:22. It signifies that when Israel faced tribulation, God’s people suffered for the sake of God. In this way, God’s people often endure numerous hardships because of their faith.
However, no matter how great the tribulations may be, they cannot separate us from God’s love. [Romans 8:35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? None of these can separate us from the glory of the heavenly kingdom promised to us. No matter what tribulation comes, we will not completely fall because God’s great love holds us. And because we believe that God’s love is eternal and infinite, we will hold on to that love and surely achieve victory.
How can we win? Because of the One who loves us. [Romans 8:37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Who is the One who loves us? It is Jesus Christ. He came down to this earth in human form out of love for us, died on the cross to save us from our sins, and on the third day, He rose again, having overcome sin, death, and the power of Satan.
[John 16:33] I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus died on the cross and rose again, already achieving victory for us. Therefore, we only need to claim that victory. Thus, we do not just barely overcome troubles and tests and attacks; we conquer them abundantly.
No matter what tribulations and hardships come, God’s love will never be cut off. Regardless of what happens, nothing can interfere with, stop, or sever the love of God that loves me. Therefore, my love for the Lord must never change, no matter what happens. If it changes because of tribulations and hardships, it is not true love. Our love for the Lord must not change or be able to change because of trials and persecutions. Remember the strength of the cord of God’s love for you every time trials and persecutions come, and hold on to that cord of love. Then you will surely overcome.
To not be cut off from this love of God, there is one important condition: it is to be “in Christ Jesus.” This is because this amazing and incredible love of God is “in our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Romans 8:39] 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. To say “I am convinced” and “we are more than conquerors,” I must be a person who is in Christ Jesus. If I am in Christ Jesus, no one can defeat me. God’s love, which did not spare His Son, holds me, who is in Christ Jesus. I pray that all believers always remain in Christ Jesus and live victoriously.
[Application] Are you in Christ Jesus? Are you feeling anxious and restless because of your current situation or difficulties, or are you confident and at peace because you believe in God's love that enables you to overcome all those circumstances?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.