Recap
Title: God Is For You
Key Text: Numbers 6:24-26; Romans 8
The truth is that God is out to bless us, not to curse us. As Jesus said in John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
For sure the Bible does not present a God for whom anything goes. He will not unconditionally bless anyone. In fact, quite the opposite. Romans 1:18: could not be clearer: For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men of men, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
That’s only part of the story. The whole message of the gospel is that God wants to save you from judgement from sin, death and hell. He wants to give you every opportunity to change and to be blessed. In fact, He is amazingly patient with us and the world.
in every situation and experience when you love God and have been called by Him, God is working for your good. In other words, God is totally on your side. This is why the apostle writes in Romans 8:31 which is our text today: If God is for us, who can be against us?
You will receive many blessings (Romans 8:32; Genesis 24:1)
You are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2, 33-34)
You will never be separated from his love (Romans 8:35-39)
Apply
The Blessing, with more than 41 different versions and in many languages globally, has topped the charts in 34 countries and is in the Top 5 in 77 countries on Apple Christian and Gospel charts.
It is based on the great Jewish blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT): "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show his favor and give you his peace."
But right at the start let’s ask: is it really the case that God is for us and wants to bless us? Well yes actually, this is absolutely true as we can see in both the Old and New testaments. But you may also rightly ask, ‘is not the case that God is AGAINST evil and evildoers?’ And yes, that is also quite true.
For sure the Bible does not present a God for whom anything goes. He will not unconditionally bless anyone. In fact, quite the opposite.
Romans 1:18 could not be clearer: For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men of men, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Ephesians 5:6 says: Let no one deceive you…God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
James 4:6 says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble
Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us specifically of 7 things that the Lord actively hates;16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Do you imagine that God approves if you lie, scheme, stir up trouble and destroy people because of your pride? Do you think He smiles nicely when people are unfaithful in their marriages, families, churches and business lives? Of course not.
2 Peter 3:9 says: the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Do you hear that? God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Ezekiel 33:11 says: Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.
You will receive many blessings
Having asked the question … If God is for us, who can be against us? Paul now adds more unanswerable questions in the following verses. He writes in verse 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?
The greatest example of the generosity of God is seen is sending his beloved only son to die for the sins of the world. That’s how we understand that God SO loved the world. He gave up what was most precious to Him open the door of blessing to us. But the blessings don’t stop at the moment we know we are saved from our sins; actually, this is where they start.
That’s why Paul asks if God has already given us the greatest gift of all, why would he stop there? Why would He hold back on any lesser or further blessing? Rather He will ‘graciously give us all things.’
God’s blessings come in many forms: health, strength, happy family life, protection, financial provision, love, joy, peace, conquest over difficulties. And we can know those blessings in real life.
As Christians who believe that God is for us, we should never be fatalistic about the problems or pressures we may experience. We should believe that with God as our greatest backer and sponsor, we can experience all kinds of favour from God, like Abraham our father in faith.
Abraham had many tests and trials but he always believed God and so we read in Genesis 24:1 as he advanced in years that ‘the Lord had blessed him in every way.’
You are free from condemnation
Here Paul poses some more questions and gives the answers! Let’s read verses 33-34:
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.
Because Jesus has fully paid the price for your sin, you are now justified, which means it’s just as if I never sinned. You are no longer like a prisoner in the dock. Someone took your punishment. And that someone is Jesus. You can NOT be tried again for the same crime.
You can walk free into a new life. You are no longer condemned so don’t live as if you are.
As Paul writes at the start of this great chapter in Romans 8:1-2:Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
You will never be separated from his love
Let’s read these inspiring verses from verse 35 to 39:
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.”[a]
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,[b]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.
We can be more than conquerors in every situation in life because nothing and nobody can separate us from the love of Jesus. We may find ourselves separated from family and friends by different circumstances or even death. We may face great trouble and hardships or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword….
