A Catechism of Hope — Romans 8:31-39
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The root cause of most lying is insecurity. We lie or cheat on a test or embellish a story because we aren’t sure that we’re worth loving otherwise. We think, “If people knew the truth about me, if my parents saw what my grades were without cheating, if my friends learned how dull my life or my story really was, no one would care about me or take interest in me or be proud of me.” Our insecurity drives our grandiosity — in our fish stories, our Instagram feed, and in our memories.
I was recently reading a book written by a retired pro golfer, and he said that most golfers who shoot in the mid-80’s, when asked, will tell you that they shoot in the low-80’s. He proposes that this isn’t because they believe this about themselves or because they just want to be a liar. Rather, it’s because they’re insecure and want you to be impressed. They need your approval and are afraid they won’t get it otherwise.
Psychologist Alice Miller takes it even further. She says that “Behind manifest grandiosity (big embellished stories, with big impressive accomplishments) lurks depression.” In other words, we’re lying to ourselves, and we’re lying to one another because we’re carrying a sense of insecurity that’s so profound that it’s giving way to hopelessness — a hopelessness so profound that it can even be found in that story from the 8th grade that didn’t quite happen like you say.
God’s Word
God’s Word
Our Instagram filters, tall tales, and padded resumés are screaming for a hope that is secure. That’s Paul’s promise to Jesus’ followers in Romans 8. The passage we’re studying this morning may have been an early Christian liturgy or catechism, memorized and recited to anchor their hope so that it was unshakable. So, this morning, I want us to learn this: “A Catechism of Hope” headline Don’t fret over that word — “catechism”—it’s just a simple question-and-answer truth, rooted in Scripture, often for kids, to build a portable biblical framework. I’ve distilled Paul’s five questions into three we can carry with us when we leave this morning.
Q: How do I “live” with “hope”?
Q: How do I “live” with “hope”?
Romans 8:31–32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
In Romans’ first three chapters, Paul exposes our sinfulness; in the next four chapters, he unpacks God’s remedy for our sinfulness. In chapter 5 the second Adam brings life where the first Adam brought death. In chapter 6 our sin dies, and our new nature is raised, freed. In chapter 7 we’re released from the Law, and we’re raised from death. And now in chapter 8 Paul’s point is reaching its crescendo, declaring us uncondemned, Spirit-filled sons who were foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and bound for glory. These are the “things” that prompt his question, “What then shall we say to these things?” He’s built our hope, brick by brick, into an unshakeable house. So when he asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” it’s not that opposition vanishes—Paul himself faced opposition and once fueled it— no, opposition doesn’t vanish; defeat does. Jesus is building His church— namely, us—and hell isn’t winning and won’t win — even though we sometimes feel like we’re on the losing end.
For Paul, trusting what will be is what sustains us through what is today. But, this raises an important question: if we’re meant to find hope today because of what’s coming tomorrow, how can we be sure that our future — what will be — is actually good? How can we be sure that “if God is for us,” no one will be able to stand against us? Well, we aren’t trusting what will be with some blind faith. We’re tethering our hope to the deposit that God has already paid for the security of our future. The way that we know how good our future is going to be is by the deposit that was paid to secure it.
If I were your travel agent and you were wanting to book a week at a resort in Mexico, imagine that the average price of the deposit for the resorts was $1000. But after telling you that was the average price, I told you that I did find one that would let you only put down $50. If money was tight and you took me up on the $50 reservation, you’d be more nervous than hopeful, wouldn’t you? You’d be packing your roach spray with your swimsuit.
Our experience has taught us that the extravagance of the reservation is proportionate to the cost of the deposit, hasn’t it? And, this is Paul’s point. God has confirmed your reservation through an extravagant deposit — “his own Son.” He “did not spare” any expense for you. So, if that’s the reservation, how good, how extravagant do you think the future is going to be with him? That’s why you have hope today. That’s why you don’t embellish your stories or run up your credit card. That’s why you don’t live hanging on the opinions of others. You’ve already be paid for. Your value has already been proven. And, your place has already been confirmed.
The people that look down on you and the culture that resents you and the spiritual enemies that want to ruin you and the anxious conscience that oppresses you are all trying to convince you of the same lie — that God is stingy. They try to convince us that God doesn’t care or isn’t real or won’t come through. They try to convince you that you better impress or come up with a hundred contingency plans. They want you to believe that God is too stingy to take care of you but the cross won’t hear a word of it. Through suffering, Jesus was glorified, and after suffering through this life so will you be.
So, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” If God didn’t spare his own son, “how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Or, we might summarize by asking: How do I live with real, solid hope? Well…
A: What I was “given” assures what I’m “receiving”.
A: What I was “given” assures what I’m “receiving”.
That is, all that we’re given — the deposit of Jesus crucified in our place and raised to life by God assures we’ll receive the extravagant inheritance that God has promised us. And, if the future is secure, then we’re just fine today.
The first question is the main proposition that Paul is making. The remaining questions simply support it. Paul wants you to drill deeply into the hope of Jesus so that you don’t get swept away by the insecurities that abound. So, let’s get more specific:
Q: How do I “know” I’m “saved”?
Q: How do I “know” I’m “saved”?
Romans 8:33–34 “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
How do I know Paul’s hope applies to me or that my deposit is secure? In verses 33-34, two questions pull us into a courtroom to test our salvation’s certainty. In this Great Court pictured by Paul, charges are piling up—the lies you’ve told; the hypocrisy of who you are on Sundays versus who you are at home on Monday night; the favoritism you demonstrate when you’re kinder and more patient with those people who can do something for you than you are for those who can’t; the way your lustful eyes wander behind your sunglasses, and the misplaced priorities you justify — like having ample time for Alabama football but little for Scripture — these accumulating charges make condemnation seem inevitable, don’t they? Yet Paul insists: for those in Christ, the charges won’t hold. They won’t stick.
Paul says our case is dismissed on four grounds.
We’re chosen. What’s really significant in this passage is to notice what it emphasizes versus what it doesn’t emphasize. Satan wants to emphasize your charges. And, all of the charges focus on you, what you have done or haven’t done, on the weakness and frailty of your faith. That’s what charges are. They point out your faults and explain what you deserve. But, here the emphasis isn’t on your charges because it isn’t focused on what you’ve done at all. The emphasis here is on the grounds for dismissal, and the grounds for dismissal are based not on what you’ve done, but on what God has done. You see, the Accuser fixates on our failures, but the Judge has elected to only permit our Savior’s triumphs as evidence in the court. Why? Because God has made that decision. Verse 33 calls us “God’s elect.” That is, God has chosen to give us a status and a home because of his grace, not our merit or works. And, this is life-giving to us because: Focusing on my works breeds doubt; focusing on Jesus’ works brings assurance. What I do can be undone — there’s my insecurity. I may be faithful today and unfaithful tomorrow. But, what God has done cannot be undone — there’s our security. He’s faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Imagine a child adopted who blames themselves for needing to be adopted. They worry every day that their adopted mom and dad are going to abandon them because they’re scared they’ll do the same thing that caused their birth family to abandon them. What would their mom and dad say to them? They’d sit them down, pull them close, and tell them with tears: “Honey, you’re never going anywhere. We love you. We chose you. Nothing you could do would change that.” Do you feel the security of that hope? That’s who we are — chosen by God. God has done the choosing, not you. So, your adoption is settled and secure.
We’re forgiven. The problem that we have with the security of our salvation is that we know the charges aren’t trumped — they’re true. When Satan points out how sinful we are and when our conscience terrorizes us like a stalker in the street, we know we’re really guilty of what’s been charged. And, that’s how verse 34 helps. Verse 34 tells us what our Judge will say to our accusers on the Last Day — He’s justified! She’s forgiven! We used to teach our kids that “justified” means “just as if I’d never sinned.” That’s how God views you. Your sins have been removed. Your guilt has been removed. You’re washed and clean and pure. That’s how God views those who come to Jesus — no matter what their accuser says or their conscience brings up. We’re forgiven. God has given the forgiveness; you haven’t earned it. So, your forgiveness is assured. You’re clean forever.
We’re accepted. Imagine being in the Court Room. Satan has made the clearest case of your guilt. He’s sitting there awaiting the verdict to come down because he has you dead to rights. You’re squirming, knowing that you’re guilty as charged. The Great Judge has you rise for the verdict, and everyone is waiting for him to say: “Condemned!” But instead, with tears in his eyes, joy on his face, and scars on his hands, He looks at you and says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. I’ve accepted you into my Kingdom. I’ve accepted you into my Household because I’ve chosen to be “condemned” in your place. I’m the “one who died — more than that — who was raised” for you.” Brothers and sisters, Your acceptance is not tied to your performance. It’s tied to Jesus’ performance. Christ has done it, not you. So, your acceptance is secure. Do you feel that? You don’t have try and strive and impress and embellish for acceptance. It’s yours.
And so, Paul wants you to know that…
We’re cherished. Verse 34 concludes by saying that right now Jesus “indeed is interceding for us.” Justifying is what He did in the past; interceding is what He’s doing right now. Jesus didn’t stop caring for you when He died for you, and He didn’t stop working on your behalf when He was raised. Right now, Jesus is standing at the right hand of his Father and pointing to you: “She’s mine. She’s been purchased. He’s mine. He’s been forgiven. That’s my sister, that’s my brother. Receive them. Forgive them. Help them. They’re mine.” Gavin Ortlund says that “Intercession is the constant hitting of the ‘refresh’ of our justification in heaven.” That is, it’s the ongoing work of Christ to cherish his people. Jesus doesn’t just put up with you. He cherishes you. He enjoys you. So, everyone else is yelling at you. Your parents yell at you. Your wife yells at you. Satan yells at you. The world yells at you. Your conscience even yells at you. But while everyone else is yelling at you, Jesus is interceding for you. He just keeps on declaring how chosen, how forgiven, and how accepted you are. And, He does it because He cherishes you. It’s settled. It’s secure.
So, “who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised.” Or we might just summarize it: How do I know I’m saved?
A: Who I “have” guarantees what I’m “hearing.”
A: Who I “have” guarantees what I’m “hearing.”
That is, you can live with the guarantee that you’re going to hear the opposite of what you’ve grown used to hearing. You’re used to hearing everything that’s wrong with you — you hear it from within and without, don’t you? But, in Christ, you can live with the certainty — the guarantee — that one day you’ll really hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant, because you have Jesus and his works and his forgiveness and his acceptance. You have Jesus, and Jesus has you.
So, let’s drill down even deeper with the final question:
Q: How do I “know” I’m “secure”?
Q: How do I “know” I’m “secure”?
Romans 8:35–39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Peter Kreeft captures the depth of faith when he says: “Christianity is not a hypothesis. It’s a proposal of marriage.” Yet, with “separation” so common, we can miss the force and security of that statement.“Love” and “separation” now feel natural together in our minds, don’t they? Love has become, in our minds, an insecure virtue. It’s no wonder we doubt God’s love as flaky or gone—our lives rarely feel securely loved.
So, Paul asks out loud: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” That is, is Jesus’ love for me secure or not? And, Paul gives a list of why we who bear the name of Jesus might wonder if Jesus actually loves us — a list of why his love for us might feel insecure. We might summarize all of them into two questions of insecurity.
The first question asks: “Has God been good TO me?” This is the question that “tribulation, distress, famine, and nakedness” make us ask. There is a temptation when you’ve been married and life is hard to wonder whether what you’re experiencing is really love because it doesn’t feel like love. And, most of the time we ask that question when the expectations that we had for our relationship are going unmet. Unmet expectations have ended far more marriages than affairs have. And, its unmet expectations that can make us wonder whether or not we are separated from God’s love, that make us wonder whether or not God has been good to us. We expect to grow old with our spouse and to have good health and for our job to provide enough for us, so when our spouse dies too young or we become disabled or the money coming is less than the money going out, we wonder: Has God really been good to me? Is this really love?
And, the second question asks: “Has God really been good FOR me?” This is the question that comes up when we experience “Persecution, danger, and sword.” This is what’s in mind in verse 36 when it quotes from Psalm 44. It’s a psalm written during a time of righteous suffering where God’s people were doing all of the right things for God, and their lives were getting harder as a result. From the outside looking in, it can look as though loving God ruins your life. It can seem like the more you love God, the more difficult your life is. People oppose you. Satan tempts you. Culture mocks you. Many couples today are choosing not to marry or not to have children because, from the outside looking in, the return on investment just seems too low. It appears to ruin your life. And, many Christians are tempted to make the same ROI analysis when it comes to following Jesus. When our life gets harder because we love Jesus, we just wonder if that means we’re loved at all, or if it’s worth it all.
So, after giving us all of these reason why we might feel insecure in God’s love, all these reason why we might doubt God’s love, all these reasons why we might doubt our future, Paul returns to the question at hand: Can we be “separated from the love of Christ?” Do all of our experiences and hardships prove that we’re insecure? And, he gives a resounding answer — “NO!” He goes further — “No, the “tribulation” and the “distress” and the “persecution” and the “famine” DO NOT serve to show us that we are unloved, but will ultimately serve to show just how SECURELY LOVED we really are. A marriage that is built on love doesn’t dissolve under pressure or through suffering, it deepens. In fact, the suffering reveals more clearly the security of your marriage and your identity as a couple.
And, this is what you’re experiences with Jesus will be. Paul roots our security in our identity and status. You are not a victim. That’s not fundamentally who you are, even though you’ve certainly been victimized by people and circumstances. You will face grief and disability and disappointment and poverty and hatred. But, you’re not fundamentally a victim of those things. You are fundamentally a “conqueror” of those things. And, you’re going to be proven to have so conquered them that you’ll be considered “more than a conqueror.” That’s who you are. That’s what Jesus’ love has enabled.
Every person faces the ramifications of sin — whether you know Jesus or you don’t. No family will go without dealing with grief or job loss or disability or infertility. These are experiences that every person and every family will have. But, apart from Jesus, they have to be dealt with and faced alone. This past week, I was talking with someone who had lost someone they loved more than their own life. Here’s what they said: “I don’t know how people do it without the resurrection.” That’s theologically rich and practically life-giving. And, that’s Paul’s point about “the love of Christ.” Loving God doesn’t ruin your life. It secures your life.
The love of Jesus ensures that you’ll outlive all of these painful experiences. They won’t last, but you will. You will literally “conquer” all these things. Every trial you faced, every trauma you endured, every tear you cried will serve only to multiply the crowns you receive when you get home.
To be really loved is to know you have a home awaiting you. You drag yourself to work, and you know your day will be hard. Your boss threatens you and makes demands on you that aren’t possible. Your coworkers are always making you look bad and giving you more work to do. You feel threadbare, defeated, and overwhelmed. Until you walk through the door. You kids run up to you and throw their arms around you like a superhero because you’re their hero. Your wife kisses you like you’re the only person she wants to see because you are. Your dog is there acting like her whole day has been anticipating that moment because she has. And, suddenly, you’re okay. Because you’re home. Because you’re loved. YOU are love for being YOU. Love gives us a real home, and a real home is where we know we’re safe.
And, this is what Jesus’ love provides for us. This isn’t our home, but we have a home. And, no boss or sickness or poverty can take it away. It’s ours, and when we get there, we’ll be treated as a “conqueror” because we’ll be proven as a “conqueror.”
So, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall our sufferings and tears and stress and disappointments? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.” Or we might summarize it: “How do I know I’m secure?”
A: How I’m “loved” conquers what I’m “facing”.
A: How I’m “loved” conquers what I’m “facing”.
Jesus’ cross and resurrection have proven that you’re loved and that your death with all of its sufferings has been conquered. And, very soon, your experience and feelings will confirm it. Hang on. Jesus’ love has conquered, and soon enough, you’ll be home with him.
