God on Our Side
Memory Verse: Romans 8:31
(NKJV) — 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who
can be against us?
TEXT: Romans 8:28–39
Romans 8:28–39
(NIV) — 28 And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called;
those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us? 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? 33
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who
justifies. 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all
day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.
1. Personalize God’s Support—God is for you.
Romans 8:31–32
(NIV) — 31 What, then, shall we
say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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?
2 Kings 6:16–17
(NKJV) — 16 So he answered, “Do
not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17
And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord,
I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And
behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Isaiah 49:16 (ESV)
— 16 Behold, I have engraved you
on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
2. God is For us Even When we Fail
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) —
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping
his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Romans 7:14–20
(NET) — 14 For we know that the
law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.15 For I
don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do
what I hate.16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is
good.17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. 18
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to
do the good, but I cannot do it.19 For I do not do the good I want, but
I do the very evil I do not want! 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it
is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
— 25 “I, even I, am he who blots
out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)
— 18 “Come now, and let us reason
together,” Says the Lord, “Though
your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red
like crimson, They shall be as wool.
Philippians 3:12–14
(NLT) — 12 I don’t mean to say
that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus
first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not
achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking
forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race
and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling
us.
3. The Cross is the Proof that God is for us
Romans 8:32 (NIV) —
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?
4. God’s Grace of Forgiveness Demonstrates
that God is for us
Romans 8:32 (NKJV)
— 32 He who did not spare His own
Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely
give us all things?
Illustration: Taken
from "It Wasn't All Bad," The
Week (October 7, 2005), pg. 6; submitted by Kevin A. Miller, Carol Stream,
Illinois
Romans 8:32 (GW) —
32 God didn’t spare his own Son
but handed him over ⌊to
death⌋ for all of us. So he will also
give us everything along with him.
Romans 8:32 (NCV) —
32 He did not spare his own Son
but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things.
Romans 8:32 (GNB) —
32 Certainly not God, who did not
even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will
he not also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32 (The
Message) — 32 If God didn’t
hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and
exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he
wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?
Luke 7:21 (NKJV) —
21 And that very hour He cured
many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave
sight.
