Sermon 07-24-2011

Psalm 105:1-11 Romans 8:26-39

“If God is for Us, Who is Against Us?

Paul ends this chapter by cheering on the Christians at Rome, reminding them

that ‘if God is for us, who is against us?’ (v. 31) ‘we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.’ (v. 28). The tone is emotional and celebratory. The marathon runners are at the halfway mark, and Paul reminds them and us that God already made it to the end of the race, and God has won. With God’s help, we too can make it to the finish line and participate in God’s victory.”

(Blair Alison Pogue. “Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 3, pg.279)

PRAYER

How many times do we say, I don’t know how to pray? Paul assures the Romans,

we don’t know who to pray, as we ought…v.26

Perhaps sometimes we do not know what to ask for, or what God wants for

us personally or as a church community, because “we do not know what the will of God is so we need to seek it through our prayers.

The Romans had the same struggle and question. Here Paul affirms this human reality and at the same time reinforces this concern by recalling that God knows what is in the mind of the Spirit and that the Spirit intercedes according to God’s will. Despite the weakness of humankind and its sense of isolation from God and longing for God, what we see here, is that there is a deep interconnectedness between God, God’s spirit and God’s people.” (Brueggemann, Year A, pg.420-421)

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.” V.28

God is able to use even those things which reflect the depth of human weakness and turn them for the good… God is the one who designs, desires, and brings about the good. Everything that God has put in place has been for the salvation of humankind.” (idem).

“First, we are called, we are called to be children of God, adopted into the family of God, through Jesus Christ. John 1:12, affirms it: “… all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave them power to become children of God.” And I John 3:1 states: “See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are!

Secondly, we are foreknown, selected or picked, by God even before our birth, and we are called according to his purpose for a purpose. A clear example is found in the reading of Jeremiah. God said to him: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you, selected you, for the purpose of being a prophet to the nations.” Thirdly, we are predestined, meaning that we have been appointed or chosen from the beginning of creation to have favor and grace before God. Paul starts his letter to the Ephesians with these affirming words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world…” Ephesians 1:3-4a.

Fourthly, we are justified by faith. We are right with God, and accepted as we are through Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is through him that we are connected to God. Not only that, but also that Jesus intercedes for us to God as our defense lawyer. In Christ we are justified, we are forgiven and in him we find reconciliation, in other words, in Christ we make things right with God, and find ourselves on the same page with Him!

Finally, in Christ we have the assurance that we will be glorified or overvalued

for eternity. Here on earth we are transformed into the likeness of the character of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. After death, we will be transformed into a ‘more magnificent form.’ ” (Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, pg. 528).

“Through Christ, the struggles we face can be transformed into endurance, character and hope. God uses our struggles to bring us to spiritual maturity.

Paul uses a question and answer format to (get his point across). The answers to his questions are short and obvious, creating the feeling of growing confidence…

(Blair Alison Pogue. Idem, pg. 281)

Who? Who is against us? no one. If God has already given up his Son on behalf of us, God’s people, will God not also give us everything else?

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? “It is God who justifies, Who is to condemn? no one. Jesus died and was raised and indeed, intercedes for God’s people…” as a defense lawyer in a courtroom. Jesus is not one to get us, he is not the prosecutor, but the mediator between God the judge, and us the people.

(Brueggemann, pg. 422)

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? While the answer is again, no one. Here Paul has the opportunity to lay out a laundry list of challenging conditions…

like hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.”

(Blair Alison Pogue. pg. 281)

Not even death has the final word, because in death we find the beginning of a new phase of life in God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.” (v.37)

Paul “provides another list, this one even more daunting than the first, of things that cannot separate us from God’s love. It includes “death,” “rulers,” ”things to come,” “powers,” and anything else in all creation.” This is a list of all the things we humans fear most. What would it mean to live without fear? If God’s promises are true… we will never be separated from God’s companionship and community. God will always have the last word. The fact that God gave his Son as a love offering on our behalf means that he will do anything, give anything, to ensure our spiritual flourishing.

We, “Jesus’ followers are called to participate in God’s work of companioning others, walking along side them as equals. We are to reach out to the world God so loved, the world far outside our church doors, the world that may not know the story of Jesus and of God’s unconditional love for humanity. We are also to tell the world of God’s power over death and all that separates us from the life abundant God offers. There is no fear, and every reason to rejoice.” (Blair Alison Pogue. pg. 283)

In Christ we are called, selected, chosen, justified and glorified, let us hold on to that truth! Amen!