Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Absolute Security
Transcript
- 0:00We can turn back to our reading in the book of Romans, chapter 8.
- 0:04Our focus this morning is going to be on the last section, as we have it from verse 31 down to the end of the chapter.
- 0:13!
- 0:30There are a number of questions through this section, but it begins with a question.
- 0:33What then shall we say to these things?
- 0:37If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 0:41And then you see the conclusion in verse 38.
- 0:45For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation
- 0:56will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 1:06The end of our year, the beginning of our new year, is always a time of reflection.
- 1:11We had that on Thursday as we gathered here as well for a time of worship.
- 1:16Thinking about who we have going ahead of us into this year.
- 1:20Do we have that King of Glory as Psalm 24 speaks about going ahead of us into this year?
- 1:28And I'm sure you've had these times of reflection in these past number of days yourselves,
- 1:33just thinking about the reality of the world in which we live, the reality of the gospel which we hear,
- 1:38the reality of eternity, the reality of life.
- 1:41There's so many different things that can be going through our minds.
- 1:45But when we look around us, we see we live in a world that reviews things as well,
- 1:52but maybe reviews them in a different way to the way that we do.
- 1:56It's very common at the end of every year to see a review of the previous year.
- 2:01So a review of 2025 would be there on the television, in the newspapers,
- 2:05and even just in general conversations going on around us.
- 2:09And as you look back over 2025, as you look at various reviews that have taken place,
- 2:16so much of it focuses on bad news, on the things that are going wrong and concerning in this world.
- 2:23You think of reviews of the year past, how there's been conflicts in different parts of the world.
- 2:28Whether it's the Middle East or Ukraine or India, Pakistan,
- 2:32and we're seeing even going into this new year tensions there between America and Venezuela as well.
- 2:39They seem to be always around us.
- 2:42And you see it too in terms of natural disasters that have happened over the last year,
- 2:48devastation caused in so many different parts of the world.
- 2:53And even as we look at our own nation and our own communities,
- 2:56we see various challenges as we look back over the past year,
- 3:01difficulties and trials that we all have day to day.
- 3:04You think of some people reporting what we have seen as good news to many,
- 3:09when the last year, 2025, was the warmest in UK history.
- 3:15You think that's got to be good news, but then it causes concern.
- 3:18It can be seen as bad news because it means there's water shortage.
- 3:22This means that crops fail.
- 3:23It means that prices rise.
- 3:25All of these things go on.
- 3:27And so we're looking at this review of the world in which we live in all the time.
- 3:31And what it's doing is reminding us of just how insecure we are as a people,
- 3:37how insecure our world is.
- 3:41When people look at life, when we look at life, we want to have that security.
- 3:47If you were to ask many people, what do you want for yourself?
- 3:51What do you want for your family?
- 3:54Safety, peace, security.
- 3:57These are all things that come to the forefront of our thinking.
- 4:03But the question is, how?
- 4:05How can we have that security?
- 4:08How can we have that peace?
- 4:10How can we find that real hope?
- 4:13Not just for today, but for the future.
- 4:15Not just for a new year ahead of us, but for all our days ahead of us.
- 4:19Where can I find this security?
- 4:24Well, as we turn to this passage in Romans 8, it's one of the most reassuring passages for many people.
- 4:34Reassuring, not just in the sense that it's well known, but reassuring because of what it says to us.
- 4:41It speaks to us of a great security that we can find.
- 4:45It speaks to believers and saying, look, if you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have this great hope.
- 4:54You have this great security.
- 4:56It's good news.
- 4:58And even if you're not at this stage trusting, even if you're seeking or even not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,
- 5:04like I said to the children, in some ways that's bad news, but here is good news that speaks into your situation as well.
- 5:13It is the gospel that we need.
- 5:15It is the word that we need.
- 5:18And the word, there's so much that leaves us amazed in this passage.
- 5:23So many different things that it says to us.
- 5:26But today I just want to focus on what our security is in that sense of, is it in that Lord Jesus Christ?
- 5:34Is it good news for you or is it bad news when it says nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus?
- 5:44Is that good news?
- 5:45Is that your security or is that what you're longing for?
- 5:50This passage speaks, yes, looking back, but it also speaks looking forward as well.
- 5:57And that's the way we live too.
- 5:58We're always maybe looking ahead to things too.
- 6:01We want to have that hope.
- 6:03And we always start a new year with that sense of positivity.
- 6:07Things will be better.
- 6:08Things will be different in this coming year.
- 6:11And we could ask, what excites you about 2026?
- 6:14What are you looking forward to in 2026?
- 6:17What are you anticipating?
- 6:19There'll be many people who have lots of different things that excite looking ahead too.
- 6:23But the greatest thing that could excite us and challenge us is, well, do we know this Lord with us going into it?
- 6:32The love of God that we see in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
- 6:37And in verse 31, you have a real challenging question.
- 6:46If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 6:51Imagine God against us in 2026.
- 6:56Imagine God against us.
- 7:26Imagine God against us.
- 7:27But seeing it in the light of what it says.
- 7:29If God is for us, well, who or what can be against us?
- 7:36There is where we find our security.
- 7:38And so Paul in this section has a lot of questions being asked.
- 7:44We're going to look at two of these questions in particular.
- 7:47But then at the end, he has a confident statement about where security is found and what this security means.
- 7:58And we're going to look at it first under the first question.
- 8:01And we have this in verse 33.
- 8:05Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
- 8:09God's chosen people.
- 8:13Who will bring any charge against God's chosen people?
- 8:18God's elect.
- 8:20So many people live in this world with a false sense of security.
- 8:27Feeling untouchable to the things that are eternal.
- 8:32Feeling so we can just carry on as we are and nothing's going to make a difference to us.
- 8:37We're going to have this security in life.
- 8:40We're going to have all that we need.
- 8:41We've got everything that we need in this world.
- 8:43But without Christ, it's nothing.
- 8:47And again and again we're reminded of how quickly this changes.
- 8:52There's a book called At Dawn We Slept.
- 8:57And it recounts the events of the attack on Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December 1941 during the Second World War.
- 9:07I'm sure many of you will have heard of Pearl Harbor.
- 9:11You'll have seen the movie.
- 9:12It recounts an event that people never saw coming.
- 9:18And what this book, part of this book says, recounting those events was,
- 9:22a Japanese attack on Hawaii is regarded as the most unlikely thing in the world.
- 9:29With one chance in a million of being successful.
- 9:33Besides having more powerful defenses than any other post under the American flag,
- 9:39it is protected by distance.
- 9:41This was how they viewed the situation in Hawaii.
- 9:45An attack unlikely.
- 9:48Highly unlikely.
- 9:49The most unlikely thing in the world.
- 9:53And that's why the book's called At Dawn We Slept.
- 9:57Because people were in their beds, sleeping, quite comfortable and at peace when these events unfolded.
- 10:03And many thousands lost their lives.
- 10:06False security.
- 10:10They didn't see an attack coming.
- 10:13And yet that's how so many people live in this world.
- 10:17Sleeping peacefully, thinking nothing's going to touch me.
- 10:20Eternity doesn't matter.
- 10:21And yet so quickly things can change.
- 10:26So where do we find security?
- 10:30Well, it is in God alone.
- 10:32If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 10:37And Paul here in these verses, he's wanting us to be realizing a real sense of God's love for his people.
- 10:46God's everlasting love.
- 10:49So much of it goes beyond our understanding and our comprehension at times.
- 10:56But he wants us to know it.
- 10:59And as we go into this new year, it's to know this more and more that we should desire.
- 11:05To know this grace, to be assured of it.
- 11:08Because we can struggle.
- 11:11We struggle with assurance.
- 11:15We struggle with being aware just fully of God's love.
- 11:19And you can fear God rejecting you.
- 11:23That God won't be for us or for you or for me.
- 11:27That he will condemn us.
- 11:29And yet what we see here is, as he asks this question, who shall bring any charge against God elect?
- 11:38It is God who justifies.
- 11:41Who is it to condemn?
- 11:44Who is it to condemn us if God is for us?
- 11:47Nobody can.
- 11:49Because it is God who justifies.
- 11:52And he's saying, the question in verse 31, what shall we say to these things?
- 11:57It is in light of being justified with God.
- 12:01You see it in verse 30.
- 12:03Those whom he predestined, he called.
- 12:05Those whom he called, he justified.
- 12:07And those whom he justified, he also glorified.
- 12:12There is great confidence in these words.
- 12:15So what do we say to these things?
- 12:18Well, who can bring a charge against God elect?
- 12:22Nobody.
- 12:23Because it is God who justifies.
- 12:25Who can condemn?
- 12:27Not when we're in Christ Jesus.
- 12:31So what we have to ask in the midst of all our insecurity, all our uncertainties is,
- 12:37What does Scripture say?
- 12:40What does the Bible say?
- 12:43If we feel insecure and uncertain, what does Scripture say?
- 12:47Well, it says,
- 12:49He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us.
- 12:57Isn't that wonderful?
- 12:59That we have been given a Savior in Christ Jesus.
- 13:03So who is it that can condemn?
- 13:06When you go back to verse 1 of chapter 8.
- 13:10We didn't read it, but these words, I'm sure many of you know them.
- 13:14Verse 1 of chapter 8.
- 13:16There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- 13:22How can this be?
- 13:26How can we have this security?
- 13:30Well, it's because Christ Jesus has paid the price.
- 13:35Christ Jesus is the one who died.
- 13:37More than that, who is raised.
- 13:39Who is at the right hand of God and who is interceding for us.
- 13:44He is our security.
- 13:46If we put our trust in him, there is no condemnation.
- 13:52One commentator uses this illustration.
- 13:55He uses the illustration of a mountain climber.
- 13:59And the mountain climber who is tied to his guide by a rope.
- 14:05And the mountain climber being insecure, being unfamiliar with his surroundings,
- 14:10is trying to climb this mountain and very often falling off.
- 14:14But he's being held all the time by the rope that's tied to his guide.
- 14:20So he doesn't fall.
- 14:23And what he says is, this is the way we are with Christ.
- 14:27Christ who is our guide.
- 14:29Christ who we are in and secure in.
- 14:32Though we are slipping, though we are stumbling,
- 14:35we are secure to him through his love for us.
- 14:39The one who died for us.
- 14:41The one who rose again.
- 14:42The one who is at the right hand of God.
- 14:45The one who is interceding for you, even as you pray.
- 14:49The one who is on your side.
- 14:52So we have this security there in Christ Jesus.
- 14:57There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- 15:02So who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
- 15:07Who can condemn them?
- 15:09There is no condemnation when we are in Christ Jesus.
- 15:16The second thing we see is in verse 35 to verse 37.
- 15:22Verse 35 begins with a question there as well.
- 15:25Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 15:30There are so many situations in life where we can think,
- 15:35well, the world is in chaos.
- 15:37The world is falling apart.
- 15:39It's as if the devil is winning the battle.
- 15:42Everything seems to be going against the Christian faith.
- 15:46It can be easy to feel alone, defeated in situations where hope, security, and these things seems far away.
- 15:56But there is hope for us.
- 15:59And there is real hope for us.
- 16:03Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 16:05Well, we see, as we were reflecting on New Year's Day, life is so often like a journey.
- 16:13We make our way through life.
- 16:17And even as we think of going into this year ahead,
- 16:20we see that it will be a journey that we go on in many different trials and tribulations that come our way.
- 16:26And verse 35 outlines that for us.
- 16:29Tribulations, distress, persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword.
- 16:34There are all these things going on in the lives of the people in Paul's day as they are in our own day.
- 16:40All these worries, all these fears.
- 16:44And the scripture, when we think, what does the word of God say?
- 16:47Well, it says this is the reality of the world in which we live.
- 16:50Jesus has told us so.
- 16:53In John 16, verse 33,
- 16:56Jesus spoke and said,
- 16:58In this world you will have trouble.
- 17:00So the scripture tells us we will have trouble.
- 17:06But in John there, Jesus goes on to say,
- 17:09But take heart.
- 17:11I have overcome the world.
- 17:14He doesn't say you will overcome the world.
- 17:18He doesn't say you will get through this in your own strength.
- 17:22All these tribulations, distresses, persecutions, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword.
- 17:31It's not a case of you will get through,
- 17:33but he has overcome.
- 17:36He has dealt with it.
- 17:39And so, this is a trying journey.
- 17:42This is a difficult journey.
- 17:43But it's also a triumphant journey when we are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 17:52We are more than conquerors, he goes on to say.
- 17:55No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.
- 18:01Not through our strength, but through him.
- 18:06Through him who loved us.
- 18:10Through him who loved us.
- 18:17Do we have that confidence?
- 18:21Do we have that security?
- 18:24Do we have that assurance?
- 18:28All these questions that we might have about what's going on around us,
- 18:33as we review a year, as we look ahead to a new one.
- 18:36All the worries, all the anxieties that we have.
- 18:40But all of these things, tribulations, distress, persecution, so on.
- 18:46What shall separate us?
- 18:48Or who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 18:52Will any of these things?
- 18:55Well, Paul says no.
- 18:58None of these things.
- 19:00When we are trusting in him.
- 19:02Because in all these things, we are more than conquerors.
- 19:09In this world, you will have many troubles.
- 19:12But take heart, I have overcome the world.
- 19:17So we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
- 19:23Good news or bad news?
- 19:28What side are you on?
- 19:30Think of being at the ferry.
- 19:36There's two different kinds of people you often see waiting at the ferry.
- 19:40You have those who are booked, waiting to go on.
- 19:46You have those who are on standby, wondering if they'll get on.
- 19:51And when you look at them, they are dealing with the situation quite differently.
- 19:58Booked to go on?
- 20:00Relaxed.
- 20:01Sitting quite at ease, quite peacefully, waiting just to go on board.
- 20:08Reading a paper.
- 20:09Chatting away.
- 20:10Those on standby.
- 20:11Those on standby.
- 20:12Those on standby.
- 20:14Looking more worried.
- 20:15More anxious.
- 20:17Counting the cars ahead of them.
- 20:19Wondering, will they get on?
- 20:20Will they be there?
- 20:22Phoning or texting people saying, we're on standby.
- 20:25We're not sure if we're going to get on.
- 20:28Maybe trying to make alternative arrangements.
- 20:30What side are you on?
- 20:36Somebody asked the question.
- 20:40If you knew that in 15 minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny,
- 20:50what would your reaction be?
- 20:54What side are you on?
- 20:56Are you in the lane that's booked, trusting in the Lord, quite at ease?
- 21:06Your trust is in him who has made you more than a conqueror.
- 21:11Who has overcome the world for you.
- 21:16Or are you in the lane that's standby, wondering, will I get on?
- 21:22Will I get in?
- 21:23Will he welcome me?
- 21:25Or will he say, depart from me, I knew you not.
- 21:30What side are you on?
- 21:32Is this good news or bad news?
- 21:37Well, to have it as good news is to know Christ.
- 21:43To know that we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
- 21:46Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 21:53Nothing if we are trusting in him.
- 21:58So there are these questions.
- 22:00And there's lots of them.
- 22:01We could look at other questions that Paul has here as well.
- 22:05But these two give us enough to make us think, well, what are we doing?
- 22:10Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
- 22:13Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 22:18What side are we on?
- 22:19Well, Paul reminds us of the side that we need to be on with his statement in verse 38 and 39.
- 22:28And this is our great security.
- 22:32For 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.
- 22:51The questions end.
- 23:21This is our God.
- 23:23This is our God who has remembered us.
- 23:26Who is assuring us that nothing will be able to separate us from his love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 23:35Do we react in the same way today?
- 23:37Do these words astound you?
- 23:39Do these words remind you of what you have in Christ or what you need in Christ?
- 23:46Are you assured by them?
- 23:50Or do you doubt them?
- 23:52Again, what side are you on?
- 23:55David Hume, who was a philosopher back in the 18th century and very much against the Christian faith.
- 24:02There is a story recounted of him once meeting a friend who was hurrying along the streets in London.
- 24:08And he stopped him and asked him, where are you going?
- 24:12In such a rush.
- 24:14And the friend replied, I'm going to hear George Whitefield preach.
- 24:17And David Hume said to his friend, but surely you don't believe what Whitefield preaches to you.
- 24:25And his friend replied, no I don't.
- 24:28But he does.
- 24:29And because of the way he believed George Whitefield, this man was going to hear to see if it could possibly be true.
- 24:39Do we have that confidence?
- 24:41Do we show that assurance?
- 24:43Do we believe what we hear in the word of God?
- 24:48Is this our great assurance?
- 24:50Is this our great security?
- 24:52Paul's conclusion here is a personal remark, but it's also a remark that every believer should have.
- 25:01We can all take confidence, for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor any of these things.
- 25:09Are you sure today?
- 25:12Is this your assurance?
- 25:14Is this your security?
- 25:16There's so many things listed here.
- 25:19There's things for today.
- 25:21There's things for eternity.
- 25:22There's things for time and things for the future.
- 25:25There's so many things.
- 25:28It's a long list of powers and rulers.
- 25:32Anything in all creation that comes against us.
- 25:38But his greatest assurance is in Christ.
- 25:43None of these things will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
- 25:52Life brings so many challenges.
- 25:56Life brings so many temptations that come our way.
- 26:00C.H. Spurgeon once said,
- 26:01I am not so much afraid of dying as I am of sinning.
- 26:05That is ten times worse than death.
- 26:09Life.
- 26:11Life cannot separate us from the love of God.
- 26:14Well, so many people let it.
- 26:17Because, like you see in the parable of the Sower,
- 26:20the word that gets scattered and falls among the thorny ground.
- 26:25The worries and riches and pleasures of this life come up and choke it.
- 26:30Life has so many demands on us.
- 26:34Try and choke us.
- 26:35But Paul says,
- 26:41Trust in the Lord.
- 26:44And life will not separate you from him.
- 26:49And death.
- 26:51Our greatest enemy in some ways.
- 26:54Our greatest fear for many.
- 26:56When that time comes, what does it mean?
- 26:59Well, what does the word of God say?
- 27:04Not even death shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 27:11What security there are in these words.
- 27:15What confidence there are in these words.
- 27:18Because we see it in Christ.
- 27:22The one who came.
- 27:25Who died on the cross.
- 27:28But more than that, the one who is raised.
- 27:30And is at the right hand of God.
- 27:32And who is indeed interceding for us.
- 27:37If God is for us.
- 27:40Who can be against us?
- 27:43Imagine going into this year.
- 27:45With God against you.
- 27:50It will be a fearful thing.
- 27:54So why not go into the year.
- 27:57With God for you.
- 27:59And assured.
- 28:01And secure.
- 28:03Because if God is for us.
- 28:05Who can be against us?
- 28:09And when we know that.
- 28:11We know nothing.
- 28:12Will separate us from the love of God.
- 28:15In Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 28:19May we find ourselves.
- 28:21Secure in him.
- 28:24Let us pray.
- 28:28Lord our gracious God.
- 28:30We thank you.
- 28:31For your word.
- 28:32And when we have our doubts.
- 28:34When we have our fears.
- 28:36Help us to ask.
- 28:37What does your word say?
- 28:39For when we look to your word.
- 28:41We find there such.
- 28:43Confident assurance.
- 28:44If God is for us.
- 28:47Who can be against us?
- 28:49And in this world.
- 28:50When we have so many difficulties.
- 28:51And trials.
- 28:53When so many things.
- 28:54Seek to separate us.
- 28:55From the love of God.
- 28:57May we be able to find.
- 28:58That there is nothing able to.
- 29:00Nothing can separate us.
- 29:02From the love of God.
- 29:03That is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 29:06Lord.
- 29:06And so we ask.
- 29:07That we would be.
- 29:08More than conquerors.
- 29:10Through him who loved us.
- 29:12Hear our prayers.
- 29:14Pardon our sin.
- 29:15As we ask all.
- 29:16In Jesus name.
- 29:17Amen.
- 29:17We are going to conclude.
- 29:24By singing to God's praise.
- 29:26In Psalm 46a.
- 29:27The sing Psalms version.
- 29:32Psalm 46a.
- 29:35We will sing from verse 8 to 11.
- 29:38Page 60 of the psalm books.
- 29:40Come see the works.
- 29:43The Lord has done.
- 29:45The judgments.
- 29:46He commands.
- 29:46The desolations.
- 29:47He has brought to pass.
- 29:49In many lands.
- 29:50In every land.
- 29:51Throughout the earth.
- 29:52He makes all conflicts cease.
- 29:54He shatters bow.
- 29:55And spear.
- 29:56And shield.
- 29:57And brings.
- 29:58His reign of peace.
- 29:59Be still.
- 30:00And know that I am God.
- 30:01On earth.
- 30:02Exalted high.
- 30:03And all the nations.
- 30:04Of the world.
- 30:05My name.
- 30:06Will glorify.
- 30:08Then we have that.
- 30:09Great assurance.
- 30:10In the last verse.
- 30:11The Lord almighty.
- 30:12Is with us.
- 30:13To strengthen and sustain.
- 30:15For Jacob's God.
- 30:17Our strong defense.
- 30:19And fortress.
- 30:20Will remain.
- 30:20We will sing.
- 30:21These verses.
- 30:22At Tuna Stroudwater.
- 30:23We stand to sing.
- 30:24To God's praise.
- 30:25Amen.
- 30:26To God's praise.
- 30:28The Lord has done, the judgment he commands,
- 30:45the desolations he has brought to pass in many lands.
- 31:02In every land throughout the earth, he makes all concrete seas.
- 31:20He shatters hope and fear and shield and brings his reign of peace.
- 31:38Be still and know that I am God on every soul did I,
- 31:56and all the nations of the world, my name will glorify.
- 32:14The Lord Almighty is with us to strengthen and sustain.
- 32:32For Jacob's God, our strong defense and mortals will remain.
- 32:53After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
- 32:56We'll close with the benediction.
- 32:57Let me grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- 33:03rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
- 33:07Amen.
- 33:27Amen.
- 33:28Amen.
- 33:57Amen.
- 33:58Amen.
- 33:58Amen.
- 33:58Amen.
- 33:58Amen.
- 33:59Amen.