God Is For Us

Order of Service

• Prelude
• Welcome and Announcements
• Call to Worship — Isaiah 12:1-6
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
• Scripture Reading — John 20:1-31
• Prayer
• Hymns
• Sermon
• Prayer
• Hymns
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: God Is For Us

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

I. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Death

A. God did not spare His Son from judgment — Romans 8:32

1. The language of "spare" is the language of judgment; the full weight of God's wrath was poured out on the Son
2. Octavius Winslow: it was not Judas for money, not Pilate for fear, not the Jews for envy, but the Father for love

B. Because of the Son's death, there is no condemnation for those found in Christ — Romans 8:34

1. Guilt and shame are universal because they are rooted in real condemnation before God
2. False responses to condemnation (denial, mockery, recreating God in our image) are all coping mechanisms
3. In Christ, God's wrath is exhausted; condemnation has been fully satisfied

C. With the gift of the Son, all good things are graciously given — Romans 8:32

1. The Son is not merely a sign that God will give good things in the future; in Him all blessings are found now
2. Ephesians 1:3 — the Father has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places

II. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Resurrection

A. The resurrection proves God accepted the Son's sacrifice — Romans 8:34

1. 1 Corinthians 15 — if Christ is not raised, Christians are most to be pitied; we would still be in our sins
2. If Christ remained in the tomb it would signal that God had not accepted His sacrifice

B. The resurrection is the sign that the sentence of death has been satisfied

1. Illustration: a prisoner released from prison signals the judge's sentence has been served
2. Christ hung on the cross as a guilty man bearing our sins; His release from the tomb signals the penalty is paid in full

C. The doctrine of double jeopardy illustrates our security in Christ

1. Those united to the Son cannot be prosecuted again for the same sins
2. Satan the accuser can never again bring those charges before God's court
3. Our ancient response to Satan's whispers: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

III. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Ascension

A. Christ now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for His people — Romans 8:34

1. Note the movement from past tense (died, raised) to present tense (sits, intercedes)
2. Christ was for us two thousand years ago at the cross and tomb, and continues to be for us every moment as He intercedes

B. Paul's giddy, childlike joy in piling up the glories of Christ

1. Christ died — and then more than that, He is risen — and then more than that, He is seated at the right hand — and more than that, He intercedes for us

C. Application: in the midst of suffering, believers are more than conquerors — Romans 8:35-39

1. Believing in Christ does not mean suffering disappears; Paul says we are like sheep to be slaughtered
2. The promise is not that troubles will vanish, but that in the midst of every trial we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us
3. Whatever causes you to say "God is against me" — look at God in the face of His Son and see that God is for you