Sermons
November 12th, 2023 by Pastor Solley110523AM Timeless Truths for Troubled Times #3
Sub. Troubling times
Theme: Bible truth for troubling times.
Text: Romans 8:28-34
“Timeless Truths for Troubled Times” #3 Romans 8:28-34
Introduction
We have been looking, and continue this morning, looking at some timeless truths for troubled times. We are certainly living in troubling times as we see Bible prophecy being played out in the middle east and the enemies of God’s people united as they never have been before. Troubling times in our nation as lawlessness has taken over the major cities and in overtaking rural areas as well. Open borders have invited the enemies of America in and they are among us as never before. Then we all, as all others have, must deal with troubles in our lives be it sickness, death, financial woes and other things as well. We do live in troubling times.
I. But how troubled should the child of God be? That is the question of these messages and we need not be troubled as the world is, not troubled, as the lost are for Jesus commanded us “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Then at the end of that same chapter Jesus said “ 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.” With every command of God comes an enabling. We need not be troubled as the world is troubled, not troubled as the lost are troubled for it is commanded “ Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
A. In Romans chapter eight we find several timeless truths for troubled times: Rom 8:28-34 Romans eight from the first verse to the last speaks specifically to the born again believer in Christ and here are some verses that do relive troubled hearts.
1. That our God is working always and only for our good: Rom 8:28 Whatever touches us in this world God is working out His purpose and His purpose is always and only for our good. It is not important that we understand all that takes place in our lives or the lives of those we love, only that we believe our God does all things well and He is always and only working for our good.
2. That according to the foreknowledge of God: Rom 8:29 Nothing touches our lives that God does not know about before it happens and God has today made provision for whatever touches you or me tomorrow. God knows before we do.
3. Predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ: Rom 8:29 God bringing about changes in our lives to make us more Christ like and those changes always for our good, always to give us a better life in this world.
4. Called and elected then to serve our Lord and Savior: Rom 8:30 No greater thing can be done with your life or mine than to be found doing something for Jesus Christ in this life. We do not have to serve Jesus, we get to serve Jesus.
5. Those things all carry us over troubles in this life:
B. Those are timeless truths for troubled times:
II. This morning we are going to look at justification, being justified before the God of heaven: Rom 8:30 Justification or justified is a word found in its different forms almost ninety times in the Bible and when we speak of justification, of justice, of being justified we step onto legal ground.
A. Humanly speaking we think of being brought into a court of law and our actions judged to be just or unjust according to the law and then a verdict handed down: In those cases the law is to be above both the judge and jury. The judge is to assure that the proceedings go according to the law and then a decision rendered according to the law. In man’s court the law is to be above both judge and jury and if the judge is honest and just his decision will abide by the law. In man’s court the law is above the judge.
B. Spiritually speaking we are also brought into a court of law: Evidence presented, an argument made, and then a decision handed down. The difference being that in a spiritual court God is above the law. The law can say one thing and God another because God is above the law. That truth can take away what troubles many people. This morning we are going to look at being justified.
1. God can look at you or me this morning and declare in His court that we are justified: And that spiritual meaning is not that our actions are just before God and according to God’s law but that God has declared we are justified, just as if we had never sinned.
2. When one is declared Just by God in His court it takes away all that troubles us in this life: Are you justified today?
PROP: There is a spiritual court that has convened this morning. TS: Will you be declared justified or not?
Body
I. The charges that are brought before God against all men, women, boys and girls: We are not going to find any of these charges in Romans eight as Romans eight is speaking to those who had been justified. – Rom 8:30 – Those justified ones had been under the charges, we today who are born again have been ourselves under the charges leveled against us by God’s law and guilty as well.
A. The charge brought by the law of God is that we are sinners before a holy and righteous God: Rom 3:10-19 That is you, that is me, that is every individual ever born into this world and you cannot argue against it. – Rom 3:19 – What Law? God’s law.
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1. Rom 2:23 ; 5:12 The nature of those charges, the actions of those charges are described in detail in Romans one. – Rom 1:21-32 Do you know who that is talking about, who that is describing? You and me. That is what we are before God, the nature we are born with and the nature that is spilling out in the world around us today.
2. Those are charges brought against all of us: Gal 3:22-23 All of us are guilty before God according to God’s law.
B. The only verdict that can be handed down is that we are guilty and worthy of death: “For the wages of sin is death;…” In God’s court, under God’s law the wages of sin, the penalty that is handed down is death and it is not speaking of a physical death alone or an eternal separation from God, it is speaking of an eternal death in the fire of hell. It is speaking of eternal torment and punishment.
1. Hell is real and hell was created first for Satan and his demons and then for all who have sinned: Had Adman not sinned Satan and his demons would be the only ones in hell and justly so. But Adam did sin and his nature passed onto each and every one of us and so all sinners have a place reserved for them in hell.
2. Hell now created for you and for me because we are sinners before a holy and righteous God according to the law of God: There was a time when I was so troubled by that truth that I could not find a moment of peace or rest. A time I was so troubled by that truth that I could not function at all. I remember well being troubled by this truth, I am a sinner before God according to God’s law and one condemned to an eternity in hell.
C. Those are the charges that you are under today as well as me: Rom 3:23 All are guilty before God and condemned to hell.
1. Consider the impossibility of having those charges lifted: What can we do about this. In a human court a lawyer is acquired to argue a case, to bring about reasons for actions against the law to convince a judge and jury to acquit. That means to free someone by verdict. I have set on juries and listened as lawyers presented arguments why their clients should be acquitted. In a human court of law one presents arguments as to why they should be acquitted of the charges against them and many times those arguments are so convincing that a judge or lawyer may go against the law as it is written.
2. But we are not talking about a human court, we are talking about a Divine court in which God is the only judge: What can we do to have those charges lifted?
D. The charges that are brought before God against all men, women, boys and girls: We are guilty as charged.
II. But lets present our case to God using a lawyer: Luke 10:25-30 The lawyer here is one versed in the Law of Moses. This man has just heard the gospel of the kingdom presented by the ones Jesus sent out two by two. – Luke 10:1-2 – And it was a message confirmed by Jesus as Jesus pronounced condemnation to those who refuse the message. – Luke 10:10-14
A. This lawyer is going to present another way of salvation to Jesus: Luke 10:25 When he tempted Jesus it was not to sin, he is going to present another way of salvation because he does not like the message of repentance presented and he would rather denounce Jesus Christ than receive Him just as the Pharisees that he kept company with.
1. His way of salvation starts with a person, himself: Luke 10:25 What must I, his way of salvation starts with a person, himself. But what does the Bible say? The Bible says salvation starts with a person but it is not you or me.
a. The Bible says in Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. The other is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.
b. Jesus said He is the one and only way. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
c. Salvation does not start with me or you it starts with Jesus Christ and ends with Jesus Christ and that because each one of us is guilty under the law.
2. His way of salvation moves to action or works: Luke 10:25 What must I “Do”. If not about him then about the good things he has done and this man would have been given to many good works. He was one given to the Law of Moses and we find that he kept what he believed to be the most important parts of the law. – Luke 10:26-28 – That lawyer pointed out those two things written in the law because he believed he was keep them, that those good works would bring him eternal life.
a. But what does the Bible say about good works? – Gal 2:16
b. What does God think of my doings, about my good works? Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. How many of our good works are as filthy rags in the sight of God? All.
c. What does the Bible say about my working for salvation? Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
3. His way of salvation moves towards an inheritance: Luke 10:25 He wants to inherit eternal life, have it passed to him by another and not Jesus Christ. No man can be saved and then pass that salvation onto another.
ILL. I talked more than one time to an individual who had an indulgence from Rome passed down to him. He bragged to me that he had a get out of hell free card. He will be very disappointed when he tries to present it at the judgment seat…
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B. That man knew he was missing the mark: Luke 10:26-29 That lawyer pointed out what was to him the two most important points of the law and as much as told Jesus he was keeping them and Jesus did not argue with him. – Luke 10:27-29 – But that man knew he was missing the mark and still tried to justify himself. – Luke 10:29 – That man could not be justified no matter how hard he tried.
1. No matter how hard we try we cannot be justified before God: We are guilty by nature and action and we cannot be justified under the law of God. Sin must be paid for and that payment an eternity in hell.
a. Salvation cannot begin with me no matter how good I am.
b. Salvation cannot be found in my good works no matter how good they are.
c. Salvation cannot be inherited even though my parents, grandparents were spiritual and are in heaven.
2. I am in trouble today because I have missed the mark and there is nothing I can do about it:
C. But lets present our case to God using a lawyer: We are guilty under the law of God and there is nothing we can do about it.
III. But there is one who stepped forward to pay the penalty for our sin, to take our place, so we could be pronounced just by God and before God: Rom 8:30 Who is the Bible speaking to? To born again believers in Jesus Christ, to the ones God has purpose for, to the ones foreknown, to the ones predestined to be conformed, to the ones called, God also has justified.
A. Every argument that lawyer gave to Jesus Christ Jesus has answered for you and for me: Every one answered in Jesus Christ.
1. Salvation does begin with a person: It begins with Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Salvation does begin with a person.
2. Salvation does involve a great work: John 17:4 That work was and remains the cross. – John 17:4 – What were the last words spoken by Jesus as He hung on that cross? “It is finished”. The work was done. Salvation does involve a great work.
3. Eternal life does become an inheritance: Rom 8:14-17 ; 1 Peter 1:3-4 An inheritance from Jesus Christ Himself.
B. Because of Jesus Christ we can be justified: Rom 8:30 God is above His law and God because of Jesus Christ can pronounce as just in Jesus Christ, just as if we had never sinned and never will.
1. God does not make us just, God pronounces us as just because of Jesus Christ: Rom 3:24-26 ; 4:24-25 ; 5:1 ; 8:1
2. When one is born again sin is removed from their account and righteousness added and one is justified: Rom 4:1-8 Justification is an act of God and takes place when one is born again.
a. Sin is taken off our account. – Rom 4:8
b. The righteousness of Christ is added to our account. – Rom 4:2-3
c. That takes place the moment we are born again.
C. Our sin had been paid for and God’s law has been upheld and by the work of Jesus Christ we are declared just before God: God did not change His law for us, did not overlook His law for us, but Jesus became sin for us. – 2 Cor 5:21 – Because Jesus became sin for us we can be justified by God – Rom 3:26 – But you must be born again.
D. There is one who stepped forward to pay the penalty for our sin, to take our place, so we could be pronounced just by God and before God: Rom 8:30
IV. Now consider the trouble that justification takes away: A timeless truth for troubled times, think of the trouble being justified takes away.
A. What is the greatest fear of man, the thing than man has the most questions about? Isn’t that fear death? People fear death more than anything else. I have watched lost people die, more than one when I worked with hospice, and there is a fear deep within them and when that time of death approaches that fear comes out. People fear death.
1. The reason they fear death is because they know they are not right with God:
2. The reason they fear death is because they fear hell:
3. That knowledge is given to them by God Himself and people fear death and hell:
B. But that one who is justified by God has no reason to fear death or hell: Rom 8:1-4 Those verses take away trouble.
1. If the greatest fear is death, if the greatest fear is trouble, then we as believers have nothing to fear or be troubled about:
2. And nothing can ever change the fact that we have been justified: Rom 8:34-39
3. Justified in God’s court and by God, it takes away my greatest fear, my greatest troubles:
C. Now consider the trouble that justification takes away:
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Conclusion
There is a spiritual court that has been convened this morning. How does it find you? Justified or not?
I. The charges that are brought before God against all men, women, boys and girls: We are not going to find any of these charges in Romans eight as Romans eight is speaking to those who had been justified. – Rom 8:30 – Those justified ones had been under the charges, we today who are born again have been ourselves under the charges leveled against us by God’s law and guilty as well.
II. But lets present our case to God using a lawyer: Luke 10:25-30 The lawyer here is one versed in the Law of Moses. This man has just heard the gospel of the kingdom presented by the ones Jesus sent out two by two. – Luke 10:1-2 – And it was a message confirmed by Jesus as Jesus pronounced condemnation to those who refuse the message. – Luke 10:10-14
III. But there is one who stepped forward to pay the penalty for our sin, to take our place, so we could be pronounced just by God and before God: Rom 8:30 Who is the Bible speaking to? To born again believers in Jesus Christ, to the ones God has purpose for, to the ones foreknown, to the ones predestined to be conformed, to the ones called, God also has justified.
IV. Now consider the trouble that justification takes away: A timeless truth for troubled times, think of the trouble being justified takes away.